2023 ILXCTF.com IHSA/Illinois XC Team Previews - Class 2A Boys

 

Benet set to fly high in Class 2A

 

By Michael Newman

 

Former 3A school Benet Academy and former 1A school Normal University will converge in Class 2A for the upcoming. The Redwings did not make it to the state meet in 2022 out of sectionals due to being in the toughest sectional in the state. Normal University moves up after finishing fourth the past two years in Class 1A.

 

Here to great them is Grayslake Central who finished fourth in this class. There will be a new Class 2A State Champion this fall with defending champion Rievrside-Brookfield moving up to Class 3A.

 

Here is a look at some of the Class 2A Boys teams including the top 30 rated teams to start the 2023 season.

 

1 Lisle (Benet Academy)

Coach – Kevin Renicker; 2022 Finish – 10th Class 3A Waubonsie Valley Sectional

Runners – Finn Richards JR; Aidan Hulett JR; Charlie Phelan SR; Jacob Molloy SR; Jeffrey Lange Jr. JR; Ryan Amidei SR; Danny Shannon SR; Griffin Schneid JR; Jacob Malloy SR; Matt Spellman SR

 

Notes – Benet Academy will be off on a new adventure for the next two seasons as they move down from Class 3A to Class 2A. Their 2022 might not be deemed a success by some because they did not make it to the state meet. It might be a benefit finishing 10 at the 3A Waubonsie Valley Sectional, the toughest cross-country sectional in the state. What they learned on that adventure will be used this fall as one of the top teams in Class 2A.

 

What could drive the Redwings even higher as this season goes on is what happened a month ago. Coach Kevin Renicker succinctly gives his thoughts:

 

“In July, there was a terrible accident in Hinsdale and a 14 year old was killed.  His name is Sean Richards (brother of Finn Richards), and he was a member of our team.  We’ve all been hit hard by this terrible accident.  Sean loved running but loved his brother Finn even more.  Finn loved his brother Sean very much and, every day when they showed up to practice, there was a bond between the two of them which was evident to anyone watching.  This team has a purpose, it always has.  But even more so this team is running for Sean.  The confidence this team has is meaningful.  They want to run for Sean.  They want to run for Finn.   They want to run to keep Sean’s memory alive for the Richards’ family.  This is a team that loves one another and showed it during this difficult time.  This team and community has been there 100% for Finn.  The bond is strong, and you can see it in the way they run.”

 

This team would be tough to beat even in Class 3A to start the year. They will be extremely tough in Class 2A returning their top 10 runners who are running for a cause. “The core groups of runners had a great summer of training (Finn Richards, Aiden Hulett, Charlie Phelan, Jeff Lange, Danny Shannon, Jacob Molloy, Ryan Amidei, and Matt Spellman),” said Renicker.  “Between showing up every day, they also ran on weekends together and all attended our week-long camp in the Upper Peninsula.”

 

Richards will be the low stick for his team like he has the past two seasons. Richards had a great race at Waubonsie Valley finishing ninth against some of the best runners in the state. His times dropped down in track to 9:35 for 3200-meters and 4:30.70 for 1600-meters qualifying in both events in the Class 2A State Meet. Richards and Charlie Phelan both qualified for the state meet with Richards placing 45th and Phelan placing 77th. Both should be all-state individually this fall. Aidan Hulett ran injured in the sectional meet and would have been close to the two runners as he had been all-season. I would watch for good things from him in this upcoming season.

 

The team naturally have a tight pack from their second through seven runners while Richards is challenging for race wins. The two five to five runner split in their conference meet was just six seconds. It was 48 seconds on the 2-5 split in the sectional race. Jacob Malloy, Jeffrey Lange, Ryan Amidei, Danny Shannon, Griffin Schneid, and Matt Spellman are interchangeable in those spots and will give this team a big boost.

 

“Yeah, that was a fun and interesting day,” Renicker said about the sectional race.  “Our number 2 runner was just coming back from a stress fracture, so we didn’t know what to expect.  But qualifying 2 runners to the state meet was a great reward for those two guys.  And what I love about this group is how Finn and Charlie really looked at their race at state was not for them, but for the team because they had worked so hard for so long.  After state was discussed as a team what we hope to achieve this fall.  With our top 8 all returning, the number one goal is to be there for each other and to help each runner get better.”

 

Benet Academy is moving into Class 2A this year, but they will be running against 3A competition. They were just added to the Red Devil Invitational on Labor Day weekend. It will prepare them for what is ahead in October and November. “We are in 2A this year,” concluded Renicker.  “Our goal this season is simple - be consistent, be there for one-another, and enjoy the ride.  From there, let chips fall where they may.  If all goes well, the boys will try to win their 24 consecutive ESCC conference title.  Not sure where they are going to place us for the post-season (we’ve been as far north as Burlington Central and as far south as Thornton), but we just want to be healthy and ready to go so we can make it to the big dance in Peoria.”

 

2 Grayslake (Central)

Coach – James Centella; 2022 Finish – 4th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Trey Sato SR; Adan Cordova SO; William Welty SR

John Vagnoni SR; Nolan Kissinger SR; Daniel Varblow JR; Asher Tiojanco SR; Alex Wolff FR; Justin Mottola FR; Reid Dunisch FR.

 

Notes – Grayslake Central entered state week last year as one of the team favorites to take home the state championship trophy. The week also entered the Grayslake Central Boys team vicinity. It affected some of the runners which affected their performances at Detweiller Park. The Rams finished fourth missing a trophy by just 12 points. Although five of their top ten runners from last year graduated, the five runners that are left are special and could do some big things in the next couple of months.

 

Trey Sato is the runner that will get the Rams single digit numbers in the front in races. Sato was sick at last year’s state meet finishing 11th overall. He improved his game during the track season running personal bests in all three distance events. He was all-state in the Class 3A State Meet in the 1600 Meter Run and helped his team finish second in the 4x400m Relay. Do you think he is driven this fall?

 

There is a good pack that will support Sato. Adan Cordova had a great freshman campaign ending it by placing 21st and all-state honors. William Welty was within a second of Cordova in the sectional race, 20 seconds behind at state. I think he could be an all-state runner this fall. John Vagnoni ran six seconds behind Welty at sectionals, 20 seconds at state indicates what kind of first four split this team could have. The key for the team is finding a fifth runner who will be Nolan Kissinger who was close to 40-50 seconds within the pack during the season. His improvement this summer will get him closer to the pack.

 

“Our varsity group of Trey Sato, Adan Cordova, Will Welty, John Vagnoni, Nolan Kissinger, and Daniel Varblow had a consistent summer of running that focused on long runs, tempo runs, hills, fartlek workouts, and small amounts of 5k pace work.  “Our JV/FS groups also laid a foundation for a successful fall,” said their coach Jimmy Centella. “The boys had such a great XC season last fall, we just happened to get bitten by the sickness bug the week of the state meet.  The guys ran their hearts out, but it just wasn’t our day.  We told the boys that they did everything right last season and despite that, things don’t always go as planned.  The boys certainly learned a life lesson last fall.  They learned to cherish the journey they shared and to be proud of the work they put in even though they didn’t get the outcome they wanted.”

 

This team is driven and are chasing after a state title as are 10 teams in Class 2A. They have five solid runners in the front. Unless they develop a strong pack that can stay within 30 seconds of the top five, a priority is keeping this team healthy to get them to hold a trophy.

 

“The boys have been motivated by the near miss of the podium last fall and have trained hard the last 9 months.  They are not only running to get themselves back on the podium but also for the graduated seniors from last year and their team as a whole,” added Centella. “Sato, Cordova, Welty, Vagnoni, and Kissinger have the potential to be our second best top 5 in school history behind our 2015 state championship team.  It is not a secret the boys have podium aspirations.”

 

3 Normal (University)

Coach – Lester Hampton; 2022 Finish – 4th Class 1A State Meet

Runners – Mitchell Hayes SR; Landen Alcorn SR; Mason Hart SR; Sachit Munduli SR; Sean Kaeb SO; Gabe Zacharias JR; Jonah Kaeb SR; Connor Hartman JR; Brady Kim JR; Jacob Bauchmoyer FR.

 

Notes – One of the ingredients for a successful pack running team. You get your closest friends in a group and try to put all five runners in before any other teams can do the same thing. Even though the Normal University for the next two years will be in Class 2A. They did some big things in Class 1A last fall  winning their regional and sectional meet before finishing fourth missing a trophy by 12 points. They missed a trophy by 7 points in 2021 again placing fourth. Third time is a charm, right?

 

The Pioneers in their state race had to endure a heavy downpour. It played a part in their 51 second top five split. U-High had a tight top four split all season. They put four runners in the top seven with a 22 second split. The following week their split was 32 seconds on four runners in the top eleven.

