The Warsaw boys cross country team takes off at the start of the race Tuesday night in Goshen.

GOSHEN – The Warsaw boys cross country program worked long and hard to get to the top of the Northern Lakes Conference in recent years.

That run of success came to an end Tuesday night.

The Tigers, who have had a season filled with ups and downs due to injuries and illness,   were knocked from the top of the league with a loss to Goshen.

The host Redskins defeated Warsaw 22-33 and Elkhart Memorial 23-32 in the final NLC triangular of the regular season at Shanklin Park.

Goshen claims the NLC regular season title at 7-0. Warsaw, which did top Memorial 25-32, finishes at 6-1.

Owen Glogovsky nears the finish line for the Tigers.

Warsaw coach Jim Mills warned his team that they better perform well Tuesday night or it could be a long bus ride back home.

The message was not received by much of the Warsaw lineup, according to their visibly frustrated coach after the final conference regular season meet.

“This team is just not competing,” said an agitated Mills. “They were just out running tonight. That’s discouraging.

“I just want to see these guys compete and right now they are not responding. The NLC is not the main thing, but it’s how hard we worked to get it (three NLC titles in a row). That’s what makes this frustrating.”

The Redskins took the meet with a 1-2 finish. Gerardo Abad won the race in 16:36 with Shawn Graves second for coach Mike Wynn’s team.

Junior Owen Glogovsky was third overall to lead the Tigers. Glogovsky finished in 16:59, but was slowed as he had to stop and retreat after missing a flag on the course.

Senior Daniel Messenger was fourth overall in 17:09 for Warsaw. Jonathan Beres was eighth in 17:18, with TJ Day 13th in 17:37 and Lucas Howett 14th in 17:51 to complete the top five for the Tigers.

Senior Nick Bergen, who has missed most of the season due to an ankle injury, returned for the Tigers. Bergen, who is one of four returnees from last year’s lineup at the State Finals, placed 17th in a time of 18:01.

“There’s no question that when you lose Nick (one of our top three runners) that it hurts our whole team psychologically,” said Mills. “But, someone has to step up for us and no one has. To some of our guys this is really important. To others, it isn’t.”

Avery Torres was 15th in a time of 17:53 and Jacob DeBoest 16th in 17:58 for Warsaw. Jacob Adley placed 18th in 18:04 and Cameron Hoskins 20th in 18:19.

Also competing gor Warsaw were Nathaniel Gottschalk, Matt Hastings, Nathan Miller, Trent Thompson, Eric Cusick, Taylor Mills, Evan Monsma, Sam Yeager, Evan Hansen, Trent Shepherd, Nate Mills, Michael Blue, Conner Hershberger, Kennis Dye, Justin Flemming, Caleb Remocaldo, Kyle Hayward, Erik Williamson, Christian Kosins, Riley Hogenson, Luke Junker, Nicholas Hawn, Reece Cripe, Jacob Dachenhaus, Jared Gudeman and Alex Bergen.

Warsaw will compete in the NLC Meet on Saturday at Ox Bow Park in Dunlap.

Daniel Messenger relaxes after completing the race.