IHSA Class 1A Boys Regional Highlights - October 25, 2020

By Michael Newman

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Here are highlights from the IHSA Class 1A Boys Regional Meets based off the overall results submitted to the IHSA.

Elgin Harvest Academy Sectional

Chicago Latin School Regional

Chicago Latin School had a solid pack to help them win their own regional title with only 25 points. DePaul College Prep scored 58 points to finish second with Chicago University third (91 points). Nicky Edwards-Levin of Chicago University was dominant on his way to the individual win. He ran 15:29 to win by 35 seconds. Latin School runners filled the next three places with Ryan Hardiman (16:04), Akili Parekh (16:15), and Peter Bernhardt (16:36) following. The Romans placed five runners in the top ten with a 94 second split.

Kankakee McNamara Regional

Drew Rogers of Herscher made a huge statement in his regional race putting down a fast 14:42 for a win by almost one minute. Ryder James of Paxton-Buckley-Loda was next (15:37) with Connor Price of Iroquois West (16:12) and Chase Provost of Kankakee McNamara (16:17) following. Herscher put five runners in the top 21 for the regional win (52 points). The top five teams standings were close. Paxton-Buckley-Loda was next (77 points) followed by Chicago Christian (93 points), Joliet Catholic (99 points), and Kankakee McNamara (102 points). Herscher’s split from their second through fifth runners behind Rogers was 62 seconds led by Ben Morgan finishing sixth overall.

Harvest Christian Academy Regional

Host Harvest Christian Academy showed that they are one of the top Class 1A schools in the state in a convincing win on their home course. The Lions took three of the first four places in scoring 34 points in this tough field. Matthew Olech ran 16:27 for 5k for the win for Harvest Christian. teammate Daniel Winkelman finished second six seconds back. Rohn Ritchie of Aurora Central Catholic ran 16:55 to finish third. HCA’s Hayden Colclasure and Nick Fisch of Montini both crossed the line in 16:57. Aurora Central Catholic finished second while Niles Northridge Prep placed third. Both scored 71 points. Wheaton Academy (98 points) and Montini Catholic (126 points) were the other team qualifiers.

Elmwood Sectional

Petersburg PORTA Regional

Traditional Class 1A Boys power Elmwood-Brimfield flexed their muscles heading into next week’s sectional on their home course. The Trojans placed their scorers in the first nine with four runners in the top six to easily win with only 23 points. Williamsville (86 points) and Princeville (98 points) were the closest teams. Luke Hoffmann of Elmwood dominated this race throughout running 14:52 on the 2.9 mile course for the win. Teammate Thomas Harmon was second (15:08) ahead of Springfield Lutheran’s Zach Fales (15:17).

Liberty Regional

There was no surprise that Miles Sheppard of Hamilton (COOP) won here at this regional meet. It was not a surprise of the margin of victory. The junior has gone undefeated this fall. Sheppard ran 15:16 on this rugged 3-mile course to win by 51 seconds ahead of Havana’s Adam Bohn. Macomb’s Stan Melkumian ran 16”15 to finish third. Hamilton (COOP) has developed into a state quality team this season. It showed in this meet as they won with 46 points placing five runners in the top 20. Franklin (57 points) and Macomb (74 points) finished second and third.

Stanford Olympia Regional

Olympia defended their home course in winning this regional with 31 points. The Spartans five runners in the top 12. Charlie Kistner dominated the race on his home course for the final time. He ran a fast 14:55 to win by 57 seconds ahead of teammate Logan Wheeler. Olympia’s split form Wheeler to fifth runner Carter Phillips was 42 seconds. El Paso-Gridley, behind the third-place finish from Sebastian Meyer, finished second with 53 points. Deer-Creek Mackinaw was the next team in the standings (99 points).

Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

Carlinville Regional

Tyler Guthrie of Father McGivney was in charge as expected in this regional race. The senior ran 15:18 for the win by 48 seconds ahead of Roxana’s Carlos Ruvalcaba. It was Shelbyville that was in charge of the team race. The Rams placed five runners in the top 27 with a split of 63 seconds on their top four to win with 55 points. Litchfield (87 points) was second with Father McGivney, Carlinville, and Roxana also qualifying.

