Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
During the shot put event of Friday night's Max Truex Invitational at Lakeview Middle School, Warsaw senior Wes Rodman turned towards teammate Steve Fribley and said, "You know you're just my back up."
And rightfully so.
Fribley was just the back up. For various reasons Warsaw's track team was missing at least four members of the squad that placed third in the eight-team invite with a score of 123. The state's fifth ranked team, Fort Wayne Concordia, took first place with a team score of 139. Elkhart Central finished second, just three points ahead of the Tigers at 126.
Fribley, competing in the shot put for only the second time this season, tossed the 12-pound lead ball 47-8. Rodman won the competiton with his toss of 50-2.
The other Tigers missing from last night's competion includes seniors Jon Hill and Jose Esquivel and freshman Brad Seiss.
"This team showed a lot of courage tonight (Friday)," said Warsaw coach Troy Akers, who guided the Tigers to their second straight undefeated regular season this year. "This was a pretty adversity-filled week with the suspensions and injuries and whatever. To be able to come in here focused was a major hurdle. I was really pleased with the field events and the field event coaches."
The suspension Akers is referring to is that of Esquivel. Akers didn't want to comment on that subject other than saying "he's suspended indefinately." Seiss and Hill are on the injured list.
In the other throwing event, the discus, a pair of Tiger sophomores, Ryan Brennan and Jarod Leasure, placed in the top six. Brennans throw of 146-9 was good enough for an individual second place. Leasure finished third with his effort of 140-2.
"I'm happy," said Warsaw throwing coach Garry Fribley. "Ryan's been struggling, it's a mental thing. I don't have to worry about Jarod, I know he's going to come through."
Brennan's toss was a personal record.
Warsaw set a new meet record with its time of 16:43.63 in the 3200 relay. Each team enters two teams or two individuals and the two times are combined to determine meet records. The old record was set by Warsaw last year.
Among Warsaw's other first place finishes was Justin Bellamy's high jump of six feet five inches and Zach Sheetz in the pole vault with his leap of 13 feet six inches. Corey Gackenheimer finished sixth in the pole vault for the Tigers clearing 11 feet six inches. According to Akers he had never been over 10 feet.
Sheetz was named the meet's outstanding performer in the field events.
One other individual Akers spoke very highly of last night was senior Justin Rice. Rice finished sixth in the 1600 with a time of 4:39.73 and fifth in the 3200 with his time of 10:09.69.
"I can't say enough about Justin Rice," said Akers. "He's the epitomy of senior leadership. He runs the 1600 and 3200 out of necessity because he knows it'll help the team out. What I saw tonight has me excited about the conference meet on Thursday."
The Tigers will will travel to Concord High School to compete in the Northern Lakes Conference meet Thursday with action set to start a 5 p.m.
1999 MAX TRUEX INVITATIONAL
Team results - 1. F.W. Concordia 139, 2. Elkhart Central 126, 3. Warsaw 123, 4. Penn 97, 5. F.W. Snider 75, 6. F.W. North Side 69, 7. DeKalb 69, 8. Kokomo 33
Abbreviations - Concordia (Con), Elkhart Central (EC), Warsaw (W), Penn (P), Snider (S), North Side (NS), DeKalb (D), Kokomo (K)
3200 relay - 1. Warsaw 8:11.24, 2. DeKalb, 3. Elkhart Central
110 hurdles - 1. Chapman (NS) :14.74, 2. Harris (S), 3. Rockenbaugh (EC), 8. Vogt (W), 10. Horn (W)
100 - 1. Wilson (EC) :11.08, 2. Scott (Con), 3. Wharton (Con)
Discus - 1. Stebing (Con) 158-1, 2. Brennan (W), 3. Kuhmichel (EC), 6. Leasure (W)
High jump - 1. Bellamy (W) 6-5, 2. Smith (Con), 3. Heath (Con), 4. Fitzsimmons (W)
300 hurdles - 1. Harris (S), 2. Chapman (NS), 3. Rockenbaugh (EC), 7. Hill (W), 11. Mettham (W)
400 relay - 1. Concordia :42.65, 2. Elkhart Central, 3. Snider, 7. Warsaw, 11. Warsaw (B)
1600 - 1. Johnson (D) 4:33.83, 2. Borchelt (Con), 3. Amt (Con), 5. Garcia (W), 6. Rice (W)
400 - 1. Banks (EC) :51.12, 2. Seiss (W), 3. Butler (P), 9. Ridderman (W)
Shot put - 1. Rodman (W) 50-2, 2. Schoenefold (Con), 3. Fribley (W)
Long jump - 1. Chapman (NS) 21-3, 2. Scott (Con), 3. Files (Con), 7. Chabot (W), 10. Fussle (W)
200 - 1. Smith (Con) :22.11, 2. Wilson (EC), 3. Fowlkes (S), 7. Vogt (W), 10. Chabot (W)
800 - 1. Ermis (EC) 1:59.51, 2. Dock (W), 3. Shown (D), 4. Peters (W)
3200 - 1. Johnson (D) 9:53.6, 2. Stefaniak (P), 3. Borchelt (Con), 5. Rice (W), 7. Sweatland (W)
1600 relay - 1. Concordia 3:28.17, 2. Elkhart Central, 3. E. Central (B), 4. Warsaw, 6. Warsaw (B)
Pole vault - 1. Sheetz (W) 13-6, 2. Confer (NS), 3. Gurchiek (P), 6. Gackenheimer (W)