 

Mitchell Hayes and Landen Alcorn were all-state last year and look to be close leading the pack. They lost one runner from their top seven but have every runner back including Mason Hart, Sean Kaeb, Connor Hartman, and Jonah Kaeb. Sean Kaeb ran 9:53 last spring for 3200-meters and could be a surprise in that group. A big addition will be the return of Sachit Munduli who missed all of last fall due to an injury. He was part of the state team in 2021. He ran last spring and is ready to go. “Sachit spent the majority of the summer focusing on cross training,” said U-High Coach Lester Hampton. “We’re trying to put together a program for him that will keep him healthy and allow him to race competitively on meet days.  He started swimming last year so we plan to have swimming be a large part of what he does.”

 

This team is deep with possibly 10 runners pushing for one of the 7 varsity spots. This team could contend for a trophy but will need to push their pack closer to the front this season considering that they are now in Class 2A. Pack running works but is more beneficial when the group is closer to the front. It is something that they can accomplish. “We’ve had a pretty good summer with most of our runners, many of them should reach their highest summer mileage so far in their career,” Hampton said. “Last year we were fortunate to have 4 kids who were capable of running right together, this year we’re hoping to increase the number to 5 or 6.  Mitchell, Landen, Sachit, Sean Kaeb, Mason Hart, and Connor Hartman are all capable of running right together.  Sean ran 9:53 in the 2 mile as a freshman last year and Mason Hart won our cross country regional at Eureka.”

 

4 Morton

Coach – Joe Zeller; 2022 Finish – 5th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Josh Weeks SR; Yonas Wuthrich SR; Layton Knopp SR; Christian Harris JR; Boston Beyer JR; Nicholas Delgado SR; Phillip Canopy JR; Paul Yontz JR; Luke Baker SO; Noah Harris FR; Max Carter FR; Keyston Beyer FR.

 

Notes – Morton has been on the tip of doing some extraordinary things while on the cross-country the past two seasons first finishing third in the 2A State Meet in 2021 and then finishing fifth a year ago. Somehow, they have not yet found the path to the top of the mountain to win a state team championship. Their top three runners are all seniors meaning one final shot to earn a state championship for their team. “This summer might have been our most consistent yet, especially for our senior group,” said their coach, Joe Zeller. “Our seniors have a renewed sense of urgency knowing this is their last chance to cross some goals off of their list.”

 

Morton had three runners finish in the top 51 in last year’s state meet. Josh Weeks has been the team’s top runner the past two years. He finished 10th in Peoria last November and again leads this team. Yonas Wuthrich was also all-state finishing 22 and finishing 15 seconds behind his teammates, the closest he was for the final four weeks of the season. Layton Knopp was the team’s third runner placing 51st. He finished 37 seconds behind Weeks at state. What could give this team a boost is the improvement from Christian Harris. The junior was fifth runner at state. A good summer of training could have Harris closer to the pack. A surprise could be the addition of Boston Beyer. The junior has played football for the first two years at the school while running track in the spring. He ran 4:37 in the sectional in track for 1600-meters to come out this fall. He finished within 20 seconds of Weeks at Detweiller at Dark a month ago. We will see how he adapts this fall to this sport.

 

The Potters could possibly have three all-state runners this fall. Keeping their top five split under 90 seconds would definitely be one thing to watch for. “We will have a senior heavy group this year. Something that we have talked about is that each race is special. Some of them might go on to run in college or continue their running in some other form, but they only have so many opportunities to race with this group in high school. They're going to make the most of it,: said Zeller. “They have set some lofty goals for themselves this year. They probably wouldn't be too hard to guess, but we are keeping those to ourselves right now.”

 

5 Maple Park (Kaneland)

Coach – Chad Clarey; 2022 Finish – 8th Class 2A Kaneland Sectional

Runners – Evan Nosek JR; David Valkanov SR; Evan Whildin SO; Zachary Murdoch JR; Collin Reutimann SR; Palmer Behrends SR; Johnny Neville JR; Jack Polloway JR; Ricky Anderson FR; Joey Schuch FR; Nathan Kowalczyk FR.

 

Notes – It was a good season last year for the Knights until they made it to the sectional meet they were hosting and the toughest in Class 2A. Kaneland missed out on an opportunity to make it to state finishing eighth missing making it Peoria by one place. They were expected all of their top seven runners back but two of those runners transferred out of the school. Nevertheless, the Knights have improved over the past year ready to make that November Peoria trip.

 

“We made it through the summer healthy and hungry,” said their Coach Chad Clarey. “The team took a new opportunity to bond on an overnight trip to the NIU Loredo Taft Field Campus, and we met up with NIU professor Karissa Kuipers who taught about strong minds, strong bodies, and strong connections to teammates. Our final day of summer work took us to the Northwestern Medicine Cross Country Course to get on hills which will be an important part of our postseason schedule that should take us to the Woodstock Sectional.”

 

Kaneland has a solid 1-2 punch in the front again this season that will garner low points. Evan Nosek qualified for the state meet as an individual and earned all-state honors placing seventh overall. David Valkanov ran close to Nosek last fall until sectionals when he fell 37 seconds back missing state individually. He bounced back in track to finish fifth and all-state in the 2A 3200 Meter Run with Nosek one second behind but also all-state. The two runners will be among the best in Class 2A this fall.  Evin Whildin was the team’s third runner all last season and will look to close the gap on the front two in his sophomore season. The loss of their fourth and fifth runners will hurt, but they still have the talent to make that up with a group led by Zach Murdoch, Collin Reutimann, and Palner Behrends.

 

Their top five split could be close to 90 seconds but that might not matter with the up front running of Nosek, Valkanov, and possibly Whildin. “Our mindset this year will be ‘Turn a setback into a comeback.’ Our setback in 2022 has this group hungry to get back onto the course as a unit in 2023,” added Clarey. “We will look a little different than we had anticipated, minus our departures, but we are excited about what our seniors can do, and to see our freshmen grow. Our juniors and seniors are ready to get a chance to compete for those varsity spots that appear vacant. With a roster of only 22, we will need to do all the little things to stay healthy in order to have an opportunity to advance through a tough road in the State Series.  We look forward to hosting a Regional, and then likely feeding into another tough Sectional in Woodstock.”

 

6 Aurora (Marmion Academy)

Coach – Andrew Lifka; 2022 Finish – 9th Class 2A Kaneland Sectional

Runners – Connor Carlson SR; John Daffenberg JR; Michael Whitacre SO; Matthew Sullivan JR; Nathan Brandon SR; Robert Gramley SR; Joseph Dorando SO; Jonah Sartain SO; Jesse Carlos SR; Vincent Dorando SR.

 

Notes – Marmion Academy’s hopes were toughened last fall when they were placed in the Kaneland Sectional. They were a talented team that could make it to state. So were 11 other schools that were located there. The Cadets ended up finishing ninth in the sectional race. Six runners return from last year’s sectional experience including two runners that made it to the state meet individually.

 

Connor Carlson ran one of his best races of the state meet finishing 15 in the mud at Detweiller Park to earn all-state honors. John Daffenberg also ran great in Peoria placing 36th overall. The two ran within 10 to 15 seconds of each other all season. That gap may get closer during the next couple of months. Marmion ran a 66 second split on their top five runners in the sectional race that includes Carlson and Daffenberg. The split in the third through fifth runners was just 23 seconds. Michael Whitacre, Robert Grimley, Matthew Sullivan, and Jesse Carlos could close that split down. It would benefit the team and get the Cadets perhaps back down state depending what sectional the IHSA sends them to.

 

7 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)

Coach – Doug Gorski – 3rd Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Jaden Frederick SR; Tim Jochum SR; Lucas Newman SR; Ben Zima SR; Michael Bailey SR; Lucas Galas JR; Tom Jochum FR; Gus Kling SO; Logan Price JR; Luke Van Tholen JR.

 

Notes – You could probably call Glenbard South “the survivor of the fittest” in escaping to the state meet out of the toughest sectional in Class 2A. The Raiders escaped out of the Sterling Regional with the win. They did what they needed to do to finish fourth out of Kaneland making it to Peoria. They went step higher at state earning a trophy in finishing third. What is next for this team in 2023? They do return four from that state team and five runners overall that have state meet experience.

 

“It has been one of the best summer training periods in years,” said Coach Doug Gorski. “All of the top runners have been working hard and putting in the miles (60 - 70) this summer which should lead to another great season. Workout times are about the same as the end of the TF season. We had 8 kids run 13 miles on the last summer running camp long run day, and several others went 10 miles. Kids are working hard to break into that top 7.”

 

Jaden Frederick was the team’s second runner at state but was all-state placing 25th. The sky is the limit for this senior where he could finish in the top 10. Tim Jochum has success on the track last spring being on South’s 4x800m Relay team at state and then finishing ninth in the 800 Meter Run. He could be primed to do some great things this season. Lucas Newman and Michael Bailey were on the 4x8 team that finished fourth. Their confidence has grown as shown with their training this summer. Ben Zima was the team’s seventh runner last season. He will be fighting for a top five spot this fall.

