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Downers Grove North next in line of powerhouse Illinois schoolsPublished by
ILXCTF Cross Country Season Previews
By Michael Newman
It is the road that Sandburg traveled to get to the Nike Cross Nationals. Then it was Neuqua Valley’s turn. In 2017, it belongs to Downers Grove North. Both Sandburg and Neuqua Valley got the experience of running in Portland before stepping into the top five nationally. Downers Grove North finished 12th last year in Portland. This could be their turn to the national spotlight. They will be ranked in the top five nationally heading into the season. The Trojans need to take care of business in Illinois first and they know that. York and Lyons Township will be ranked in the top five in the state and will push them to the limit in the WSC-Silver Conference. Then it is the state meet where they will have to face defending state champion Neuqua Valley and up and coming Hersey among others. It is never easy in Illinois. I previewed 76 3A Boys teams. Here is a look at each of them.
3A Top 25 Teams
1 Downers Grove North 2016 Finish – 2nd 3A State Coach – John Sipple
Top Runners – Jacob Ridderhoff SR (15, 14:39), Matt Moravec JR (31, 14:53), Ryan Birkmeier SR (46, 15:00), Nick Chudzik SR (59, 15:07), Sam McCool SR (83, 15:19), Jack Roberts JR, Brendan Lockerby SR, Miles Christensen SR, Tyler Mertes SR, Trevor Murphy JR, Michael Conknight JR, John Langan SR, Matt Shimenetto SO, Thomas Diamond SO. Notes – The Downers Grove North team gathered to the east of the finish line area after finishing the Nike Cross Nationals. They had finished 12th in the nation and they were congratulating each other on that. In the minds of the five runners that would be running during the 2017 season, this would only be the beginning. The Trojans are loaded with talent coming back this season. That’s one of the reasons why they start the year ranked on top of the 3A Boys rankings and one of the top teams nationally. There is no complacency on this squad. When you run in Illinois, you cannot afford to do that. North is focused as they have showed in their summer training and some of their hard runs. “Our summer training had to be adjusted a fair amount this year because our school calendar has been modified significantly. We are now starting two weeks earlier than we used to and I thought that was a major advantage for us,” Coach John Sipple said. “But we had to rethink our approach and adapt and adjust our training appropriately to see the progressions that we are looking to attain for this year. I think that the team has been responding well to the changes and they are adapting nicely.” How well did they adjust to the training? Nicely thank you. At Detweiller at Dark on July 28, not all their team ran in the race, but they still had four runners within 12 seconds of each other with Jacob Ridderhoff leading the way at 14:59. “It was solid and I was happy with how they ran at Detweiller at Dark,” Sipple added. “It was better than I expected, so it was nice to see.” They also ran a 2 Mile Time Trial on August 11 that wowed those who were there. The Trojans may have five runners back, but there are four to five other runners that could jump into one of those top seven positions. Ridderhoff should be their #1 runner possibly finishing in the top ten in the state. Matt Moravec was all-state in the 3200 Meter Run last spring. Ryan Birkmeier, Nick Chudzik, and Sam McCool were all part of the top five last year. Add in Jack Roberts who was the Frosh/Soph champion last fall in the WSC-Silver Champions. He dropped his 3200-meters time down to 9:42. Miles Christensen and Brandon Lockerby have improved over the last year. Christensen was part of the top four at Detweiller at Dark. Sophomore Matt Shimenetto has also showed improvement and could be the top runner on the Frosh/Soph level ready to step into their top seven. What makes this team so dangerous is their pack-running. In the Naperville Twilight meet, the top five split was only 15 seconds. It was 17 seconds at the WSC-Silver Championship and then 23 seconds at the state meet. In the state meet race, they two all-state runners with graduated 12th and Ridderhoff in 15th. That is the right combination of power up front and a close behind. That is tough to beat. “I think that you could probably say that we are having a similar pathway that Neuqua Valley did the last two years, but I think that our maturation as a group has been a little different,” Sipple said. “The team has some lofty goals for the season but we believe that they are all attainable. As we move from year-to-year and being in the situation with so many returners we are just trying to be a little better than we were the season/year before. If we can continue to progress from season-to-season and year-to-year then we are going to be tough.” The elephant in the room are the expectations on the national level. But Downers Grove North is focused that they will need to take care of business first in the WSC-Silver, state, and then getting to nationals. “Sure, it’s has been talked about,” Sipple said about state and national expectations. “Ultimately, the expectations outside of our team don't really matter at all to us. We have our own set of expectations and target goals that we want to achieve, but those outcomes will only be the by-products of how well our team adheres to its values, purposes, and process goals that we have established for our team this year. Everyone on the team plays a role. We are going to enjoy the journey and have fun with it for sure!”
2 Elmhurst York 2016 Finish – 16th 3A State Coach – Charlie Kern Top Runners – Charlie Kern SR (4, 14:12), Sean MacGregor SR (10, 14:36), Ethan Kern SO (134, 15:39), Danny Hohnquest SR (146, 15:43), Jackson Bode SR (162, 15:51), Joe Evely SR (205, 16:26), Tim Stevenson SR, Daniel Klysh SO, Johnny Sciabica JR, Mark Morgan SR, John Rosak SR, Max Albers SR, Jack Manning JR, Calvin Carta JR, Aidan Moran SO, Brian Pratt SO. Notes – The end of the 2016 season did not end the way that the York team wanted to. The 16th place finish that came from their race was not one of the best finishes for a Dukes’ team. It showed in the faces of the runners that ran the race. It was also the end of an era as Joe Newton retired as the coach of the team. Coach Charlie Kern has made some changes since taking over leading the team. The expectations remain the same for the team in running their best race of the year at Detweiller Park and leaving the location with some IHSA hardware. “There is no doubt that the 2016 state meet place lingers in the back of everyone’s mind. It has been mentioned, but to remain in the past is a waste of time,” Coach Kern said. “The current seniors have experienced tremendous team success on the freshman and sophomore level. Fortunately or unfortunately, this did not happen as juniors. As the spring unfolded, their excitement began to build and it has carried on through the summer with focused training.” Charlie Kern Jr. enters his senior season finishing no worse than eighth place his freshman year. He ran the fifth fastest time ever for a junior at the state meet in finish fourth. He will be one of the favorites in November. Sean MacGregor also earned all-state honors last fall placing 10th. MacGregor showed his progress during the summer by running 14:55 to finish third at Detweiller at Dark. Where York will see improvement is in the third and four spots. Jackson Bode ran with pneumonia during the state series which showed in his state performance. He ran personal bests during the track season including 9:29 for 3200-meters. He can run with MacGregor which could make this team dangerous. Tim Stevenson had a breakthrough season last spring dropping his 3200-meters personal best down to 9:37 at the end of the year. He will also give the team a boost. Sophomores Ethan Kern and Daniel Klysh were under 4:30 for 1600-meters last spring with Kern at 4:24. Seniors Danny Hohnquest, Mark Morgan, and Joe Evely could also contribute in the top seven. “Training went very well this summer,” Coach Kern said. “We were able to keep things simple, hard work that was accompanied with appropriate recovery running. We ran twice most weekdays and took advantage of the pool to enhance training. On Saturdays, the top twelve was able to meet at new locations for distance runs. This had two significant outcomes: 1) The Thursday high quality workout was more competitive because a seat on the bus was a prize for finishing in the top twelve and 2) The newness of location led to invigorating experiences.” The success from this team will come up front with two runners in the top ten and another runner 25th or better. What will be even more of a focus is the pack behind Kern Jr. and MacGregor/Bode. The fourth through seven runners cannot be spread out all over the course in big invitationals. Togetherness within the pack has grown during the summer. That could pay off this fall. “We have the talent to be ranked among the best in the state and some might even make the bold prediction that we can compete with a team that last year finished 2nd in Illinois when we were 16th. Focusing on predictions made by prognosticators or what other teams have done or are currently doing only distracts us from what we can control,” Coach Kern added. “The expectations for our team are rooted in self-sacrifice for the betterment of the team and doing your best to improve yourself physically, mentally, and socially. These are the things we can control. It is the combination of these expectations that will permit many forever moments throughout the 2017 cross-country season.”
3 Naperville Neuqua Valley 2016 Finish – 3A State Champion Coach – Paul Vandersteen Top Runners – Zach Kinne JR (17, 14:41), Ryan Kennedy SR, Danny Winek SR, Tyler Bombacino SR, Chris Keeley JR, Alex Johnson SR, Dakota Getty SR, Matt Jett JR, Evan McVittie SR, Spencer Jeske JR, Michael Madioh JR, Keenan Ginnel SR, Ramsey Johnson SO, Quinn Kennedy SO. Notes – The Wildcats ended a great 2016 season first winning their third state championship following that up by finishing fifth at the Nike Cross Nationals missing fourth place by only one point. Six runners from their top seven have graduated. That means a lot of talented runners along with some quality leadership has left also. For some schools that were at the level that Neuqua Valley was, this year would be a year of rebuilding with hopes of just getting back to the state meet. For Neuqua Valley Coach Paul Vandersteen, he just shrugs and reloads for the next year. “Our training went well this summer but we took a more conservative approach than usual,” Vandersteen said. “We have a lot of faster-twitch guys that will vie for top seven spots and they don't need the heavy mileage. Detweiller will suit them well.” Zach Kinne is the lone top seven returnee for Neuqua Valley. He had a great sophomore season finishing 17th at the state meet. His track season was just as good as he ran 9:11.48 to finish fifth in the 3200 Meter Run. He could be one of the top runners in the state this fall. Ryan Kennedy would have been on the top five on any other team in the state last year. The senior ran two state series races finishing 6th in the regional and 14th at the sectional. Add in the 9:23.08 that he ran for 3200-meters at Arcadia along with the 4:25.54 personal best he achieved at 1600-meters. Finishing in the top 25 at state is a good probability. The big key for Vandersteen and the Wildcats is the health of senior Danny Winek. Injuries held him out all last fall. He did run in a couple of races last spring including 4:24 for 1600-meters which was done on a little more than a week of training. His experience this fall is necessary for this team. He was the #2 runner for Neuqua Valley at the 2015 Nike Cross Nationals finishing right with Jake McEneaney and Scott Anderson. “Danny is running pain-free and biking a lot right now,” Vandersteen said. “He is gradually building his mileage and we anticipate him doing a paced race with his teammates in mid-September. It is no secret that he is a huge key to our success this fall.” They will pack run like crazy as they always do. The split on their top five at the state meet was only 23 seconds last year at state. The question will be who will be in that pack. Tyler Bombacino, Chris Keeley, Alex Johnson, Dakota Getty, and Matt Jett are some of the runners that will be in that pack. Winek will be one of the keys along with who is in the top seven heading into this year. The question will be the gap between Kinne and Kennedy and then the other five runners. Even without Winek, this team will be good. The team culture that Neuqua Valley guarantees that.
4 Arlington Heights Hersey 2016 Finish – 17th 3A State Coach – Kevin Young Top Runners – Josh Methner SO (30, 14:53), Nate Mayo SR (115, 15:34), Jack Fredian SR (135, 15:39), Ryan Buch JR (166, 15:53), Quinn Cunningham SR (185, 16:05), Max Svienty SO, Ryan Thiesen SR, Thomas McCarthy JR, Sean Paton SR, Zach Ault SR, Colin Safford SO, Mike Gomoluch FR, Luke Linscott FR, Remy Jankusky SR. Notes – Injuries slowed down Hersey last fall resulting in their 17th place finish in the state meet. Jay Renaud left as the head coach of this team and now is coaching at Prospect. Kevin Young, who was the Girls coach at Rolling Meadows, steps in as the new coach. This is a team that could finish in the top three this fall. Five runners from the state top seven are back. It could be two to three runners that are returning from the injury list that could be the key. “We have a very committed and dedicated group of seniors that have been the driving force of this team all summer long,” Young said. “Our senior leaders have done an excellent job adjusting to the few tweaks I made to their training, and look to leave a mark on this team moving forward. Renaud had clearly done a very good job setting the tone with this team during his tenure at Hersey, and I'm excited to take on the challenge of bringing this team to an even higher level.” The Huskies could have a good pack in the front. Sophomores Josh Methner and Max Svienty ran 9:26/9:27 for 3200-meters last spring. Methner finished 30th at state and could be in the top 20 this fall. He may have his teammate along. Ryan Buch was among the top three runners from Hersey early last year before injuries slowed him down through conference. He was the team’s sixth runner at state. He should not be in that position this season. Ryan Thiesen was another runner in the top three. “He is someone that could have a major impact on our squad this year,” Young stated. “Last year, he found himself on the shelf with a stress fracture after the Peoria Invite, so we were fighting back from that all track season. He's an extremely competitive individual that's ready for the races to begin.” Nate Mayo, Quinn Cunningham, and Jack Fredian were all in the top seven last year. All three of those runners give Hersey a stronger pack. If you have questioned why they are ranked at this position, the above paragraphs give you an idea why I think they will be good. They cannot have another season where injuries interrupt the success they are hoping for. This team could a solid pack of four runners between 20 to 50 this season at state. A split of 40 seconds or under is also a possibility. “We have a very talented team, so it's going to be a fun challenge to keep them healthy and in a good mindset all season! It's the intrinsic drive of our athletes that is going to make this a successful season. I see this group having the potential to be one of the best teams in Hersey history,” Young added. “They want to get state recognition and they're doing it stride by stride. This state is loaded with great talent and great coaching, so it's going to take our best to compete at their level. We look forward to the challenge.”
