Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Though he called Wawasee young and upcoming and said Elkhart Memorial was the class of the field in the Northern Lakes Conference, Troy Akers and his Warsaw varsity boys track team weren't ready to pass the torch just yet Tuesday.
The Tigers traveled to NLC foe Wawasee Tuesday and returned with a 69-59 hard-fought win, their 39th consecutive regular season meet victory.
Warsaw improved to 3-0 in the NLC, while Wawasee fell to 0-3.
"The difference tonight was four seniors," Akers said. "They just weren't ready to lose."
A team that for four years under Akers dominated teams with raw talent won Tuesday with what its coach called heart.
Clinging to a 64-59 lead after 15 of 16 events, the Warsaw senior quartet of Adam Bott, Brad Seiss, Chris Clay and Grady Randall took first in the 1600 relay with a time of 3:29.3, two seconds ahead of the Warriors.
A foursome that went to the state finals last year, generally senior Adam Sisson runs instead of Bott, but Sisson's name was scratched after cramping in an earlier event. Seiss ran the event injured after turning his ankle in the high jump.
"Sisson was too hurt to go, and Adam Bott spoke up and said he could run," Akers said. "This was a great high school track meet, and those seniors weren't ready to lose."
In all, both Warsaw and Wawasee took first place in eight events.
Though the Tigers held a double-digit lead early in the meet, things started to shake up as the final event drew near.
At the start of the 400 relay, Warsaw lead runner Justin Goble was signaled for a false start. In an event that turned out to be vital to Warsaw's victory, the meet official said he heard something that may have distracted Goble and opted for a complete restart, much to the dismay of Wawasee assistant Dave Stookey.
On the restart, the Warsaw foursome of Goble, Seiss, Randall and Sisson took first in a time of 44.2 seconds. Wawasee's quartet of Kyle Spitler, Anthony Argentino, Kyle Johnson and Rhett Mikel ran a time of 44.4 seconds.
"We had one of the better starters (official) in the area tonight," Akers said. "He's very well respected. He made a call and said (Goble) may have been distracted. I wasn't in position to make a call. I'm sure Wawasee probably wasn't very happy, but things like that happen. That's why we have officials."
In one other event some thought could have gone the other way, Wawasee sophomore Anthony Argentino won the 300 hurdles in a time of 40.9 seconds, just ahead of Randall's time of 41.0 seconds. Randall appeared to have stretched for the win, though the timers said otherwise.
"Those are two of the better runners in the state in that event going neck and neck," Akers said. "It's just like I thought, it was a chess match. Argentino made a move, and then Grady made a move. Argentino had a burst of speed at the end, and I don't think Grady was aware of that. It was a great high school race."
Other Warsaw firsts went to Kyle Boley (pole vault), Jake Engler (discus), Austin Caudill (shot put), Seiss (high jump), Randall (100), and Bott (long jump).
While Argentino also won the 110 hurdles, Wawasee remained close by dominating the distance events.
Warriors Flaco Perales and Ryan Stichter finished first and second in the 3200, while Stichter and Luke Stoffel went 1-2 in the 1600. Wawasee's Stoffel, Perales, Stichter and Eric Gingerich teamed up to beat Warsaw by 20 seconds in the 3200 relay. Wawasee swept the the top three spots in the 800 with Gingerich, Stichter and Milos Stoffel.
Other Wawasee firsts went to David Slabaugh (400) and Kyle Johnson (200).
Warsaw and Wawasee will compete Saturday in the Goshen Relays.
