By Michael Newman

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The Boys race has been overshadowed by the power that could be displayed in the Girls race that will be run 30 minutes before this race. The 8:00 PM start could be overshadowed by that Girls race. It would be foolish to miss this one.

The scenario of this raced changed last Saturday at the Peoria Invitational when Downers Grove South surprised some by winning the 3A team title. The Mustangs come right back to the starting line of Wednesday night with hopes of repeating their Saturday title.

There are teams that are waiting for their chance at Downers Grove South including defending team champion Downers Grove North, Neuqua Valley, and Glenbard West.

The excitement for this race grew even more when Thomas Shilgalis of Naperville Central ran 14:11 at Detweiller Park last Saturday in the Peoria Invitational. He was uncertain if he would race in this meet considering he was still recovering from an illness that had been nagging him the past three weeks. If Shilgalis decides to run and the talent in this field, we could see a winning time under 14:20.

Top Individuals – Thomas Shilgalis, Naperville Central; Rory Cavan, Glenbard West; Jack Roberts, Downers Grove North; Eddie Siuda, Downers Grove South; Nicholas Trattner, Naperville North; Matt Kusak, Hinsdale Central; Stephen Moody, Glenbard West; Michael Madiol, Neuqua Valley; Chris Keeley, Neuqua Valley; Ben Tholen, Yorkville; Ryan Kredell, Geneva; John Norris, Downers Grove South.

Race Thoughts – Thomas Shilgalis is the defending champion and course record holder when he ran 14:27 for the win in last year’s race. His 14:11 at Peoria indicates we could see a faster time in this race. He indicated in a post-race interview he was still not 100% healthy and might not race Wednesday night.

If he is racing, it will come down to two other runners besides Shilgalis that will be in the front. Rory Cavan and Jack Roberts faced each other almost a month ago at the First to the Finish Invitational with Cavan running 14:24 and a two second win. The two WSC-Silver conference rivals will face each other in their conference race in nine days. This will be a preview of what we can see. Add in Shilgalis and we could see the course record falling and a winning time under 14:20. Weather conditions are predicted to be good with a hard and fast course waiting for them.

The team race should be just as exciting as you can see in team previews of each of the teams competing.

Downers Grove South

State Ranking – 4

Team Thoughts – The Mustangs ran their best race of the year on Saturday at the Peoria High School Invitational winning the team title. Four days later, Downers Grove South steps to the line with chances of capturing their second big meet win within a week. The name of the game for this team to run great on Wednesday night is control. Their top runner Eddie Siuda kept their pack off the fast 2:12 opening pace in the Peoria race. Keeping that pace close to the front will also be a key. The team ran a 35 second split in Peoria with a second through fifth runner split of 18 seconds on that pack led by John Norris. George Willer, James Weigel, and John Heneghan will need to duplicate their Peoria races this week. The gap between the fifth and sixth runners was 29 seconds in that race. A similar Peoria type race could net their top five runners in the first 20 places. It could also mean a Twilight team win.

Neuqua Valley

State Ranking – 7

Team Thoughts – At the beginning of the season after the transfer out of state of All-State Runner Zach Kinne, the motto of the Wildcats was to win with no “superstars” but with a team philosophy of a strong pack. We will see the Neuqua pack in action in this meet. Michael Madiol and Chris Keeley could find their way into the top 10 individual runners in this race. The addition of sophomore Nicolas Dovalovsky to the Varsity level will be a plus for Paul Vandersteen’s squad. Michael O’Connor and Matt Jett will need to stay close to the sophomore in this race. I would never count out a Neuqua Valley team in a race like this. A strong pack could secure a team win only if they can keep their five-runner split under 31 seconds. Five runners in the top 28 with two runners in the top 10 could be the formula to secure the championship win.