Decatur St. Teresa Regional

Layton Hall of Arthur-Lovington had a good run in winning the regional individual title. Hall’s time of 15:33 was seven seconds ahead of the Monticello duo of Jackson Grambert (15:40) and Josh Baysore (15:42). Hall’s teammates stepped it up in this meet placing five runners in the top 15 with only a 67 second split to win the regional championship (44 points) over a tough field. St. Joseph-Ogden, led by the fifth-place finish from Brandon Mattsey, was only six points behind (50 points) with only a 40 second split on their scorers. Monticello (66 points), Tolono Unity (107 points), and Bismarck-Henning (151 points) were the other team qualifiers.

Chrisman Regional

It was a close four team battle in this regional meet. Effingham St. Anthony placed their top five in the first 22 spots with only a 56 second split in scoring 53 points for the team win. Robinson (60 points) and Newton (66 points) were close behind. Marshall (77 points) and Teutopolis (134 points) were the other team qualifiers. St. Anthony was led by a 5-7 finish from Noah Tegeler and Brian Dust. Nick Zwilling of Newton pulled away for the individual race win (16:26) with a 27 second margin ahead of Isaac Stanford of Flora.

Seneca Sectional

Oregon Regional

Rockford Christian is a team that we should be talking about as one of the top five teams in Class 1A. They proved that again in the win in this regional placing four in the first five, five in the top 12 in scoring only 22 points. D’Artagnon Beaver and Stephen Thomas of Rockford Christian came in together separated by two seconds. Beaver captured the individual win running 17:13 on this 5k course. Galena’s Sam Hesselbacher broke into the top five finishing third (17:40). East Dubuque continues to have a breakout season for their program as they scored 81 points to finish second. Byron, Durand, and Rockford Lutheran were the other sectional qualifiers. Rockford Christian’s top five split was 83 seconds. Their split on the top four runners was 49 seconds.

Rock Island Alleman Regional

Sherrard put four runners in the top 10 to capture the team regional title with 46 points with Riverdale (61 points). Mercer County (117 points), Erie-Prophetstown (118 points), and Rock Island Alleman (125 points) were close together in third through fifth. The times were fast up front on this Saukie GC course. Sherrard’s Jacob Belha covered the 3-mile course in 15:22 to win by four seconds ahead of Briar Nevills of Savanna West Carroll (15:26). Tommy Murray of Riverdale was another second behind in third (15:27).

Peru St. Bede Regional

Amboy placed three runners in the first eight and five runners in the top 23 to win the regional team title with 50 points. Lucas Hoffman of Ottawa Marquette ran 16:33 for the individual win 19 seconds ahead of Amboy’s Brock Loftus (16:52) and Kyler McNich (17:07). Sterling Newman (92 points) and Seneca (97 points) finished second and third. Pontiac (121 points) and Minonk Fieldcrest (129 points) also qualified for next week’s sectional.

Belleville Althoff Catholic Sectional

Freeburg Regional

Justin Mumford of Trenton-Wesclin tuned up for next week’s sectional meet with an easy regional win with a fast time on this course. The senior ran 15:00 for the win 35 seconds ahead of Jack Hiller of Althoff Catholic (15:35) and another five seconds ahead of Freeburg’s Evan Wilkerson (15:40). Wilkerson led five Freeburg runners in the top 15 to help them win the team championship with 49 points. The split for the Midgets on that top five was 92 seconds. Their split from their second to fifth runners was 52 seconds. Trenton-Wesclin finished second (62 points) followed by other sectional qualifiers Breese Mater Dei (89 points), Althoff Classic (101 points), and Christ Our Rock Lutheran (142 points).

McLeansboro Hamilton County Regional

Benton showed why they could be one of the top teams in this sectional. The Rangers placed five runners in the top eight to easily win this regional with 20 points. Reece Johnson of Benton readied himself for next week’s race against Justin Mumford by running 15:37 for the win. Ty Barbre of Carmi-White County was second (15:55) ahead of Benton’s Gavin Genisio (16:02).

Marissa Regional

Pinckneyville won the regional team championship with 34 points led by the individual win from Issac Teal. The freshman ran 16:00 to win by 19 seconds ahead of DuQuoin’s Landen Swiney (16:19). Pinckneyville’s top five split off Teel was 104 seconds with five runners in the first 14. Their split from their second through fifth runners was only 46 seconds. Steeleville finished second (72 points) followed by other sectional qualifiers Anna-Jonesboro (84 points), DuQuoin (86 points), and Vienna (123 points).