It's been a year of repetition for the Warsaw Tigers girls track team.
This season, Warsaw's already pulled off three-peats at the Churubusco Relays, the Kokomo Relays and the Northern Lakes Conference meet, and after last night, the Tigers are winners of back-to-back sectional titles."It's a nice reputation we're starting to build here," Warsaw coach Scott Erba said of his undefeated team. "Looking back and seeing what (former) coach (Viv) Eidemiller did here, and seeing the times and runs they had, we're bouncing back into that. I like that, I like that a lot."
In their latest victory, Warsaw piled up 152 points, crushing the competition, which was led by runner-up Elkhart Memorial's 105 points.
Having won most of their meets by racking up points outside of first place, the Tigers continued that at Tuesday's sectional, but added a few more first-place finishes than usual.
"We had a lot of first-place finishes tonight," Erba said of the six events his girls won. "The second girls in events also came in and scored points with a sixth place here or an eighth place here. Those points just start adding up by the end of the night."
Of Warsaw's six winners, senior Lauren Pridgen's winning time of :57.35 in the 400 may have been the biggest, breaking a school and meet record.
"I really just wanted to break the school record," Pridgen said. "I didn't want anything to stand in my way.
"But all the glory goes to God for that race," she added. "I pray before each race and there's no way I could have run that time without Him."
Going into the race, Goshen senior Kaila Stevens was the favorite, having already beaten Pridgen on April 24 in a three-way meet and again on May 6 at the NLC Meet.
After winning the NLC Meet in a time of 57.42, Stevens' thought at sectionals may have been on breaking the meet record of 57.90 set in 1992 by Elkhart Central's Carmen Macon. As it was, she did accomplish that feat, but Pridgen did as well, only faster.
"I just really like running against Kaila, because she was better than me and kept beating me," Pridgen said. "But each time, I got better. I was really glad for her, because she forced me to win - so to speak."
In their first race, Stevens defeated Pridgen 57.91-58.72 on April 24 and 57.42-58.24 on May 6, but on May 13, the Tiger earned her stripes.
"She's just running with a lot more confidence than she was earlier," Erba said of Pridgen.
"That was an amazing race, and we thought she had that capability," he added. "We think she can go pretty fast, and we've talked as a coaching staff about how fast she could go. It's a big question. It's just a question of how fast she thinks she can go."
On top of Pridgen's performance, Warsaw also received first-place finishes from its 3200 relay team of Courtnie Lyke, Ashley Henry, Lauren Smolen and Sena Muta, Erica Ridderman in the 1600, Corinne Coon in the 300 hurdles, Sarah Shilling in the shot put and Rachel Voorhorst in the long jump.
"I actually scratched on a couple of good jumps, but still had enough to win tonight," Voorhorst said after winning the long jump with distance of 16-9.
Going into Tuesday's Bremen Regional, Warsaw's record-holder in the long jump believes she may have what it takes to finish in the top three, advancing her to state.
"I feel really confident right now," Voorhorst said. "I think I can do well enough to get to state."
In order to qualify for the Bremen Regional, competitors needed to place in the top four at the Warsaw sectional, an accomplishment the Tigers did in 13 events. With that number of events to participate in, a regional championship is definitely in Warsaw's cross-hairs, but so is advancing individuals to the state meet.
"It's kind of a two-pronged attack, trying to advance as many girls as we can to state, be it in top three relays or top three individuals, and then, it's a matter of scoring additional points by people outside of the top three so we can score enough points for another regional title," Erba said about the possibility of repeating as regional champions after tying South Bend Clay a year ago.
Representing the Tigers in the regional pole vault competition will be senior Megan Kammerer, who set a new school record at sectionals, clearing 9-6. Other regional qualifiers for Warsaw are: Megan Runkel (200); Cendall Ogle (1600, 800); the 400 relay team of Emily Hickerson, Voorhorst, Mercedes Plummer and Hannah Kammerer; Sam Carter (400); Ridderman (800); the 1600 relay team of Carter, Hickerson, Leah Moore and Pridgen; Abby Pratt (high jump); Megan Davis (discus); and Kenna Neher (shot put).
The Wawasee Warriors will have one representative at the regional, with sophomore Crystal DeLaFuente placing third in the sectional in the 200.
WARSAW SECTIONAL
Team Scores - Warsaw 152, Elkhart Memorial 105, Northridge 84.5, Goshen 77, Elkhart Central 67, Concord 46.5, Fairfield 35.5, Wawaseee 27, NorthWood 21.5, Jimtown 8