WARSAW 69, WAWASEE 59
Pole vault - 1. Kyle Boley (War) 11-6
3200 relay - 1. Wawasee (Luke Stoffel, Flaco Perales, Ryan Stichter, Eric Gingerich) 8:59, 2. Warsaw
110 hurdles - 1. Anthony Argentino (Wawa) :15.0, 2. Cory Hill (War), 3. Ryan Hill (War)
High jump - 1. Brad Seiss (War) 5-10, 2. James Gilbert (War), 3. Eric Fussle (War)
100 - 1. Grady Randall (War) :11.4, 2. Adam Sisson (War), 3. Kyle Johnson (Wawa)
1600 - 1. Stichter (Wawa) 4:50.8, 2. L. Stoffel (Wawa), 3. Ryan Holbrook (War)
400 relay - 1. Warsaw (Justin Goble, Seiss, Randall, Sisson) :44.2, 2. Wawasee
Discus - 1. Jacob Engler (War) 123-8, 2. Nate Edgington (Wawa), 3. Drew Evens (Wawa)
400 - 1. David Slabaugh (Wawa) :52.8, 2. Chris Clay (War), 3. Seiss (War)
Long jump - 1. Adam Bott (War) 19-8, 2. Michael Kerby (Wawa), 3. C. Hill (War)
300 hurdles - 1. Argentino (Wawa) :40.9, 2. Randall (War), 3. C. Hill (War)
800 - 1. Gingerich (Wawa) 2:07.9, 2. Stichter (Wawa), 3. Milos Stoffel (Wawa)
Shot put - 1. Austin Caudill (War) 44-9 1/2, 2. Engler (War), 3. Evans (Wawa)
200 - 1. Johnson (Wawa) :23.1, 2. Bott (War), 3. Billy Sale (War)
3200 - 1. Perales (Wawa) 10:51.8, 2. Stichter (Wawa), 3. Holbrook (War)
1600 relay - 1. Warsaw (Bott, Seiss, Clay, Randall) 3:29.3, 2. Wawasee
JV - Warsaw 74, Wawasee 48
3200 relay - 1. Warsaw (Ross Parker, Anthony Castillo, Trent Barlow, Dan Weaver) 9:37.2, 2. Wawasee
110 hurdles - 1. Jake Keirn (War) :17.6, 2. Brent Lamb (Wawa), 3. Brandon Vale (Wawa)
High jump - 1. Guy Simmons (Wawa) 5-6, 2. Michael Kerby (Wawa), 3, Drew Evans (Wawa)
100 - 1. Nate Miller (War) :12.0, 2. Joel Popenfoose (War), 3. Ben Kreinbrink (War)
1600 - 1. Zach Woodward (War) 5:38, 2. Seth Blakeslee (Wawa), 3. Kyle Jackson (Wawa)
400 relay - 1. Warsaw (Miller, Bott, Sale, Kreinbrink) :45.28, 2. Wawasee
Discus - 1. Tim Popenfoose (Wawa) 112-4, 2. Lenord McCreery (War), 3. Ausi Caudill (War)
400 - 1. Castillo (War) :59.9, 2. Kevin Messmore (War), 3. Adam Suchecki (War)
Long jump - 1. Miller (War) 18-4, 2. Micah Siesenop (War), 3. Simmons (Wawa)
300 hurdles - 1. Vale (Wawa) :47.1, 2. Eric Smith (War), 3. Keirn (War)
800 - 1. Barlow (War) 2:23.3, 2. Nate Edgington (Wawa), 3. Parker (War)
Shot put - 1. Jason Smith (Wawa) 39-10 3/4, 2. Mike Hall (Wawa), 3. McCreery (War)
200 - 1. Ryan Hamilton (War) :25.3, 2. H.B. Adams (Wawa), 3. B.J. Simpson (Wawa)
3200 - 1. Bill Olds (War), 2. Sean Mochocki (War)
1600 relay - 1. Wawasee (Edgington, Parrish, Conley, Simmons), 2. Warsaw
Nunez Single Lifts Warsaw Over South Bend Clay
Times-Union Staff Report
SOUTH BEND -ÊA two-RBI single by pinch hitter Berto Nunez in the top of the seventh inning lifted Warsaw's baseball team over South Bend Clay 15-14 Tuesday evening.
The Tigers trailed 13-12 going into the top of the seventh. The Tigers tied the score at 13-all before Nunez knocked in the go-ahead run plus an insurance run.
Warsaw also trailed earlier in the game. The Tigers were down 9-8 going into the top of the fifth inning. William "Hoss" Knepper remedied that situation by hitting a grand slam to put Warsaw up 12-9.
The Tigers also got home runs from Josh Stork and Brandon LaFollette. Ryan DeGeeter, John Milton, Zach Smith, Stork and LaFollette had two hits each.
Jeff Polding picked up the win on the mound.
Warsaw is 6-1 and will travel to Goshen tonight for a 4:45 p.m. game.
