Warsaw Basks In Glow Again [VIDEO]
CULVER – Under a beautiful fall sky in the land of Lake Maxinkuckee, Warsaw started its state cross country journey with a bang Saturday morning. The Warsaw girls were dominant, placing all seven of its runners in the top 15 while the boys had a dogfight with Rochester, but held on to claim both team titles at the Culver Academy cross country sectionals.
A picturesque setting on the serene Academy campus had the boys race become a showdown between a short-handed Warsaw side and a very determined Rochester group. Without senior ace Owen Glogovsky – gone on a college visit – Warsaw had Zeb Hernandez lead for about 4,950 meters of the race, only for Zebra Wesley Meyer to catch Hernandez on the final stretch to claim the win at 16:00 to Hernandez’s 16:02.
Eli Pugh was fourth and Harrison Korkos was sixth for Rochester, but Warsaw brought in its next scoring four before Rochester could get in its final two, enough for Warsaw to squeak out the title. The win gives Warsaw its fifth sectional title in a row and sixth overall.
Xavi Ramirez (8th, 17:23), Lucas Howett (9, 17:26), Jon Beres (10, 17:31) and Nathan Gottschalk (12, 17:39) along with TJ Day (21, 18:08) and Devin Dawson (23, 18:13) completed the Tigers’ run at the sectional.
“The times were not fast at the (Culver Invite), they weren’t overly fast here today, it was just one of those things,” said Warsaw head coach Jim Mills. “No coaches were very happy today. Back three or four years ago, it was a cluster of runners around 15:30, close to 16. Today we had two. I’m impressed with what we were able to do relative to the other teams. Rochester really brought it, and without Owen, we really had to work. This was a good learning experience for our guys knowing it won’t be any easier or different next week.”
The Lady Tigers didn’t have nearly the drama, and didn’t want anything to do with it. A show of force had Warsaw win its fifth title in a row and sixth overall with Allison Miller commanding the course for a winning time of 19:28. Giving a couple of his normal starters a rest, Scott Erba’s team saw Emma Hayward rise to the occasion to finish fourth overall at 20:12, her top placing of her four-year career. Claire Kehler also grabbed her first top-five in the postseason with a fifth-place time of 20:17.
Brooke Rhodes (7, 20:25), Mallory Hooks (8, 20:28), Charlene Orr (11, 20:58) and Lauren Orr (15, 21:07) wrapped up the showstopping for the Lady Tigers. Warsaw had regulars Mia Beckham, Anna Craig and Hannah Dawson taking the day off.
Erba was more than impressed, sitting lakeside with the sectional trophy closely in tow.
“The depth was remarkable,” Erba said. “The team has just gotten faster and deeper. Having them running so well right now, we were able to do something like giving half the team a day off, not having to race hard every week and getting some others experience in a sectional. It was just very impressive what our girls were able to do today.”
Both Triton and Tippecanoe Valley had both of its boys and girls teams finish outside the top five, but had individuals qualify for the regional.
Baylee McIntire against paced Triton with a tenth-place run of 20:51, and will be joined by teammate Abigail Powell in the regional, after Powell ran 24:22 to slide into eighth among the qualifying individuals.
Triton had three boys qualify for the regional, led by Bailey Watkins (18:48), Cordell Sherow (18:57) and Shaun Honeycutt (19:42).
Tippecanoe Valley had Jesse Floor continue his strong individual season, running a 17:36 Saturday morning to land 11th overall in the field. Teammate Jared Mikel also qualified with his 19:55. On the girls side for Valley, Karly Kitch made it to next week with her 21:59 as well as the Conley sisters, Breelyn and Brooklyn, timing 23:54 and 24:45 respectively.
Lakeland Christian Academy had both of its individuals make the regional round. Josh Gervasi (19:57) and Alex Plastow (20:00) were the ninth and tenth individuals to qualify.
Joining Warsaw at the Culver Academy Regional next Saturday morning from the team standings will be Rochester, Culver Academy, Manchester and Plymouth in both the boys and girls fields. Feeding the regional will also be Logansport Sectional teams and individuals. Winning the Logansport boys race was Zep Zupin of Winamac (16:03) and girls race was Miah Martin of Cass (19:28). Winamac’s boys and Western’s girls were title winners at Logansport.
Boys Team Scores
Warsaw 41
Rochester 50
Culver Academy 74
Manchester 115
Plymouth 128
Caston 133
Tippecanoe Valley 173
Triton 231
Girls Team Scores
Warsaw 25
Manchester 70
Culver Academy 94
Rochester 125
Plymouth 129
Caston 130
Triton 191
Tippecanoe Valley 197