5 LaGrange Lyons Township 2016 Finish – 4th 3A State Coach – Michael Danner Top Runners – Danny Kilrea SR (2, 14:08), Charles Harders SR (158, 15:49), Colin Costello JR, Andrew Tarasuk SR, Patrick Kane SR, Luke Van Koevering SR, Mike Smith SR, Ryan Bonfiglio JR, Drew Dilcher JR, Jack Ehlert SO, Seamus McDermott JR, Scott Miklosz SO, Sawyer Madell FR, Owen Hayes FR. Notes – Injuries and illnesses shook up this team during the state series preventing them to perhaps higher finishes. The Lions still finished fourth in the state meet followed by a fourth-place finish at the NXR Midwest Regional. They were a team that was ignored when the at-large bids for the Nike Cross Nationals were announced. That chip on the program’s shoulder has driven them to greater things in the past. Even though the Lions only return two runners from that state team, the talent is there for them to make another run at a state trophy. Danny Kilrea will again supply his team with single-digit points up front. His junior year was great running the second fastest time ever for a junior at the state meet (behind Craig Virgin) and earned All-American honors by finishing 13th at the Nike Cross Nationals. He will be one of the top runners in the country. His leadership for this team will again be valuable. Ignore the split that will be between Kilrea and the rest of the Lyons Township pack. Pay attention for the split between their other four scorers. It should be tight. Charles Harders is the only returnee from the top seven as their sixth man. He showed improvement during the spring running 4:21 for 1600-meters and 1:56 for 800-meters. Colin Costello was the third runner most of last year before a hip injury sidelined him from the conference meet on. Patrick Kane and Andrew Tarasuk should be part of the top five. You should watch for their depth to develop. The team is young behind these five runners and could take the first couple of meets to find themselves. “We look to be comparable to some teams from the previous years and look to improve during the season,” Coach Mike Danner said. “We do lack some depth with varsity experience, but our top five has looked strong all summer. The big improvers during the summer are Kilrea, Harders, and Kane. Costello and Tarasuk are ahead of where they were at last year.” The split they have on their second through fifth runners will be something to watch. The potential of having one or two runners under 15 minutes is possible. Having a split of 20 to 25 seconds on that group is also possible. Staying healthy is a certainty that they will need this season.
6 Wheaton-Warrenville South 2016 Finish – 8th 3A State Coach – Chris Kuntz Top Runners – Sean Maison JR (62, 15:10), Scott Maison JR (70, 15:13), John Keys SR (95, 15:24), William Hauenstein SO (123, 15:36), Jacob Kluckhorn SO, Solomon Michalak SR, Andrew Dixon SR, Jack James SO, Joseph Franke SO, Matt Rice JR, Jared Peaslee SO, Joseph Kim SR, Connor Burns SR. Notes – The Tigers had a great season last fall finishing eighth at the state meet under then first year coach Chris Kuntz. 2017 could be better for Wheaton-Warrenville South as they return four runners from that state team. One of the things that made the Tigers go was the tight split that they had on their top five. It was only 14 seconds on the group at the state meet. They lost two of the top five Kyle Thompson and Aleksi Sorokin to graduation. Brothers Sean and Scott Maison ran within three seconds of each other most of the year and should again this season. They showed improvement during the track season. Sean ran 9:28.56 and Scott ran 9:34.73 for 3200-meters. John Keys was part of that top five in 2016 but would drift away from the top four in the second half of races. He did run 9:50.92 in track for 3200-meters. He needs to stay closer to the Maison brothers. Sophomores William Hauenstein and Jacob Kluckhohn showed improvement at the end of the track season and will jump into the top five. Senior Solomon Michalak and sophomore Jared Peaslee could also be a part in the group. This will be the first year for Andrew Dixon. The senior had been playing golf in the fall but ran 4:30 for 1600-meters. We will see if that success transfers over to the cross-country course. This is a team that could challenge Neuqua Valley for the DVC Championship as well as getting into the top five at state. Only three seconds separated the WWS first three runners at state. It was nine seconds on the first four in the sectional meet the week before. We could see those types of splits from this team. Moving that group up in races could mean higher placings at the end of the season. 7 Downers Grove South 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Marist Sectional Coach – Brian Caldwell Top Runners – Stephen Pipilas SR (55, 15:05), Akhil Ghosh SR, Eddie Suida JR, Nick Dziedzic JR, George Willer JR, James Weigel JR, Luke Lalonde SR, Brock Royle JR, Marc Alvarez SR, Rylen Dreyler SR, John Norris SO, Grant Connolly SR, Nolan Witt FR, Qasim Simba FR. Notes – While most of the attention will be on the north side of Downers Grove this fall, the school on the south side of the town should not be ignored. The Mustangs were devastated after they finished seventh at the Marist Sectional. That finish may have been the best thing to happen to them. “Training has been excellent not just this summer but really even since the end of last XC season. The guys were definitely disappointed when we missed out in a trip to Peoria as a team last fall and have worked incredibly hard with a serious passion to make sure that we do everything in our power so that isn't the case again,” Coach Brian Caldwell said. “The initiative they are taking do incorporate more doubles, cross training, swimming, and other additional supplemental work has impressed me immensely and I'm excited to see it pay off this fall. The handful of relatively harder efforts have been very good indicators that if we can manage our health, we should be very tough in October and November.” All seven runners from that sectional team are back. The group had a good track season with six of their athletes running 10 minutes or faster for 3200-meters. Stephen Pipilas qualified individually for state finishing 55th overall. Eddie Suida showed improvement last spring and should be close to Pipilas. Akhil Ghosh also showed improvement running 9:39 for 3200-meters in track. Suida and Ghosh were within 26 seconds of Pipilas and as close as 15 seconds in other meets. They could be 10 seconds or closer this fall. Seven other runners will be fighting for the four remaining spots led by James Weigel and Luke Lalonde. Watch the split on their top five. It went from 43 seconds at their conference meet up to 52 seconds in their sectional race. Keeping it near 40 seconds especially with Siuda, Pipilas, and Ghosh improved could make that split even more potent. “The full team has bought in to our philosophy that everybody matters and big improvements are on the horizon for a ton of the guys,” Caldwell added. “They've looked great and are primed for some big races this fall. Honestly, there are about a dozen more guys I could mention too which is the inevitable corollary of having great depth, potential to be a great team, and guys wanting to toe the line in the big meets (and making our top 7 will be more difficult than it's ever been). “We are hoping to continue our streak as WSC Gold Champions and other than that, really just compete every single race without setting any limits on ourselves.”
8 Plainfield South 2016 Finish – 6th 3A Marist Sectional Coach – Jason Crowe Top Runners – Stephen Merriweather SR, Jake Willison JR, Timmy Wade JR, Christian Knowlton JR, Brendan Wengler SR, William Lathrop JR, Carson Vittorio JR, Andrew Kolba SR, Kennedy Branch JR, James Sottosanto JR, Teddy Jackson SR, Matthew Jakovick FR. Notes – It is the same story that we just told above about Downers Grove South. Plainfield South placed ahead of them in sixth at the Marist Sectional. The disappointment of not making it to Peoria for the state meet was just as big. Expectations are high for the Cougars as four of the seven that ran last year were sophomores. “The summer sent really well. Our summer attendance by our varsity returnees was the best we have ever had here at Plainfield South,” Coach Jason Crowe said. “I attribute that good attendance to our senior leadership.” Their senior leadership starts with Stephen Merriweather who qualified for state last season. He ran 15:15 in that state meet. His improvement shows that he could be under 15 minutes this fall. Juniors Timmy Wade and Christian Knowlton as well as senior Jake Willison were within 18 seconds of Merriweather last year. Part of their success will mean staying close to him up front. Brendan Wengler, William Lathrop, and Carson Vittorio could all be parts of the top five at some point this season. This is a “sneaky-good team that could challenge for a top five finish in the state meet. Keeping the four runners close should happen. It is making sure that their fifth runners are within 40 seconds of the front that will be a difference maker. “Our Team goals are the same, but we have improved in some key areas to make all of our goals a reality this fall,” added Crowe. “Yes, we just missed qualifying as a team last year and yes that is definitely been motivation throughout the summer. We have an individual state qualifier returning in Senior Stephen Merriweather and he has provided confidence throughout the team that we are capable of being a very successful team this fall.”
9 Mt. Prospect-Prospect 2016 Finish – 7th 3A State Coach – Mike Stokes Top Runners – Jack Terry SR (33, 14:55), Nate Cozine SR (111, 15:31), Jack Hempleman SR (155, 15:47), Andrew Reimann JR, Nathan Fowler JR, Thomas Walter SO, Erik Snell SO, Casey Daleidien SR, Noah Helstrom SR, Nick Squiollacioti FR, JT Bautista FR, Kevin Stokes FR. Notes – Despite the fact only three members are back from last year’s seventh place state team, this is another Prospect team that will defy the odds. Coach Mike Stokes has installed a culture of sacrificing individual success for that of team success. The way they run races as a pack is one of the main reasons why. Some of the new additions for Prospect do not come from transfers in or from other sports but additions to their coaching staff. The first is Jay Renaud who coached at Hersey. He is now the head track coach at Prospect. The second is former state champion from Andrew High School Matt Withrow. “Coach Renaud has been a true blessing for our program. He is back to being a Knight and he looks good in blue and always has. He is a dynamic coach who has the same training philosophy as the KOR, but is adding his own experiences to the mix,” said Coach Mike Stokes. “We are also lucky enough to be adding former Alumni Bryan Quesea to the staff, along with Matt Withrow. Matt and I both went to Andrew HS and ran under Hall of Fame coach Joe Mortimer. Matt's resume speaks for itself, and he is adding to the KOR already. He works at adidas in Rolling Meadows and has offered to come over and help a few days a week. We are so pumped about the team and STAFF!” Jack Terry was the top runner at the end of the year placing 33rd at state. The pack will be designed around him hoping to have a split like the 36 second one at state. Nate Cozine and Jack Hempleman ran at state and should be part of the pack. Andrew Reimann, who was in and out of the top seven because of injuries, will be fighting for a spot. Erik Snell, a sophomore, had a great summer of training and could be part of the group. “Our training has been great and our 1-6 split predictor will be very good,” said Coach Stokes. “We aspire to challenge Hersey for the Division/MSL Title/Regionals. We hope to have 7 guys under 16:00 at sectionals. “We think we can qualify for State and improve on the 7th place we have gotten the last 2 years.” There could be some growing pains in the first couple of meets. This team has the runners to be in the top ten. How high up will be determined in the state series.