 

“Our team goal is to win the Upstate8 Conference for the 4th year in a row, and to qualify for the state meet for the 5th year in a row,” added Gorski. “We typically had a difficult road to the state meet. We need to run fast to get out of regional and sectional meets. But if we are good enough to survive anything can happen on the first Saturday in November at Detweiller park. Jaden, Tim, Lucas Newman & Ben Zima have run at the state meet 2 year in a row and this will be the 3rd year in a row if we make it. That makes for some experienced State meet racers.”

 

8 Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)

Coach – Judd Shutt; 2022 Finish – 14th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Will Gelon SR; Gerrit Dam SR; Evan Gilleland SR; Kevin DeGroot SR; Daniel Cardenas SR; Eddy Klimkowski SR; Nathan Debelak JR; Liam Bailey JR; Steven Randles FR.

 

Notes – The top 10 in Class 2A this fall is simply close and tough with a number of these schools going to the same sectional. Prairie Ridge has the right talent to make a run to a state trophy in November. The Wolves had a tough road to Peoria finishing second in their regional, third at Kaneland, before finishing 14 at state. The good thing for Prairie is they return six runners from state that all happen to be seniors.

 

“We have had a larger number of consistent summer runners than any time in recent memory,” said their coach, Judd Shutt. “This is a result of having 6 returning varsity seniors and a surprisingly large group of freshmen. Our experience enabled us to maintain consistently higher weekly mileage with our varsity group and complete workouts at a higher level than in years past. They are raising the bar for everyone. Several progression runs (each mile progressively fast on a 4 or 5 mile tempo run) showed that we have depth in the middle of our lineup and there should be good competition for a top 7 spot.”

 

Will Gelon should be the #1 runner for the Wolves for the third year in a row. His 19th place finish last fall may drive him to big things after a strong track season. “His training numbers indicate that after 2 all-state medals in XC, he is still poised to have his best XC season yet,” added Shutt. Gerrit Dam was the team’s third runner but came on strong during his track season. “We know Gerrit is going to do his job in every race,” Shutt stated. “Track showed us that we would be foolish to underestimate Gerrit's potential. I am really excited to how high up the state ladder Gerrit will move.”

 

What could make Prairie Ridge dangerous this fall is the improvement Evan Gilleland had during the summer. He should be with Gelon and Dam this fall. “His mileage, mile repeats, and tempo runs show that he could be right on their heels this season,” Shutt said. “Evan has developed the mindset of leader. He showed up and consistently put in quality runs all summer.” Kevin DeGroot, Daniel Cardenas, and Eddy Klimowski are all seniors and will look to close the gap on the top three runners.

 

Added by their coach: “I emphasized that we need to cherish everyday training with your PRXC family.  I know it is cliche', but those cliches exist for a reason.  Whether late season races go the way we hope, or not, one day isn't going to define this team. It is the day in- day out relationships built on having fun doing hard work that I want them to embrace. We have a special, tight-knit group right and I am thankful for every day with them. We definitely have lofty goals for the season, but we are keeping the focus on today.”

 

9 Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep)

Coach – Ed Ernst; 2022 Finish – 19th Class 3A State Meet

Runners – Matthew Conroy SR; Henry Fink SR; Brandon Mendoza SR; Hugh Lynch JR; Zachary Tan SO; Matthew Mangan SR; Ethan Petrillo SO; Cameron Shure SO.

 

Notes – It would be a rebuilding if St. Ignatius College Prep remained in Class 3A for this season. The Wolfpack moved down to Class 2A for at least the next two years. St. Ignatius finished 19 in last year’s Class 3A race. They return three runners from that state meet race. Matthew Conroy ran a good effort in Peoria last year finishing 45th. Brandon Mendoza and Henry Fink were the team’s sixth and seventh runners in Peoria for the team. It would not surprise me if Conway finishes in the top 10 or Mendoza/Fink places in the top 60 at state in November.

 

Finding the rest of their top seven could be a task. Junior Hugh Lynch along with sophomores Zahary Tan and Etan Perillo look to have the best chances to step into the top five spots. The team split for their top five projects to be near 100 seconds to start the season. I am sure that will drop by the time we get to the middle of October.

 

10 Chicago (Payton Prep)

Coach – Dan Dziubski, Adam Palumbo; 2022 Finish – 6th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Tristan Zhu JR; Aiden Hu-Lowenthal SR; Gavin Lee SR; Declan Slavin SO; Gabriel Cooper JR; Ryan Murray JR; Preston Ellis JR; William Kim JR; Gus Berlinghof FR; Obree Fisher FR.

 

Notes – The Grizzlies will look to take the next step up in Class 2A. They finished seventh in 2021. Payton Prep sixth a year ago as they return four runners from the state team. “We had a solid summer session,” said Payton Coach Adam Palumbo. “Like many other programs we dealt with key runners departing for vacation throughout the training period. The captains and the individuals themselves made sure to find time to follow the workout program and report back. In addition, several returning runners increased their mileage and doubled throughout the summer. As far as key workouts we follow the Joe Newton playbook with our own Payton style additions and subtractions.”

 

Payton Prep may not have the front runner to start the season, they could have five runners within 45 seconds of each other. Gavin Lee and Gabriel Copper could be two of those runners. “Gavin has had a tremendous summer with a high volume base. With this being his senior year, he is focused on a successful state series,” added Palumbo. “Gabe is extremely new to the running scene with this being his first full XC season as he participated in soccer last fall. With his first summer under his belt, we are excited to see what Gabe can do this fall.” Cooper did run last fall at the Chicago Public Championships as the #2 runner in the Frosh/Soph race.

 

Aidan Hu-Lowenthal is also part of the returning top five who could have a banner senior season. “Aiden has led by example and has shown a significant improvement in fitness. Aiden has increased his mileage and been at the front of the pack on high intensity workouts. This is a runner with a chip on his shoulder and motivated for the season.” Declan Slavin was part of the team’s state meet winning 4x800m Relay. Ryan Murray and Preston Ellis along with Slavin will challenge for top five team spots.

 

“The ultimate goal is to win the 2A state title,” concluded Palumbo.  “The past 2 seasons the team has shown improvement from 7th to 6th place last fall. While the goal is lofty, and we understand there will be some heavy hitters dropping down from 3A we train to win. Winning the 4x800 title during the track season was a positive domino in changing the program's trajectory. and the first major step in building the winning culture here at Walter Payton.”

 

11 Woodstock

Coach – Jay Fuller; 2022 Finish – 12th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Ishan Patel SR; Aryan Patel SR; Jakob Crown SR; Cohen Shutt; Charlie Baker SR; Ellery Shutt SO; Braedon Schwanke SO; Elijah Hedges FR; Josh Roth FR.

 

Notes -  Woodstock is one of those teams that flies under the radar of other schools especially the past two seasons. They did it again last season just making it out of the Kaneland Sectional finishing sixth and then placing 12th at state. Five runners are back from that team. “Summer running went well,” said Woodstock Coach Jay Fuller. “Varsity boys came every day and ran well together and individually when they were on vacation. The seniors all got in close to or over 400 miles.”

 

The Patel brothers enter their senior season looking for all-state finishes. Ishan Patel led the team last year placing 12th and all-state. Aryan Patel finished 29th. Both will be in position to place in the top 25 this season. Jacob Crown, Cowen Shutt, and Charlie Baker have state meet experience and could be in position again for the top five. Sophomores Ellery Shutt and Braedon Schwanke are within 15 seconds of the group and will challenge for the top five. The top five split at state was 84 seconds. The top five split at Kaneland was 81 seconds.

 

“The Patel’s both had good summers,” added Fuller.  “Upbeat, they’re every day, running at night on their own, and just being Patel’s.  Fun to be around and just enjoy being with their teammates.  Jakob Crown, Charlie Baker, and Cohen Shutt are the other impactful seniors along with Junior Milo McLeer and Sophomore Ellery Shutt.  All of them had great summers.  It should be a fun year.”

 

12 Pontiac

Coach – Mike Lucas; 2022 Finish – 16th Class 1A State  Meet

Runners – Aidan Lee SR; Fernando Daily SR; Cam Fenton JR; Tyler Hanson JR; Logan McCabe SO; Jake DeWald JR; Levi Reints JR; Aiden Christenson SR; Maverick Wilcox SO.

 

Notes – Pontiac may have fallen into the right spot entering this season. The Indians did not have their best race of the season but still finished 16th in a driving rain in the Class 1A State Meet. Pontiac did improve their split running a 1-5 split of 86 seconds in the sectionals and then 77 seconds at state. The Indians return six runners from that team but will miss regular season #4 runner Jaxen Paine who decided not to come out for the team this fall.

 

Pontiac will be in Class 2A for the next two years. What could benefit Pontiac is most likely being placed in the 2A Central sectional near Peoria. They would advance to state from that location at least for this season. Throw out the fact that they ran in Class 1A last year. This is a good team. Aidan Lee is the Indians top runner and someone that could finish in the top 40 in November. Lee finished 36th in last year’s 1A race. “Aidan Lee came off a strong spring track season splitting well under 2 min in the 4x800 and carried that confidence into the summer sessions,” said his coach, Michael Lucas. “He consistently challenged himself and significantly increased his summer mileage.”

