Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Tiger wrestlers take a 12-3 season record to the sectional tournament on Saturday.Ê
The event is hosted by Warsaw with four teams participating: Warsaw, Plymouth, Triton and Tippecanoe Valley.Ê The winning team advances to the team regional at Jimtown on Feb. 3.Ê Wrestlers finishing in either first or second place go on to the individual regional the following Saturday.
Plymouth will bring a strong team with several exceptional grapplers, including state-ranked Matt Arvesen.Ê Tippecanoe Valley comes with some tough competitors, such as David Reese and Triton has a great heritage of wrestling.
But the Tigers figure to dominate the sectional. The Tigers could easily advance eight or 10individuals to the Regional.Ê
Coach Tony Boley said, "The team had a great week of practice They worked really hard, especially on Monday and Tuesday."
Boley has seen tremendous advances in his squad through the season.Ê
Sophomore Richard Wolfe is singled out as an exceptional case.Ê Last year Wolfe did not win a single match, while this year he has 21 victories to his credit against only twelve losses.
The seniors are all doing quite well, combining for 144 wins.Ê Juniors and sophomores have put together 96 wins. The inexperienced freshmen have steadily improved, but they have much to learn.Ê Boley insists, "They need freestyle.
"This is really a nice bunch of guys," Boley commented, "too nice.Ê
"But a good freestyle season will help them become more agressive and learn to attack."
With regard to freestyle, Boley admitted, "Last year we started too late.Ê I waited till after the state finals to start practices. That gave us only two practices before the first freestyle event. The kids go out and get crunched and end up discouraged."Ê
This time freestyle wrestling practices will be taking place during the run for the state finals.Ê "I may be at the school until 8 at night, but these guys need freestyle if they are going to have a good chance to advance to the next level."
ÊWarsaw's lineup for the sectional with season records
103 Anthony Boley, Freshman (14-14)
112 Adam Harter, Senior (27-6)
119 John Milton, Freshman (6-11)
125 Adam Bott, Freshman (0-13)
130 Tim Roe, Senior (24-10)
135 Joe Wildman, Senior (13-8)
140 Joe Swanson, Freshman (12-18)
145 Richard Wolfe, Sophomore (21-12)
152 Matt Zellers, Senior (28-3)
160 Isaac Perry, Junior (24-9)
189 Steve Fribley, Senior (26-5)
171 Kris Hueber, Sophomore (22-9)
215 Steve McKinley, Senior (26-8)
275 Joey Navarro, Junior (29-4)
