Warsaw came in 2nd at the Manchester girls cross country sectional Saturday. Warsaw scored 45 points, while Columbia City won the title with 34 points. Senior Sammi Rastrelli once again set the tone for the team, charging to the front early and holding strong to claim 2nd overall in a commanding time of 18:41.40. Her leadership and relentless pace gave the Tigers the competitive spark they needed on the championship stage. Freshman Dani Rastrelli continued her breakout season, running with maturity beyond her years to finish 5th overall in 19:33.50, giving Warsaw a powerful one-two punch up front. In the crucial middle scoring positions, senior Eden Metz turned in a great performance, placing 9th overall in 20:36.70, while fellow senior Hannah Fisher battled through the final stretch to earn 14th place in 21:01.70. Closing out the scoring in dramatic fashion, the Tigers packed tightly in the final meters as Savannah Purdy (18th – 21:04.80), Abi Marsh (19th – 21:08.30), and Eden Gackenheimer (20th – 21:18.20) finished in a tight trio, showcasing the depth and teamwork that have defined this group all season. All seven Lady Tigers finished inside the top 20, a testament to their balanced attack and unwavering commitment to each other. Though the team fell just short of the sectional title, their effort was exactly what the coaching staff had hoped to see—courage, fight, and belief until the very end. Coach Zvers praised the team’s performance, saying, “I couldn’t be more proud of how these girls competed today. They fought for every single place, every point, and showed the heart of true champions. This group left everything out there, and that’s all we can ask for.” With momentum and confidence on their side, the Lady Tigers now turn their attention to next Saturday’s New Haven Regional at Huntington University, where they’ll look to build on today’s performance and continue their postseason journey toward the state finals. See the full team and individual results by clicking here: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/xc/26199