Tigers Win Battle Of Top 20 Programs FORT WAYNE — The 15th-ranked Warsaw boys track and field team began its season on a high note Thursday, picking up an 82-50 win at No. 7 Fort Wayne Snider. “They were resting some guys, so they didn’t have their full team,” Warsaw coach Matt Thacker said. “We obviously showed we have a very deep team. We’re still extremely young. We had (personal records) all over the place, but when it’s 80 degrees, you’re going to have PRs.” On a day that featured off and on rain showers, Warsaw won four out of the five field events and also claimed six events on the track. Warsaw’s four wins in the field events all came from different competitors, with sophomore Stephen Kolbe shined the brightest, winning the high jump by clearing 6-foot-6. As a freshman, Kolbe was a Northern Lakes Conference champion, as well as a sectional champion, and also placed ninth at the state meet by clearing 6-6. “In his first outdoor meet, he showed last year wasn’t a fluke,” Thacker said about Kolbe. “That’s good to see. He’s worked extremely hard at it.” Another Warsaw athlete who’s hard work is paying off is junior Jacob Poyner. Following a stellar cross country season in the fall, Poyner kicked off his track season by winning the 800 in 1:56.7 and was also a part of the winning 1600 relay with senior Spencer Rheinhardt, junior Wyatt Jones and sophomore Chad Goon. “Jake’s a special kid - in the classroom and on the track,” Thacker said. “I’m just very fortunate to be able to be associated with Jake and have a chance to coach him. I don’t really coach him a whole lot, coach (Rob) Peters really works with distance and does a great job for us.” The Tigers also won the 3200 relay with Rheinhardt, sophomore Robert Murphy, Goon, sophomore Ismael Calderon, while sophomore Ellis Coon won the 1600 (4:34) and 3200 (10:13). In all, Warsaw won every event over 400 meters, but Thacker was also pleased with his sprints, as Jones finished second in the 100 and junior Nathan Kolbe finished third in the 200. “We’re a little bit better in the sprints than we thought we may be,” he said. “That’s a good sign, because there were some true question marks there. We still have a long way to go, but we’re a lot closer than I thought we’d be.” Warsaw is back in action Tuesday at Huntington North, and if his team continues performing like it is, Thacker is optimistic about what may come. “For such an individual sport, they’re pretty good at being a unit,” he said.
WARSAW 82, FW SNIDER 50 110 Hurdles — 1. Vickery (S) 15.2, 2. Taylor Cone (W) 15.3, 3. Edwards (S) 16.3; 100 — 1. Carlisle (S) 11.1, 2. Wyatt Jones (W) 11.2, 3. Brown (S) 11.5; 1600 — 1. Ellis Coon (W) 4:34, 2. Williams (S) 4:36, 3. Jones (S) 4:43; 400 — 1. Spencer Rheinhardt (W) 50.7, 2. Jones (W) 52.1, 3. Gomez (S) 53.9; 300 Hurdles — 1. Vickery (S) 41.6, 2. Reese (S) 41.9, 3. Goon (W) 43.1; 800 — 1. Jacob Poyner (W) 1:56.7, 2. Michael Compton (W) 2:08.5, 3. Wines (S) 2:16.4; 200 — 1. Lewis (S) 22.7, 2. Nelson (S) 23.4, 3. Nathan Kolbe (W) 23.5; 3200 — 1. Coon (W) 10:13, 2. Robert Murphy (W) 10:19, 3. Black (S) 10:23 Shot Put — 1. Zach Shepler (W) 40-6, 2. Jonathan Combs (W) 39-9, 3. Rowe (S) 35-9; Discus — 1. Tim Perkey (W) 126-4, 2. Austin Reynolds (W) 120-10, 3. Whalen (S) 118-7; Pole Vault — 1. Jake Fayed (W) 11-6, 2. Jeffrey Coulter (W) 11-6, 3. Sanderson (S) 8-0; High Jump — 1. Stephen Kolbe (W) 6-6, 2. Zach Rooney (W) 6-0, 3. Reese (S) 5-10; Long Jump — 1. Reese (S) 19-11.75, 2. Rooney (W) 19-5, 3. Daniels (S) 19-4; 3200 Relay — 1. Warsaw (Rheinhardt, Murphy, Chad Goon, Ismael Calderon) 8:40, 2. Snider 9:03; 400 Relay — 1. Snider (Nelson, Blackmon, Williams, Carlisle) 43.8, 2. Warsaw 44.2; 1600 Relay — 1. Warsaw (Rheinhardt, Poyner, C. Goon, Jones) 3:26.3, 2. Snider 3:32.4.
