Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw hosted rival Wawasee in a Northern Lakes Conference wrestling dual Thursday evening, with the Tigers coming out big winners, 60-17.
Wawasee gave up five forfeits, while Warsaw gave up only one. On the mat, the Tigers won six of the eight matches.
After forfeits were awarded to Warsaw in the first two weight classes, Chase Davis (119) of Wawasee earned a technical fall against Josh Flannery, amassing a score of 21-4.
Three more forfeits were handed to the Tigers and then Warsaw's Adam Keener (140) tussled with Ethan Jessie through most of three periods before squeezing out a fall with a tight headlock at the 5:05 mark.
Next, Andy Keener (145) also notched a fall for the Tigers, sticking Josh Vallejo in 2:56.
Warsaw gave up a forfeit at 152 pounds, then Blake Deaton (160) met the Warriors' Justin Wegener. Deaton was up 8-1 going into the third period when Wegener came up with a flurry of takedowns to narrow the gap. Deaton took control with a takedown of his own to seal the win 12-7.
Tom Lowe (171) of Warsaw is healthy again and spent period one administering a headlock to Jason Beer.
In the second period and again in the third period the scrappy Warrior fought through deep half-nelsons, but Lowe finally found a pinning combination that worked, nailing Beer in the final minute.
Taylor Julian (189) pinned Wawasee's Tom Schwartz, putting him to his back with an old fashioned bulldog at 2:24.
Evan Readle (215) tangled with Braxton Riley and the two traded takedowns through three periods. Readle came out the 8-7 winner after he was awarded a controversial score at the edge of mat with just his toes inbounds.
Richard Lechlitner (275) closed out the night with a second win for the Warriors, pinning Hans Sale in 1:19.
Scott DeHart, who returned as head of the Warriors after a seven-year absence, said, "We are doing well, but we can't expect much giving up so many weight classes. We are putting things together and learning how to work."
Warsaw coach Tony Boley said, "Although we only wrestled eight matches, I thought we came out with some good intensity. Overall we made some improvements from the last time we wrestled, absolutely."
The Warriors are 0-3 in the NLC and 0-9 on the season. The next event for Wawasee is their own invitational tournament Saturday.
Warsaw stands at 8-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Last week's Plymouth match, postponed due to weather, is rescheduled for Jan. 3. Meanwhile, the Tigers next travel to Penn Saturday for a six-way dual meet.
WARSAW 60, WAWASEE 17
103 - Justin Brooks (War) ff
112 - Steven Palladino (War) ff
119 - Chase Davis (Wawa) def. Josh Flannery, 21-4 tech fall
125 - Jerry Belcher (War) ff
130 - Nick Missos (War) ff
135 - Matt Elvidge (War) ff
140 - Adam Keener (War) pinned Ethan Jessie (Waw), 5:05
145 - Andy Keener (War) pinned Josh Vallejo (Waw), 2:56
152 - Aaron McKibben (Waw) ff
160 - Blake Deaton (War) def. Justin Wegener (Waw), 12-7
171 - Tom Lowe (War) pinned Jason Beer (Waw), 5:02
189 - Taylor Julian (War) pinned Tom Schwartz (Waw), 2:24
215 - Evan Readle (War) def. Braxton Riley (Waw), 8-7
275 - Richard Lechlitner (Waw) pinned Hans Sale (War), 1:19
