Tigers Continue NLC Track Dominance
WARSAW – Matt Thacker knows he’s in an enviable position as the coach of the deep and talented Warsaw boys track team.
Things are so good for the Tigers right now that Thacker has to try and nitpick to find something wrong with his superior squad.
A nice problem to have and a position any coach would love to be in for sure.
The No. 8 Tigers continued their dominance over the rest of the Northern Lakes Conference in impressive fashion again Thursday night.
Warsaw, despite taking their foot off the gas pedal due to another meet Friday night, defeated Plymouth 98-34 and Concord 102-30 in league action at the Tiger Athletic Complex. Plymouth topped Concord 74-57.
The Tigers won 10 events to run their season and NLC mark to a perfect 5-0. Warsaw will look to finish the dual meet portion of the NLC undefeated on Wednesday night at Elkhart Memorial before hosting the NLC Meet on May 7.
“Our goal every year is to win the NLC and go undefeated in the NLC,” said Thacker, whose squad won both NLC and sectional championships in 2012. “That’s No. 1 on our list. It all starts there.”
The usual star suspects posted wins Thursday night for the Tigers as in senior Wyatt Jones (100), senior Robert Murphy (3,200),senior Jake Poyner (1,600), junior Ryan Goon (300 hurdles), senior Nathan Kolbe (200) and junior Stephen Kolbe (high jump).
Warsaw, who will host its own Max Truex Invitational Friday night, also had several young guys shine on the varsity level. Junior Ismael Calderon won the 800 in a time of 2:04.27 and also teamed with sophomores Michael Compton and Daniel Messenger and junior Tyler Houvener to win the 4 X 800 relay event in a time of 8:51.24.
“Tonight was really a great meet for us to continue to develop our team depth by having some of our younger guys compete on the varsity level,” noted Thacker. “It was really a prep day for us to get ready for a big meet Friday night. Our main goal tonight was to stay healthy. That’s the nature of the best when you have meets on back-to-back nights like we do.”
Warsaw also got a win from junior Jeffery Coulter in the pole vault as he cleared 11-6.
The Tigers also won the 4 X 100 relay as Jones teamed with Nathan Kolbe and juniors Gabe Furnivall and Tristan McClone for a top time of 44.17.
Stephen Kolbe, who tied for sixth place at the State Finals in the high jump in 2012, returned after missing Monday’s win over Northridge due to illness.
The Tigers were still without standout distance ace Ellis Coon Thursday. The junior has been sidelined for the last two weeks due to a foot injury and Thacker does not expect him to compete Friday night.
Jones won the 100 in 11.35, while Murphy took honors in the 3,200 in 10:21.23, Poyner prevailed in the 1,600 in 4:42.29, Goon took first in the 300 hurdles in 41.83 and Nathan Kolbe won the 200 in 23.37.
Stephen Kolbe cleared 6-2 to win the high jump competition.
Second-place finishers for Warsaw were Taylor Cone (110 hurdles), Chad Goon (400), Dylan Campbell (300 hurdles), Messenger (800), Furnivall (200), Brock Riley (high jump), Muhammed Fayed (pole vault), Alex Wilkie (long jump) and its 4 X 400 relay team of Landon Perry, Compton, Taylor Anderson and Ryan Goon.
The Tigers also got third-place performances from Campbell (110 hurdles), McClone (100), Nicholas Bergen (1,600), Houvener (800), Owen Glogovsky (3,200), David Goon (high jump), Nathan Kolbe (long jump) and Andrew Scheidt (discus).
Winners in JV events for Warsaw were Christopher Hastings (800), Daniel Chalmers (200) and the 4 X 100 relay team of Brock Riley, Mario Flores, Luis Flores and Alex Goshert.
Warsaw will host the Max Truex Invitational Friday night. Field events begin at 6 p.m. with the first running event at 6:30.