Warsaw Ladies Complete NLC Perfection
GOSHEN – Warsaw girls cross country coach Matt Campbell said earlier this season that his talented team deserved to be ranked among the state’s best.
The Tigers continue to prove that their coach was right.
Warsaw put an exclamation point on an unbeaten run through the Northern Lakes Conference in impressive fashion Tuesday night.
The Tigers, who checked in at No. 7 in this week’s coaches poll, showcased their depth up and down the roster once again in topping host Goshen and Elkhart Memorial in the final NLC regular season meet at Shanklin Park.
Warsaw, despite sitting out three of its top runners, defeated the Redskins 19-41 and the Crimson Chargers 20-49. Goshen beat Memorial 20-43 to finish 5-2 in the NLC.
Campbell, who is running the program this fall as head coach Scott Erba takes a year off, was a happy man after another stellar effort from his unselfish team.
“This means a lot to us,” said Campbell of going 7-0 in the NLC. “These girls have been working a long time for this and everything is paying off. They all are on board. It’s a group who cares about their teammates and has self-pride.
“It’s not hard to coach the depth we have. They are all great girls and the biggest things is that all of them contribute.
“I had a lot of confidence in them going into the season. I knew we were going to be a lot deeper this year.”
Campbell opted to sit out the talented trio of Allison Miller, Anna Craig and Hannah Dawson Tuesday night to rest them for the NLC Meet on Saturday. The Tigers were also coming off an outstanding sixth place finish Saturday in the Elite Division of the Culver Academies Invitational. Sophomore Miller placed 12th overall in the loaded race in a personal best time.
Warsaw, which boasts talent up and down its young roster, did not miss a beat.
Emma Hayward was the first Tiger to cross the finish line, taking second place overall. The junior clocked in at 19:55.
Memorial standout Brooke Moore, who placed 15th at the State Finals a year ago, dominated the girls race with a winning effort of 18:46.
Junior Brooke Rhodes was right behind Hayward for Warsaw, finishing in third place overall in 20:01. Freshman Mia Beckham was fifth in 20:15 with junior Claire Kehler sixth in 20:16. Sophomore Charlene Orr completed the scoring top five as she was eighth in 20:28.
“Emma had an opportunity to lead us tonight and did a good job and Brooke took care of business,” Campbell said. “Claire had a huge PR tonight and Mia continues to be very consistent for us.”
Sophomore Lauren Orr was ninth in 20:53 and Kendra Paton 11th in 21:35 for the Tigers.
Also placing in the top 25 for Warsaw were Hannah Thompson in 12th (21:39), Mallory Hooks in 15th (22:08), Liza Lewis in 19th (22:38), Meredith Phipps in 20th (22:45) and Michaela Roark in 22nd (22:48).
Other runners for the Tigers were Taylor Strickler, Sierra Palmer, Shyanne McFadden, Daisie Poe, Susie Pizano, Claire Rich, Alexis Winters, Amber Hagan, Aubrey Doyle, Kaitlyn Still, Natalie Nichols and Emily Shepherd.
Warsaw will compete in the NLC Meet on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at Ox Bow Park in Dunlap.