With the baker's dozen that is at the state finals, Warsaw Community High School girls track and field coach Scott Erba has the ingrediants to cook up some excitement.
"We're really excited about the group of girls going down to state this year," said Erba, whose Tigers won the Northern Lakes Conference championship, the Warsaw Sectional championship and then finished third as a team in the Bremen Regional. "I think this weekend could be historical in terms of setting new school records."Erba and his staff of assistants have a group of 13 girls that will compete in today's state finals at Robert C. Haugh Track Complex on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.
Pole vault, long jump and the discus competition are scheduled for 3 p.m. while the high jump is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The shot put competition, which is the first event a Warsaw athlete will compete in, will begin at the conclusion of the discus competition.
Sophomore Sarah Shilling will represent the Tigers in the shot put, despite finishing fourth in last week's Bremen Regional, from which the top three teams or individuals in each event advanced to the state finals.
Three shot putters from each of eight regionals around the state qualified for today's meet. The IHSAA, then filled the field with the next three best distances from the regional, which qualified Shilling.
"Sarah is throwing better and better each meet," said Erba. "She's going to see some of the best throwers in the state. I'd love to see her make it to the finals, get three more throws and see what she can do."
In the running events, Erica Ridderman and Lauren Pridgen will compete in two events.
Ridderman will anchor the 3,200 relay team that finished first in the Bremen Regional with a time of 9:38.40.
Joining Ridderman on the the 3,200 relay team are Courtnie Lyke, Ahsley Henry and Cendall Ogle.
"I'd like to see the 4x800 go down to state and break the school record," said Erba. "I really think they can do great things this weekend, and if they do that, I think they can get a podium finish."
Individually, Ridderman will compete in the 1,600. She finished second in the event at last week's Bremen Regional with a time of 5:10.40.
Pridgen will compete in the 400, a highly-anticipated race in which she finished third at the regional, and then anchor the 1,600 relay team. She will be joined on the 4x400 by Sam Carter, Emily Hickerson and Leah Moore.
"Lauren Pridgen is the school record holder in the 400," said Erba. "So if she goes to state and breaks the school record, she's going to break her own school record, that would be special. She's running in lane nine in the fast heat. I think that will work out for her. I think she has a great chance of breaking her record. And if she does that, I think she'll be up on the podium."
Of the 1,600 relay team, Erba said, "They're not the fastest 4x400 relay team we've had, but they've shown steady improvement all season long. The way they've looked in practice, they're ready to go."
Erba said his team's hope was to leave Bloomington with medals in hand and school records in place.