Glenbard West

State Ranking – 8

Team Thoughts – One of the “mystery” teams in the field. The Hilltoppers started out the season strong with a win on the sixth-runner tiebreak with Hersey at Fenton. The following week at First to the Finish in Peoria, Glenbard West finished third in that race behind second-place Lyons Township. Their following race at Kaneland was a tempo run keeping their team pack together. How Glenbard West will react after a month of no invitationals will be something to watch. Rory Cavan and Stephen Moody give the team a strong nucleus in the front. Cavan could be challenging for the individual win while Moody has a good chance to finish in the top five. A key will be where third-runner Will O’Brien finishes. He was only 18 seconds behind Moody in the Fenton race. O’Brien was 36 seconds behind Moody in the Peoria race. The pack starts with O’Brien. If he stays within 20 seconds of Moody, the chances that this team wins increases. Ian Repking, William Hohe, and Pierce Cousins will need to be within 15 seconds of O’Brien for this team to win. The pack needs to start around 20^th place with their fifth runner in no later than 40^th. That combination could give the Hilltoppers the team win.

Downers Grove North

State Ranking – 14

Team Thoughts – The other of the WSC-Silver mystery teams. We will finally get to see what the Trojans really have in this meet. North ran their full top seven together in their first race of the season, but the temp run strategy in the first half of the race makes it hard to determine what kind of team they have. Illnesses, testing, and injuries kept their team at half strength at First to the Finish on September 8. Jack Roberts will be among the individual favorites securing a low stick up front for the Trojans. If Matt Moravec is 100%, I would not count him out finishing in the top 10. North will need to have a strong pack behind those two runners led by Trevor Murphy. The senior could finish between 21^st and 28^th in this race. His teammates Matt Shimenetto, Evan Cummins, Jack Conkright, and Evangelos Stravrou will need to stay within 20 seconds of each other and within 10 to 15 seconds of Murphy to give this team a chance for the title. Keeping six runners in the first 45 could secure a team win.

Hinsdale Central

State Ranking – 15

Team Thoughts – It has been a slow start to the season for the Red Devils having their opening home meet cancelled and then injuries. illnesses, and scholastic testing slowing them down in the following meet. Projected top runner Alec Hill has still not raced suffering from plantar fasciitis. It is uncertain if we see him in this race. Matt Kusak has stepped up as the team’s top runner and could finish in the top 10 in this race. Keegan Caveney, Fletcher Spillers, and Piyush Mekla are part of pack that will need to be on their game in this race. Mekla, a sophomore, could be among the top 15 in this race. The Red Devils will need a strong pack to sustain their chances for success in this race especially if Hill is not in their lineup. Five runners in the top 40 puts this team in contention for a top three finish. A healthy Hill running in this race increases their chances at a higher finish.

Naperville Central

State Ranking – 18

Team Thoughts – The first month of the season for the Redhawks has been a shaky one with illnesses sweeping through the top seven. Last Saturday’s Peoria race could be the start of the ascent to the top of the mountain meaning a state trip. We saw what Thomas Shilgalis did in that race. He should be the individual favorite if he does run Wednesday night. He is still not 100% healthy from bronchitis that he caught three weeks ago. The trio of Seth Klein-Collins, Jack McCowin, and Aaron Benson need to stay within 10 seconds of each other and finish among the top 30 in this race. Their fifth runner position will be a key. In the Peoria race, the split from the pack to Nethan Ramachandran was 25 seconds. That split needs to be cut in half with Ramachandran finishing in the top 45. That type of race and effort could move this team closer to the front.

Jones College Prep

State Ranking – 21

Team Thoughts – Pack running for the Eagles will be the thought of the day for this team if they want to finish among the top five teams in this race. Jones finished 12^th at the Palatine Invitational almost two weeks ago but did that with only a 26 second spread on their top five runners. AJ Fundator and Anthony Maida were the top runners in that race and will need to be within 25^th and 30^th places in this race to lead this team. Ryan DeSantis leads the pack that needs to stay within reach of their lead runners. A split similar to Palatine could get them into the top five. Bigger than 35 seconds could have Jones Prep finishing between sixth and tenth.

Minooka

State Ranking – 22

Team Thoughts – Minooka is one of three teams that could surprise in this race. Pack running and moving their top five closer to the front could make this team dangerous. Jason Hoffman leads this team and could finish in the top 20. A top five split of 22 to 25 seconds is possible for this team, but Jordan Freese, Vincent Van Eck, Hunter Phillips, and Seth Joder need to stay close to each other. The pack finishing between 20^th and 45^th places could get this team close to a top five finish, perhaps fourth or higher.