 

Fernando Daily, Logan McCabe, Jake DeWald, and Tyler Hanson had a strong summer of training. “I believe Fernando, Jake and Tyler's improvement stems from a state qualifying 4x8 that brought them into the summer in great shape and able to handle tougher workouts,” added Lucas. It will be interesting to see how their split relates against 2A teams. Their first test will be at Peoria at First to the Finish. “The initial response to the jump to 2a was frustration but we met as a team and decided that the obstacle of stronger 2a teams was going to be the challenge that would get us back to Detweiller not what would make us miss it.”

 

13 Belvidere (North)

Coach – Ken Husser; 2022 Finish – 2nd Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Jesse Kramer JR; Will Ward SR; Antonio Ostalaza JR; Nicholas Schroeder SR; Jovanni Alvarez SR; Zachary Rediger SO; Anthony Avila SR; Davian Islas SR.

 

Notes – The 2022-2023 school year was a good one for the Blue Thunder. Belvidere North in the fall finished second as a team. In the spring Evan Horgan won the 3A title in the 3200 Meter Run in Charleston. It seems to be entirely different entering this fall. They lost Horgan and Orlando Hernandez, their top two runners, to graduation. Five runners were scheduled to come back this fall. One of their top seven Colin Young transferred ot of Belvidere North. The other is one of their top returnees Will Ward may not return to the team. “One big question mark is Will Ward, our number four runner at the state meet last year,” said Coach Ken Husser. “Due to work and other obligations he has missed  most of the summer and as of right now I am not sure if he will even come out for the team.”

 

All of this opens a lot of doors for Husser. “The summer training went well.  “We have a group of sophomores led by Lukas Hoemke, Zack Rediger and Brandon Molina that have made significant gains and at least two or even all three of them will be in our top seven by the end of the season,” said Husser. “Jesse Kramer had a slow start to the summer but has come on lately and is looking much better.  He has the talent to be an All-State Caliber runner if everything comes together for him.”

 

There are many questions for this team where some of the answers are not available for the team. This team could have a 60 second split on five led by Kramer. The junior could be all-state. The question of whether Ward will be on the team will be something to watch. Husser believes if Ward comes out, this team could finish in the top 10. If not, they may be a 20-25 team. In their sectional, that might mean the team does not make it back to state. Stay tuned.

 

14 Sterling

Coach – Greg Hendrix; 2022 Finish – 13th Class 2A Kaneland Sectional

Runners – Dale Johnson SR; Jordan Britt SR; Parker Janssen SR; Parker Blakeslee JR; Aalin Schmidt JR; Brecken Peterson SR; Charles Johnson SO.

 

Notes – It was not the best race to end the year for the Golden Warriors at the Kaneland Sectional last fall. Sterling finished 13 in the high powered sectional. They return five runners from the sectional race. It does help that you have one of the top  runners in the state leading the way. Dale Johnson improved throughout the end of last season and especially in track to be one of the individual distance runners in Class 2A.

 

Johnson will be close to 90 seconds ahead of his team in races again this season. Let’s forget about the team top five split. Three of the returning sectional runners were top five runners for the Golden Warriors. Jordan Britt, Parker Janssen, and Parker Blakeslee were separated by 67 seconds in the sectional, 75 sec0nds in their conference meet. Aalin Schmidt is within 10 seconds of the three runners and could contribute immediately in their top five. Getting the pack closer to Johnson is something that needs to be done whether it is between 10 to 15 seconds. Their two to five split is projected to be 76 seconds to start the season. The combination getting the 2-5 split to 65 seconds and getting closer to their ace could then surprise some teams in the Northern Sectional possibly making it to the state meet.

 

15 Crystal Lake (Central)

Coach – Bill Eschman; 2022 Finish – 15th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Aiden Shulfer SR; Jackson Hopkins JR; Nate Peyer SR; Brady Sterzik SR; Jackie Clark JR, Mason Alvarez JR; Nolan Hollander JR; Adam Kyrouac JR.

 

Notes – The Tigers’ depth could pay off this fall in helping to get them get to state out of what could possibly be the Woodstock Sectional. Central made it to Peoria first last season finishing fifth at Kaneland, then followed by finishing 15 at Detweiller Park. Five of their top seven runners from that race return.

 

Jackson Hopkins was the team’s third runner in the three races before state. The junior stepped up to be the team’s #1 runner finishing 43rd overall. Aiden Shulfer finished 12 seconds behind Hopkins. It could give the team a strong 1-2 in front the next couple of months. Nate Peyer, Brady Sterzik, and Jackie Clark all have that state meet experience which will again help this team in big meets. The team’s top five splits are traditionally small. It is projected to be 74 seconds to start the season. Lowering it to close to 60 seconds gets the Tigers back to the state meet.

 

16 Bethalto (Civic Memorial)

Coach – Jake Peal; 2022 Finish – 17th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Justin Eldridge SR; DJ Dutton SR; Lucas Naugle SR; Max Weber SO (transfer form Edwardsville-Metro E. Lutheran); Jacob Cranford SO; Tullio Zampieri SO; Joshua Cranford SO; Logan Kearby FR.

 

Notes – The Eagles qualified for the state meet for the first time in 2022 and finished 17th overall. They lost their #1 runner Jackson Collman to graduation. They do return the rest of their top seven from the state meet. They will better last year’s finish and possibly be a top 10 team when all is said and done.

 

“I love this team,” said their coach, Jake Peal. “This boys team is very tight knit. It has had the makings of a special season since we started in June. We had a very consistent summer of training. The boys were very focused. Training has been fun.  One thing the boys really focused on this summer has been intentionally getting their long runs in. Aerobically this is as strong a team as we've had. I've noticed a difference in our tempo and fartlek workouts this summer.”

 

DJ Dutton (70th) and Justin Eldridge (82nd) are the top two back from that state team and will challenge for the top spot. Max Weber will be a big addition in the front for the Eagles finishing 72 in the 1A Race for Edwardsville-Metro East Lutheran last season. Weber ran with Eldridge and Dutton in the front all summer. All three could finish among the top 60 at Detweiller. This team is deep with Lucas Naugle and Jacob Cranford runners you could see in the top five. Now with Weber a part of the top five, their top five split is projected to be near or under 55 seconds.

 

17 Mt. Zion

Coach – Kelly Fox; 2022 Finish – 9th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Julian Baker SR; Lyncoln Koester JR; Daniel Grayer JR; Mark Mavis SO; Isaac Carpenter SR; Aiden Mulgrew SO; Caj Reed JR; Carson Davis SR.

 

Notes – This team ran well down the stretch finished second at the Chatham-Glenwood Sectional and then ninth at state. Their top four runners are back along with the sixth and seventh runners. Sam Atkinson, the team’s fifth runner, has graduated and will be missed according to coach Kelly Fox.  Atkinson, who finished second in the 2A 800 last spring, was 43 seconds behind second runner Lyncoln Koester. The split from two to five will be much bigger in 2023.

 

Julian Baker took his running to another level last fall finishing at state. His track season included running a personal best in the mile (4:21.78). He qualified in both the 3200 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run at state. He finished ninth in the 3200 Meter Run and made the finals in the 1600 Meter Run. “Julian had a very good summer of training,” said Fox.  He spent 3 weeks training at altitude in Colorado in late June and then went to Millikin U. distance camp for one week upon his return. Seems to be very fit and well and is looking forward to another great season in a very competitive 2A field.”

 

The Braves will have a solid 2-3-4 pack led by Koester, Daniel Grauer, and Mark Mavis. The trio had a split of 39 seconds at state, but just three seconds at sectional. Who steps in in the fifth runner spot? It could be either Isaac Carpenter or Aiden Mulgrew who both ran at state. Both runners will be close to two minutes behind Koester. The split may come down this season. We will wait and see. Mt. Zion is still a team that we could see back at the state meet in November.

 

18 Mahomet (Seymour)

Coach – Andrew Walmer; 2022 Finish – 13th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood Sectional

Runners – Augie Gaudio SO; Henry McMurry SO; Emmett Kearns SO; Kaleb Kasper JR; Lukas Nykaza JR; Grant Smysor SR; Lukas Carey SR; Zach Wilcoski JR; Matthew Gray FR; Jackson Koontz FR; Blake Patrick FR; Jack Van Hoorn FR.

 

Notes – Their roster is at 15 right now according to their Coach Andrew Walmer just before the start of the season. This team will be young with the top five runners coming back either sophomores or juniors. You can also add in a group of freshmen that may contribute to the team’s top seven at some point this season. The Bulldogs lost a top seven runner in Blake Dillman. He did not come out for the team. Dillman was the #1 runner for Mahomet-Seymour at Metamora and the Apollo Conference Meet, seventh runner in their final two meets.

