WCHS Students Recognized At School Board Meeting

Some Warsaw Community High School students were recognized during the Warsaw School Board meeting Monday.
WCHS Principal Troy Akers said there are so many great things going on inside the high school walls and Monday night they were going to celebrate three different areas: academics, arts and athletics.
Akers said he wanted to introduce a trailblazer in women’s wrestling to the school board. Senior Marianna Castro had “a tremendous career in women’s wrestling for a girls team.”
Women’s wrestling head coach Alise Terhune said Castro finishes her time at Warsaw as a two-time state qualifier and a two-time top eight finisher after placing eighth last school year. As a freshman, Castro became the freshman-sophomore state champion, Indiana State Wrestling Association freestyle and folkstyle state champion. As a sophomore, Castro earned a regional championship. As a junior, Castro earned a sectional championship, second place at regionals and eighth place at state to become the first Indiana High School Athletic Association state placer for Warsaw. In her senior year, she earned a sectional championship, third place at regionals and fifth at state.
Terhune said she was beyond proud of Castro and all of her accomplishments.
Castro is thinking of pursuing certifications in radiology in the future.
Akers also brought up students’ performances at the 2026 Scholastic Art Awards, hosted by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
“The neatest thing is the fact that so many students received a gold or silver on their work on their work and it’s a testament to the teachers that we have in the building to the creativity that we have inspired in our young people and to what they’ve been able to accomplish,” he said.
Senior Kora Rockwell’s ceramic sculpture “Murky” was named one of the top pieces at the competition, Akers said. Jeam Torres Vasquez received a Silver Key Award for his senior portfolio “Origin.”
Other students Akers mentioned were Oren Heen, who won a Gold Key; Lillian Price, Silver Key; Stephanie Malagon, Silver Key; Izabella Patrick, Gold Key; Emily Ramsey, honorable mention; Eleanor Nightingale, Gold Key; Anya Baumgardner, Gold Key; Talen Chivington, honorable mention; Armando Arizmendi, Gold Key; Michael Schreick, Gold Key; Piper Hagan, Silver Key; Patrick Bocianski, honorable mention; Makenna Schmidt, Gold Key; Izabella Patrick, Silver Key; Kyra Schmidt, Gold Key; Anya Baumgardner, honorable mention; and Makenna More, Gold Key.
The last group Akers talked about was the members of the Indiana All-State Honors Choir.
Choir Director Marilyn Mason said there were five students who made all-state last year; before that, WCS didn’t have any students make All-State since 2013.
There were six students who made the All-State choir this year: Abigail Fisher, Hannah Hnem, Roman Silva, Gabriel Busz, Jack Stevenson and Gavin Ott. All six students went to state Indiana State School Music Association for some of the ensembles Saturday and they all got gold with distinction on either a solo or with an ensemble, “meaning it’s a really high gold,” Mason said.
She said the process for All-State was rigorous and they all had to sight read in front of a judge. Mason said she couldn’t be prouder of the students.
In other business, the board heard:
• Kindergarten kickoff will be at 6 p.m. April 14 at all Warsaw Community Schools elementary schools.
• It is National FFA Week.
• There will be a welding competition March 21.
• Heard the Warsaw Education Foundation’s Community Quiz Bowl is 7 to 9 March 10.