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Warsaw's wrestling team hosted and lost a key Northern Lakes Conference battle to Northridge 40-25 on Thursday.
The defending champs went home still unbeaten in conference dual competition. In overall dual competition, the Raiders have lost only to the Jimtown Jimmies.
Northridge took the win against Warsaw by winning eight of the 14 matches in a meet that was closer than the score might suggest.
Warsaw is 3-1 in conference dual meets.
Warsaw coach Tony Boley said with several matches decided in closing seconds the Tigers could have very well come out on top.
"You were intimidated guys," said Boley, "and you didn't believe you could beat them after they took sixth place at Mishawaka."
The coaching staff then mentioned several significant factors in the team defeat. One match was lost with eight seconds remaining, another was just one more squeeze away from a pin, and a Tiger wrestler failed to make his weight.
Warsaw forfeited at 103 pounds and moved Robert Raymer up to 112, where he faced Ryan Powell. Raymer finally fell victim to a fall with 27 seconds remaining, at 5:33.
Against David Blea, Anthony Boley (119) fell behind in the early going when he was tangled up in a banana split combination. Boley managed fight off the pin but found himself down 5-0. He was awarded penalty points due to his opponent's illegal hold and then scored an escape in period two.
In the control position in the third period, Boley scored a near fall, and then another penalty point was awarded at the buzzer due to stalling by Northridge, making the score 5-5. The official set the tone for the evening: He would not tolerate any lack of activity on his mat. Boley scored a takedown in overtime to win 7-5.
Tanner Connealy (125) notched a win for the Tigers. In defeating John Wickersham, Connealy had racked up six takedowns and was on the way to a major decision and four team points. However, when he allowed his freshman opponent to escape with only seconds remaining, Connealy had to settle for a simple decision worth three team points.
Warsaw's Dan Milos (130) wrestled into the third period before he was pinned by Jeremy Weaver at 4:25.
Kyle Boley (135) had to move up a weight class, where he took on Zach Hibschman and settled for a 16-6 major decision instead of a fall.
After two scoreless periods, Adam Bott (140) scored a takedown following a Dan Magee escape. But then with only eight seconds remaining, Magee reversed control to win the match 3-2.
In John Milton (145), the Tigers turned the tables and scored a big win with only one second remaining. Milton had allowed Robert Kindel to escape in the final second of period one, but then the Tiger grappler took charge, amassing a lead of 11-1 before the official slapped the mat at 5:59.
However, the Tigers were unable to gain momentum from Milton's big win. Warsaw lost the next three matches.
Nick McKinley (152) was outscored 7-0 by Chris Harrell, and then Julio Reyes (160) was quickly dispatched by Steve Harrell in just 40 seconds.
Richard Wolfe (171) was down 9-1 going into the third period against Noah Hoopingarner, who had pinned Wolfe in an earlier meeting at Mishawaka. In a flurry of third-period work, Wolfe scored six points but still came out on the short end, losing in a 16-7 major decision.
Tyler Miller (189) met with Chris Worsham and battled through three periods to a 9-9 tie. In overtime, Miller quickly scored a takedown to take the 11-9 win.
Kris Hueber (215) cranked out another pin when he upended Steve Greensides in 1:25, after which Warsaw's David Ferguson (275) was pinned by massive Ryan Eaton in 2:45.
Warsaw's junior varsity wrestlers had an impressive evening with five Tigers earning victories: Chris Riley by decision, and then by falls, Matt Palladino, Trenton Plummer, Ryan Walenga and Jacob Boots.
The JV team will head off to the Northfield JV Invitational on Saturday.
The varsity team boasts a dual record of 8-1 (3-1 NLC) and will entertain another NLC foe, NorthWood, on Tuesday.
Northridge def. Warsaw 40-25
103 - Anthon Lemon (NR) win by forfeit
112 - Ryan Powell (NR) pinned Robert Raymer (W), 5:33
119 - Anthony Boley (W) def. David Blea (NR), 7-5 ot
125 - Tanner Connealy (W) def. John Wickersham (NR), 12-5
130 - Jeremy Weaver (NR) pinned Dan Milos (W), 4:25
135 - Kyle Boley (W) def. Zach Hibshman (NR), 16-6 maj.
140 - Dan Magee (NR) def. Adam Bott (NR), 3-2
145 - John Milton (W) pinned Robert Kindel (NR), 5:59
152 - Chris Harrell (NR) def. Nick McKinley (W), 7-0
160 - Steve Harrell (NR) pinned Julio Reyes (W), :40
171 - Nathan Hoopingarner (NR) dec. Richard Wolfe (W), 16-7 maj.
189 - Tyler Miller (W) def Chris Worsham (NR), 11-9 ot
215 - Kris Hueber (W) pinned Steve Greensides (NR), 1:25
275 - Ryan Eaton (NR) pinned David Ferguson (W), 2:45