10 Batavia 2016 Finish – 11th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Bronco Meeks Top Runners – Shane Knanishu SR, Joseph Knanishu SO, Damian Rodriguez SO, Sean Adams SR, Adam Kennedy SO, Christopher Lavario JR, Jack Gillerlain SR, Reid Coyle JR, Ben Barranco JR, Eamon Samsami SO, Kevin Silbernagel FR, Ian Rousseau FR. Notes – The Bulldogs did not have one of their best races of the year in their sectional race when they finished 11th. Part of that had to do with having three freshmen running in their top seven. The ups and downs that this team went through could help during this 2017 season. Five runners are back from that sectional team. “Training has gone well. This has been the strongest overall team we have had. Day to day we have no idea where anyone will finish. We have a group of about 9-10 guys that could potentially be on our varsity squad at any point this year,” Coach Bronco Meeks said. “Our frosh/soph group has shown a lot of promise. Despite a large number of sophomores being up on varsity last year, our frosh/soph team ended up winning conference. They should make a run at it again this year with the addition of a strong, hardworking freshman class.” There was a ton improvement made by this team over the past year. One of the biggest was from Chris Levario who was not even in their top seven. He started his track season with an 11-minute personal best for 3200-meters. That dropped down to an amazing 9:46 at their sectional. The sophomore duo of Adam Kennedy and Damian Rodriguez both ran under 4:25 for 1600-meters. Another sophomore Joseph Knanishu ran 4:37 and again should be a part of the top five. Seniors Sean Adams, Jack Gillerlain, and Shane Knanishu have showed improvement during the summer and should also be in that top five. Batavia had 14 returnees run under five-minutes for 1600-meters. The team ran with tight packs all last year. It was only 25 seconds in their conference meet. The problem in their sectional race is that the pack never got into the race. The team is running with confidence after a good track season. They are a team that will challenge for a conference title but more importantly a state berth. “I think the team has shown they have high expectations for themselves just through their improved work ethic and dedication,” said Meeks.
11 Plainfield North 2016 Finish – 8th – 3A Marist Sectional Coach – Andrew Derks Top Runners – Ben Otstott SR (72, 15:14), Omar Paramo SR (84, 15:20), Ethan Prior SR (92, 15:23), Spencer Brandt SR, Jack Anderson JR, Sam Horvath SR, Nick Lowe JR, Ian Willoughby SR, Sean Curran SO, Michael Schumauderer SO, Ryan Maseman FR, Will Van Hoff SO, Chris Hudetz SO. Notes – The bad news at the end of last season was that Plainfield North did not qualify for the state meet finishing eighth at the Marist Sectional. The good news was that they qualified three individuals to Peoria. All three runners had good races running within nine seconds of each other. That experience will pay dividends this fall. Only four runners are back from the sectional team. Their depth on the JV level is good. “Our core group of guys have been very consistent, and we come out of the summer in good health, which is always a goal,” Coach Andrew Derks said. “I am pleased with how our guys, for the most part, have taken the next step in their training, whatever that means for them... slightly more mileage, faster pace on runs, consistency with their training logs, etc. We have a long way to go to reach our goals, but the foundation is there and I feel like we head into the season with our best training ahead of us.” Seniors Ben Otstott, Omar Paramo, and Ethan Prior all ran at state and will lead this team. Paramo, according to Derks, has stepped into the first spot with a good summer of training. There are plenty of runners that could step into the top five. Spencer Brandt, Jack Anderson, Sam Horvath, and Nick Lowe are some of the runners that have the talent to help on varsity. The top three ran on an average six seconds of each other at the end of the year. That pack will need to move up but a split on five should stay under 45 seconds. “We have very high expectations for this year,” Derks added. “Last year was a disappointing season team-wise, and the guys are very motivated to improve that. We want to be ready to compete for an SPC Championship, a top-5 finish at Sectionals, and achieve our highest place at state in school history. However, the real goals lie in what we are going to do now and throughout the season to get there. We must continue to train and live like a team that is all-in. It is easy to say what your goals are, another thing to live out the process to get there when there is a word of distractions (both positive and negative) out there, especially for teenagers.”
12 Winnetka New Trier 2016 Finish – 14th 3A State Coach – David Wisner Top Runners – Patrick Norrick SR (74, 15:14), Kiran Baakkonen SR (128, 15:41), Ryan Struckman SR (143, 15:43), Charlie Forbes JR, Ford Baker JR, Ben Parkhill SR, Luke Wisner JR, Owen Eskandari SR, John Izzo SR, Arjun Thakkar SR, Miles Purcell SR. Notes – It does not matter that the Trevians only have three runners back from their state team that finished 14th in 2016. The team is deep in talent. In their conference meet last fall, they had eight runners within 32 seconds of each other running between 15:47 and 16:19. They have the parts to get back to state. It just might take a little time to discover those parts. “We had perhaps their best summer of training since the 2010 season,” Coach David Wisner said. “In fact, we had more athletes train more consistently than any New Trier team ever. They trained together mostly in two groups and emphasized team before individual, quality over quantity, and made sure that recovery days were just that and nothing more. Because of our consistent training, our team summer mileage was still the highest ever, but it was attained gradually with step back weeks built in every two to three weeks.” Patrick Norrick will be the top runner on this team. He just needs to stay healthy according to Wisner. “He is a pure strength runner, and if he can run his race and eventually find his way to the front of any pack, I expect him to be one of the state’s best in 2017.” It is just staying healthy where injuries would interrupt his training. It could mean important things in November. There is not much experience on this team but early season racing will grow this group. Charlie Forbes, Ford Baker, and Luke Wisner could be some of the youngster to step up into the top five. “Our team has great depth in both the junior and senior classes, but we are very inexperienced. Except for Pat Norrick, it is likely that our Top 7 this season will consist of athletes with no post-season experience,” added Coach Wisner. “Given that this is the most likely scenario, it’s hard to predict where we will finish in the state meet come November. What I can count on is that we will train together, race together, and compete as well as any other past New Trier team. Only time will tell, but I believe that there are roughly 18 athletes with a legitimate shot at our Top 7.”
13 Edwardsville 2016 Finish – 19th 3A State Coach – George Patrylak Top Runners – Franky Romano SR (90, 15:23), Roland Prenzler JR (100, 15:27), Dan Powell JR (113, 15:34), Jack Pifer SO (128, 15:37), Max Hartmann JR (145, 15:43), Zach Walters SO (196, 16:17), Todd Baxter JR (206, 16:36), Holden Potter SR, Kyle Koons SO, Henry Gruben SO, Raleigh Brazier SR. Notes – All seven runners from last year’s 19th place state team return. They should be the top team in the 3A southern sectional this year. With all the talent back, expectations are high for this team. Do not tell Coach George Patrylak that, “What we need most is for this team to come together as a complete, cohesive unit. This still has not happened,” Patrylak said. “We are halfway there, but, without complete buy in and the mindset of putting the team before the individual, we will not reach our full potential. If this team becomes committed to one another, the coaches, and the team, then this is a top ten team.” The talent is there for this team. The mindset of tight pack running is also good especially at state when their top five was only separated by 20 seconds. It was 59 seconds at their conference meet and 62 seconds in their sectional race. It was good that pack at state was tight but they were too far behind the front. Franky Romano led the way on that day but he finished 90th. Max Hartmann and Zach Walters dropped under 10-minutes for 3200-meters during track and could move up in the pack. Roland Prenzler, Jack Pifer, and Dan Powell again should be part of the group. The formula is simple for this team. It needs to be we before me, staying together in races, and having that pack farther up in big races. Put those things together and you could get a top ten team in November.
14 Hinsdale Central 2016 Finish – 6th 3A State Meet Coach – Jim Westphal Top Runners – Sean O’Connell SR (65, 15:11), Neil Cumberland SR (149, 15:44), Sam Schiavitti SR, Alec Hill JR, Colin Youdel SR, Matt Kusek JR, Keegan Caveney JR, Alex Chorx SR, Kevin Hopkins JR, Brandon Belgrad JR, Will Ricker JR, John Penland SR. Notes – It will be strange not seeing multi all-state runner Blake Evertsen around Hinsdale Central’s team this fall. He is taking the next step forward beginning his collegiate education at Harvard University this fall. It could be a rebuilding year for the Red Devils. They ran their best race of the year finishing sixth at state. Only two runners are back from that state team. “I feel training went well. We really made an effort to individualize more so than in any other summer of training,” said Coach Jim Westphal. “Some kids respond much better to a bit lower mileage by supplementing on the bike or elliptical. This is done for the injury prone athletes. Some kids have adjusted to higher mileage as well. The one thing we emphasize is that you have to be consistent over a long stretch of time. If we can get our kids to put in the work day to day, week to week, then they will eventually see the payoff.” Sean O’Connell had a breakout season in track running 9:20.06 for 3200-meters and 4:20.57 for 1600-meters. It would not surprise me to see him in the top 25 in November. Neil Cumberland is Central’s other returnee that was the team’s fourth runner in their regional and sectional meets. Alec Hill could be the most improved runner from summer training. He had injuries that sidelined him during the outdoor track season. He could be in the top three if he can stay healthy. Sam Schiavitti and John Penland will also push to get into the top five. Knowing the returnees that have big meet experience, we could see some growing pains early in the year. This is a team not to discount. They will run their best at the end of the season. Just ask last year’s team and the state champions in 2013 & 2014. “I think our kids have very realistic expectations for the season,” Westphal added. “We are not emphasizing a specific place at conference or state rather, just focusing on the process of day to day, week to week. If they’ve prepared well, then the results will take care of themselves. Our conference will be extremely competitive with DGN, York, LT, and Glenbard West all coming back with a ton of talent so we just hope to be in the mix at that point.”
15 Orland Park Sandburg 2016 Finish – 10th 3A State Coach – John O’Malley
Top Runners – Dylan Jacobs SR (3, 14:10), Robbie Sieczkowski SR (98, 15:25), Nicholas Calderon JR (129, 15:37), Sam Rodriguez SO (172, 15:54), Xander Furmanek SR, Peter Bukiri JR, Nick Gonsch SR, Connor Devlin JR, Will Giblin SO, Ben Giblin SO, Ian McGrath SO, Patrick Morris SR, Ryan Wagner SR. Notes – There was not that much expected from the Sandburg team in 2016. Come on! You basically lose seven runners that created a championship atmosphere the previous two years. What Sandburg did last fall was a statement of what the inner guts of their program is. They finished tenth at Detweiller Park with four runners back. One of the returnees is two-time All-American last fall Dylan Jacobs. “Dylan was in the lead of every race he was in last year, including State, NXN and Footlocker,” said Coach John O’Malley. “I think that is a clear indicator of where his mindset is at competitively. His mindset is at the front of the field this year as well. He is ready to roll and looks strong this summer. The challenge will be managing college decisions, the lengthy national season, and focusing on the right preparations for him and the team mentally, physically and emotionally.” The pack behind Jacobs should be strong. Robbie Sieczkowski will lead the group with Nicholas Calderon, Xander Furmanek, and Sam Rodriguez close behind. “I am extremely excited about our guys,” O’Malley added. “They are competitive, adaptable, cohesive, accountable and brave. Our character in these categories exceeds our talent levels by a long shot. This makes me excited. If I see this stuff in practice, then I know we are good. I don’t need to see a bunch of crazy fast track times or a dozen guys who broke 16:00 last fall. I need to see these characteristics and I’m seeing that right now.” They may be ranked low right now but that does not matter to this team. Look at last year. The only rankings that count is when they figure the scores out after the state meet. We could see the Eagles improve on last year’s finish. “It’s tough from a cultural and competitive perspective to lose six guys from a state championship team,” O’Malley said about his championship teams. “Those guys had such a huge presence for multiple years. Last year I was thrilled with how we responded and put together a solid finish with 7 guys who had never raced together and six guys who had never run in a state meet. It took the entirety of the season to get to the point where we were confident and cohesive.”
