Warsaw Lifts Lid On 2019-20 CampaignAs Warsaw continues to build its culture and hone its high school wrestling skills, the Tigers will debut to the public with the 2019-20 season-opening eight-team Warsaw Invitational.
The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today at the Tiger Den.
“We’ve got a really solid core,” says fourth-year Warsaw head coach Kris Hueber. “We have people who honestly care for the success of others and want to see Warsaw be great. The bond and the family unit they’ve created has been so awesome.
“They’re helping to spread the culture (to underclassmen). I’m proud we’re starting to develop a program more than one team at a time.” While Hueber, who is also defensive coordinator for Warsaw football, says he may get a few more athletes from that sport to come out for wrestling, he is currently working with a roster of 40 with 14 of those being freshmen.
“We should have a very strong core of people who have varsity experience,” says Hueber. “That’s one of the things that helped us last year. We started to turn the corner just a little bit because for the first time we weren’t fielding a team with 50% first-timers and freshmen.
“We’ve been able to allow the development of our younger group.”
Returning letterwinners from a team that went 13-8 overall and 4-3 in the Northern Lakes Conference in 2018-19 include (with their likely season-opening weights) are seniors Brock Hogenson (138 pounds), Isaiah Owens (132), Jayton Brock (170), Angel Mendez (220) and Brock Hueber (195), juniors Brandon Estepp (170), Jacob Linky (160) and Jose Martinez (120) and sophomore Andrew Ross (126).
Other varsity tournaments on the schedule include the Wawasee November Duals Nov. 30, Al Smith Classic at Mishawaka Dec. 27-28, Garrett Invitational Jan. 18 and Northern Lakes Conference meet Jan. 25 at Warsaw.
Home dual meets are slated against Concord Jan. 14 and Goshen Jan. 16 with road duals against Plymouth Dec. 12, Triton Dec. 18 and Tippecanoe Valley Jan. 8.
The state tournament series features the Plymouth Sectional Feb. 1, Rochester Regional Feb. 8, East Chicago Semistate Feb. 15 and State Finals in Indianapolis Feb. 21-22.
“We’d like to send 10 or more to regional, eight or more to semistate and four or more to State,” says Hueber. “That will show great growth from where we’ve been.
“We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We just don’t show up and hope. We have an expectation that we are going to make these things happen.” Hueber, a 2001 Warsaw graduate, is looking to pass along life as well as mat lessons.
“I’m the product of some really good people that invested in me so many times,” says Hueber. “Nobody in this world goes alone. We’ve all had someone somewhere that invested in us.
“It’s our duty, our responsibility to contribute back in some way, shape or form. Coaching is that for me. My involvement with these kids gives me that opportunity to pay it forward.” The team motto since Hueber took over the Tigers has been “Greatness is never an accident.” “There’s an intentional investment between your effort, the connectedness of your team and the people who have helped you. You owe it to those people to give your best effort always.
“We’re going to be great workers, We’re going to be great representatives for this program. You’re going to honor your family, school and community. If you create that culture and mindset in all aspects of life, it can become so much easier to deal with a tough wrestling practice. If you’re a great person, you’re going to take coaching more effectively “We are aiming more than to just create a good wrestler. We want great people.”
Warsaw Wrestling Roster
Seniors
Jayton Brock (170)
Austin Brown (145)
Brock Hogenson (138)
Brock Hueber (195)
Alex Jordan (195)
Chris McAfoose (145)
Angel Mendez (220)
Isaiah Owens (132)
Juniors
Mario Cortes (182)
Brandon Estepp (170)
Jason Garcia (152)
Jacob Linky (160)
Jose Martinez (120)
Liam Nolin (145)
Jesus Velazquez (220)
Sophomores
Jackson Bradley (152)
Noah Chew (195)
Kyler Denney (285)
Ariel Herrera (152)
Wyatt Klinger (285)
Josh Pelfrey (195)
William Roberts (285)
Andrew Ross (126)
Jose Velazquez (170)
Jacob Watkins (138)
Jaeziah Winegardner (220)
Freshmen
Bryson Brown (138)
Grant Cook (132)
Daniel Garcia (126)
Hunter Heckaman (152)
Logan Johnson (145)
William Loeza (195)
Aiden Lozier (160)
Eyeri Morales (285)
Jayce Sawyer (138)
Carlos Velasquez (120)
Ricardo Verduzco (152)
Cyle Wallen (285)
Jaxson Walters (138)
Derrek Warner (170)
Head coach: Kris Hueber.
Assistants: Brady Jones, Dillon Estepp, Wayne Hogenson, Danny Moon, Riley Hogenson.