WARSAW 15, SOUTH BEND CLAY 14
Warsaw 233 040 3 - 15 14 4
Clay 400 522 1 - 14 15 5
Warsaw pitchers - Brandon LaFollette (3 IP, 5 H, 5 K, 2 BB); Jeff Polding (W, 4 IP, 10 H, 3 K, 1 BB)
Warsaw leaders -ÊWilliam Knepper grand slam, 5 RBIs; Josh Stork HR, 1B, 2 RBIs; LaFollette HR, 1B, 2 RBIs; Berto Nunez 1B, 2 RBIs; Ryan DeGeeter 2 1B; John Milton 2 2B; Smith 2B, 1B
Tuesday in South Bend
JV -ÊWARSAW 9, SOUTH BEND CLAY 1
Warsaw 230 400 0 - 9 11 0
Clay 010 000 0 - 0 5 0
WP -ÊBryan Thomas (W, 2-0, 6K, 0 BB). LP -ÊWeise.
Warsaw leaders -ÊTravis O'Neill 3B
Warsaw record - 3-2
9th -ÊWARSAW 9, HUNTINGTON NORTH 6
Warsaw pitchers -ÊRyan Cox (W), Nathaniel Fitzsimmons (S)
LP -ÊBigler.
Warsaw leader -ÊO'Brien 3B
Warsaw record -Ê1-1
Tuesday in Syracuse
JV - MANCHESTER 12, WAWASEE 3
Manchester 004 020 6 - 12 6 3
Wawasee 001 012 0 - 4 3 4
WP -ÊNick Poe. LP -ÊRyan Christner.
Manchester leader - Egner 2B
Wawasee leader -ÊChristner 2B
Tuesday in Rochester
JV -ÊROCHESTER 13, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 2
Valley 100 01 - 2 6 4
Rochester 344 02 - 13 6 1
Valley pitchers - Koser (L, 2 IP, 1 H, 4BB); McCalla (4 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 4 BB)
Valley leaders -ÊMcCalla 2 for 3; Jackson 1 for 2, RBI; Burkhart 1 for 2; Kindig 1 for 3, R; Adamson R
GIRLS TENNIS
Tuesday in North Manchester
MACONAQUAH 3, MANCHESTER 2
The Manchester tennis team dropped a close match to Maconaquah 3-2 Tuesday. Manchester No. 3 singles player Bri Foster and No. 2 doubles team of Catey Dea and Kessie Karg got wins for the Squires. The Squires fall to 0-4 on the season and will face Northfield at 4:30 p.m. tonight in Wabash.
Singles
No. 1 -ÊJulie Harkema (Mac) def. Megan Keffaber 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 -ÊJordan Miller (Mac) def. Concetta DeFusco 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-2
No. 3 - Bri Foster (Man) def. Mallory Glassburn 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊCasey Miller/Ashley Piper (Mac) def. Dawn Lauer/Brittany Faulk 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
No. 2 -ÊCatey Dea/Kessie Karg (Man) def. Trisha Harts/Erica Stevens 6-3, 6-2
JV -ÊWABASH 3, MANCHESTER 2
No. 1 - Malia Layne (Mac) def. Abbey Keffaber 8-3
No. 2 - Alex Estes (Mac) def. Libby Olinger 8-5
No. 3 -ÊAli Norton (Man) def. Amber Mattingly 8-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Holly Watlers/Brittany Denney (Man) def. Kaley Dossett/Elan Avery 8-3
No. 2 -ÊLaura Haflin/Angie Sahulata (Mac) def. Kendra Gidley/Danielle Hodge 8-3
Manchester JV record - 0-4
Tuesday in Dunlap
CONCORD 3, WAWASEE 2
The Wawasee tennis team fell to 0-3 on the season after a 3-2 Northern Lakes Conference loss to Concord Tuesday evening in Dunlap. Wawasee's wins came from Kate Murphy (No. 1 singles) and Carly Murphy (No. 2 singles). The Warriors host Northridge Tuesday in another NLC matchup.
