Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Several area businesses sport a poster with the members of the Warsaw wrestling team sitting on the wing of an airplane along with the words "Fly With Best."
Teams who have competed against the Tigers this season have realized that the saying on the poster may very well be true this year. After finishing the regular season 65-7 last year and losing Joey Navarro (275) and Isaac Perry (171) to graduation as well as four other wrestlers who decided not to join the team, the Warsaw squad was not expected to be at the top of the heap this season.
However, the Tigers exceeded everyone's expectations by finishing the season 13-3 and putting six wrestlers in the sectionals at the No. 1 seed.
"Actually, I think these kids have overachieved," said Warsaw coach Tony Boley. "This group has been a lot of fun to work with. Not only did we lose Joey and Isaac, four kids decided not to wrestle. Then we had three other kids who wrestled varsity last year but did not make varsity this year.
"We have nine new faces on the varsity including four freshmen, and they are each in the sectional. As a matter of fact Kyle Boley, at 130, is 19-8 and the No. 1 seed. I have been really pleased with the way our freshmen and sophomores and JV wrestlers have come around."
This year's Warsaw Sectional will be a young one with 10 freshmen slated to wrestle. While Warsaw has the most freshmen competing in the sectional with four, Tippecanoe Valley has three ninth-graders on its postseason roster. Triton has two freshmen and Plymouth has one.
In all, Warsaw has six No. 1 seeds in the sectional, Anthony Boley (119), Kyle Boley (130), Nick McKinley (152), Nate Milton (14-4), Richard Wolfe (171) and Kris Hueber (215). Triton is next with four No. 1 seeds, Justin Scott (103), Tim Zick (112), Eric Lemler (125) and Tate Chapman (145). Tippecanoe Valley (Kevin Day, 140, and Tyler Kottkamp, 171) and Plymouth (Chris Hutchinson, 135, and Evan Flora, 275) round out the sectional with two No. 1 seeds each.
Although Warsaw is a fairly young team on paper, the Tigers have gotten what every team needs from their seniors -Êleadership. Warsaw's three seniors, Milton, Wolfe and Hueber are all No. 1 seeds and have winning records for the season. Milton is 14-4, while Wolfe is 24-5. Hueber finished the regular season with an impressive 25-3 mark.
"I have been able to count on the seniors all year," said Boley. "We have had to juggle the lineups in some meets, but we could always count on them to come through when we've asked."
Along with begin able to count on its seniors in tough situations, Boley feels his team holds another advantage in general competition -Êconditioning.
"The kids have responded very well to coaching," said Boley. "They are is such great shape. They have worked hard in practice, and that has paid off in matches. When our kids come off the mat, they have worked hard, but they are not breathing hard. Our wrestlers like going to the third period and overtime in matches. I think we definitely have the advantage the longer we go in a match."
However, Boley still considers last year's sectional champion, Plymouth, the favorite.
"The team to beat is Plymouth," said Boley. Being from the NLC, they are used to tough competition."
But the Tigers are doing the same thing that they have done all year to prepare for the sectional.