16 Park Ridge Maine South 2016 Finish – 9th 3A State Coach – Greg Nordahl Top Runners – Tommy Brady JR (29, 14:53), Brandon Christopher SR (52, 15:04), Ian Spears JR (174, 15:56), Gavin Voris SR (197, 16:17), Jake Mellema JR, Sean Dempsey JR, Joey Katsch SO, Ian Dempsey JR. Notes – The Hawks are a team to watch again this season. It sounds like a broken record but it is true. Maine South continues to rebuild every year a testament of how good this program is. They return four from last year’s state team. The talent that they have on the lower levels will make reloading that much easier. “We had another excellent summer of training,” Coach Greg Nordahl said. “We had nine athletes attend the Wisconsin Camp of Champions. Our varsity has depth that it has not had the last few years which should help us through injuries and internal competition and in strengthening our 3-7. We have four runners that will have completed team summer goals of 800 miles and seven or eight to have completed 500 miles. Typically, those are the numbers that help define the all-state and top seven for us at the end of the season.” Tommy Brady had a good season last fall as the team’s second runner at state as he finished 29th. He improved even more last spring running 9:18.43 to earn all-state honors at the IHSA State track meet. He ran 4:20.18 the following week for the 1 Mile Run at Magis Miles in Chicago. I could see him in the top ten in November. Brandon Christopher ran 15:07 in July at Detweiller at Dark as he finished 13th overall. He could surprise some by finishing in the top 25. With two runners possibly in the top 25, a good pack behind them will be necessary. Ian Spears, who appears to be healthy with two seasons riddled with injuries, could also be a surprise in the top five. Sophomore Joey Kasch is recovered after suffering a stress fracture last spring at Distance Night in Palatine. He ran 10:34 for 2-miles at the CSL Meet last fall. He could factor in the top five as well as seniors Gavin Voris and Jake Mellema. “Our goal each season is to qualify for the state meet,” stated Nordahl. “That depends on making it through the difficult Lake Park Sectional. If the team stays healthy we should have three athletes at 15 minutes or below by the end of the season and a large and competitive group at 4-7 that will be able to compete under 16:00. This should make us a top ten team at the end of season at the state meet. If some of the junior class emerge as I think they will our team has top five potential. That is the goal these athletes have set for this season.”
17 Mundelein 2016 Finish – 6th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Kurt Rutz Top Runners – Robert St. Clair JR, Dario Carillo JR, Michael Parduhn JR, Alan Salgudo JR, Dillon Blake SO, Carter Schoor SO, Aidan Alfonso JR, Carl Schoenfeld SR, Elian Salgado FR, Trevor Werner SO, Tyler Green SO. Notes – This will be a young team with possibly five juniors and two sophomores filling up their top seven. The Mustangs were in and out of the top 25 last year. Their season ended by finishing sixth at the Waukegan Sectional. That is not bad for a team that had one senior in the top seven. “It was a great summer of training,” Coach Kurt Rutz said. “We had a record number of attendees at our Summer Camp. We have 5 guys on pace to run 1000 miles this summer, and another 3 or so to run around 900.” Mundelein showed that they could be one of the 25 teams at the state meet from the way that they ran at Detweiller at Dark in July. Dillon Blake ran 15:03 while Robert St. Clair was at 15:05. Michael Parduhn was next at 15:13. The team ran a 26 second split on their top five in their sectional race with those three runners along with Dario Carillo and Alan Salgado in the pack. The team may be young in regards of age. They do have the experience of senior runners. Pack running is concentrated of this team and it will be needed again this fall. Moving that pack up just a 10 second average by each of the five runners could lead to something big. “We believe we should be at State in November,” Rutz said. “We want to defend our titles at the Lake County Invite and Regionals, and think we have an excellent chance to win Conference this year. Narrowly missing the trip to State last year has had a major influence on our attitude this summer, as did our successes in track this past season.”
18 Lake Zurich 2016 Finish – 3rd 3A State Coach – JB Hanson Top Runners – Patrick Burns SR (51, 15:03), Jacob Bieniek SR (121, 15:36), Eric Metzger SR (182, 16:02), Drake Heisterkamp SR (199, 16:18), Sean Ginn SR, Patrick Hart SO, Jake Baffa SR, Sam Tourannas SR, Kevin Auster SR, Sam Guinta JR, Jack Gilboy FR. Notes – The Bears left Detweiller Park last November with a third-place finish at the state meet. Their top three of Kyle & Brian Griffith and Matt Pereira also have left having graduated and moving on to the next level. However, this is a team that I would keep an eye on as four runners with state meet experience are back. “Their training this summer has been consistent and progressed appropriately so we are optimistic moving forward,” Coach JB Hanson said. The runner to step up to the front will be Patrick Burns. He had a breakout junior year as the team’s fourth runner up until state (he was third at Detweiller) and 9:27.33 for 3200-meters during the track season. He should continue to rise into the top 25 by the time we get to November. It could be a senior dominated group behind Burns led by Jacob Bieniek, Eric Metzger, and Drake Heisterkamp. Newcomer Jack Gilboy was in the top 10 at the IESA State Meet last year and could step into the top five as a freshman. Burns will be in the front but the pack won’t be that far behind. Bieniek was an average 36 seconds behind Burns at the end of the year. The pack that Lake Zurich should have could be within 30 seconds of each other. Putting those two numbers together could get them back to the state meet. “Our class of 2017 was a banner class, not just because of Matt, Kyle, and Brian, but also because of the great leadership that graduated with them,” added Hanson. “Our current seniors may not have the star power of last year’s group, but they are deep, motivated, and talented nonetheless.”
19 O’Fallon 2016 Finish – 21st 3A State Coach – Jon Burnett Top Runners – Will Van Alstine JR (104, 15:28), Garrett Blenkush SR (168, 15:54), Matthew Glister SR, Hayden Ybarra SR, Lucas Capistrant SR (179, 16:01), Ashton Hess JR, Andrew Joyce JR, David Tady SO, Spencer Wall SR, Jacob Ramirez JR, Nick Edwards FR. Notes – The Panthers suffered two losses up front starting with the graduation of 800 Meter Run state champion Chris Conrad. Kyle Dismukes was the team’s #1 runner early last year before injuries sidelined him the rest of the cross-country season and all of track. He is no longer running instead concentrating on golf. Without a real front-runner on this team, good pack running will be needed with five returnees from last season’s 19th place state team. “We had a lump of guys that improved a lot this summer,” Coach Jon Burnett said. “They did a great job of training together and help each other along.” The team could have a potential split of near 35 to 38 seconds this fall. Will Van Alstine was the most consistent as the #2-#3 runner. He should lead this team. A senior group led by Matthew Glister and Garrett Blenkush will be some of the reasons why this team will be back at Detweiller. Freshman Nick Edwards could possibly be in the top seven by the end of the season according to Burnett. “We might not have a front-running star this season but we will have a strong pack,” Burnett added. “Hopefully, the pack will be strong enough to take us to Detweiller.”
20 Chicago Jones College Prep 2016 Finish – 7th 3A St. Ignatius Regional Coach – Andrew Adelmann Top Runners – Christian Reyes SR, Jeremy Brown SR, AJ Funtador JR, Ryan DeSantis SO, Nicholas Rappe SR, Ian Bacon SO, Jesse Shufro-Zletz SR, Michael Villa JR, Jeremy Yakes JR, Noah Fitch JR. Notes – Jones College Prep was not your typical 7th place regional team. They had finished second in the Chicago Public League Championships the week before. “What we agreed to as a team last Fall is a decision that was best for the physical health of our runners and one that I would make a thousand times over again if I had to,” Coach Andrew Adelmann said. The talent that is returning is good. It is good enough to make it to Detweiller Park in November if they can get out of the tough Lake Park Sectional. It is a team that could have a 30-second split on their top five led by seniors Christian Reyes and Jeremy Brown. Sophomores Ian Bacon and Ryan DeSantis along with junior AJ Funtador are a good nucleus to build your top five from. “As always, our main goal is for our guys to grow as people first and foremost,” stated Adelmann. “This past year we have talked a lot about how there are good teams and there are good programs. Good teams are focused on the athlete first, can string together some good seasons, will see incredible progress from a few guys, but can be broken by setbacks. Good programs are about the whole person. They are built bottom up, not top down. They see consistent development from everyone. And most importantly, they can weather any storm, with the understanding that they are part of something bigger than any one team or person. Our goal has always been, and will always be, to continue building a strong program based on our core values. Last October's Regional meet was a very tangible reminder for us of why those values are important and it reinforced what it means to run for a purpose beyond ourselves. We failed to do that on that Saturday, simple as that. But, the class, pride and character that I saw our guys handle themselves with and the love they showed for each other, meant that our goals as people were in fact reached last season. And as runners, the guys brought a renewed intensity to our final time trial of last XC season, which continued with more great progress throughout the Spring.”
21 Barrington 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Tom Root Top Runners – Nick Laning SR (32, 14:54), Patrick Furlong SO, Gregory Van Hollen JR, Jack DeWendt JR, James Lyon JR, Aaron Sarker SO, Emmett Lodl, Sean Cleary JR, Andreas Reaume JR, Justin Andrews SR. Notes – The Broncos could be the surprise team in the Schaumburg Sectional this fall. That would not surprise the coaches and runners in the Mid Suburban League. Barrington finished 7th at the Waukegan Sectional qualifying Nick Laning as an individual. The top four runners are back from that team. Laning is one of the athletes in the state that has showed the most improvement. The senior finished 32nd at state last fall. He had a great track season first running 9:16.83 for 3200-meters at the Lake County Meet. He followed that up by finishing an all-state ninth in the event at the IHSA State Meet. He could finish 15th or higher in November. They should have a good pack behind Laning led by Gregory Van Hollen and Patrick Furlong. There could be a 23 second spread on the four other scorers. They key is closing the gap between them and Laning to near or under 38 seconds. With Laning giving the team single digit points, their split on five needs to be under 64 seconds.
22 St. Charles East 2016 Finish – 11th 3A State Coach – Chris Bosworth Top Runners – Cole Adesso SR (57, 15:06), Aidan King SO (130, 15:38), Campbell Koch SR (186, 16:07), Bennett Melone JR, Robert Liking SO, Rohan Patel SR, Charles Murphy JR, Michael Larry JR, Mitch Gansemer JR, Luke Schildmeyer FR, Matt Connell FR, Zach Loomis FR, Tyler Tobin FR. Notes – One of the reasons why St. Charles East finished in 11th last fall was from the pack running that they exhibited in that race. The split on five was only 35 seconds. Practice makes perfect. They pack run in every race. “We will once again run as a pack,” Coach Chris Bosworth said. “Cross Country is about team, so I preach to my guys all the time about running together. About finding a teammate during workouts and races. It is a lot easier to run together then run alone. If we can train together, then we can race together. My guys do a great job of training together. To me, pack running is how you get the job done.” With only three runners back from last year’s team, it may take a little to get that groove of staying close together in races. Cole Adesso was 57th last year and could go under 15 minutes in November. Rohan Patel, Campbell Koch, and Bennett Melone will be a part of their top seven. Sophomores Aidan King and Robert Liking could also be in that top seven. They may start the season at this ranking. They will be higher in November. “Our expectations this year is to be at our best when it counts at the state meet,” Bosworth said. “I think we did an excellent job of doing that last year. Team goals this year are to battle for a conference title not just varsity but all 3 levels. That is something very important to this team this year. We will also send the best top 12 to Regionals/Sectionals/State. Again, be ready when it counts.”