 

The Bulldogs should improve on last year’s 13 place finish from the Chatham-Glenwood Sectional. Augie Gaudio missed close to a month in the season but came back to be the #1 runner for the team at sectionals. “Auggie is ready to take on the season,” said Walmer. “After an injury last XC season and just falling short of qualifying in the 1600 in track, he has stepped up all aspects of his training. In a recent time-trial, he ran one of the fastest sophomore times we've ever had. Auggie has learned a lot about running and about himself this past year, and he's ready to put that knowledge to the test.”

 

Sophomores Henry McMurry and Emmett Kearns along with junior Lukas Nykaza are the other three runners back from the sectional top 7 runners. Kaleb Kasper, who ran in the top seven while Gaudio was injured, could step into the top five. It was Nykaza that stood out this summer for Walmer. “Lukas Nykaza had a great summer of consistent running,” stated Walmer. “This is already paying off for him as he was one of our top finishers in our most recent workout. He earned a spot on the top 25 juniors list for the workout, a list we've been keeping since 2006.”

 

Gaudio could do some bigger things in his sophomore season if he can stay healthy. This team is young and will continue to grow as this season continues. Their top five split is projected to be near 50 seconds. Getting Gaudio to the front pack in the race and his teammates following could get the Bulldogs back to the state meet.

 

19 Washington

Coach – Kathryn Petravick; 2022 Finish – 27th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Sam Tellefson SR; Fisher Rinkenberger JR; Milo Rinkenberger JR; Charlie Borlin JR; Brice Banning SR; Ethan Kopinski JR; Owen Spiezio SO; Elijah Mann SO; Colton Crouch SO.

 

Notes – The Panthers made it out of the Metamora Sectional by three points to get to the state meet. Washington ended up finishing 27th at state and return five runners from that state team. The early season could be a team in transition. Kathryn Petravick was named the coach just before the start of practice and will guide the team this season.

 

Sam Tellefson looks to be the top runner to start the season. He was the team’s second runner at state 12 seconds behind teammate Charlie Borlin who will push Tellefson for the #1 spot. The additions of Fisher and Milo Rinkenberger will give this team a boost. Both brothers did not run on the team last fall. In 2021 as freshmen, the brothers were the second and third runners at state for the team. Fisher started his season running 16:11 last month at Detweiller at Dark. Brice Banning, Etan Kopinski, and Owen Spezio will all challenge for the fifth spot. This team is deeper than it was last year. They will have a nice pack in the front. The return of the Rinkenberger brothers will make this team tougher and a team that could return to state and challenge for a top spot in the Mid-Illini Conference.

 

20 Troy (Triad)

Coach – Andy Brendel; 2022 Finish – 10th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood Sectional

Runners – Drew Twyman JR; Andrew Pace SR; Dalton Mersinger SR; Sam Kuckuck JR; Jacob Metcalf SR; Ethan Schmidt SR.

 

Notes – Triad will look to make it to the state meet after finishing tenth last season at the Chatham-Glenwood Sectionals. They ran their best race of the season in that meet after finishing third at the Mississippi Valley Conference and fifth at the Highland Regional. Their top five runners return including two runners that made it to the state meet as individuals. Drew Twyman took a huge step up after his freshman season where he finished 64th in his sectional race. He was the top runner for the Knights finishing eighth at the sectional, then 40th at state. Andrew Pace qualified for state as a sophomore in 2021. He bettered that finish in 2022 placing 55th. Both runners are on track to finish in the top 25 individually this fall.

 

The improvement of Twyman and Pace will pay dividends on the growth of the rest of the team as this season progresses. Dalton Mersinger, Sam Kuckuck, and Jacob Metcalf form a nice 3-5 pack that could be within 30 seconds this season. The three runners at sectionals split at 22 seconds. The gap between Twyman/Pace and the pack in their final race of the season was close to one minute just as it was at their conference meet. Triad could make it to state, but the 3-5 pack needs to move closer to their star runners. The Knights have qualified for the state meet three times since 2007, the last coming in 2019.

 

21 Mt. Vernon

Coach – Trace Turner; 2022 Finish – 25th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Trey Mygatt SR; Evan Taylor JR; Caedmon Cook SR; Branden Etheridge SR; Rowan Wilford SO; Joel Hayes SO; Eli Johnston SO; Chalin Bathon SR.

 

Notes – Mt. Vernon made it to the state meet for the first time since 2000 finishing 25th. The future is bright for the Rams with their top 12 runners coming back. Trey Mygatt was the team’s top runner at state. The team had a 46 second split at state on their top five runners. The muddy course prevented them from moving in the race. Mygatt led the team finishing 118th. The split at sectionals was at 64 seconds. Brendan Etheridge, Caedmon Cook, Evan Taylor, and Rowan Wilford give the Rams a solid top five. Two sophomores Joel Hayes and Eli Johnston are within 10 seconds of that group and will be interchangeable in the top five. This team is young and ready to move to the next level.

 

22 Champaign (Central)

Coach – Steven Kesler; 2022 Finish – 13th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Caleb Mathias SO; Fynn Bright SR; Jakob Riley JR; Jonathan Smith SR; Enriqie Beuschlein JR; Noah Green SO; Austin Ritter SO; Nikolas Kesler SO; Eden Randolph SO; Simon Campbell FR; Ty Yoder FR.

 

Notes – Even though the Maroons finished 13 at last year's state meet and lost three runners to graduation, this team could return to Detweiller Park in November. Caleb Mathias and Fynn Bright are a strong 1-2 pack that will give this team a boost. Mathias started his sophomore season out nicely running 15:30 in Detweiller Dark in hot conditions at the end of July. His best time last season on the course was 15:20. “The two runners are very hard workers and great teammates who are committed to having the best cross country season they can have,” said their coach, Steven Kessler. “Caleb is always very impressive with his approach, diligence, and maturity, and he really helps motivate everyone around him. Fynn is incredibly driven, one of the most determined guys you'll find. They push each other at practice and are significantly outperforming their workouts from last season, which were often paced by seniors Peter Smith and Nick Bonn. I think both are headed for a big season.”

 

Jakob Riley was the team’s fourth runner at state. Jonathan Smith was the seventh and will push for the top five. Noah Green showed improvement and could run in the top seven along with Enrique Beuschlein and freshman Simon Campbell.

 

“Our training went quite well this summer,” added Kessler. “Being the most experienced runner, Fynn's program averaged about 55 mpw, and he stuck to it. He ran a great 5K on 7/4 in Champaign (average mile was 5:18). He got a bad cramp and didn't finish well at Detweiler 7/28, but his fitness level is very high right now and he has been cruising in practice. Caleb averaged about 40 mpw and appears in the best shape of his life. They both trained very similarly just with different mileage goals on each workout (e.g., 5 mile tempo for Fynn when it was 4.5 for Caleb, or 12 mile long run for Fynn and 10 for Caleb). Jakob Riley did Vipers club track, lifted a good deal and didn't train with a mileage focus, but he has been stellar so far in workouts. I think he is in great shape for early August. Our prospect 4-7 group also logged significantly more miles this offseason than previous years, Noah Green (SO) ran 18:20 at Detweiler at Dark, a minute faster than his PR from last season. He followed an identical training schedule to Caleb. Ben Sutton (SR) also had a nice race there, and Jonathan Smith and Enrique Beuschlein had good summers too.”

 

23 Sycamore

Coach – Mike Lambdin; 2022 Finish – 10th Class 2A Kaneland Sectional

Runners – Naif Al Harby SR; Corey Goff JR; John Cerny SR; Phoenix Calabrese JR; Logan Jones SO; Kaiden Von Schnase SO; Landon Taylor JR; Nate Burgess SO; Josh Miller FR; Luke Miller FR.

 

Notes – It is hard to put a finger where this team will be by the time they get to the state series in the middle of October especially being in the sectional that the Spartans are in. Sycamore returns four runners back from the team that finished tenth at Kaneland. High hopes are on Corey Goff who has improved over the past season. “Corey Goff seemed to figure things out last spring and it translated to a nice 1600m performance at state,” said his Coach Mike Lambdin. “Corey appears to have picked up where he left off in track. We are hopeful his preparation will lead to an excellent cross country season as well.” The runner that appears to be the team’s top runner is Naif Al Harby. In track, he lowered his best into the 1600 Meter Run in 4:32.45. He did not qualify for state in May. “Naif Al Harby did not train with the team this summer,” said Lambdin. “He was running on his own and dealt with injuries during the final month of the summer. Even though Naif is still running in our top five, I believe the start of his season will be slower than expected. Hopefully, Naif will round into shape by the end of the year.”

 

Phoenix Calabrese looks to be the runner that could step into the top five for the Spartans this fall. Their top five team split is projected to be close to 65 seconds, but that was before finding out at Al-Harby. It may start out slower for this team at their own invitational at the end of the month. “Summer running has been comparable to teams of the past 5 years,” said Lambdin. “Most days about 15 boys would participate with key team members frequently in attendance. The workouts were a mixed bag. Some days our top group looked impressive. Other days, it was clear we have some work ahead of us.”

