Auburn, IN (08/27/2011)

The Warsaw Varsity Boys XC team traveled to Auburn, Indiana over the weekend. Dekalb High School was the site for the Baron Invitational featuring Semi-State favorites FW Carroll & FW Snider and NLC foe Northridge. The Tigers have struggled in the past years to knock off the Raiders from Northridge for the NLC crown as well as break through the Semi-State barrier. This year looks to be different. This group is not intimidated and has a history of knowing how to win. Coach Jim Mills's talented young group of runners have proven they belong in the state's elite early on this season.

Tiger front runner Jacob Poyner, last week's winner at the Huntington Invite (in a time of 16:12), took the first prize again at the Baron Classic at 16:28. Poyner outran Jacob Reinking of Concordia by seven seconds to stake the claim as the area's best 5,000 meter runner so far. Adam Williams of Snider was third in 16:38. FW Carroll again won the team title with 46 points, 10 better than FW Snider and just 13 points better than Warsaw. Both Carroll and Snider now realize the young Tigers are a force to content with. Concordia was fourth, followed by Northridge, DeKalb, North Side, Northrop, and East Noble.

Here are the times and places for the Tiger Varsity runners:

TigerSporsNation.com had the opportunity to catch up with Coach Mills before the race to get his thoughts on the 2011 version of Warsaw Tiger XC:

"The 2011 edition of the Warsaw High School Men's Cross Country Team promises to be an exciting season. We have a nice mix of top returning runners and an outstanding group of incoming Freshmen.

This team has the opportunity to surpass the accomplishments of the 2010 team, which was the best team in the history of Warsaw Community High School. Last year's team ended its season with an 8th place finish at the New Haven Semi-State; the best Warsaw Tiger finish in over 20 years."

"For the first time since the late 1980's Warsaw now has a bona fide front runner in Junior Jacob Poyner. Jake is the NLC's top returning runner from a year ago. He is, without a doubt, one of the top runners in Northern Indiana, a fierce competitor, and great team leader. Poyner will lead an experienced and youthful supporting cast led by Seniors Michael Smolen, and Spencer Rheinhardt. Juniors Robert Murphy, Brysten James and Chris Hollopeter will be counted on to teach the incoming guys the importance of dedication and hard work every day. Sophomores Ellis Coon, Ishmael Calderon, Ryan Goon, and Tyler Houvener are back from last year's solid Freshman group."

"This year's group of incoming Freshman is the strongest in the history of WCHS. Led by the 2010 Indiana Middle School State Champion, Cam Hoskins. Hoskins is the first Warsaw Middle School runner to break the 10:00 minute barrier for 3000 meters. Close behind Hoskins was his Lakeview teammate Michael Compton. Compton was also one of the state's top middle school runners a year ago. Other Freshman to watch this season are runners Dominic Kurosky, Jacob Deboest and Daniel Messenger."

"With 42 runners on the 2011 roster we have the largest team in the history of Warsaw High School. Tiger XC is definitely growing in excitement. Our main Northern Lakes Conference competition looks to be Northridge, once again, and Goshen. We have a great opportunity to win the conference championship for the first time in 20+ years. Our two main focal points are to win an NLC crown and to advance to the IHSAA state finals in November at Terre Haute. The last Warsaw Men's Cross Country Team to advance to the state finals was in all the way back in 1984. With a little luck, hard work, and the leadership of Jake Poyner, this year's team has an outstanding chance to fulfill both of these goals."

The Tiger Boys XC team will host the Tiger Invitational Tuesday night (8/30) beginning at 5:00pm. The Invitational will be held at Miller Field on the campus of Grace College and will feature some great competition including: Columbia City, Fairfield, Huntington North, Northfield, NorthWood, Peru, Tippecanoe Valley, Wabash, Warsaw, Whitko, and perennial power house West Noble.

Put on your Orange & Black and come see for yourself what has quickly become the "BUZZ" of the Indiana cross country scene -- your very own Warsaw Tigers.

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Cross Country

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