23 Naperville Central 2016 Finish – 7th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Dave Ashton Top Runners – Thomas Shilgalis JR (152, 15:45), Alex Batutowski SR, Tyler Evans JR, Seth Klein-Collins JR, Nathan Ramachandran SO, Aaron Benson JR, Andrew Williams JR, Patrick Spisak SO, Jack Moccio SO, Parker Rankin SR, Luke Laboe SR, Brandon Kamp FR, Jack Thatcher FR. Notes – Naperville Central was close to making it to state last year finishing seventh in their sectional. “Our #3 went down 200m into the race in addition to several athletes not following the race plan,” Coach Dave Ashton said. “Possibly a result of cockiness from the regional the week before.” Four runners return from that sectional top seven. Thomas Shilgalis did not run his best race last fall at state when he finished 152nd running 15:45. He bounced back since that race running 4:19 for 1600-meters during track and in July when he ran 15:00 at Detweiller at Dark. He could challenge for one of the top 25 all-state spots. The team will need a good group behind Shilgalis and they should with Alex Batutowski and Tyler Evans leading the way. “We expect to bounce back and qualify for State as a team, and finish very well once there. Last year should have been a qualifying year, but Murphy’s law hit us hard,” Ashton said. “Every team has to earn the right to go to state. We are young and driven. We hope to see the fruits of those qualities manifest themselves this season.” 24 Wheaton North 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Nate Roe Top Runners – Nick Garza JR, Justin Ostrem SR, Connor Zydek JR, Kevin Riley SR, Kevin Boehm JR, Josh Sharpenberg SR, Aidan Sullivan JR, Brandon Krohn JR, John Logan SO, Mauricio Xichiteatl SO. Joey Simon SR. Notes – The Falcons will look to improve on their seventh-place finish at the Niles West Sectional. Their top three runners are back as well as five of the top seven. One addition to the team is senior Joey Simon who has played soccer the past two years. He ran as a freshman and was part of the team’s top seven. Simon qualified for state last spring in the 800 Meter Run. “Training has been very good this summer,” said Coach Nate Roe. “More miles than ever and a bit more of a chip on the guys shoulders after last season. We have stayed healthy and hungry. We've prepared ourselves for the ordeal of any cross-country season. Much work is still ahead for us, but we've had fun together this summer.” Justin Ostrem and Nick Garza should lead this team. Simon will be a good addition to the top five. Their split on five could be as much as 50 seconds. Since there is no real “front-runner”, their split will need to come down with the pack moving closer to the front. “Our expectations are to improve on last season,” Roe said. “We have talked about areas for improvement, mainly in non-running elements of our team. We know that we have an uphill climb with the likes of the DVC and a tough Sectional complex. Our goals remain to finish in the top-tier of the DVC, advance to the State Finals, and finish as high as possible. Seems a bit obvious and simple, but we're trying not to overthink and complicate the season. One step at a time.” 25 Aurora Marmion Academy 2016 Finish – 12th 3A State Meet Coach – Dan Klatt Top Runners – Michael Ronzone SR (48, 15:02), Sean Galle SR (78, 15:16), Jack Brewster JR 127, 15:36), Jake Harron JR (163, 15:51), Jake Coffman JR, Keoni English JR, Liam Kelly SR, Alex Carlson SO, Evan Turcich SR. Notes – It might be tough for the Cadets to better last year’s 12th place finish at the state meet. They return four of their top seven led by senior Michael Ronzone. He did not have his best race of the season at Detweiller finishing 48th. He bounced back in track running 9:29 for 3200-meters and 4:17 for 1600-meters. He was all-state in the 1600 Meter Run. “Training was consistent,” said Coach Dan Klatt. “We have a very strong group headlined by seniors Michael Ronzone and Sean Galle. Galle showed tremendous improvement as a junior in cross-country and has some great momentum after a solid last six weeks of track. We have more depth than any year that I have been here. Several sophomores and juniors have made jumps in mileage, which bodes well for the upcoming season, and we should have a strong pack from 4-7.” Sean Galle was 14 seconds behind Ronzone at state. He averaged 20 seconds away from Ronzone towards the end of the season. Work will need to be done finding third through fifth runners. Their split on that group is projected to be close to 85 seconds. That kind of split will make it tough to return for the state meet. “Our expectation each season is to continue to build winning habits that help us maximize our potential as a team,” stated Klatt. “Our goals each year start with offering up each day as an opportunity to glorify God by doing the best we can in an effort to become the best version of ourselves. In terms of outcome goals, as a program we always set our sights on being a top 10 team in the state. Because of the effort of the athletes on the team, our program has steadily improved each year and this year’s group has even higher expectations.”
The Next 25
Oswego East 2016 Finish – 8th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – James Milner Top Runners – Matthew Blanco SR, William Roeder JR, Luke Wentz SO, Chris Luz SR, Thomas White SR, Daniel King SR, Brad Wiggins SO, Nicholas Bozarth SO, Maverick Lange SO, Marcus Ochoa SR. Notes – Four runners are back from last year’s 8th place team at the West Aurora Sectional. Losing all-state runner Dylan Zangri will hurt. What will help the Wolves is a strong pack. It could be one of any four runners that could be the leader up front including Matthew Blanco, William Roeder, Luke Wents, and Chris Luz. The split could be as little as 25 to 30 seconds on the five-some. It is just a metter of moving closer towards the front.
Carpentersville-Dundee Crown 2016 Finish – 12th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Tyler Carlson Top Runners – Anthony Hurgoi SR (41, 14:59), Joey DeVita SR, Lucas Janikowski JR, Danny Price SR, Mark Jensen JR, Kyle Wizgird JR, Jorge Hernandez SR, Matt Krispin SR, Ben Breyette SR. Notes – It will be interesting to see how the first few weeks of the season will work for Dundee-Crown. “I, however, will be moving into administration and no longer coaching them this fall (which kills me, truly),” Tyler Carlson said. “I’ll be cheering them on in a new role.” There was no word who will step in as coach. The transition of a different approach, different program will be interesting to watch. It is a team that I had in the top 25. This uncertainty keeps them on the outside (for now). This team is talented. The Chargers are talented enough to get to the state meet. Anthony Hurgoi had a great junior season including running 14:59 to finish 41st. I could see him in the top 25. Joey DeVita is concentrating totally on cross-country after playing hockey. Carlson feels he can run with Hurgoi. “When this group of seniors ran their first race as freshmen, I told them that by their senior year they should be conference champions and relevant on a state level,” Carlson said. “I firmly believe they have the ability and work ethic to finish as a top 10 team in the state. I’ve continued to stress that all our work to move from last in conference their freshman year to tying for second (taking third on the tie-breaker without our #2) at conference and a state trip for Anthony last year doesn’t mean anything if we lose that hunger and we lose that edge from working together and working for each other. We’re only as good as our commitment to that mission for and with one another.”
Oak Park-River Forest 2016 Finish – 13th 3A State Coach – Chris Baldwin Top Runners – Matthew Vietzen SR (61, 15:09), Robert George SR (139, 15:41), Peter Halloran SR (192, 16:11), Owen Savoy SR, Garrett Minich JR, Spencer Thorpe JR, Lucas Carillo SR. Notes – Three runners are back from Oak Park-River Forest’s 13th place state team. They do lose two of their leaders Irwin Loud and Matt Politis. “Every race we would have someone who would score very few points so replacing that is tough,” Coach Chris Baldwin said. “We will have to make sure our pack is closer together than it has been last year. In terms of training losing our senior class is going to be tough to replace. Irwin raced varsity for 4 years, Matt Politis ran for three years. Those guys shared their knowledge daily with the team, kept the team loose and raised the expectations of all our runners. Matt and Irwin especially showed what hard work can do for a runner at OPRF and how we are able to compete with the rest of our conference.” There is quality with the returnees with Matt Vietzen leading the way. Robert George and Peter Halloran have finished over the summer and should be closer to Vietzen. Building up their fourth and fifth runners will be one of the things to watch in September. “The athletes have some lofty goals for themselves,” added Baldwin. “We race against the best competition in the state in our conference so that should give us an indication of how good we will be. It is always a goal to make it downstate as a team.”
Yorkville 2016 Finish – 24th 3A State Coach – Brian Long Top Runners – Zack Price SR (86, 15:20), Patrick Black SR (116, 15:34), Ben Summers SR (131, 15:38), Alex Loos JR (171, 15:54), Eric Nauman SR (178, 16:00), Matt Cox SR (194, 16:13), Mark Mattson SO, Rio Lara SR, Ben Tholen JR. Notes – Brian Long steps in as the new Boys coach after being an assistant under Chris Muth who will just coach the Girls now. “This summer's training has been a little different than in years past. We are working on building a solid base for all of our runners (freshmen through seniors), focusing on increased mileage,” Long said. “The boys seemed to adjust well to the new training regimen. Most say they feel they are in decent shape even without running work outs over the summer. When comparing this year's summer training to last years, many of the upper classmen feel they have a better foundation, which is crucial for off-season training.” This team is a good bet to make it back to the state meet as six of their top seven are back from the 24th place state team. The team ran a 34 second split on five at state. Moving the pack up will be a priority. Either Zack Price, Ben Summers, or Patrick Black could be the #1 runner. “We want to compete with other 3A schools like we did last year,” said Long. “I feel our summer training went well and the boys are eager to start the season and compete. If we can stay healthy and work to be consistent daily, I am certain we will have a successful season.”
Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 2016 Finish – 6th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Kyle Nugent Top Runners – Cameron Benes SR, Stephen Moody JR, Rory Cavan JR, Ian Repking JR, Teddy Barkowski SR, Will O’Brien JR, Luke Malek SR, Seth Townsend JR, Nicholas Hatfield JR, Bennett Fate JR, Peter Blatchford JR. Notes – In the Lake Park Regional, Glenbard West ran their best race of the year only five points behind regional champion York. The following week, they were more than 100 points back in sixth not making it to state. “Last year was a learning experience for our team,” Coach Kyle Nugent said. “Last year's team was made up mostly of sophomores who were inexperienced and had up-and-down seasons. After coming up short at the sectional, the guys seemed to convert the disappointment into motivation for the next season.” The team has six runners back from that sectional team. Four of the runners are juniors. They will be young but experienced. Cameron Benes and Stephen Moody should be the front runners for the team. Their split on five in their regional race was 44 seconds. It was 55 seconds in the sectional race. Finding consistency in their pack running is something to watch for especially in September. “The goal is to qualify for the state meet and then hopefully compete with the best teams there,” added Nugent.
Chicago Whitney Young 2016 Finish – 5th 3A State Coach – Billy Poole-Harris Top Runners – Sam Rivera JR (26, 14:51), Clayton Mendez SR (79, 15:17), Charlie Nevins JR (97, 15:25), Justin Villasenior SO, Luke Lesky JR, Mateus Jobes SO, Ariel Auina JR, Kendall Hester JR, Luke Somerville SR, Jamari Nix SR, Malachi Robinson JR, Paxton Fenencak FR. Notes – It was a season of a lifetime for Whitney Young and Coach Billy Poole-Harris. They were on a roll at the end of the year winning the Chicago Public League Championships, the St. Ignatius Regional, the Niles West Sectional, and then 5th at the 3A State Championships. That was with their top runner Clayton Mendez as the third runner placing 79th. We know all know Mendez did last spring earning All-State/All American honors for 3200-meters/2-miles. He will be one of the top runners in the state this fall. There might be a little rebuilding early in the year for the Dolphins with two runners other than Mendez coming back. Sam Rivera finished 26th just missing all-state by one spot. He could be in the top 15 this season. Charlie Nevins was the team’s fourth runner last year at state and gives Whitney Young a solid third runner. Finding the fourth and fifth runner might be the task early in the year. Poole-Harris may have already found those pieces with Malachi Robinson, who played soccer last year, Justin Villasenior, and Luke Somerville having a good summer of training. “Our expectations for this year is to continue to build a Distance Program in the City of Chicago,” Poole-Harris said. “Our biggest focus is to not let outside issues (city issues, politics) steer us off our path that we set for the program. As a team, we look to make the state meet and see what happens, with our sectional being the toughest sectional in the state. We are just looking to dance in November, and give our young guys the experience they need to keep the program going.”
Highland Park 2016 Finish – 23rd 3A State Coach – Steve Buti Top Runners – Nate Amster SR (125, 15:36), Alec Glazier SR (136, 15:40), Jose Reyes JR (167, 15:54), Fitz Laurie SR (209, 16:50), Jordy Mazza SR, Sebastian Aries SR, Richard Heller JR, David Halfin JR, Erik Anderson FR, Jack Casey JR, Jake Margolick SO. Notes – Highland Park returns four of their top seven from a team that finished 23rd in last year’s state meet. The Giants had a 34 second split on their top five at Detweiller in November. What happened was their pack was not as far up as it should have been. Nate Amster was their seventh runner most of last year but came on strong at the end to be the #2 runner. He had a great summer according to his coach Steve Buti and could be making the next step up. He could be a possible top 50 finisher. Alec Glazier and Jose Reyes are the nucleus of the pack behind Amster. The key is staying 15 seconds to hem having an overall split under 40 seconds. “My expectation is they make a commitment to push themselves and each other to be the best team they can be,” Buti said. “We all understand how difficult it will be to make it to the State Meet again this season.”
Naperville North 2016 Finish – 25th 3A State Coach – David Racey Top Runners – Jake Allen SO (117, 15:35), Nicholas Trattner JR (202, 16:23), Luke Boelke SO, John Eifler SR, Nick Vaile SR, Griffin McLean JR, Griffin Blecke JR, Sasha Dresbach JR, Jonathan Cassano SR, Brian DeSouza SR. Notes – It did not look like the Huskies would make it to the state meet earlier in the 2016 season. Belief and improvement got them to Detweiller Park where they finished 25th. There are only two runners back from that state team. I think it is possible for this team to return especially with the incredible depth that they have. Their #1 returnee Jake Allen is an interesting story. “This summer has been Jake’s first chance to train in the off season,” Coach David Racey said. “Last year he joined the xc team after being on the football team the first couple of weeks. He also played basketball last year and had an abbreviated track season due to a hamstring injury. With a full summer of running his performances should improve.” Luke Boelke, who should be in the top five, competed last spring in gymnastics, but also has had a great summer putting him position-wise where he is at. They could have a 22 to 25 second gap on seven runners. Moving that pack up could put them among the top 15 teams. “With a great summer of training and a very competitive group I expect this team to perform very well,” Racey said. “This team will be better than last year’s group with their race performances. Our goal is to improve throughout the season and perform at their best in October/November.”
