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As fifth-year Warsaw boys track coach Troy Akers says, his team is now in the third phase of the season.
The first was the indoor season. Then came the regular season. And now comes the state tournament.
Reading Akers' mind Tuesday afternoon while his team practiced at Lakeview Middle School was as easy as reading the two words printed in black on his gray T-shirt - "Think State."
After cruising to its fourth consecutive undefeated season and winning its 29th consecutive dual/triangular meet, Warsaw enters Thursday's Goshen Sectional with its eyes on the sectional championship.
Akers' only sectional title with Warsaw came in 1998. A mishap with Elkhart Central in the 1600 relay, the meet's final event, cost the Tigers a sectional championship last year. Warsaw hasn't forgotten, but this year Elkhart Memorial is who Akers is looking out for.
"I think it'll be us and Elkhart Memorial," Akers said. "It's a toss-up when you look at the seeds. They squeaked past us at the East Noble Relays by five points. Another team that might squeak in there is Fairfield. I read the other day where they've won 29 consecutive meets as well. They've had quite a run."
The complete 11-team Goshen Sectional field includes Concord, Elkhart Memorial, Elkhart Central, Fairfield, Goshen, Howe Military, Jimtown, Northridge, NorthWood, Wawasee and the 12th-ranked Tigers.
At Plymouth, Tippecanoe Valley, Manchester, Whitko and Triton will compete in an 11-team field with Caston, Culver Community, Culver Military, Northfield, Oregon-Davis, Plymouth and Rochester.
Warsaw enters tommorrow's sectional with five individuals or relay teams seeded first.
In the field events, senior Brent Satterley is the top seed in the shot put, while junior Adam Bott is seeded first in the long jump. Senior Jon Dock is seeded first in the 800, while the 400 and 1600 relay teams are seeded first as well.
The Tigers are seeded second and third in the high jump with junior Brad Seiss and senior Arnell Frantz. Seiss is also seeded fourth in the 200.
Brothers Ryan and Cory Hill are seeded fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 110 hurdles, while Cory is seeded second in the 300 hurdles and junior Grady Randall third.
In the discus, seniors Ryan Brennan and Jarod Leasure are seeded second and fourth.
"Either one of those guys could win," Akers said. "We hope to get a bunch of points in the field events and be on a roll going into the running events."
Field events at the Goshen Sectional start at 5 p.m., while field events at the Plymouth get underway at 5:30 p.m.
The sectional championship team as well as the top four individuals or teams in each of the 16 events advance to the regional round. Those who make the state standard time or distance move on as well.
