Longtime Tigers track & field coach gets national recognition

Nathan Warnecke is first Hoosier to be named National High School Track & Field Boys Coach of the Year

The REPORTER

Winning a state championship gets you noticed, and not just in your home state.

(Graphic provided)

The Fishers boys track and field team claimed its first-ever state title in June at Indiana University. It was a great achievement for the Tigers and head coach Nathan Warnecke, who has been with the program since it began: Warnecke was an assistant for Fishers during its first two years (2007 and 2008) and has been the head coach since 2009.

Early this week, Warnecke received another honor: he was named the National High School Track & Field Boys Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Warnecke is the first Indiana coach to receive that honor.

“When I received the official call Monday afternoon from the USTFCCCA I was a little shocked and completely humbled,” said Warnecke. He will be honored in December at the annual USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Fla.

The Tigers were runners-up at the Westfield sectional and Lafayette Jefferson regional before they pounced at the state meet. Tyler Tarter led the way, sweeping the 100 and 300 hurdle events in addition to running on the sixth-place 4×400 relay team with Matthew Kim, Leo Morrow and Makell Wiggins.

Joel Gates finished second in the discus, while JonAnthony Hall placed second in the long jump. Fishers’ 4×800 relay team of Declan Mohr, Wiggins, Bryson Slagle and Kim also took second in that event. The 4×100 relay squad of Joe Syrus, Carsen Eloms, Hall and Tristan Capps finished third, and Kim placed fifth in the 800 run.

Being able to watch this team compete this past season and the way they conducted themselves in the face of adversity was one of the top thrills of my coaching career,” said Warnecke. That included dealing with injuries and losing a key runner for the season in April: Sam Quagliaroli, who finished third at last fall’s state cross country meet.

Warnecke said that “at any time these guys could have said, ‘I guess it’s just not our year.’” But the coach said instead, the team “faced these setbacks head on, supported each other, and focused on the day-in day-out preparation so when they had to face horrendous weather conditions at the State Meet, they were up to the task.”

Warnecke said it was “pretty special” to watch how everything came together, calling it a testament to the athletes – especially the seniors – their parents and families who supported them, and his “amazing coaching staff.” That staff consists of Corey Eloms, Kyle Goodwin, Shelbie Tarter and Lorraine Eloms (sprints and hurdles); Trevor Thompson and Lance Kuhn (distance); Eduardo Torres, Travis Rogers and Ryan Potter (jumps and vault); and Ben Wyss and Raegene Thomas (throws).