Palatine 2016 Finish – 18th 3A State Coach – Chris Quick Top Runners – Richard Jacobo SO (106, 15:28), Evan Eckels SR (159, 15:49), Art Oshinson SR (183, 16:02), Joe Ahlgrim JR (190, 16:09), Henry Lechowicz SR, Thomas Lambke JR, Luke Saverland JR, Zach Simons SR, Jaco Busse SR, Malcom Filchia JR, Ian Cameron SO. Notes – The Pirates made it back to state after missing the trip the past couple of years. Even though the Schaumburg Sectional has improved this season, Palatine does have the talent to be one of those top five sectional teams with four runners back from that state team. Their summer running could make that thought a little more definite. “Our team culture after our trip to the Smoky Mountains with our girls’ team is outstanding,” Coach Chris Quick said. “Coach Parks and I decided to combine the teams (for 90% of things at least) last year, and this summer saw that experiment come to full fruition. The boys and girls had a great time on our trip to the mountains and came back acting like a family. They all hang out and are connected so the emotional piece is very strong. I have faith that these connections will pay off.” Richard Jacobo should be the team’s #1 runner and he is only a sophomore. He could finish between 30 to 50 at Detweiller. Evan Eckels had a breakout track season including a personal best of 4:28 for 1600-meters. Joe Ahlgrim and Art Oshinson should be in the top five. Henry Lechowicz is back after attending a private school last year. He ran 16:18 as a sophomore and has showed improvement. The team had a 72 second five man split off all-state Brian Leonard last year at state. It was only 27 seconds from their second through fifth runners. That is what the Pirates will start from. With Jacobo improved, it will be interesting to see how this pack develops. “We have 5 guys in great shape as well as 3-4 more who have made huge gains,” Quick said. “My goal this year is simply to coach the kids that are here as hard as I can. We are having fun and working real hard, but I sincerely have no idea where we are at. Spirit and motive for each other are high, and usually when we get the emotional component right we come along and have a great season.”
DeKalb 2016 Finish – 9th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Mike Wolf Top Runners – Aidan Donohue SO, Jacob Trapp JR, Ben Allen SR, Emmanuel Yeprz SO, Riley Marks JR, Hank Barnes SR, Ryan DeBeau SR, Juan Castro SO. Notes – Even though DeKalb lost their top two runners from their ninth-place sectional team, the talent is prevalent on the roster for this season. The team could have a shot improving their sectional place with five runners within 30 seconds of each other coming back. Any of three runners will be trading off the top spot. Keep an eye on Aidan Donohue, Jacob Trapp, and Ben Allen to be challenging for that spot. Trapp ran 15:57 at Detweiller at Dark while Donohue ran 16:12. A tight pack does not mean a thing unless it is closer to the front. That is what the Barbs will need to achieve. “The boys have been working together great this summer and being a tight group has given them confidence,” Coach Mike Wolf said. “We finished 9th at the W. Aurora Sectional last season and we look to improve.”
Geneva 2016 Finish – 15th 3A State Coach – Bob Thomson Top Runners – Josh Rodgers (43, 14:59), Ryan Kredell JR (108, 15:29), Cole Montgomery SR (193, 16:12), Vadis Stokenbergs SO, Aidan Carr-Clennon SR, Joe Tegge SO, Kellen Cessarone JR, Alex Cordogan SR. Notes – It might be tough to make it back to state for the Vikings. Last year’s 15th place finish was the first time that Geneva had raced as a team since 2010. Only three runners are back from that state team looking to repeat the state feat. Josh Rodgers has the talent to make it the top 25 after finishing 43rd. It looks like it could be a pack with Rodgers way up front. Ryan Kredell finished on an average 32 seconds behind Rodgers at the end of the year. He should be the leader of the pack. They will need to find a solid three through five group. The split on two through five projects to be near 75 seconds with an overall split over 100 seconds. Both of those times need to come down. “Though we graduated four of our top seven, I believe we will still be competitive,” Coach Bob Thomsen said. “Our biggest holes to fill are those left by Tyler Dau and Brian Kuehl. Since we made it back to state last season as a team for the first time since 2010, I know the boys have the desire and commitment to make it happen again.”
Huntley 2016 Finish – 12th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Matt Kaplan Top Runners – Ian Geisler SO, Jeremy Roe JR, Jadon Conroy JR, Chris Simek JR, Joey Ozzauto SR, Dillon Cherwin JR, Josh Segura SR, Rashad Ahmad SR, Marcus Herrington JR, Bryce Klepfer SO. Notes – A team that will surprise some this fall. Huntley is young with five underclassmen most likely being a part of their top seven. That youth got them to 12th place at the West Aurora Sectional last year. How high will they go in 2017? “I've been pleased with how our group's summer has progressed. You can't ever predict how a summer with go. We've had 25-30 boys working together over the summer weeks but I'm hopeful more boys will join when the season and school year begins,” Coach Matt Kaplan said. “The boys that I expect to help our team this season have spent the summer together doing what they need to. I've have a great group of seniors starting to emerge as team leaders. Our top runners have been pushing each other and really making everyone on the team accountable which can only help us moving forward.” The split on five led by Ian Geisler was 45 seconds at the sectional. Expect that time to lower this fall. Jeremy Roe will be close to Geisler with Jadon Conroy needing to get within 10 to 15 seconds of Roe. “I'm expecting this team to finish the season strong,” Kaplan added. “Our team is looking to improve our showing at the conference meet this season as well. I'm also looking forward to handful of incoming sophomores who made solid improvements in track. Our frosh-soph team will possibly have a few boys that could impact the top 7 by the end of the season.”
Minooka 2016 Finish – 22nd 3A State Coach – Kevin Gummerson Top Runners – Mark Dames JR (120, 15:36), Cody Hoshell SR (188, 16:07), Jordan Freese JR (189, 16:08), Jason Hoffman SO, Hunter Phillips SO, Nic Beck JR, Seth Joder JR, Rick Undesser SO, Jared Zacek SO, Jared Breker SO. Notes – The big loss on and off the course for Minooka is the graduation of multi all-state runner Soren Knudsen. With only three runners coming back from the 22nd place state team, you would think that the chances of making it to state would be tough. Being in the Granite City Sectional makes the task easier. They still have work to do to get to the Detweiller Park starting line. The Indians have the talent to have a tight pack in races. Jordan Freese was the #2 runner most of last season until Mark Dames took that role. Cody Hoshell and Jason Hoffman should be close to those two. Four or five runners could fight for the fifth spot led by Hunter Phillips. This will be a young team with four of the top five runners as underclassmen. We will have to wait until the beginning of October to see how good this team is. “Obviously, we are losing Soren, and things will be different,” Coach Kevin Gummerson said. “Basically, we had the luxury of only scoring four last year. However, these kids are driven to get us back to Peoria, and improve upon last year’s finish. It has been interesting to see who is going to step up and be that leader.”
Evanston Township 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Loyola Regional Coach – Don Michelin Top Runners – Logan Singer SR, Julian Michelin JR, Max Ebeling JR, James Moran SO, Nate Landolt JR, Joey Eavaldi SR, Ethan Hawker SR, Nick Baumann SR. Notes – The Wildcats did not make it out of the Loyola Regional last fall but did qualify four individuals that had the opportunity to run at sectionals. Logan Singer was the top runner most of last year. Julian Michelin could be close to him this fall. The team had a good pack last fall. Evanston just needs to move that pack up. They should advance to sectionals. It could be tough to get into the top ten at Lake Park.
New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central 2016 Finish – 8th 3A Edwardsville Sectional Coach – John Taylor Top Runners – Zak Hutchinson SR, Nate Rittenbacher SR, Jared Kreis SO, Andrew Englert JR, Jackson Burriss JR, Justin Hearne SR, Lucas Dion SO, Kyle Kissinger SR, Kern Rodrigues SR, Sean Dennelly SR. Notes – The Knights return five runners from last year’s eighth place sectional team hoping to improve on that finish. Zac Hutchinson was the top runner most of last year before he slid to the sixth spot in his sectional race. He should join with Nate Rittenbacher in the front. Their split at sectionals was only 26 seconds. Moving the pack closer to the front could get them close to the top five. Chicago St. Ignatius Prep 2016 Finish – 10th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Ed Ernst Top Runners – Michael Obroin SR (56, 15:05), John Walls JR, Patrick Hogan SR, Trey Johnson SR, James Mangan SR, Christian Coletta JR, John Rittereiser JR, Nick Magee SR, Michael Marino SR. Notes – Four runners are back from last year’s 10th place sectional team. The Wolfpack’s depth could show this fall as up to 12 runners could fight for the three remaining spots. Michael Obrion could be among the top 25 in Peoria in November. His finish at the end of the track season was not the best. A good summer of running has him back on track. John Walls has improved and could be closer to Obroin. “This summer (Asst Coach Nate) McPherson put more emphasis on mileage and tempo-running, and less on track work,” Coach Ed Ernst said. “They are not as fit in terms of racing readiness right now, perhaps, but they are maybe more-ready to train some more for the fall ahead.” Trey Johnson has showed more improvement and could be in the top five. This team will work on their pack early in the year but should be at full stride at the end of September. “We will go to First to the Finish in September looking for a trophy finish,” said Ernst. “We hope to race at the front at Palatine. We will race Marmion and Loyola for our league title. Our team has no multiplier waiver (we’ve always been multiplied), and we will continue to compete at 3A level in state tournament. We expect to be in the Lake Park sectional, although in 2015 we went to Hinsdale Central. Both groups are strong, but we expect to compete for a place at the state meet. This is a team of friends, and we will ask them to run together as a pack. We are a few years removed from our successful teams of 2012, 2013, and 2014. But they should compete at that level. We have told them that we expect them to win some prizes, like those teams did--the CCL league title and state qualifying as a team.”
Aurora Waubonsie Valley 2016 Finish – 6th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Kevin Rafferty / Carl Armstrong Top Runners – Wes York SR, Wes Beitler SO, Jake Saindon SO, Alex Barenbrugge JR, Eryk Stewart JR, John Caron JR, Cedric McGuire SR, Jackson Bakula SO, Hunter Spain SR, Huzafa Tawawalla JR, Nate Sheppard SO. Notes – They came close last fall but the Warriors fell six points of making it to state placing sixth at the West Aurora Sectional. Coach Kevin Rafferty will be on paternal leave for six weeks of the season beginning in September as he awaits the birth of his child with his wife Alicia. Long-time assistant coach Carl Armstrong will take over varsity coach roles while Rafferty is absent. Three runners return from the 2016 sectional team. “We should be competitive this year,” Rafferty said. “We’re a less experienced team this year compared to last year. If you look at 2016 Cross Country PRs we’re probably not going to scare anybody but we had a lot of development during track for this group and we think we’ll be able to carry that over to cross country. Obviously, there’s be some adjustment with the program operating without me for a while but we’ve got other issues to work on as well. This group doesn’t have a whole lot of time together and with the way the summer worked out we didn’t have any days with everybody from my assumed top 10 at camp together.” Wes York earned all-state honors at 800-meters last spring. He will be one of the team’s top runner this fall along with sophomore Wes Beitler. The team is young after that with possibly only two seniors in the top seven. Waubonsie Valley will run with a good pack. Their split was only 25 seconds in their sectional race. It is projected to be 45 seconds at the beginning of the season. You should see that drop by the time they get to the state series. “Our team goal is the same,” concluded Rafferty. “We’d like to be up in the DVC finish. WWS is good. Neuqua has a history of being a top team in the state and while they’re not at the level they were last year I’m sure they’ll be very good. The Naperville’s are both good. Last year of the DVC is going to be tough. We’d then like to advance throughout the state series. Without knowing who’s assigned to which regional/sectional it’s hard to set that goal but we’d like to be in the mix to advance.”
