Warsaw Honors Soccer Squad
WARSAW – There’s only one boys soccer program in the entire state that can claim to have been in the Final Four of the state tournament each of the past three seasons.
That team, the Warsaw Tigers, were honored Friday night for their Class 2-A state runner-up finish this past fall.
The Tigers, coached by Scott Bauer, were saluted at halftime Friday night of the Concord at Warsaw boys basketball game. The team, which received rings from WCHS Principal Troy Akers and Athletic Director Dave Anson, then unveiled another boys soccer banner in the Tiger Den.
Warsaw had the best season in the rich history of the program during the 2012-13 season. The Tigers advanced to the Class 2-A state title game, falling to Columbus North by a 1-0 final.
The Tigers, who reached the Final Four in both 2010 and 2011, finished with a 13-9-2 record technically. That mark included seven forfeits for using an ineligible player due to a paperwork oversight by the Warsaw Athletic Department. The Tigers, prior to the state title game, truly only lost one game on the field all season in a 1-0 setback to Fort Wayne Carroll.
Warsaw won the Plymouth Sectional, the Mishawaka Regional and its own semi state to earn a berth in the State Finals.
The Tigers, who had eight seniors this past campaign, were led offensively by seniors Nathan Kolbe (20 goals) and Diego Lopez (16 goals). Senior goalkeeper Michael Yantz had 14 shutouts for Warsaw.