 

24 Carbondale

Coach – Greg Storm; 2022 Finish – 12th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood Sectional

Runners – Zion Wilkins SO; Ben Wollard-Simmons SR; Chace Massie SR; Lucas Ratcliff JR; Lockley Welcker JR; Frances Bu FR; Corey Anderson FR.

 

Notes – The Terriers look to improve on their 12th place finish from last year’s Chatham-Glenwood Sectional. Their roster will be small this season so keeping their runners healthy will be something to watch for. Zion Wilkins as a newcomer last season was the team’s top runner advancing to the state meet. Big things could be ahead for him this spring. “We hope Zion can continue to improve this season after a really good freshman season,” said his coach, Greg Storm. “Even though I did not coach him during track season, I believe the experience alone helped his progression into the summer.  He is starting to lead our workouts after taking a back seat last year which should help early in the season.  He is a great kid and is still very new to the sport especially with the way our training is set up.  His mileage will be increased a little bit to get the strength and get him closer to breaking the 15:30 mark.  With us being in solid conference with Marion and Mt Vernon he will have no problem getting the competition needed to help in the post season.”

 

Four other runners are back with Wilkins from the sectional race. Ben Wollard-Simmons had a good track season and could close the gap on Wilkins. Chace Massie, Lucas Ratcliff, and Lockley Welcher give Carbondale a strong top five. The team is projected to have a top five split of 93 seconds with 30 seconds separating their top two runners. The Terriers have the potential to sneak up on teams this fall.

 

25 Lake Villa (Lakes)

Coach – Travis Shepherd; 2022 Finish – 18th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Payton Whitehead SR; Jackson Summy JR; Blake Salbilla JR; Brady Mock JR; Liam Makela SR; Matthew Powley JR; Henry Morgan JR; Lawson Caruth FR; Aiden Hauca FR; Reese Mock FR; Cooper Summy FR.

 

Notes – A team that could fly under the radar early in the season but will emerge back at the state meet in November. The Eagles welcome five runners back from the team that finished 1 at the state meet. Jackson Summy emerged last year as a sophomore running as the third runner on the team. He stepped up to finish 87th at Detweiller Park. Blake Salbilla, Brady Mock, and Liam Makela had good training this summer making this team even stronger. “We had a pretty typical Summer of training, nothing out of the ordinary physically,” said Coach Travis Shepherd. “However, we made strides culturally. The seniors we graduated from last year were the unquestioned leaders for the past two years. This Summer gave opportunity for new leaders to step up. Payton Whitehead and Liam Makela modeled how to act. Juniors Blake Salbilla and Jackson Summy grew vocally. This is an area that we needed athletes to step up and fill. They have shown some nice progress which bodes well for a successful season.”

 

The #1 runner should be Payton Whitehead with Summy pushing him. Whitehead has had success on the track. He showed that last spring when he ran 1:54.27 to finish third at state. That success should transfer over to the xc course this fall for Whitehead this fall. “Training wise things clicked for Payton over the Winter,” Shepherd added. “He had his best off-season of training and it showed with really consistent racing throughout the Spring. He not only improved his overall times, but his average race time. As a senior, we will look for him to continue this momentum. By all accounts he has had another solid training block (he is on vacation, and I won't be able to fully go over it with him until the 14th). He is the epitome of modeling how to work hard each day and give everything you have. He is the consummate teammate, motivated to do well for his squad. Furthermore, he is positive, respectful, and kind. We are very proud of how he carries himself and how he treats others. Payton is a wonderful person to have on our team.”

 

This team could push for a top three finish in their sectional and make it to the starting line at Detweiller Park. Whitehead and Summy should give this team a solid 1-2 punch in the front. The top five split is projected to be near 65 seconds and could push for big things in 2023.

 

26 Mascoutah

Coach – Darren Latham; 2022 Finish – 7th Class 2A Highland Regional

Runners – Leo Cozzi JR; Andrew Latham SR; Ian Moll SR; Greg Drain JR; Lucas Jensen SO; Ayden Ellsworth SR; Kaine Climaco SO.

 

Notes – Mascoutah could be in position to qualify for the state meet for the third time in the program’s history. The Indians did not have a great race in their regional race. They ended the season finishing fourth in the Mississippi Valley Conference, then placing seventh at the Highland Regional. They return five of their top seven runners. Leo Cozzi also advanced and then into the state meet last season. The junior finished 81st at state and could be among the top 50 this fall. Andrew Latham was nearly 20 seconds behind Cozzi throughout last season and could push for the #1 spot. Ian Moll, Lucas Jensen, and Greg Drain within nine seconds at the Peoria Invitational before running within 13 seconds of each other at Highland. The pack is good but will need to get a little closer to their front two runners. Mascoutah should make it out of their regional meet this fall. The sectional is wide-open so anything could happen for their team.

 

27 Chicago (Latin School)

Coach – Dan Daly; 2022 Finish – 3rd Class 1A State Meet

Runners – Ben Gibson JR; Daniel Goodman JR; Jack Lyons JR; Miles Daly JR; Tucker Thayer SO; Charlie Steffen SR; Jack Ramsey SO; Myles Levine JR.

 

Notes – Latin School’s XC teams switched classes for the next two seasons with the Boys team now in Class 2A. The Romans brought home a trophy last November finishing third in the Class 1A State Meet. Losing their #1 runner Akili Parekh to graduation is a big loss for the team. It could be a rebuilding year with three runners back from that team.

 

Ben Gibson will be the top runner for this team. He was been all-state in his first two years of high school. He finished 16 in last year’s state meet. Daniel Goodman showed dramatic improvement over the last season after finishing 29th as the team’s third runner. “Both Danny and Ben are a joy to coach,” said Coach Dan Daly. “ They each work extremely hard to improve themselves and their teammates. Each of them has been very dedicated over the summer with Danny attending a XC camp in New Hampshire and Ben getting the opportunity to run in Africa. They are looking forward to the challenge of competing at the 2A level and seeing how high they can finish individually while leading the team to a top spot in 2A like they have enjoyed at 1A.”

 

Jack Lyons missed the final two meets due to an injury but finished only 15 seconds behind Goodman at regionals. He should give the team a good boost in the front. Myles Daly was 45 seconds behind Goodman and will chase Lyons for the third spot. Sophomores Tucker Thayer and Jack Ramsey look to be the runners to watch for the fifth position. They be close to 30-40 seconds of the front four and will need to move closer for the Roams make it back to the state meet.

 

28 Urbana

Coach – Zach Boehmke; 2022 Finish – 16th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood Sectional

Runners – Brian Allison SR; Hudson Coady SR; Michael Allison SR; Mohammed Amrani JR; Dereje Jahiel JR; Parker Schroeder SR; Jonathan Allison SR; Dominic Urban SR.

 

Notes – The Tigers will look to improve on last year’s 16th place finish at Chatham-Glenwood.  All of the runners that ran for Urbana in that race return. Their #1 runner in the regional race, Cordario Sims, did not come out for the team this fall. “Our training was a mixed bag this summer,” said Coach Zach Boehmke. “We did not have too many days over the course of the summer where our entire varsity group was in town at once, but they did do their due diligence independently. We do not really focus too much on hammering workouts over the summer aside from churning out quality long runs on a consistent basis.”

 

Brian Allison should be the #1 runner this season as he was in the Big 12 Meet and in the sectional race. “Michael and Brian Allison have had their most consistent summers yet. Things seemed to click into place for them towards the end of the track season, so they seem prepared to show that they can be a prominent pairing in our top five,” added Boehmke. “The primary thing I can say about Brian is that he seems healthy going into this season. He has had nagging toe problems that have him miss extended periods of time throughout his high school tenure, but that has not really been the case this summer. His workouts are coming around and this past weekend was his best long run of the summer. I will say that our top-4 are going to be a tight pack that may rotate top runner status from week-to-week. We are waiting on a #5 to emerge.”

 

Hudson Coady had a good summer and should join the two Allison brothers in the front along with Mohammed Amrani in the first four. “Amrani was injured in a bike ⇒ car accident that left him with a broken vertebra in his back,” added Boehmke. “He is now fully recovered, and his running is better than ever.” The team is projected to have a 30 second split on their top four runners. The gap between four and five could be close to a minute and will need to come down as the season progresses.

 

29 Chatham (Glenwood)

Coach – Mike Garber; 2022 Finish – 19th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Van Schneider SO; Will Patzia JR; Brady Moser SO; Carter Simmons JR; Ayden Groves SR; Edward Wilson JR; Alex Chopra SR.

 

Notes – The Titans start here to begin the season but could see in the top 15 by the beginning of October. Four runners are back from last year’s team. A big plus for Glenwood this year is the addition of Van Schneider who played football his freshman season. He ran track and put up some fast times running 1:57 for the 800 Meter Run and 4:30 for the 1600 Meter Run. Coach Mike Garber sees him as the top runner this year. It will be interesting to see how his success on the track transition to the cross-country course.