Buffalo Grove 2016 Finish – 8th 3A Grant Regional Coach – Chris Marks Top Runners – Mitchell Guittar SR, Zach Gazda SR, Javier Guerrero SR, Jake Spies JR, Lissandro Voquedano SR, Luke Wenzel JR, Alberto Rivera SO. Notes – The Bison did not make it to sectionals last year finishing eighth at the Grant Regional. With six runners back from that regional team, chances are good that this team could extend their season by one week. Zach Gazda had a great summer and should be the #1 runner. Newcomer Alberto Rivera played soccer last year but will make an immediate impact to the top five according to Coach Chris Marks. “Our expectations are high, and all the boys are positive about the upcoming season. We are a deep team at the Varsity level and will draw strength from each other,” Marks said.
Plainfield East 2016 Finish – 10th 3A Marist Sectional Coach – Rich Gatz Top Runners – Emmanuel Angomas JR, Eduardo Cintron JR, Zahid Salodawala SR, Nick Pedersen SR, Jonathan Gancarzyck SR, Josh Kaiwya SR, Gavin Withaeger SR, Justin Price SO, Alex Dills SO, Nathan Mason SR. Notes – The Bengals will start out slowly but will be in the mix for one of the top five spots in the Hinsdale Central Sectional by the end of October. Five runners are back from that sectional team. Their top runners Emmanuel Angomas and Eduardo Cintron have been hampered by injuries during the summer. They should be at full strength by mid-September. “I expect to have one of the more competitive varsity teams I have had in a while,” Coach Rich Gatz said. “With our strong senior class, the addition of Nathan Mason and the growth of sophomores Justin Price and Alex Dills, we should be pretty strong once juniors Emmannuel Angomas and Eddie Cintron return from injury towards the middle of September.”
Glenview Glenbrook South 2016 Finish – 8th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Kurt Hasenstein Top Runners – Matt Jortberg SR, Joey Pauletto JR, Jordan Theriault SR, Charlie Schultz JR, David Lopez JR, Will Houser SO, Will Kelly SO, Brendan Garvey JR, Daniel Cho SR, Dominic Chavez SR. Notes – The Titans had a strong pack last year when they finished eighth in their sectional race. Four runners return from that team. They could be better than last year’s squad. “Our summer training went well,” Coach Kurt Hasenstein said. “Our numbers at camp were strong so we have a lot of kids who will benefit from the mileage they have put in. I expect a couple of seniors who were top end JV runners last year to emerge and help us at the varsity level.” Matt Jortberg, Joey Pauletto, Jordan Thierault, and Charlie Schultz had good summers and will be within 20 seconds of each other this fall. Sophomores Will Houser and Will Kelly could also give this team a boost. This team is deep. Just moving the pack up could make this team dangerous when they get to the state series. “As always, we expect to be one of the top teams in CSL South Division and finish in the top 3 in our conference meet,” added Hasenstein. “We ran well in the postseason last year and expect to do the same this year. We will be led by seniors Matt Jortberg and Jordan Theriault and juniors Joey Pauletto and Charlie Schultz. With Dominic Chavez, Daniel Cho, Kelly and Houser all showing signs of being ready to help we should have a strong pack again with plenty of depth.”
Frankfort Lincoln-Way East 2016 Finish – 20th 3A State Coach – Ross Widinski Top Runners – Brett Gardner SO (66, 15:11), Michael Trost SR (144, 15:43), Will Evans SR (198, 16:17), Jeremy Stajkowski SR (200, 16:20), Arnulfo Pulido JR, Antony Iozzo SR. Sam Chomiak SR. Notes – It was a great year for the Griffins last fall as they finished 20th in the state meet. Three of their top five runners are back from that team. It could be tough for East to make it back to state. “Training went well,” Coach Ross Widinski said. “However, we had a large group of the runners take summer school and as a result missed camp.” Brett Gardner had a good freshman season running 15:11 at state. 40th place or under could happen for this sophomore. A pack, led by Michael Trost, will need to form so that this team finds its way back to Peoria. 71 seconds is projected from their second through fifth runners. That time needs to come down. “Last year was a wonderful season that exceeded most people's expectations,” Widinski said. “This year, with a younger team we hope to continue to compete at every meet.”
Oswego 2016 Finish – 10th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Dan Whipple Top Runners – Mitch Bradford SR, Joe Fioresi SR, Corey Saelens SR, Brendan Pope SR, Brandon Nelson SR, Keegan Murphy SR, Nathan Miller JR, Kyle Kelty JR, Jonathan Zambo JR. Notes – The Panthers will reload after finishing 10th in their sectional. Four runners return led by seniors Joe Fioresi and Mitch Bradford. A pack of five runners under 60 seconds could get Oswego within reach of the top five at the Waubonsie Valley Sectional.
Lincolnshire Stevenson 2016 Finish – 16th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Scott Somers Top Runners – Nikita Smyrnov SR (157, 15:48), Jacob Sparreo SR, Brett Lucas SR, Raven Jo SR, Tim Green SR, Ari Machtinger SR, Ethan Simanek SR, Cameron Sprague SO. Notes – The Patriots could have a solid first three-runners this season. It will be developing a fourth and fifth runners that will be their key. Nikita Smyrnov qualified individually last fall and could be among the top 40 in November. Their split on five could be close to 100 seconds. That is a split that will need to be lowered. It should be by October.
Libertyville 2016 Finish – 8th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach - Stuart Mendelsohn Top Runners – Alex Tam SR (40, 14:58), Albert Su SR, Nate Sweitzer SR, Colin Beattie SR, Will Gordon SO, Connor Shinn SR, Brendan Gallagher SR, Isaac Sweitzer FR, Ethan Hansen FR. Notes – Four runners are back from Libertyville’s 8th place section finish. Alex Tam again will be the team’s top runner. He qualified individually for state and finished in 40th place. Tam had vast improvement on track. He should be among the top 20 in November. “Training went great during summer camp. We had our largest group of runners sign up this year.,” Coach Stuart Mendelsohn said. “The team had fellow friends/athletes from other fall sports join the summer training as they know how much it will get them in shape for their respective sport. My expectations are to enjoy the season, stay healthy, and everyone improves from last year. I believe the athletes' expectations are the same. I know Alex Tam wants to qualify for state again and the varsity team wants to qualify for state.”
Bartlett 2016 Finish – 18th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Jeremy Ruston Top Runners – Angelo Peters JR, Luke Jennes SO, Nathan Smith SR, Brandon Kim SR, Alan Michaelk JR, Sam Jennes SO, Jonathan Jasso SO, Patrick Stephen SO. Notes – The Hawks are on the rise after making it to sectionals last year. Five runners return improved with a great summer of training. Junior Angelo Peters could be a surprise in big invites this fall. He has a possibility of qualifying individually. The team could have a 30 second five runner split off Peters. With Peters closer to the front in races, so could their pack. “Our expectations are a little higher this year,” said Coach Jeremy Ruston. “Going into last season we knew the focus would be on the younger guys and getting them experience. We had a very good frosh/soph group last year that made up a majority of our varsity lineup at the end of the season. I expect them to continue to improve and mature throughout the season. I think realistically we can qualify for sectionals and finish in the top half. After not making it out of regionals for 2 years, we qualified but finished last in the sectional last year. Some of them have asked me about the chances of qualifying for state so I know that is something they are thinking about.”
Other Teams to Watch (In Alphabetical Order)
Algonquin Jacobs 2016 Finish – 15th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Kevin Christian Top Runners – Zach Albrecht JR, Jacob Melgosa SR, Brandon Cole JR, Brett Bognar JR, Matt Lemke JR, Lorenz Sapanhila SR, Tyler Trella SR, Kyle Horn FR, Jacob Signorini FR. Notes – Zach Albrecht could have a breakout cross-country season this fall after running 4:17 for 1600-meters as a sophomore. He could be among the first 50 at state this November. “Our summer training was terrific especially from out top group,” Coach Kevin Christian said. “Our junior group has been able to handle some longer tempo runs at a much quicker pace than in the past. Obviously, Zach Albrecht has huge expectations after he dropped down to 4:17 in track, and his summer has been great. I didn’t think we would have the rest of the group progress so much with senior Jacob Melgosa, and juniors Mark Lemke, Brandon Cole and Brett Bognar. After that we will be looking for a group to continue to improve with seniors Matt Macatangay, Gary Richarson, Lorenz Sapanhila, and junior Evan Ludlum to fill out our top seven.”
Aurora Metea Valley 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Batavia Regional Coach – David Schumacher Top Runners – Ralph Papa SR (81, 15:19), Michael Varzino JR, Derek Roberts SR, Eshan Dhar SR, Ryan Mallory SO, Kenny Blazer JR, Charles Schafer SR. Notes – This could be one of the most improved teams in the DVC. They did not advance to sectionals last year but Ralph Papa qualified for state individually. Work will need to be done on their pack with a split that was over two minutes in the regional meet.
Berwyn-Cicero Morton 2016 Finish – 16th 3A Marist Sectional Coach – William Bloom Top Runners – Collin Anderson SR, Guillermo Ibarra SO, Brandon Seavedra SO, Rafael Ibarra SR, Pedro Ocampo JR, Dominick Lopez SR. Notes – Morton will look to move up the WSC-Gold standings as well as improving on their 16th place sectional finish. Guillermo Ibarra and Pedro Ocampo showed the most improvement over the summer according to Coach William Bloom.
Blue Island Eisenhower 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Sandburg Regional Coach – Jeremy Ceja Top Runners – Joshua English SR (71, 15:14), Nick Chapan SR, Elihu Young SR, Jed Pangan JR, Giovannie Montalvo SR, Miguel Ortega JR, Angel Estrada SO. Notes – Eisenhower could make it to sectionals this year especially with Joshua English up front. English qualified individually for state and could repeat that this fall. “We as a team set the goal of winning our conference, the SSC Red, at both levels, JV and Varsity,” said Coach Jeremy Ceja. “Individually, senior Josh English has a personal goal of returning to state and earning all-state honors, while seniors Nick Chapan and Elihu Young want to also qualify.”
Carol Stream Glenbard North 2016 Finish – 18th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Mark Karwowski Top Runners – Marat Schats JR, Ryan Czaja SR, Omar Solonio JR, Matt Solucha JR, Mike Deegan SR, Ryan Treamor, Haren Patel JR. Notes – Glenbard North will look to improve on their 2016 sectional as they return five runners from that team. Marat Schats and Ryan Czaja should be the top runners on this team. Their pack could be better than last year meaning a better finish. Watch for a split under 35 seconds on their top five.
Cary-Grove 2016 Finish – 9th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Layne Holter Top Runners – Nathan Kutok SO, Derek Warren JR, Jonathan Lewis SR, Maxum Caesar SO, James Wozniak JR, Thomas Roth JR, Andrew Lewis JR. Notes – The Trojans lost their top two runners from last year’s ninth place sectional team. With four runners back, Cary-Grove could equal that finish. It will be a young team with six of the seven runners being underclassmen. Derek Warren and Nathan Kutok should be the top runners this fall.
Chicago Brother Rice 2016 Finish – 23rd 2A State Coach – Tom Wazio Top Runners – Steve Sloan SR (102, 16:10), Tommy Gleeson JR (112, 16:14), Dan Spellman JR (134, 16:29), Jack Reddington JR, Jeremy Frias JR, Harrison Morg SO, Declan Docherty SO, Kevin O’Connell FR. Notes – This will be a year of transition for Brother Rice. They finished 23rd at the 2A state meet last fall. This year they have moved up to 3A. Their top three runners are back led by Steve Sloan and Tommy Gleeson. “If there is one runner that had a solid summer of running it would be junior, Dan Spellman,” Coach Tom Wazio said. “He was consistent in his training, and has worked a lot on improving his speed. I believe he has a solid base, that he will continue to build on during August and September, and his speed development will be a factor for any success he will have during late October.”
Chicago Lane Tech 2016 Finish – 13th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Kris Roof Top Runners – Julian Higueros JR (76, 15:15), KC Pruitt SR, Frank Burke-Olson JR, Kyle Haile SR, Jack Burns SO, Matt Schnanck SO, Tommy Scholle JR, Killian Zindell JR. Notes – This could be one of the better Lane Tech teams in the past few years. They are a good bet to be in the top ten at the Lake Park Sectional. Julian Higueros qualified for state individually and could be among the top 40 in the state. Their two to five runners spread could be around 30 seconds. The pack, led by KC Pruitt, could get as close as 50 seconds on Higueros.