"We don't concentrate on our opponent as much as we work on ourselves," said Boley. "Our philosophy is that we'll beat you in the practice room."
The Tigers hope that philosophy will work and keep them "flying with the best" through the entire postseason.
WARSAW SECTIONAL
9:30 a.m. Saturday
Competing schools: Plymouth, Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Warsaw
Last year's team champion: Warsaw
First round matches with wrestlers and their records
103 pounds -ÊJustin Scott (27-6/TRI) vs. forfeit; Kevin Jackson (6-9/PLY) vs. Robert Raymer (9-15/WAR)
112 -ÊTim Zick (25-6/TRI) vs. forfeit; Phillip Anuta (4-17/WAR) vs. Brandon Shanks (17-7/PLY)
119 -ÊAnthony Boley (21-6/WAR) vs. Rusty Heckaman (24-2/TRI); Glen RInger (17-7/PLY) vs. Lance Bailey (18-15/TV)
125 -ÊEric Lemler (30-2/TRI) vs. forfeit; Tanner Connealy (18-11/WAR) vs. Alex Uceny (18-7/PLY)
130 -ÊKyle Boley (19-8/WAR) vs. William Anderson (16-11/TRI); Ryan Clewell (8-3/PLY) vs. Josh VanCleave (13-8/TV)
135 -ÊChris Hutchinson (20-3/PLY) vs. Nathan Vining (7-24/TRI); Nathan Shewman (20-5/TV) vs. Adam Bott (18-10/WAR)
140 -ÊKevin Day (22-4/TV) vs. Rod Kreft (12-18/TRI); Matt Reed (9-11/PLY) vs. John Milton (19-9/WAR)
145 -ÊTate Chapman (26-5/TRI) vs. Chris Hurd (9-17/TV); Keegan Campbell (8-14/PLY) vs. Brandon Cordell (9-11/WAR)
152 -ÊNick McKinley (8-14/WAR) vs. Matt Sitts (4-9/TV); Nathan Bieszka (5-11/PLY) vs. Chad Bradley (12-14/TRI)
160 -ÊNate Milton (14-4/WAR) vs. Derek Bussard (10-15/TV); Tom Bryan (2-4/TRI) vs. Chris May (12-10/PLY)
171 -ÊRichard Wolfe (24-5/WAR) vs. Chad Martin (0-18/PLY); Nathan Ulmer (7-21/TRI) vs. Jake Long (17-13/TV)
189 -ÊTyler Kottkamp (24-2/TV) vs. Tyler Miller (8-10/WAR); Joe Quintana (9-12/PLY) vs. Lee Ulmer (14-11/TRI)
215 -ÊKris Heuber (25-3/WAR) vs. Aaron Trieschman (4-12/TRI); Josh Hemingway (11-13/TV) vs. Mark Palbykin (21-2/PLY)
275 -ÊEvan Flora (15-6/PLY) vs. Chris Reeser (12-17/TV); Ryan Trieschman (9-14/TRI) vs. David Ferguson (15-11/WAR)
MANCHESTER SECTIONAL
9:30 a.m. Saturday
Competing schools -ÊNorthfield, North Miami, Peru, Wabash, Whitko
Last year's champion - Peru
First round matches with wrestlers and their records
103 pounds -ÊNic May (41-0/PERU) vs. forfeit; Travis Fitzpatrick (9-17/NM) bye; Josh Weidner (20-11/WAB) vs. forfeit; Eric Camden (18-2/WH)
112 -ÊMark Hileman (24-0/NM) vs. Russell Larkin (2-2/NF); Grant Eberly (12-17/MAN) bye; Jerry Goshert (12-17/MAN) bye; Nathan Weidner (10-17/WAB) vs. Jason Loe (24-8/WH)
119 -ÊDrew Nye (30-10/PERU) vs. Darren Lahrman (9-16/MAN); Steve Myers (15-12/NF) bye; Andrew Goble (18-17/WH) bye; forfeit vs. Kyle Dunphy (15-10/NM)
125 -ÊBret Nye (29-4) bye; Brook Sarver (9-18/NM) vs. Jared Mann (16-13/NF); Brandon Schrader (17-12/WH) vs. forfeit; Dustin Burke (19-8/MAN) bye
130 -ÊJared Ford (14-14/NF) bye; Ben Hoeppner (10-22/PERU) vs. forfeit; Ryan Shockey (14-16/MAN) vs. Adam Werner (6-19/NM); Terry Campbell (12-11/WH)
135 -ÊShawn Miracle (23-9/WAB) vs. Brandon Coppernoll (6-14/PERU); Jared Mobley (9-16/MAN) bye; Tyler Smith (19-6/NM) vs. Justin Conley (3-13/WH); Tyler Niccum (25-3/NF) bye
140 -ÊDavid Hoover (17-2/PERU) bye; Kory Vanderford (2-9/WH) vs. Isaac Mobley (8-5/MAN); Doug White (25-10/WAB) vs. Paul Deeds (6-20/NM); Andy Johnson (20-11/NF)
145 -ÊBen Jamison (38-4/PERU) bye; Derek Palmer (12-20/WAB) vs. Joel Schrader (11-8/WH); Josh Staton (11-5/MAN) bye; Tom Penn (7-13/NM) vs. Eric Highley (22-7/NF)
