Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw senior Adam Harter is the master of one-word responses.
After the Tiger grapplers tripped up NorthWood 57-22 last night at the Career Center Gym, Harter was asked to comment on the senior night victory.
"Intense," said Harter.
Harter's statement is true and then some, for the most part. Four Tigers pinned their opponents in 42 seconds or less.
"I think Warsaw has some horses," said NorthWood coach Dennis Lewis. "They have a good team. We got into some trouble but I felt good about our overall performance, in some cases we just didn't have enough."
With the victory Warsaw improves to 11-2 and 4-0 in NLC action. NorthWood falls to 5-5 and 1-3 in the NLC.
Freshman Anthony Boley wasted no time in getting the Tigers' first six points, pinning Brandon Wiley in 35 seconds.
Harter kept the momentum going for Warsaw in the 112-pound class with a third-period pin over Nick Roelandts, accounting for his 102nd career victory, to push the lead to 12.
Over the course of the next six matches the Panthers turned the tables and took a 23-22 advantage into the 152-pound class.
"Our upper weight classes are mostly seniors," said Warsaw coach Tony Boley. "At 160 Isaac (Perry) wrestles like a senior. From 145 up we can wrestle with anybody. The younger kids in the lower weight classes have to be able to wrestle with anybody."
After Richard Wolf pinned Eric Esenwein to account for the 23-22 score, Matt Zellers tallied his 109th career victory with a pin of Dustin Croy in 1:42, giving Warsaw a seven-point lead.
Warsaw finished with victories in the final seven matches; five of Warsaw's six seniors were victorious. Joe Wildman was injured and did not compete.
In the early going Travis Middaugh's 10-2 major decision over Tiger freshman Adam Bott (125) played an important role. Middaugh's four points cut Warsaw's lead to 12-10. Had Bott been pinned, the results could've been drastically different, but Bott's efforts kept a two-point cushion intact.
"That match was very important," said Boley. "He (Bott) didn't give up. Our kids need to understand that not getting pinned is important when they get beat."
Warsaw (11-2, 4-0) will be in action tonight in a 6:30 contest at Goshen and then again Thursday at Plymouth.
"Everybody has at least three matches this week because of the weather," said Boley. "And they're conference meets so everybody is in the same boat. But the kids don't care because meets are easier than practice. They only have two practices this week, that's easy."
NorthWood (5-5, 1-3) will host Concord tonight at 6:30.
WARSAW 57, NORTHWOOD 22
103 Anthony Boley (Warsaw) pinned Brandon Wiley, :35
112 Adam Harter (Warsaw) pinned Nick Roelandts, 4:35
119 Jesse Espinoza (NorthWood) pinned John Milton, 3:31
125 Travis Middaugh (NorthWood) def. Adam Bott 10-2, dec.
130 Tim Roe (Warsaw) pinned Todd Martz, :41
135 Josh Snyder (NorthWood) pinned Grady Randall, 1:56
140 Ben Becker (NorthWood) pinned Joe Swanson, 4:30
145 Richard Wolfe (Warsaw) pinned Eric Esenwein, 1:55
152 Matt Zellers (Warsaw) pinned Dustin Croy, :42
160 Isaac Perry (Warsaw) Def. Chad Strange 13-3, major dec.
171 Kris Hueber (Warsaw) pinned Ben Murphy, 3:24
189 Steve Fribley (Warsaw) pinned Ben Pippen, :42
215 Steve McKinley (Warsaw) won by forfeit
275 Joey Navarro (Warsaw) won by forfeit
JV score: NorthWood 27, Warsaw 18
