Warsaw’s Zach Taylor is the top seed in the backstroke heading into the finals of the Warsaw Boys Swimming Sectional this Saturday. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – Warsaw put itself in prime position to not only claim a boys swimming sectional title, but to send several events to state after a fine showing at Thursday’s Warsaw Boys Swim Sectional prelims.

Tippecanoe Valley’s Chase Brower qualified for the finals of the 50 and 100 freestyles.

The Tigers are the top seed in seven events heading into Saturday’s finals, led by top seeds in two events from Ethan Cook and Hudson Snyder. Cook leads the pack in both the 50 (22.41) and the 100 (49.14) freestyles while Snyder is pacing the 200 free (1:49.08) and 500 free (4:57.87). Warsaw has three swimmers in the 100, 200 and 500 finals, and two in the 50 final.

Warsaw’s Zach Taylor is the leader in the backstroke at 58.33 and also qualified third in the individual medley, which was paced by Culver Academy’s Forrest Baumgartner (2:02.66). Baumgartner is also the clubhouse leader in the butterfly (53.90) and is part of the top 400 free relay for Culver, which sits in lane four for Saturday with its 3:27.85. Warsaw posted the second-best 400 relay time, and fourth-best medley relay time, to which Rochester’s 1:45.93 came away on top Thursday.

Matt Wildman of Warsaw has the top time in the breaststroke at 1:02.76, and was second in the 50 by .07 to Cook’s lead time. Wildman led off for Warsaw’s 200 free relay, which earned the top seed with a 1:34.86. Evan Borchers is also in a good position for the Tigers, taking second in both the 200 and butterfly.

Jacob Wagner of Tippecanoe Valley works in the 200 freestyle prelims.

In all, Warsaw has 20 individuals qualified for the finals and its three relays, plus divers Tyler Paseka and Nick Bell ready to compete in diving Saturday morning.

“We had some good swims today, but some of the guys just need to wake up,” said Warsaw head coach Tony DeBrota, playing both sides of his emotional fence. “I think there’s a combination of jitters for some, and I know there are others that are pretty tired. But this is the time now to reiterate that it can’t happen that way Saturday. It doesn’t matter what sectional you’re in, you have to swim as fast as you can. You could see Columbia City, Rochester, Culver Academy, they are doing great and got some good swim out of their kids. We’ve got to be pushing it.”

Tippecanoe Valley’s Chase Brower qualified for the finals of both the 50 and 100 freestyles. Brower is fourth in the 50 (23.38) and the fifth in the 100 (51.47) and helped Valley’s 200 free relay to the finals, sitting seventh. Tyler Ross was the other Viking to break through to a championship swim, placing fifth in the 50 free at 23.41.

Diving prelims will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with the finals for the sectional to start at 1 p.m. Championship individuals along with those making state cut times will advance to the IHSAA State Finals next Friday at IUPUI. Diving regionals for the top four qualifiers will take place Tuesday at Mishawaka.

Brothers Alex (left) and Ethan Cook take off in the 50 freestyle prelims at Thursday’s Warsaw Boys Swimming Sectional.