152 -ÊLucas Zapf (21-6/MAN) bye; Zach Week (3-28/WH) vs. Ryan Kendall (11-9/NM); Nathaniel Diener (16-14/NF) vs. Colin Gray (7-13/PERU); Kyle Evans (29-4/WAB)
160 -ÊRyan Horton (33-7/PERU) vs. Dustin Westafer (13-15/MAN); Doug Pennington (15-10/NF) bye; Lee Hall (17-11/NM) vs. Mike Bain (10-17/WAB); Troy Grube (26-6/WH) bye
171 -ÊMatt Rhodes (23-5/MAN) bye; Derek Nolley (6-19/NM) vs. Robert Lafollette (10-15/WH); Brandon Emry (6-14/NF) vs. Bryan Bartoo (4-29/WAB); Matt Swavey (20-22/PERU) bye
189 -ÊDerek Kellems (17-16/PERU) vs. Kyle Powers (0-3/MAN); Isaac Harp (7-15/NM) bye; Brent McKillip (7-16/NF) bye; Nick Sprunger (19-14/WH)
215 -ÊDerrick Lamaster (26-15/PERU) vs. David Porter (14-20/WAB); Kris White (4-9/NF) bye; Chirs Juricak (12-9/WH) bye; Paul Sommer (10-17/MAN) vs. Max Click (16-7/NM)
275 -ÊMichael McNear (14-13/NF) bye; Brian Sharp (2-6/PERU) vs/ Nelson Ringle (13-15/WH); Eavn Kreig (1-8/NM) bye; Forfeit vs. Nick Kopkey (9-20/MAN)
EAST NOBLE SECTIONAL
9:30 a.m. Saturday
Competing schools -ÊCentral Noble, DeKalb, East Noble, Wawasee, West Noble, Westview
Last year's champion - Wawasee
First-round matches with wrestlers and their records
103 pounds -ÊEric Vallejo (20-7/WAW) draws a bye; Kenton Miller (7-16/DEK) vs. forfeit; Heath Colbourne (27-7/CN) vs. forfeit; Josh McGrew (16-8/EN) draws a bye
112 -ÊMichael Buchmeier (30-3/CN) vs. forfeit; Jordan Spaw (9-14/EN) vs. forfeit; Deme Vallejo (17-9/WAW) draws a bye
119 -ÊJustin May (21-2/DEK) draws a bye; Jason Crabill (5-26/WV) vs. Mike Ratton (9-10/WN); Brian Buchmeier (24-11/CN) draws a bye; Simon Hernandez (7-12/WAW) vs. Tyler Ernsberger (8-15/EN)
125 -ÊAndy Uhl (25-0/EN) draws a bye; Jess Pounds (2-11/WN) vs. forfeit; Nate Shockley (3-13/DEK) draws a bye; Josh DeGood (21-7/WAW) vs. forfeit
130 -ÊJosh Earhart (9-4/EN) vs. forfeit; Jeremy Crager (0-10/DEK) draws a bye; Ben Byall (1-5/WN) draws a bye; Trevor Brown (6-12/WAW) vs. forfeit
135 -ÊMike Hanlin (15-13/WAW) vs. forfeit; Chris Shearer (3-19/WN) draws a bye; Brock Ungerer (3-13/DEK) draws a bye; Ross Hyndman (1-25/CN) vs. Anthony Mangona (9-14/EN)
140 -ÊPaul Rouch (14-9/EN) vs. Dan Scribner (0-13/DEK); Tyler Gray (7-21/CN) draws a bye; Ryan Stickler (17-18/WV) draws a bye; German Vallejo (12-10) WAW vs. forfeit
145 -ÊJosh Roa (23-3/WAW) draws a bye; Jeremy Nicodemus (18-17/CN) vs. forfeit; Joe Rlecke (6-8/DEK) vs. forfeit; Tom Merriman (9-9/EN) draws a bye
152 -ÊJustin Scheumann (19-5/DEK) draws a bye; Jim Merriman (6-13/EN) vs. forfeit; Chad Christlieb (25-5/WN) vs. Matthew Rice (7-17/CN); Grant Gibson (19-8/WAW) draws a bye
160 -ÊMatt Stump (19-15/CN) vs. Adam Lambright (6-11/WV); Brandon Duhamell (4-10/DEK) draws a bye; Lucas Speakman (8-15/WAW) vs. forfeit; Chris Carpenter (4-3/EN) draws a bye
171 -ÊJerod Agler (23-5/CN) draws a bye; Les Lottes (1-9/EN) vs. Mark Feltz (3-5/WV); Tim Poppenfoose (6-17/WAW) draws a bye; Jonas Frost (4-15/WN) vs. Brant Walker (8-15/DEK)
189 -ÊNick Hoover (24-6/WN) draws a bye; Kevin Chester (3-24/CN) vs. Josh McDowd (5-17/DEK); Joe Jarrett (10-10/EN) draws a bye; Nick Hanlin (4-109/WAW) vs. Keith Gingerich (22-13/WV)
215 -ÊThad Conley (22-3/EN) vs. Austin Pender (2-8/CN); Austin Nine (5-17/WAW) draws a bye; David Valez (4-7/DEK) draws a bye; Willie Bontrager (17-12/WV) vs. forfeit
275 -ÊTaylor Treesh (18-7/DEK) vs. Jason Koontz (1-2/WN); Darrin Taylor (7-8/EN) draws a bye; Lincoln Napier (7-6/CN) draws a bye; Sam Watkins (5-16/WAW) vs. Nic Hedges (6-4/WV)