Singles
No. 1 - Kate Murphy (W) def. Laela Tahmassebi 4-6, 7-5 (7-3), 6-4
No. 2 - Carly Murphy (W) def. Katerine Hinkle 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 -ÊBetsy Gross (C) def. Kendra Ganz 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊAllison Miller/Katie Warner (C) def. Ashley Ganz/Cara Windle 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
No. 2 -ÊKatie Martin/Justine Amos (C) def. Krista VanLue/Jessica Ploszek 6-1, 6-2
JV -ÊCONCORD 4, WAWASEE 1
Singles
No. 1 - Jamie Hahn (C) def. Julia HOuse 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 -ÊChristine Malzfeldt (C) def. Erin Windle 8-2
No. 3 - Abby Kline (C) def. Katie Westover 8-7
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊJamie Petro/Alison Kropf (W) def. Sarah Bail/Crystal Cripe 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 - Ellin Wilson/Cuortney Feick (C) def. Lynn Hire/Chelsea Maendla 8-6
Tuesday in Lakeville
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 4, LAVILLE 1
The Tippecanoe Valley tennis team kept its winning streak alive by defeating LaVille 4-1 Tuesday in Lakeville. The Vikings swept the singles competition and won the No. 2 doubles match to get the victory. Valley is 3-0 overall and will travel to Larwill for a Three Rivers Conference match with Whitko Thursday.
Singles
No. 1 -ÊKelly Sanders (V) def. Erica Meyers 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
No. 2 -ÊSusie Mende (V) def. Tracy Steele 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 -ÊLinda Weller (V) def. Allison Isley 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊSarah Cole/Beth Shamo (L) def. Julie Studebaker/Alyssa Anglin 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 -ÊBeth Carter/Chris Swanson (V) def. Andrea March/Alex Boyd 6-2, 6-3
JV -ÊTIPPECANOE VALLEY 5, LAVILLE 0
Singles
No. 1 - Karissa Fields (V) def. Rachel Wicks 8-2
No. 2 -ÊBecky Wright (V) def. Gloria Woodcox 8-3
No. 3 - Autumn Beasley (V) def. Bethaney Dudeck 8-3
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊHeather Baker/Brandi Smalley won by forfeit
No. 2 -ÊKrysta Kindig/Krista Andrews won by forfeit
Tuesday in Bourbon
JV -ÊTRITON 5, WHITKO 0
Singles
No. 1 -ÊTiffany Warner (T) def. Steph Boggs 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊAmber Mellott (T) def. Holly Slater 8-1
No. 3 -ÊSamantha Keel (T) def. Caitlin Sautter 8-2
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊCrystal Sellers/Justina Ravenscroft (T) def. Katie Menzie/Amanda Bosz 8-0
No. 2 -ÊNobuko Maeda/Anna Smith (T) def. Halie Allen/Charissa Wagner 8-5
Tuesday in Plymouth
Warsaw 4, Plymouth 1
The Warsaw tennis team improved to 2-0 after defeating Northern Lakes Conference opponent Plymouth Tuesday. The Tigers swept the singles competition and picked up a win at the No. 1 slot to tally the four points. Warsaw plays at Northridge tonight at 4:30 p.m.
Singles
No. 1 -ÊJessica Davis (War) def Allie Shook 6-1,6-2
No. 2 -ÊKristi Haddad (War) def Abby Keiser 6-3,6-3
No. 3 -ÊKaitlyn Macdonald (War) def Aubrey Shanks 6-1,6-1
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊLauren Witzky/Ashley Harrison (War) def. Lindsay Houin/Jenny Faulstich
6-2, 5-7, 7-5
No. 2 -ÊShannon Gehrke/Jessica Vervynckt (Plym) def. Tracy Yoder/Lili Aguilar 5-7, 6-4,6-3
JV -ÊWarsaw 4 - Plymouth 1
Singles
No. 1 -ÊJessica Sadler (War) def. Vicky Palmer 6-0,6-2
No. 2 -ÊGina Cesaretti (War) def Katie Gordon 8-3
No. 3 -ÊJill Cartwright (Plym) def. Jessica Hollar 8-4
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊJaclyn Leininger/Katie Lee (War) def Gretchen Heiden/Stefanie Crawford 6-4,4-6,6-3
No. 2 -ÊBetsy LaSalle/Deb Allen (War) def Christa Dagaas/Stephanie Welch 8-3
GIRLS TRACK
Tuesday in Bourbon
Triton's girls track team hosted a three-way meet with count rival Plymouth and Whitko Tuesday. Plymouth ran away with the win, scoring 82 points. Triton was second with 41 and Whitko third with 33. Triton's effort was highlighted by senior Amber Feldman, who set a school record in discus with her throw of 123-3.
