The tickets are there for the taking in this years boys track sectionals. Athletes galore will compete at the Goshen Sectional while the Bremen Sectional should be a war in the team standings.

At Goshen, it would be easy to say defending champion Warsaw – which has already swept the Northern Lakes Conference season and tournament titles – will come into Foreman Field and have its way again. But looking deeper, Warsaw won just four event titles at the NLC and only relied upon depth to trump Goshen and a surging NorthWood team at conference.

Warsaw’s Owen Glogovsky and Northridge’s Conner Sandt should square off again in the one and two-mile races. Both have the talent to push for state, and could pull each other trying to outdo the other. Watch Warsaw’s Lucas Howett and Zeb Hernandez in the milers, both have the talent to keep pace.

Sprints at the Goshen Sectional have the potential to post state-level numbers. Not record book times, but quality. NorthWood’s Bailey Gessenger won both the 100 and 200 NLC titles, and helped the Panthers to a mild surprise title in the 4×400 relay at the NLC, beating Warsaw’s best. Fairfield’s Mitch DeWitt was a monster at the Northeast Corner Conference meet, and will test Gessinger in the short sprints.

Fairfield, NorthWood, Warsaw, Concord and Elkhart Central all should have exciting finishes in the 4×100.

Expect to hear Ross Armey’s name in the hurdles as well as Warsaw’s relay mixes.

DeWitt will also give Warsaw’s duo of Tommy Hickerson and Rane Kilburn all they can handle in the long jump, but don’t be surprised if six to eight jumpers are all within a foot of each other.

High jump could be highly contested, mixing in both Joseph Harness and Brock Riley of Warsaw.

A team win by Warsaw would be the 27th sectional title and sixth in a row.

“I think we are set up to score points at the sectional, but it’s going to take some work,” said Warsaw head coach Matt Thacker. “We have some quality options in some events, and some other kids taking a step forward at the right time. I like where this team is headed and excited to see what we can do up in Goshen.”

At Bremen, attention shifts from the old standby Plymouth, which had hosted the sectional for years, to Bremen’s inclusion. Whitko enters as the defending team champion, but Plymouth, Bremen and Rochester all have the horses to make things very interesting as the sun sets.

Whitko is loaded with frontline talent, starting with sprinters Garrett Elder and Alex Wilson and hurdler Alex Morales. Elder and Morales were champions at the Three Rivers Conference meet, with Wilson running stride for stride with Elder. Brady Weeks gives Whitko another strong hurdler

Whitko throws are about as good as they come as a unit. Gavin Howard was the TRC shot put champ and Conner Sherwin the discus champ. Walker Hobbs is equally good at both. Pole vaulter RJ Patrick has cleared 10-0 this season.

Neil Clampitt should give Valley a chance at regional in the 200 and long jump.

Fans will want to get there early to see Plymouth’s Nathan Patterson in the high jump. The sophomore cleared 7-0 at the Goshen Relays and was the NLC champ at 6-11.75. The state meet record is 7-1.25.

The top three individuals from each sectional, along with call-back competitors comprising the top four times/distances from the regional feeding sectionals will gather at the Warsaw Boys Track Regional May 26.