Warsaw Wrestlers Win Sectional

Somewhat battered and bruised, the Warsaw wrestling team still put together a gutsy performance in claiming its second straight Warsaw Sectional title Saturday at the Tiger Den.

The Tigers entered the sectional without the services of 103-pounder Scott Snyder, who has a broken hand suffered against Goshen. Then Warsaw lost Greg Patrick (130), who suffered a concussion in a loss to Triton's Josh Hooley in the first round.

That put Warsaw without two of its best wrestlers heading into the championship and consolation finals. The place where precious points toward the team championship are earned. Snyder and Patrick sported a combined record of 43-13 on the season.

Despite the setbacks, the Tigers put together a display of desire and guts in the finals and came up with eight individual champions, holding off Northern Lakes Conference-rival Plymouth 223-198 1/2. Triton was third with 84, and Valley was fourth with 44.

The winning point total was the most for a Warsaw team in the history of the sectional, dating back to 1980. It is second-behind Plymouth's 228.5 in 1996.

"We had a dogfight with Plymouth," Warsaw coach Tony Boley said. "We really had to step it up."

No place was Warsaw's determination more evident than Matt Zellers win at 152, Chris Wilson's win at 160 and Steve Fribley's victory at 189.

Tied at 1-1 heading into overtime, Zellers, who has been wrestling at 145 pounds all year, came up with a big takedown for the 3-1 win in the sudden death format. Fribley trailed Plymouth's Andy Barker 9-1 early in the third period, and it didn't look good for the Tiger junior. But Fribley turned the tide on Barker, coming up with a pin at the 4:45 mark. Fribley turned a possible major decision loss to a pin, which meant a big swing in the team points.

Wilson beat Josh Georgen of Plymouth after already having lost to Georgen earlier this year.

"There were a lot of important matches," Boley said. "Individuals who don't get pinned and stay out of trouble, that makes a difference. It was a good effort by the Tigers, and we are looking forward to going to the team regional. We will go up there and give it our best."

Other champions for the Tigers were: Adam Harter (112), Tim Roe (119), Robbie Boley (125), Aaron Banks (140) and Cory Patrick (145).

It was the makings of dual meet for the Tigers and Pilgrims as the two teams had eight head-to-head matchups in the finals. Warsaw came out ahead in that with a 5-3 advantage in wins.

"In the finals, it was very important that we pin when we could, especially going up against Plymouth," Boley said. "There were so many head-to-head matchups. It was very important that we won when we faced Plymouth in the finals."

Warsaw will face Jimtown in the Jimtown Team Regional on Wednesday. On Saturday, the Tigers will send 11 individual wrestlers to the Goshen Individual Regional.

WARSAW 223, PLYMOUTH 198 1/2,

TRITON 84, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 44

Results of championship matches

103 - Glenn Ringer (Ply) def. Scott Snyder (War), injury default

112 - Adam Harter (War) won by forfeit

119 - Tim Roe (War) pinned David Garza (Ply), 1:53

125 - Robbie Boley (War) def. Brandon Chapman (Tri), injury default

130 - Joe Binfet (Ply) def. Josh Hooley (Tri), 3-2

135 - Andy DeWitt (Ply) pinned Matt Wanemacher (Tri), 1:25

140 - Aaron Banks (War) pinned John Funk (Ply), 5:07

145 - Cory Patrick (War) pinned Ben Rader (Ply), 1:48

152 - Matt Zellers (War) def. Jason Arvesen (Ply), 3-1 (OT)

160 - Chris Wilson (War) def. Josh Georgen (Ply), 6-4

171 - Matt Arvesen (Ply) pinned Marvin Farmer (War), 2:43

189 - Steve Fribley (War) pinned Mark Wortley (TV), 4:45

215 - David Cook (Ply) def. Steve McKinley (War), 7-1

275 - Dan Denaut (Ply) def. Joey Navarro (War), :22

Final standings of weight classes

103 - 1. Glenn Ringer (Ply), 6-10; 2. Scott Snyder (War), 20-7

112 - 1. Adam Harter (War), 10-6

119 - 1. Tim Roe (War), 25-7; 2. David Garza (Ply), 7-16

125 - 1. Robbie Boley (War), 30-3; 2. Brandon Chapman (Tri), 27-5; 3. Chris Glaub (Ply), 7-16; 4. Nathan Shewman (TV), 13-14

130 - 1. Joe Binfet (Ply), 22-0; 2. Josh Hooley (Tri), 28-5; 3. Kevin Miller (TV), 7-25; 4. Greg Patrick (War), 23-9

135 - 1. Andy DeWitt (Ply), 18-4; 2. Matt Wannemacher (Tri), 19-14; 3. Jay Hammer (War), 11-13

140 - 1. Aaron Banks (War), 30-5; 2. John Funk (Ply), 10-9; 3. Ryan Kauffman (Tri), 12-8

145 - 1. Cory Patrick (War), 10-3; 2. Ben Rader (Ply) 10-13; 3. Nick Heckaman (Tri), 17-17

152 - 1. Matt Zellers (War), 28-3; 2. Jason Arvesen (Ply), 20-2; 3. Willie Holland (Tri), 17-14; 4. Josh Hill (TV), 10-21

160 - 1. Chris Wilson (War), 26-6; 2. Josh Georgen (Ply), 8-8; 3. David Reese (TV), 19-6; 4. Dustin Bradley (Tri), 10-6

171 - 1. Matt Arvesen (Ply), 21-2; 2. Marvin Farmer (War), 20-13; 3. Jared Faulkner (Tri), 9-22; 4. Mike McNeal (TV), 19-12

189 - 1. Steve Fribley (War), 24-9; 2. Mark Wortley (TV), 14-10; 3. Andy Barker (Ply), 10-10; 4. Jason Brown (Tri), 12-13

215 - 1. David Cook (Ply), 17-3; 2. Steve McKinley (War), 12-14

275 - 1. Dan Denaut (Ply), 23-0; 2. Joey Navarro (War), 14-12