Batavia

State Ranking – 25

Team Thoughts – Batavia will be another one of those teams that will need to demonstrate pack running to finish in the top ten. This will be the first time racing in this meet for the Bulldogs. Adam Kennedy and Damian Rodriguez give their team a strong presence in the front. One or both of those runners in the top 24 will be a big help. A pack led by Christopher Levario and Joseph Knanishu could finish among the top 45 but will need to stay within 20 seconds of their front pack. Getting all five runners in the top 60 will keep this team among the top ten squads.

Naperville North

Team Thoughts – A second of the surprise teams that will make a difference in the team standings. The Huskies could finish in the top five especially running on their home course. Nicholas Trattner will not be a surprise if he finishes in the top ten. Teammates Jake Allen and McLean Griffin among the top 25 individuals will also be a key point to watch for. Frosh/Soph runners Gabriel Ryan, Jack Cook, and Chase Burrell added in the varsity race could have North with five runners in the top 55. It could also mean a top five team finish.

Yorkville

Team Thoughts – The Foxes ran their best race of the year Saturday in Minnesota and could duplicate that race in Wednesday’s meet. Ben Tholen finished 54^th in the Griak race. He could be among the surprises in the top 20. Teammates Ivan Westcott and Alex Loos have the potential to finish among the top 30 in this race. Yorkville ran a 69 second split on their top five in the Minnesota race. That split needs to dip under 55 seconds for this team to finish in the top five. If the Foxes get their three runners in the top 30, getting their fourth and fifth runners between 60^th and 70^th place this team closer to a finish in the top five.

Geneva

Team Thoughts – Ryan Kredell has stepped up as the team’s top runners since the loss of Josh Rodgers who moved out of state. Kredell’s race at St. Charles North last Saturday displays that he could finish among the top 15 in this race. Ben Calusiniski leads the pack behind Kredell. The sophomore finishing in the top 40 with the next runners for Geneva finishing in the top 75 could move the Vikings into the top 10 teams in this meet.

Palatine

Team Thoughts – The Pirates will look to bounce back from a 20^th place finish in their own invitational almost two weeks ago. This will be the first appearance for Palatine in this meet. Richie Jacobo is the team’s top runner and could be among the top 20 individuals in this race. Their pack running behind Jacobo at the Richard Spring Invitational had only an 11 second split on four runners led by Joe Ahlgrim. Keeping that split the same and staying within 30 seconds of Jacobo could move this team into the top ten. Having that pack finish start at 50^th place would be a good start.

Lane Tech

Team Thoughts – A Chicago Public League team that we find out is better than people think. The Indians finished 13^th at the Richard Spring Invitational. Julian Higueros is the team’s top runner that could be among the top 30 individuals in this meet. Watch for a tight pack from this team behind Higueros possibly between 34 to 40 seconds on their top five. Getting all of their scorers in the first 65 places gets them near the top ten finishing teams.

Plainfield North

Team Thoughts – The Tigers will have a tight pack on their top five runners in this meet. With this meet being so deep in talent, a good race from Plainfield North could move them into the top 12 teams. Matthew Thomas, Nick Lowe, and Jack Anderson could finish among 40^th and 50^th. The pack behind these three needs to finish among the top 80 to get into the top 12 team range.

Metea Valley

Team Thoughts – Michael Varzino is the team’s top runner this fall. The senior is projected to finish among the top 85 team runners in this race. The Mustangs could move into the top 15 in this meet if they can keep their split at 45 seconds or faster.

Oak Park-River Forest

Team Thoughts – Could challenge for a spot in the first 15 teams in this meet. It is a rebuilding year for the Huskies. Garrett Minich is the top runner for the Huskies that could finish among the top 75 runners in this race.

Photo – Thomas Shilgalis looks for back to back wins at Wednesday’s Naperville Twilight Invitational (Laura Duffy Photo).

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