 

“Summer training went really well,” said Garber. “The guys took a page out of the girls book and had their own group runs. There were a few that put in some major mileage and are already in a level jump. Mason Daley is going to fit immediately in our top 7 after joining the team last year. It was his first year running and had a few limiting injuries. He finished track season with a 4:49 and has logged nearly the most miles on the team this summer. Brady Moser and Van Schneider both logged around 45 miles per week and are primed for big things. They had a good balance of soft surface runs and basic mileage that are both important for season prep.”

 

Will Patzia, Carter Simmons, and Ayden Groves were only separated by 17 seconds at state. “Will Patzia had a fantastic track season and used cross training this summer to build off that improvement,” said Garber. “His times in track speak for themselves and his junior season will reflect his talent. He is driven and works hard to achieve the goals he has set for himself. I'm excited to see his progression this season. Watch for him to push Van for the #1 spot on this squad.”

 

Garber said about Carter Simmons: “Simmons was limited in track season with some body chemistry issues. He didn't really hit his stride due to low iron and ferritin but is back and laser focused on this XC season. He had an intense summer of cross training while being smart to bring back those levels in his system. He and his family have a nutrition plan and are all in for a big season. I'm excited to see how he starts this year, but even more looking forward to his growth.”

 

This team has potential. We will find out through September how good this team could be. “The boys want to get back to our 2017, 18 and 19 form,” added Garber. “They have the pedigree to make some noise around the state and will push themselves to even higher standards. It is an exciting time to coach these kids. Look out for the boys with the big G on their shirts.”

 

30 Burlington (Central)

Coach – Vince Neil; 2022 Finish – 8th Class 2A Sterling Regional

Runners – Ryan Kries SR; Logan Karottu SR; Adam Hinkleman SR; Jayden Beecroft JR (played soccer last fall); Alan Perez SR; Robert Anderson SR; Brady Anderson SO; Obaid Khwaja SR; Danny Burke FR; Brandon Pflug FR.

 

Notes – A team to keep an eye on this fall after finishing eighth at the Sterling Regional. Their entire top seven is back from that squad. Ryan Kries, Logan Karottu, and Adam Hinkelman had good summers and should be the top three on this team. The runner that could get the team single digit points is Kries. He finished sixth in the sectional but did not fare well the next week placing 94th. “Ryan had a tremendous summer of training,” said his coach, Vince Neil. “His mileage has increased; his strength has increased, and he looks stronger than ever.  I believe that Ryan is going to continue to improve meet after meet and will be ready for competition deep into the postseason.”

 

Jayden Beecroft played soccer last fall. His running in the spring during track will give this team a boost in the top five this season. Seniors Robert Anderson and Alan Perez will also challenge in the top five. Hard to project where their 2-5 split will go. Kries in front and four runners within 60 seconds of each other could get this team racing another week.

 

Teams to Watch (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

 

Antioch

Coach – Chris Bailey; 2022 Finish – 9th Class 2A Deerfield Sectional

Runners – Carter Webb SR; Carson Lanners SO; Tyler Wolfe SR; Griffin Freeman JR; Anthony Sculuca JR; Anton Agusto SR; Brady Kobb JR; Tyler Miller SR: Ademide Adegboyega JR (transfer from Thornwood).

 

Notes – Antioch missed qualifying for state in 2002 finishing ninth at the Deerfield Sectional. This team could surprise some this season with all seven runners back from the sectional meet. The Sequoits did have two runners make it to state with Carter Webb finishing 67 and Carson  Lanners almost a minute back. Webb should again be the top runner for this team. “Carter had a good, but busy summer,” said Coach Chris Bailey. “He was really consistent with his summer mileage and balanced a chaotic schedule.  Carter will split time this fall between XC and kicking field goals for our football team.  When he wasn't kicking or running this summer, he was attending basketball camp and holding down a job.  He's a great leader and the team respects him tremendously.”

 

Chicago (Brother Rice)

Coach – Tom Wazio; 2022 Finish – 21st Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Charley Duggan SR; Gavin O’Connor JR; Danny Macis SR; Andrew Straley SO; Brian Sheehan JR; Eamonn Roache JR; Brian Biondo JR (from football); Dylan Cody FR; Declan Nieto FR.

 

Notes – This season could be puzzling for Brother Rice. They did qualify for state last year out of the Metamora Sectional and then finishing 21st at state. Five runners are back from that team. Their #1 runner Charley Duggan, who finished 47 last year at state, may not run this fall due to injuries. “Charley has had some bad luck in regard to injury,” said his coach, Tom Wazio. “He's a tough kid but just can't seem to get completely healthy for 12 straight months. Was injured soph xc middle of the season, then had good soph track and junior xc seasons, was on track to have a successful season this past spring but an injury ended his season in March after running well during February. I thought he would run 9:30/4:24/1:58.  I honestly don't have a guess as to what his senior xc season will look like if he even has one.  It's a big hit to our team, because we had high hopes entering this season and we don't have large numbers to begin with.”

 

The loss of Duggan is huge. Even if they go south to a sectional, it might be tough to finish among the first seven schools. Gavin O’Connor and Danny Macis could be the team’s top runners. The addition of former football player Brian Biondo could also help this team. “Gavin O'Connor has picked up the slack and has had a few months of really solid training,” said Wazio. “He was even able to get some good training for a week at altitude on his own.  I anticipate him having a good season.  The other athlete is junior Brian Biondo who moved to XC from football.  He didn't miss one day of summer running and has shown a strong commitment to the team.  I think he will be a top 7, possibly top 5 runner for us come October.”

 

Chicago (DePaul College Prep)

Coach – Mitchell Baum; 2022 Finish – Class 1A State Champions

Runners – Bryan Malkowski SR; Elias Roldan JR; Maddux Bailey SR; Bodi Ward JR; Joseph Flynn SR; Charles Malelo JR; Keegan Glascott JR.

 

Notes – The swan song in Class 1A (for at least the next two seasons) was DePaul College Prep leaving Detweiller Park with the Class 1A State Championship. It could be a rebuilding year for the Rams with just three runners returning. They will miss their two all-state runners Mac Kittrell and Charlie Richardson who both graduated.

 

Bryan Malkowski was the team’s second runner last year finishing 14th in the 1A race. He is in good position to finish in the top 25 in Class 2A this fall. Elias Roldan finished 28 seconds behind Malinowski in 40th and will be a strong #2 runner for the Rams. Maddux Bailey was the team’s seventh runner some 90 seconds behind Roldan. He will be the head of the team’s 3-5 pack. DePaul will rebuild and should make it back to state considering what sectional they will be placed in.

 

Chicago (Lake View)

Coach – Jo Hunter (Katherine Thiele on maternity leave); 2022 Finish – 10th Class 2A Deerfield Sectional

Runners – Jiberil Lesman JR; Mathias Garcia SO; Alan Tellez JR; Marcio Marin SR; Omar Rios SO; Arturo Ojeda JR.

 

Notes – Lake View is a good choice to make it back to sectional this fall. It could be tough making it to Peoria only returning three from their 10th place sectional team. Their top runner will be Jiberil Lesman who was the team’s top runner in 2022. Lesman finished 85th in last year’s state meet. “Jiberil is hungry for this season and has been increasing his mileage, both in practice and outside of it, in preparation,” said Coach Jo Hunter. He loves the community of this sport and the people he has met, so he has his finger on the pulse of the league and is always taking opportunities to get to know runners both new on our team and at other schools. He’s confidently hopeful that he’ll return, with some other teammates, to Peoria this November.”

 

Darien (Hinsdale South)

Coach – Jim Dickerson; 2022 Finish – 15th Class 2A Kaneland Sectional

Runners – Dziugas Meiliulis JR; Wojtek Gilarski SO; Andrew Petersen JR; Toqir Mir SR; Ethan Frankel JR; Eric Fournier JR; Jason Fournier; Noah Koehler FR; Jackson Buchholz FR.

 

Notes – It will be interesting early this season for the Hornets. They finished 15th in last year's Kaneland Sectional. They lost three runners from their roster including projected top five runner Mason White. Dziugas Meiliulis was the team’s top runner with Wojtek Gilarski and Andew Petersen also in the top seven ready to move closer to the front. “The big challenge will be who steps up as a 5th runner,” said their coach Jim Dickerson. “Last year we had a 5 second 1-5 split at the Peoria High Invite and 30 seconds or less at most meets. This will not be this team. It will be someone stepping into the next two spots. Should be a fun year of improvement and good kids. How we do might depend on finding a 5th runner.” We will have a good idea about this team by the end of September. They will be one of the top three teams in the WSC-Gold this season.

 

Dunlap

Coach – Chris Friedman; 2022 Finish – 22nd Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Jacob Gladstone JR; Luke Williams SR; Charlie Serrahn SR; Luke Siebenaler SR; Madox Dean JR; Jacob VandeWiele SR; Jack Nester SO; Nate Acklie JR; Aaron Mohr SR (from football).

