Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw wrestling team competed Saturday in the Penn Super Duals, winning one match and losing four. The lone team victory for the Tigers was a big one in Northern Lakes Conference competition, as they defeated the NorthWood Panthers 57-24.
The Tigers tied with Fairfield but gave up the victory 43-42 based on tie breaker of first points scored. Warsaw also fell to Jimtown, Penn, and for the second time, to Valparaiso.
Three of the Tiger veterans continued to build up undefeated records. Justin Brooks (112) pinned two opponents and won by a 19-3 technical fall against a third. Matt Elvidge, now competing at 135 pounds, racked up four falls and added a 14-8 decision. Andy Keener (152) also remains unbeaten on the season, having collected four more pins, all in the first period.
Coach Tony Boley reported that the Tigers got off to a flat start. However, he went on to say, "Overall as the day went on we got stronger, and we got more confidence, especially the younger kids. Our veterans are working in the practice room with these news kids to get better to help us a team. Our goal is to be the best that we can be as team at the end of the year."
Several of the younger Tigers put together excellent performances. Freshman Brandon Klosowski (103 pounds) had three victories by fall while Steven Palladino (119), a sophomore, also had three pins to his credit. Freshman Brock Owen (125) got another big win in his varsity career, pinning NorthWood's Chase Anglemyer in 1:36.
Another Tiger freshman, Paul Thompson (130) had three victories by fall, and his only loss was to Penn senior Travis Swihart, who stands at No. 9 in the state rankings. Matt Sawyer (140), also a freshman, collected his first victory, a fall in the victory over NorthWood, nailing Ryan Slabaugh in 59 seconds.
Taylor Julian (189) continues to work hard, but he gives up quite a few pounds, weighing in at only 171.9 pounds. In spite of a good effort, he was unable to come away with any victories on the mat. Adam Keener has missed the last two varsity events due to illness.
Shaw Stuart (285) had one victory by fall, pinning Valparaiso's Bryan Miller in 1:39. In addition, Stuart nearly surprised 19th-ranked Andy Ginter of Penn. Stuart grabbed an opening takedown and nearly had the fall before Ginter wriggled out of bounds. The Penn veteran went on to turn Stuart at 2:26.
The Tigers improved to 3-1 in the NLC and stand even at 9-9 overall. The next event for the Warsaw varsity wrestlers is the big time mid-season assessment event, the Al Smith Classic, an individual bracketed tournament at Mishawaka Dec. 26-27.
WARSAW 57, NORTHWOOD 24
103 - Brandon Klosowski ( Warsaw ) pinned Joe Rohrer (NorthWood), 3:08
112 - Justin Brooks (W) ff
119 - Steven Palladino (W) pinned Zach Rhymer (N), 1:13
125 - Brock Owen (W) pinned Chase Anglemyer (N), 1:36
130 - Paul Thompson (W) pinned Ben Etsinger (N), 3:42
135 - Matt Elvidge (W) def. David Lopez (N), 14-8
140 - Matt Sawyer (W) pinned Ryan Slabaugh (N), :59
145 - George Slabaugh (N) ff
152 - Andy Keener (W) pinned Ryne Garner (N), 1:41
160 Cody Mishler (N) ff
171 - Andrew Smith (N) ff
189 - Taylor Julian (W) ff
215 - Joe Wegener (N) pinned Andrew Spears (War), 3:29
285 - Shaw Stuart (W) ff
