Warriors Shine Despite Team Losses
SYRACUSE – Wawasee hung a pair of losses on the scoreboard Wednesday in its final dual meets of the season against Goshen and Northridge. But in preparing for the state tournament, Wawasee made huge strides.
The formalities of a 68-64 loss to Northridge and 93-39 loss to Goshen left Wawasee 0-7 in the Northern Lakes Conference dual season. But coach Scott Lancaster’s boys track team is priming for a different objective, sending individuals past the sectional level of the state tournament.
In the final prep before next Tuesday’s NLC Championships at Warsaw, Wawasee had two school records get new ink. JJ Gilmer’s 6-6 high jump tied the field record. Gilmer was part of another school record falling Wednesday, that being the 4×100 relay. The team of Gilmer, Tyler Courter, Clayton Cook and Cole VanLue ran a 43.07, which lowered last year’s relay record of 43.50 which had Gilmer, Cook, Courter and Michael Pena setting the mark.
Gilmer added a 21-00.5 win in the long jump.
Cook also put up a pair of low numbers in a 15.00 win in the 100 high hurdles and a 22.05 win in the 200 dash.
Jaxon Bame gave Wawasee a fine win in the 400 dash at 53.03, his first win in the event this season.
“Despite the loss to two of the better teams in the NLC, our athletes stepped up and performed very well on senior night,” Lancaster said. “Nearly everyone on the track threw down a personal best it seemed.”
Northridge had a pair of athletes win two events each. Conner Sandt was premier in the mile and two-mile races, winning at 4:35.84 and 10:04.10. Michael Fickert was consistent in his throws, sending the shot put 51-11.5 and the discus exactly 100 feet further at 151-11.5.
Goshen’s Abe Medellin had his speed on display. Medellin won the 100 dash at 11.39, was second to Cook in the 200 at 23.25 and helped the Redskins’ 4×400 to a 3:33.39 win.