Bart Curtis reflects on first year at Warsaw as Tigers prep for Penn

Warsaw head coach Bart Curtis spent the last ten years coaching and making a name for himself at Mishawaka. In his decade with the Cavemen, he won six sectional titles, and took the team to the state championship in 2012.

But Curtis decided it was time for a new challenge, and announced in February he was leaving Mishawaka to become the new head coach at Warsaw. He surprised everyone when he made the decision, including his wife.

"It was a tough decision," Curtis said. "We had a lot of good, close friends and developed some really positive relationships at Mishawaka."

In his first season coaching the Tigers, he led the team to a 7-2 record, and a 2nd place finish in the NLC. The two losses Warsaw suffered were by a combined four points - a three-point loss to Plymouth in overtime, and a one-point loss to NorthWood, the undefeated conference champs.

While it has been a successful season, the transition wasn't always easy, and Curtis said he is pleased with the strides his team has made.

"After a year, or after a regular season, I would say our kids have bought in to what we're trying to do," Curtis said. "The families of these kids have, and the community seems excited about the direction we're going. We've improved a great deal since the beginning of the year, but everybody has, but it's fun to go back and watch us on film in mid-August, and I think we can play with anybody if you don't kick the ball around and have self-inflicted wounds that go with the game."

Warsaw will put that theory to the test Friday night, when they open 6A sectional play against Penn - a school that Curtis knows well from his days at Mishawaka.

"They're Penn," Curtis said. "They're big and physical up front, they're well-schooled, well-coached, and their defense is extremely aggressive. The things that have made Penn football, Penn football, the last four decades, those elements are still in place."

"To beat these guys, you've got to beat them," Curtis added. "Because they're not going to beat themselves with silly mistakes."

There's also a bit of a revenge factor in this matchup, as the Kingsmen ended Warsaw's season last year, blanking the Tigers 40-0 in the sectional finals. The Tigers will try to return the favor this time around.

Warsaw travels to Freed Field to take on Penn in 6A sectional semi-finals. Kickoff is set for 7pm.