 

Notes – It could be a rebuilding year for the Eagles after finishing 22nd in last year’s state meet. It will depend on whether junior Jacob Gladstone comes back. “Jacob  could be our number one guy, but his real love is basketball,” said Coach Chris Friedman. “If and when he makes the decision to go all in on running, he will be one of the best area runners and could make a name for himself on the state level. As it is, he will help us and hopefully lead our pack.”

 

They will have to rebuild their top five after losing four of their top five to graduation. Luke Williams and Charlie Serrahn a part of that group. “Our team certainly embraced mileage and weightroom work to gain the strength they need to improve,” said Friedman. “I don't think we have a true front runner, but I do think we have a top 5-7 who can run a split of 15-20 seconds.”

 

Freeburg

Coach – Carl Florczyk; 2022 Finish – 21st Class 1A State Meet

Runners – Evan Schlichting SR; Lawrence Somosa JR; Mark Rozhon SO; Zachary Duffie SO; Caden McCullough JR; Tyler Bryant JR; Jack Walters SR; Gage Lang FR.

 

Notes – It could be a transition for Freeburg moving from Class 1A up to Class 2A for the next two seasons. Coach Carl Florczyk welcomes back four runners from the state team that finished in the Class 1A race. “Our team had a terrific summer,” said Florczyk. “With getting bumped up to 2A, we knew that it was going to be an important summer. I felt like the whole team really bought into the training. Attendance was strong.  We were able to build volume, including the weekly long run and weekly tempo workouts. Our training culminated with many of our guys running at Detweiller at Dark at the end of the summer, which was a great experience for our guys.”

 

It could be tough for the Midgets since their top three runners from last year graduated. Evan Schlichting steps up to #1 for Freeburg. “Evan had a strong summer,” said Florczyk. “All of his work showed in his race effort at Detweiller at Dark. He ran 17:34 on a very hot/humid night.  He is a very consistent runner who is really going to have a strong year.  He is also showing tremendous leadership skills by leading his teammates during training runs and workouts. Most importantly, he is helping to lay the foundation for the team culture for this season.”

 

Lawrence Somosa, Zach Duffie, Mark Rozhon, and freshman Gage Lang look to be the next four runners behind Schlichting. The top five split is projected to be between 55-60 seconds. The pack will need to move up as the season progresses to be in reach of a top seven sectional finish.

 

Geneseo

Coach – Todd Ehlert; 2022 Finish – 23rd Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Dylan Gehl JR; Sam Mosbarger SR; Jaxson Sottos SO; Max Johnson JR; Aidan Bries SO; Kaden Elmer SO; Christian Haney JR; Micah Johnson FR; Jack Kreiss FR.

 

Notes – Geneseo will look forward to repeating their trip to the state meet. They finished 23rd in last fall’s 2A race. The Maple Leafs will miss one of their top seven runners to graduation. The other is Copper Schaad who will concentrate on training for the Pole Vault in his senior season.

 

Dylan Gehl is taking his running to the next level after finishing 66 at last year’s state race. He had a great track season concluded by running 9:33.58 to be all-state in the 3200 Meter Run. “Dylan Gehl is a student of running, he loves it,” said his coach, Todd Ehlert. “He is dedicated and wants to do better every day.  He is very involved in many activities and excels in all of them.  Academically he is at the top of his class.  He is a great kid who has a great future ahead of him.”

 

The Maple Leafs had a top 5 split of 75 seconds at state helped by their third and fourth runners Max Johnson and Jaxson Sottos who will lead the pack behind Gehl. “The guys want to also want to win another regional title and have added wanting to win a sectional title to the list this year,” said Ehlert. “The sectional is loaded every year.  That would also be a great accomplishment.  The biggest goal is to get better every week.  We are hopeful for another fun and exciting year.”

 

Highland

Coach – Joe Shannon; 2022 Finish – 8th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood

Runners – Dallas Mancinas SR; Avery Block JR; Christian Knobloch JR; Adin Roach SO; Sam Huelskamp JR; Walker Nehrt FR.

 

Notes – Highland finished eighth at last season’s Chatham-Glenwood Sectional. It could be tough early in the season as well as a summer training period that Coach Joe Shannon said could have been better. Dallas Mancinas again should be the team’s top runner. “Dallas is a competitor and I believe he is in better shape than the start of the season last year,” said Shannon. “I’m looking forward to see how his senior campaign goes this year.” Mancinas, Avery Block, and Christian Knobloch were only separated by 34 seconds in their sectional race. Work will need to be done on the next two spots with a projected top five split at the beginning of the year being nearly two minutes.

 

Marion

Coach – Scott Gill; 2022 Finish – 8th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Dylon Nalley SR; Mekye Lomax SR; Cade Parks SR (transfer Plainview HS OK); Hayden Lees SR; Evan Dailey JR; Tai Doan SO; Jack Tate JR; Joseph Mings SO; Tate Miller JR (from football); Rahael Greer FR; Gabriel Greer FR

 

Notes – It was a memorable season for Marion finishing eighth in the 2A State Meet led by Dylon Nalley’s individual state title, Nalley is back and healthy  to defend his title and make some magic again this fall at Detweiller Park. Four other runners are back behind Nalley. Meyke Lomax finished 35th last year and could get into the top 25 with Nalley. Cade Parks transferred back to Marion from Plainview OK and could give this team a boost. He was all-state last spring in the 1600 Meter Run last year in Oklahoma. Evan Dailey and Jack Tate should be the team’s fourth and fifth runners but will be 90 seconds behind Lomax and Parks. That split will need to be cut by at least 40 seconds for the Wildcats to contend for another state meet appearance.

 

Metamora

Coach – Amanda Young; 2022 Finish – 9th Class 2A Metamora Sectional

Runners – Trae Helwig JR, Wyatt Baker JR; Ryan Krake SR; Wilbert Eppenger SO; Chase Packman JR; Gavin Walters SO; Oliver Truelove JR.

 

Notes – The Redbirds will look to improve on and make it to state after finishing ninth at the Metamora Sectional. Three of their top five runners graduated that were on last year’s team. Trae Helwig was their top runner as he qualified individually for state. He finished 63rd on the wet course at Detweiller Park. Wyatt Baker appears that he will be the second runner for the team. He finished 49 seconds behind Helwig in the sectional race. Ryan Kraken, Wilbert Eppinger, and Chase Packman will need to close down a possible 45 second split between them and Baker. The split on the next four behind Helwig will need to cut down the split in order to improve on last year’s finish.

 

Niles (Notre Dame)

Coach – Braulio Alvarez; 2022 Finish – 20th Class 2A State Meet

Runners – Liam Newton SR; Henry Thuet JR; Emmet Kisor SR; Ryan Simpao JR; Everett Suderski SR; James Bolin JR; Sean Coath JR.

 

Notes – Niles Notre Dame will look to make it to state for the fourth time in school history and for the second year in a row. The Irish has a 20th place appearance last season. They are a good bet to make it back to Detweiller Park considering the sectional they will be in and the four runners that return from last year’s team. Liam Newton was the team’s second runner last year and should lead this team. Newton finished 97th last year at state. Henry Theut, Ryan Simpao, and Emmet Kisor are all back expected to be in the top five. Their split will be tighter than last year with James Bolin as the fifth runner.

 

Taylorville

Coach – Steve Walters; 2022 Finish – 15th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood Sectional

Runners – Owen Morgan SR; Jack Chesser SR; Brenton Good SR; Jesse Sloan SR; Tyler Corpin SO; Alex Davis SO; Ross Brown SO; David Schafer SO.

 

Notes – Taylorville finished 15th at last year’s sectional at Chatham-Glenwood with five of their top seven coming back.  Owen Morgan once again will be the top runners for the Tornadoes. Morgan advanced to the state meet last year where he finished in 83rd place. Their top five split in five is projected to be close to 100 seconds. However, the two through five split led by Jack Chesser and Brenton Good is projected to be under 20 seconds. Taylorville again will have a small roster. Staying healthy will be important if this team wants to finish in the top 10 in whatever sectional they are assigned to.

 

Waterloo

Coach – Larry Huffman; 2022 Finish – 9th Class 2A Chatham-Glenwood Sectional

Runners – Austin Corey SR; Justin Witt SR; Kyle Kern SR; Ethan Schimpf SR; Dylan Brewer SR; Peyton Rose SO; Jeremy Warden SO.

 

Notes – It might be tough for the Bulldogs to state or even improve on last year’s sectional finish. Waterloo returns five runners from the sectional team that placed ninth. They will miss their top runner Joe Schwartz who graduated. Austin Corey expects to step in as the team’s runner along with Justin Witt who finished nine seconds behind him in the sectional race. Kyle Kern, Dylon Brauer, and Ethan Schimpf should be behind their big two up front, but it could be between 65 to 70 seconds from two through five.