East Moline United 2016 Finish – 9th 3A Edwardsville Sectional Coach – Chris Wallaert Top Runners – Dalton Martin SR (93, 15:23), Sawyer Swearngen SR, James Wright SO, Luis Cortes SR, Levi Nightindale JR, Mason Laud SR, Ben Rhodes SO. Notes – Dalton Martin qualified individually last fall finishing 93rd at state. He will again be the top runner for this team. Five runners return from last year’s ninth place sectional team. Sawyer Swearngen will lead the pack that will need to stay 50 seconds behind Martin for this team to show improvement.
Hoffman Estates Conant 2016 Finish – 8th 3A Hoffman Estates Regional Coach – John Powers Top Runners – Chris Floyd SR, James Preucil SO, Andrew Milas SO, Jeremiah Jones SR, Kyle Morimoto SR, Jareth Games JR, Brendon Kriepka JR, Sam Torrens SR. Notes – Conant just missed making it out of the Hoffman Estates Regional finishing eighth overall. All seven runners are back from that team led by sectional qualifier Chris Floyd. The split on their top five in that regional race was 69 seconds. If that can drop by 15 seconds this fall, the Cougars could be racing an extra week in October.
Joliet Central 2016 Finish – 10th 3A Edwardsville Sectional Coach – Doug Cherry Top Runners – Oscar Tejada SR, Nicholas Rios SR, Julian Mines JR, Erick Islas SR, leo Patino SR, Dana York SR, Brayen Cruz JR, Randy Tran SR. Notes – Joliet Central returns six runners from their tenth-place sectional team led by Oscar Tejada. Their split on five averaged near 90 seconds towards the end of the year. With the Granite City Sectional wide-open, their split dropping under 70 seconds could get the Steelmen closer to the sectional top five.
Lisle Benet Academy 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Lockport Regional Coach – Kevin Renicker Top Runners – William Engels JR, Connor O’Keefe JR, Dylan Kingston SR, Ian Smith JR, James Augtgen SR, William Forman JR, Jonas Jedwalls SO, Jeffrey Gaydos JR, Michael Moran SO, Sean Donnelly FR, Jack Robinson FR, Jack Tams FR. Notes – Benet Academy missed making it to sectional last season by seven points finishing seventh in the Lockport Regional. Five runners return from that team led by sectional qualifier William Engels. Benet will be looking for their 18th straight East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship in October. “We took a page out of Bill Aris’ playbook and really focused “the process is the goal.” By stressing the importance of everything they did, both big and small, we saw improvement in their daily runs, stretches, workouts, etc. It really was a transformation of the mind,” Coach Kevin Reinecker said. “As long as we keep our eye on the “process” then the post-season should be fun. The Redwings are always focused on winning the ESCC championship. They have won it for 17 years straight so there is a profound sense of pride on continuing to win it for the school and past runners alike. From there, each week we just want to get better at everything we do to put us in position to make a run at sectionals and state.”
Lockport Township 2016 Finish – 15th 3A Marist Sectional Coach – Tom Razo Top Runners – Donovan Paske JR, Cade Musich SR, Liam Kennedy SR, Aidan Pajeau SO, David Krzysiak SR, Marc Schelli JR, Ross Cronholm SO, Alexander Kistinger JR. Notes – Lockport returns four runners from last year’s 15th place finish at the Marist Sectional. A top ten finish this fall at Hinsdale Central is possible. “The key of the season will be if the Porters can find a fifth man that will be close to the top four,” said Lockport Coach Tom Razo. Donovan Paske will again lead his team up front. David Krzystak or Marc Schelli are some of the runners that could step into the fifth spot.
Machesney Park Harlem 2016 Finish – 16th 3A West Aurora Coach – Danny Savage Top Runners – Brady Johnson SR, Chris Nix SR, Michael Gille SR, Samuel Procopio JR, Joab Irwin SR, David Perian SR, Travis Oesterrich SR. Notes – Harlem returns six runners from their sectional team that finished 16th last October. Seniors Brady Johnson and Chris Nix will lead the team. Johnson was on an average 18 seconds ahead of Nix at the end of the year. The key is lowering their 100 second sectional split on five to 70 seconds. That would move them up in the sectional rankings.
McHenry 2016 Finish – 9th 3A Grant Regional Coach – Kevin Horst Top Runners – Andrew Pilat SR, Vince D’Angelo SR, Dylan Jansen SO, Jessi Garcia SO, Matthew Shefner SR, Brenden Kaunas SR, Dylan Qualls JR, Ian Knebl SO, Aidan Weyland JR, Maki Mohr SR. Notes – McHenry will look to extend their season an extra week by advancing to sectionals. They finished ninth at the Grant Regional and will be led by sectional qualifier Andrew Pilat. One runner to watch is senior Maki Mohr. He was the team’s #2 runner last September at the Palatine Invitational. He missed the rest of the season and indoors due to an injury. He came on strong in track running 1:56 for 800-meters as well as earning all-state honors in the High Jump.
New Lenox Lincoln-Way West 2016 Finish – 7th 3A Edwardsville Sectional Coach – Jason Van Swol Top Runners – Jonathan Stiglic JR (87, 15:21), Ryan Taylor SR (132, 15:38), Cade Vetor JR, Ethan Trost JR, Kyle Anchotelter JR, Nolan Krol SO, Jeremy Koerner SO, Dylan Williams SR. Notes – West will miss all-state Evan Mitchell who has graduated. The Warriors do have state qualifiers Jonathan Stiglic and Ryan Taylor back to lead this team. Both runners could be among the top 50 in November. Filling the three, four, and five positions are necessary if this team wants to equal last year’s sectional finish.
Palatine Fremd 2016 Finish – 11th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Darius Sanchez Top Runners – Ed Worthem SR, Charlie O’Brien JR, Matt Wallace SR, Ethan Saunders JR, Keith Contreras SR, Wesley Jones JR, Dhruv Purchit SO. Notes – We could see the Vikings enter the top 10 at the Schaumburg Sectional with hopes of state berth. Only two runners are back led by Ed Worthem who improved over the past year. Matt Wallace missed most of last fall with an injury but could be close to Worthem along with Charlie O’Brien. “After our mid-summer team retreat, our veteran leadership took the helm with more authority. Likewise, our younger group took a more focused approach. We have a lot of growing to do, but I like the path we are on.”
Palos Heights AA Stagg 2016 Finish – 12th 3A Marist Sectional Coach – Dan Zielinski Top Runners – Jared Tarantino SR, Justin Hobart SR, Kyle Madura SR, John Doherty SR, Arnas Liesis SR, Matt Aleck SR, Brendan Conroy JR. Notes – Stagg finished 12th last fall at the Marist Sectional. With five of their top six runners back, this team could have their sights on a top ten sectional finish. Jared Tarantino will be their #1 runner. To get into the top ten, they will need to lower their five-runner split from 74 seconds to 62 seconds.
Pekin 2016 Finish – 11th 3A Edwardsville Sectional Coach – Cole Stoner Top Runners – Kolten Dunkelberger SR, Brody Blackwell JR, Seth Kasinger SO, Cole Russell JR, Andrew Wolfe JR, Jayden Tabb JR, Bennett Custer JR. Notes – Pekin returns five runners from their 11th place Edwardsville Sectional team. Kolten Dunkelberger was 61 seconds ahead of his team in the sectional race. Most meets it was close to 30 seconds. Keeping their split near 80 seconds could get this team closer to the front in the Mid-Illini Conference and the top 10 in the sectional.
Rockton Hononegah 2016 Finish – 15th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Mark McLarty Top Runners – Andrew Wilson JR, David Beiten SR, Spencer Hickman JR, Josh Crull JR, Eddie Baines SR, Tyler Wilson SR, Dominick Welte SO. Notes – It could be tough for Hononegah to improve on their 15th place sectional finish since the sectional is projected to be tougher than it was in 2016. Five runners are back from that team return led by Andrew Wilson. They could have a tight 21 second spread on their first four runners. A key is finding a runner to fit in the fifth position and keeping the scoring split under 45 seconds.
Rolling Meadows 2016 Finish – 18th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Frank Schweda Top Runners – Eddie Lennon JR, CJ Miller JR, Matt Schoessling JR, Alec Rebsamen JR, Royce Piscitello JR, Brendan Brady JR, Patrick Shalton SR, Jacob Wright SO, Aidan Fruzyma JR. Notes – A team that I can see advancing the next two years. Coach Frank Schweda moved his Frosh/Soph team up to varsity for the regional meet. They did finish sixth advancing to the sectionals. That experience should payoff this season. Juniors Eddie Lennon and CJ Miller should be the leaders at the beginning of the year. “The majority of the top 10 guys will be coming from the F/S team that won the MSL Conference meet last year,” Schweda said. “Jumping up to the Varsity level will be a big step. I think they are up for the challenge. Our goal is to get in the top 6 at the conference meet. At the regional meet, we'd like to move up as well - be in the mix more. Last year at Sectionals was rough for us. We hope to improve there as well. You could say this is a learning year for us. We have some pretty big goals but we also realize that they take time.”
Roselle Lake Park 2016 Finish – 14th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Lance Murphy Top Runners – Colin Kirkham SR, Eric Bayer SR, Matt Tumbarello JR, Derek Szczekocki SR, Eugene Renallo SR, Jeff Biddle JR, jack Murphy SO, Jonathan Summers SO. Notes – The Lancers will look to improve on their eighth-place finish in the DuPage Valley Conference and 14th at the Niles West Sectional. Lake Park will be hosting that sectional this fall. Three runners are back led by Colin Kirkham who could qualify individually for state.
South Elgin 2016 Finish – 17th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Kari Turcan Top Runners – Hector Rodriguez SR, Jace Warrick JR, Owen Sirridge SR, Peter Fossa SR, Ryan Harvey SO, Andrew Richardson SR, Shane McBride JR, Brady Tolva SR. Notes – South Elgin finished 17th at last October’s West Aurora Sectional. They return four runners from that sectional team. I could see this team moving between 12th and 15th in the sectional if they can keep their top five split under 62 seconds between projected #1 runner junior Jace Warrick and projected #5 runner Ryan Harvey.
St. Charles North 2016 Finish – 13th 3A West Aurora Sectional Coach – Kevin Harrington Top Runners – Bo Ruttens SR, Ryan Arnold SO, Jack Dorrnace JR Lorenzo Dripps JR, Hunter Bletz JR, Jacob Estlund SR, Luke Boehm JR. Notes – We could see improvement in the North Stars after their 13th place finish at the West Aurora Sectional. Bo Ruttens should be the top runner. The #1 runner for St. Charles North from last year’s sectional race Kieran Murphy has moved out of state. “After a string of years with less depth than we are accustomed to, we are back on the rise,” said Coach Kevin Harrington. “Our younger athletes have a growing hunger to be highly competitive and work their way back to state. We are not there yet and have a lot of growth that is needed, but we have all of the pieces developing.”
Wheeling 2016 Finish – 17th 3A Waukegan Sectional Coach – Tom Polak Top Runners – Eric Le SR, Ben Karp JR, Tyler Polak JR, Jackson Gross JR, Jorge Garcia-O’Campo SO, Christian Lopez SO, Sebastian Vences JR, Chris Gama SO. Notes – The Wildcats will return five runners from last fall’s sectional team. It could be tougher getting to that point since the Hoffman Estates Regional looks to be a little stronger. Ben Karp and Tyler Polak should be their top runners at the beginning of the year.
Wilmette Loyola Academy 2016 Finish – 9th 3A Niles West Sectional Coach – Dan Seeberg Top Runners – Connor Hoag SR, Jack Lynch JR, Alex Owens SO, Aidan Sullivan SR, Owen Baker SR, Marc Daly SR, Conner Moony SR, Ian Gallo JR. Notes – It could be a rebuilding year for the Ramblers after finishing ninth at the Niles West Sectional. Three runners from that race are back led by Connor Hoag. Their split on their five scorers projected to be near 90 seconds. Bringing that split under 70 seconds gets them in contention for the Chicago Catholic League Championships as well as getting in the top ten at the Lake Park Sectional. More news |
