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Even after shuffling his team's lineup, putting competitors in different events for Tuesday's Northern Lakes Conference meet against visiting Goshen and Northridge, Warsaw boys track coach David Hoffert came away with a big win and maybe an even bigger smile.
Warsaw used its depth as its strength Tuesday and proved to be too much for the Redskins and Raiders, winning 11 of the 16 events and dominating the meet with 102 points. Northridge finished a distant second with 39 points, while Goshen scored 25.
"We knew what we were getting into," said Hoffert, whose Tigers improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the NLC. "We moved Nate Miller and a couple other sprinters around. There was nothing wrong, we just gave them a break. Goshen and Northridge are programs in the rebuilding phase. For what it was, I thought we had some great performances."
Junior Thomas Balestri finished the evening with four first-place finishes for the Tigers, winning the 100 in 11.4 seconds, the 200 in 22.71 seconds and competing on the winning 400 relay and 1600 relay teams.
"Thomas Balestri had his normal strong meet," said Hoffert. "He ran a heck of a time in the 200 today."
Joining Balestri on the winning 400 relay team were Miller, sophomore Tyler Hamman and junior Tony Castillo. The Tiger foursome finished the event in 43.75 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of second-place Northridge.
Joining Balestri on the victorious 1600 relay team, which finished in a time of 3:34 and was four seconds ahead of the second-place team from Northridge, were senior Dan Erickson, junior Dan Scott and Castillo, who finished second in the 200.
Erickson was an individual winner as he took first in the 400, leaning across the line to finish in a time of 53.25 seconds. Northridge's Yoder finished second in 53.26 seconds.
In the 110 hurdles, Warsaw senior Kyle Boley took first in 16.8 seconds and was followed across the line in second- and third-place by teammates Scott Sands and Trent Thomas.
Boley and Sands also helped Warsaw dominate the pole vault competition, as Boley won with a height of 13-0. Tiger senior Phil Anuta finished second in the event with a personal-best of 12-9, while Sands finished third with a personal-best of 12-9.
Sands won the 300 hurdles in a time of 42.9 seconds and was followed across the line in second- and third-place by teammates Peter Osorio and Thomas.
Sophomore J.W. Maierle won the high jump for Warsaw with a distance of 20-3, junior Kevin Messmore won the high jump with a height of 5-8, and senior Ryan Holbrook won the 1600 in a time of 4:41.
The Tigers are in action again Saturday in the East Noble Relays.
WARSAW 102, NORTHRIDGE 39, GOSHEN 25
110 hurdles - 1. Boley (W) :16.8, 2. Sands (W), 3. Thomas (W)
100 - 1. Balestri (W) :11.4, 2. Hamman (W)
1600 - 1. Holbrook (W) 4:41, 2. Burnworth (W), 3. Stewart (NR)
400 - 1. Erickson (W) :53.25, 2. Yoder (NR), 3. Scott (W)
300 hurdles - 1. Sands (W) :42.9, 2. Osorio (W), 3. Thomas (W)
800 - 1. Sabo (NR) 2:03, 2. Holbrook (W), 3. Compson (W)
200 - 1. Balestri (W) :22.71, 2. Castillo (W), 3. Ball (NR)
3200 - 1. Fritz (NR) 10:14.29, 2. Burnworth (W), 3. Stewart (NR)
Long jump - 1. Maierle (W) 20-3, 2. Crawford (NR), 3. Williams (G)
High jump - 1. Messmore (W) 5-8, 2. Faulkner (G), 3. Reinholt (W)
Discus - 1. Sparklin (G) 148-4, 2. Koronkowiecz (G), 3. Boggs (W)
Shot put - 1. Koronkowiecz (G) 57-4, 2. Sparklin (G), 3. Miller (NR)
Pole vault - 1. Boley (W) 13-0, 2. Anuta (W), 3. Sands (W)
400 relay - 1. Warsaw (Miller, Balestri, Hamman, Castillo) :43.75, 2. Northridge, 3. Goshen
3200 relay - 1. Northridge 8:34.2, 2. Warsaw, 3. Goshen
1600 relay - 1. Warsaw (Castillo, Erickson, Scott, Balestri) 3:34, 2. Northridge, 3. Goshen
JV - Warsaw 71, Goshen 38, Northridge 35
(Warsaw results)
110 hurdles - 1. Osorio :17.6
100 - 1. Truman :11.9, 2. Abbitt
1600 - 1. Blackburn 4:58.2, 4. Wentz
800 - 2. Robinson 2:14.8, 3. Olds
200 - 1. Wright :24.12
3200 - 3. Campbell 10:57
Long jump - 2. Wu 17-5 1/2
Discus - 2. Sapper 121-6, 4. Shroyer
Shot put - 1. Sapper 43-1 1/2, 4. Miller
3200 relay - 1. Warsaw 8:57.8, 2. Warsaw
400 relay - 1. Warsaw :47.71
1600 relay - 1. Warsaw 3:48.15
