NAPPANEE – The Warsaw boys cross country team took a huge step towards a Northern Lakes Conference championship Tuesday evening.

In a clash of top 20 teams, the Tigers topped Northridge in a key NLC triangular at the Callander Sportsplex.

Star Ellis Coon led the way for Warsaw by winning the boys’ race in a time of 16:27.

The No. 11 Tigers beat the No. 18 Raiders 23-32 and also topped host NorthWood 15-48 to improve to 4-0 in the NLC.

Warsaw will complete the NLC regular season versus host Concord and Plymouth at Ox Bow Park on Oct. 1. The NLC Meet is scheduled for Oct. 5, also at Ox Bow Park in Elkhart.

Warsaw got great performances from the quartet of Tyler Houvener, Daniel Messenger, Owen Glogovsky and Nick Bergen in the pair of wins.  The foursome placed fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the race in times of 17:01, 17:02, 17:02 and 17:03 respectively.

Jonathan Beres placed 12th overall in a time of 17:58 and Avery Torres was 16th overall in a time of 18:14 to complete the top seven runners for coach Jim Mills’ talented team.

Warsaw won the NLC title last fall and went on to place fourth at the State Finals at season’s end.

The Tigers will compete in the New Prairie Invitational Saturday and then host NLC foe Wawasee on Tuesday at WCHS.

Warsaw Ladies Go 1-1

The Warsaw girls cross country squad went 1-1 in action in Nappanee Tuesday.

No. 13 Northridge topped the Tigers 23-36, while Warsaw beat NorthWood 15-48. Northridge stopped the host Panthers 15-50.

Freshman Allison Miller posted the first victory of her prep career to lead the Tigers. Miller covered the course in a top time of 19:22.

Brooke Rhodes placed fifth overall in a time of 20:38. Madeline Hooks was seventh in 21:13, with Lauren Orr 12th in 22:05 and Claire Kehler 13th in 22:12.

Hannah Thompson captured 15th place in a time of 22:17 and Emma Lemon was 16th in 22:27 for Warsaw.

Personal-best times were posted by Rhodes, Orr, Lemon, Michaela Roark (22:34) and Victoria Rios-Rivas (27:42). Season-best times Tuesday were recorded by Kehler, Emma Lehman (27:25) and Courtney Etchison (25:40).

Warsaw coach Scott Erba’s team is now 3-1 in NLC action. The Tigers face host Concord and Plymouth on Oct. 1 at Ox Bow Park to wrap up the NLC regular season.

Warsaw competes Saturday in the New Prairie Invitational and then hosts league foe Wawasee Tuesday at WCHS.