With the vast collection of talent on his roster, it’s easy to understand why Matt Thacker is anxious to see his Warsaw boys track team get the chance to perform outdoors.

The talented Tiger team will get its chance one of these days when Mother Nature decides to cooperate.

Warsaw has seen its first three  outdoor meets of the season cancelled due to the cold weather.  The Tigers are now scheduled to open their season April 11 at NorthWood versus the host Panthers and Wawasee in Northern Lakes Conference action.

Thacker welcomes the return of a strong group of athletes who helped the Tigers win the Northern Lakes Conference title and the Goshen Sectional championship a year ago before posting a runner-up finish at the Kokomo Regional (losing to Penn by just one point). Warsaw was scheduled to compete at Penn this past Tuesday, but the meet was cancelled due to the cold weather.

“I’m very happy with the effort I’ve seen from the guys,” said Thacker in a recent phone interview. “We truly are a team and the effort in the offseason by these guys was unbelievable.

“We’re ready to compete, but you can’t do anything about Mother Nature. The important thing for us to just keep things in perspective, stay humble and take each week as it comes.”

Thacker did admit Wednesday that having two meets already scrapped by the weather, including one at Penn on Tuesday, has been tough with Spring Break looming on the horizon next week.

“It has been very difficult to keep everyone together and it is difficult already with the way track is as a sport,” said Thacker via email Wednesday.  “We try to begin together and break apart, but at times that has been difficult.  Recently, we have pushed practice back and have been starting outside no matter what comes our way in the form of weather.

“Our kids love to compete and having those opportunities taken away is frustrating to them and our coaches, but it could be a blessing as we talked last Thursday.  As it gives us more time to focus on us and to prepare our bodies for the meets that we do have. However, we do use our first three meets as a measuring stick to the conference and sectional meets.

We are tired of practicing, but for the most part upbeat and eager to perform, whenever that time may come.”

The Tigers feature a host of talent up and down the roster. The group includes the outstanding distance trio of junior Ellis Coon and seniors Jake Poyner and Robert Murphy. The group led the Warsaw cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the State Finals last October and raised quite a few eyebrows on March 16 when they placed 1-2-3 in the 3,200-meter run at the Hoosier State Relays held indoors at Indiana Wesleyan University. Coon won the race, with Poyner second and Murphy third.

“That was a lot of fun and special to watch,” said Thacker, whose team scored 46 points to place third behind Lawrence Central and Hamilton Southeastern at the Hoosier State Relays. “It was neat the watch them battle like they did. Our main concern with them is to make sure we keep them healthy. We have to make sure that happens. You’re not going to find anyone who works harder than those three do.”

Poyner, who will run at Wake Forest, has definitely left quite an impression on Thacker.

“I’ve been coaching different sports since 1997 and Jake is the best leader I’ve ever seen,” Thacker said. “He’s definitely leaving a legacy here.  I’ve never seen a work ethic like he has. He’s humble and just has a great approach and dedication to everything he does. He just does everything the right way.”

Warsaw also welcomes back standout high jumper Stephen Kolbe. The junior tied for sixth place at the State Finals in 2012. Kolbe cleared 6-6 at the Hoosier State Relays  to place third.

“Stephen is just a humble, great young man,” said Thacker. “He doesn’t get too high or low.”

The Tigers, who have 14 seniors on their 87-man roster, will count on plenty of others like seniors Wyatt Jones (sprints), Taylor Cone (hurdles) and Nathan Kolbe (sprints, long jump), juniors Chad Goon, Ryan Goon, Dylan Campbell and Seth Fouts and sophomores Caleb Klusman and Ben Plummer. Fouts and Plummer will be key in the shot put and discus events.

Many people outside the program are saying this could be the year the Tigers make a lot of noise come May 31 at the State Finals in Bloomington. The team scored 11 points at State in 2012 to place 19th.

“It’s fun and nice and neat to have those conversations, but our goal every year is to win the NLC and the sectional first,” said Thacker, now in his fifth year as head coach. “We’ve come a long way and it’s an honor to be mentioned with the top teams in the state. We just have to continue to strive to get better as the season goes.

“I know that I’m very thankful to have the athletes and the coaching staff that I have.”

The Warsaw coaching staff includes Jon Hoover, Rob Peters, Noel Howett, Leonard Wells, Jim Mills and Troy Furnivall.

 

Warriors boast individual talent

Wawasee will not beat many teams with its depth, but the boys track team are equipped with several individuals that could make noise in the postseason.

Sophomores JJ Gilmer and Clayton Cook have already answered the bell this spring, setting a handful of sophomore class records at Wawasee. Gilmer will likely stand out in the long jump and high jump and could factor in what could shape up as a formidable 4×100 or 4×400 relay team. Cook should be a contender by season’s end in the 100 and 200 dashes as well as participate in the low and/or intermediate hurdles. Cook may also get moved around in the sprint relays throughout the season.

Senior thrower Jake Schwartz is coming off a regional appearance in the shot put and is already throwing as far this spring. Classmate Chad Eppley could emerge with Schwartz in the throws in what head coach Scott Lancaster calls the deepest part of his program.

“Jake could be a legit state contender as he is already throwing the shot put over 50 feet, and he is very good in the discus too, going over 150 feet,” Lancaster said. “We have several guys who are capable of contending at the sectional level, and that is where you start. Our throws are our only real notable area of strength. It’s the one place we have true depth.”

Lancaster also points to sophomore Zach Cockrill and junior Adam Doll as a pair who could surprise in the distance events. Cockrill more so in the 800 and Doll in the 3,200. Junior Michael Pena could help the sprinters and sophomore Mylon Betts could turn some heads in the long jump.

The Warriors have also had their outdoor season delayed by the weather. Wawasee’s first four meets were all cancelled, including the Jim Eger Relays at Elkhart Memorial last Saturday.  The Warriors are now scheduled to open their season versus NLC foes NorthWood and Warsaw at NorthWood on April 11.