The Plex (IPFW) -- Fort Wayne, IN

For only the second time in WCHS history the Warsaw Men's Cross Country team advanced to the IHSAA State Cross Country Championships.

A season that began with a bold prediction by the Warsaw coaching staff, proved to be the finest collection of team performances ever by Tiger runners. Before the 2010-2011 school year was finished, Warsaw coach Jim Mills began selling the 2011-2012 incoming team on the State Finals idea. In fact, the way Mills went about his mission was very similar to the way a good college coach prepares for an upcoming season.

"I just knew we had the pieces!", exclaimed Mills. "I knew we had a great frontrunner in Jacob Poyner and you have to have a strong lead runner. I also had a strong returning group in Ellis Coon, Robert Murphy, Brysten James, and Ismael Calderon. Mills concluded, "Throw in the greatest Freshman class ever to wear orange and black and it was just a matter of getting focused. All of those guys showed so much improvement from last year that it was merely a matter of putting on the work over the summer."

"Work" is exactly what the returning Tigers did on Saturday. The aforementioned veterans took 6 of the top 7 times for Warsaw as the Tigers grabbed 4th place overall to advance to the State Finals in Terre Houte next Saturday. Led by Junior frontrunner Jacob Poyner's 7th place finish in a 3.1 mile time of 16:04. Finishing 19th overall for Warsaw was Sophomore Ellis Coon in a time of 16:26. Junior Robert Murphy finished 36th in 16:43 and Sophomore Ismael Calderon 45th in 16:52.

Perhaps most significantly was the Senior leadership. Warsaw's lone Senior in the top 10 roster spots belongs to Michael Smolen. Smolen did not even start running Cross Country until last year. He dedicated himself over the summer to working on his core strength and the benefits have been huge.

Smolen raced past 8 runners to finish 58th overall in a time of 17:02. "Michael has been an incredible story," said Coach Mills. "Here is a kid who wasn't even on the NLC varsity roster just a few weeks ago. Yet he goes out and wins the JV race as a senior and then we have an injury to Cam Hoskins and the next thing you know Smolen is pushing our #4 and #5 runners for a scoring spot in the lineup." Mills continued. "If there is anything Michael Smolen personifies, it is hard work and determination. I could not be any more proud of him and am so happy for his family."

Finishing 69th overall was Freshman Michael Compton in a time of 17:12 and 95th overall was Junior Brysten James in 17:32.
The Tigers 4th place finish was 3 placed higher than the local Ft. Wayne papers were predicting. Not only did Warsaw beat FW Homestead who was ranked #12 in the state, but the Tigers blew by FW Snider, FW Dwenger, and FW Concordia en route to a big day for WCHS Cross Country.

The WCHS orange and black was out in full force on this beautiful day in Fort Wayne. With both the Tiger boys and girls racing in this Semi-State event, Warsaw fans outnumbered any other participating school 3 to 1.

TigerSporstNation.com caught up with WCHS Principal Troy Akers, who was at the event with his wife Tracey to support their beloved Warsaw athletes. "The parents and fans of Warsaw Community High School are absolutely the best. Akers smiled, "Most people think of Tiger Basketball when they hear the words (Warsaw Sports), but I am here to tell you that it is all sports. Our community is so tight knit and our students work hard to be the best. This is a great day for Warsaw High School."

The entire Tiger coaching staff agreed. As assistant coach Greg Davis learned the official results, he quickly relayed the news to his counterparts Mills, Shane Newsome, and Rob Peters. The word that the Tigers had indeed advanced to the State Finals began to spread to the athletes and their parents as well. Emotions began to manifest. Several Tigers were jumping around smiling in jubilation. A few happy tears were spotted as well.

"It's not easy to continually leave this Semi-State on the short end" Jim Mills explained. "We have been so close here, but we were never able to break through. We would sit and watch these Fort Wayne teams celebrate as they punched their ticket year after year to the State Championships. We wanted this one very badly and we are ecstatic that today was our day!"

The Coach had one last thing to say, "We are young and now we know how."

He walked away with a smile.

Warsaw runs next Saturday at the 2011 IHSAA State Championships in Terre Haute. The lane assignments and race times will be announced by the planning commission later Monday evening.

TigerSportsNation.com will be at the State Meet with live coverage via Facebook and Twitter. Keep up to date by becoming a Fan:

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CROSS COUNTRY STATE FINALS

Date: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

Site: LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course
Wabash Valley Sports Center
599 S. Tabortown Road, Terre Haute, IN 47803

Times: Boys at 1:00 pm EST
Girls at 1:45 pm EST

Admission: $8.00 per person.

Feeder Semi-States: Brown County, Carmel, New Haven, New Prairie

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Cross Country

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