Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
This is how far Warsaw's girls cross country team has come: from five members four years ago to semistate aspirations this year.
If it seems success hit the Tigers overnight, coach Paul Sibray says, well, it has.
With nearly 2,000 students, Warsaw has always had a formidable pool of athletes to pick from. What's happened is a few more out of the pool joined the team. Sibray has watched his team grow from five girls four years ago to 22 girls this year.
"It does happen real quick," he said. "We filled in the gaps it seems like overnight. What this does is give you a little more stress in coaching now. You accomplish something, and you want to keep going."
And this is why Sibray talks semistate. Warsaw finished second in last Saturday's Elkhart Central Sectional with a score of 69. Northridge, which won the sectional for the eighth straight year, scored 45.
Why Sibray is optimistic Warsaw will advance to semistate is because of the third-place score at the regional. NorthWood finished third with 109 points, trailing Warsaw by 40.
"I'm hoping to place in the top five," Sibray said. "I'd settle for third. Judging by the distance between us and the third-place team, yeah, I think we can advance."
One girl who has been with Warsaw back when team wins were few and is still with them now is Summer Boyd. She's been Warsaw's top runner, and she finished fifth in last Saturday's Elkhart Central Sectional with a time of 16:01.
"Some girls here have been faster, but she's still working her way up," Sibray said. "Most girls get a little slower as they get older. She's stayed consistent. She'll be one of the best we've had here by the time she is finished."
Boyd led Warsaw Saturday, and teammate Hillary Barlow finished seventh with a time of 16:04, but the athlete Sibray bragged up Saturday then bragged up again Wednesday was freshman Jennifer Finch. Finch finished eighth with a time of 16:04.
"Overall, Jennifer had the best race," Sibray said.
The Elkhart Central Regional takes place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ox Bow Park in Dunlap.
WARSAW CROSS COUNTRY LINEUP
Last week's Elkhart Central Sectional times, places listed
Warsaw finished second
5. Summer Boyd 16:01, 7. Hillary Barlow 16:04, 8. Jennifer Finch 16:04, 20. Melonie Albert 16:57, 29. Amy Robertson 17:20, 32. Abbie Simmons 17:26, 57. Kim Fluke 19:07
The top 5 teams and top 15 individuals advance to semistate