PLYMOUTH 82, TRITON 41, WHITKO 33
Discus - 1. Amber Feldman (T) 123-3, 2. Carly Feldman (T), 3. Shanon Gidley (P)
Shot put - 1. Elise Breeding (P) 30-0, 2. C. Feldman (T), 3. Sonya Lawrence (P)
High jump - 1. Ashli Senff (T) 5-0, 2. Nikki Rash (P), 3. Jessica Foust (P)
3200 relay - 1. Plymouth 11:08.1, 2. Whitko
100 hurdles - 1. Kristy Jeffry (W) :18.3, 2. Kylie Kreft (T), 3. Stephanie Quimby (P)
100 - 1. Ashley Burrows (P) :13.5, 2. Miranda Wilkinson (W), 3. Stacy Wendel (P)
1600 - 1. Foust (P) 6:08.4, 2. Stephanie Slemp (P), 3. Angie Juricak (W)
400 relay - 1. Plymouth :52.9, 2. Triton
400 - 1. Terrin Meister (T) 1:06.7, 2. Jolene Reed (W), 3. C. Feldman (T)
300 hurdles - 1. Jenny Lewis (P) :50.7, 2. Kyleigh Kreft (T), 3. Ashley Dilling (W)
800 - 1. Morgan Uceny (P) 2:33.9, 2. Courtney Beckham (P), 3. Juricak (W)
200 - 1. Burrows (P) :28.7, 2. Christina Relos (P), 3. Miranda Wilkinson (W)
3200 - 1. Angel Puckett (W) 13:41, 2. Catherine Adams (P), 3. Lisa Wilkinson (W)
1600 relay - 1. Plymouth 4:32.1, 2. Triton
SOFTBALL
Tuesday in North Manchester
PERU 3, MANCHESTER 0
Manchester's varsity softball team hosted Peru Tuesday, fall 3-0 to the visiting Tigers. The Squires are now 4-3 on the season and will host the Manchester Invitational Saturday. Britt Rager, Mikki Marshall, Lindsay Music and Lacy Bucher all had a hit for the Squires.
Manchester hit leaders - Brit Rager 1 for 3, Mikki Marshall 1 for 2, Lindsay Music 1 for 2, Lacy Bucher 1 for 2
Tuesday in North Manchester
JV - Wawasee 24, Manchester 12
Wawasee 230 03(16) - 24 16 8
Manchester 424 101 - 12 8 5
WP - Beth Voirol.
Wawasee hit leaders - Kasey Bollier 4 for 6, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Rachel Canen 3 for 3, 3 runs, RBI; Krista Ogburn 3 for 5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Shaundel Wiggs 1 for 3, 5 runs; Tarina Sorenson 2 for 4, 1 run, 2 RBIs; Lindsey Wright 1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI; Voirol 2 for 5, 2 runs, RBI
Triton Blanks Whitko
Times-Union Staff Report
BOURBON -ÊThe Triton tennis team hosted Whitko Tuesday night and came away with a 5-0 win.
Jenny Berger, Angela Wilcox and Brittany Zeider picked up singles wins, while the doubles teams of Crystal Lamaster and Kelly Whiteman and Lena Miller and Holly Heckaman won as well.
The win improves Triton's record to 3-0 overall. The Trojans are 1-0 in the Northern State Conference.
TRITON 5, WHITKO 0
Singles
No. 1 -ÊJenny Berger (T) def. Brooke Workman 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 -ÊAngela Wilcox (T) def. Emily Crist 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 -ÊBrittany Zeider (T) def. Steph Haines 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊCrystal Lamaster/Kelly Whiteman (T) def. Chelsey Gratn/Brandy Bayles 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 - Lena Miller/Holly Heckaman (T) def. Tiff Hatton/Jen Wendel 6-4, 6-2
