Beecher
2015 Finish: 17th at 1A State
Coach: Peter Jaros
Key returners: Adam Swanson (Jr.) 16:16 / 4:54, Justin Janssen (So.) 17:26, Bryan Wang (Jr.), Brandon Stolzenbach (So.)
Ray's Take: Beecher finished 17th at Detweiller last November but does not return enough replicate that unless their younger runners step into some of the roles vacated by last years' seniors. Swanson is the top returner, after finishing 115th in the 2015 state meet.
Bloomington (Central Catholic)
2015 Finish: 20th at 1A State
Coach: Bill Rhodes
Key returners: Adam Schlenker (Sr.) 15:48 / 10:16 / 4:59, Will Dionesotes (Jr.) 16:53 / 10:19 / 4:57, Alex Zlatic (So.) 17:34 / 4:57, Joey McElwain (So.) 12:18, Connor Lucey (Sr.)
Ray's Take: Bloomington Central Catholic loses 4 seniors from last year's 20th place team. Schlenker finished 58th and could be in contention for an all-state position. Dionesotes and Zlatic follow with state experience for the Saints' pack. BCC is one of nearly 10 schools in state qualifying contention in their sectional.
Decatur (St. Teresa)
2015 Finish: 10th at 1A Decatur (St. Teresa) Sectional
Coach: Todd Vohland
Key returners: Jackson Stewart (So.) 16:20 / 10:08 / 4:44, Nick Tschosik (Sr.) 16:57 / 11:08, Jason Ohl (Sr.), Adrian Caceres (So.)
Ray's Take: For the second year, the Bulldogs' year will be highlighted by young star Jackson Stewart, who led the team as a freshman in 2015 and improved during track to run 10:08 for 3200. Central Illinois has a stronghold on 1A, and this will make it difficult for St. Teresa to qualify for state unless they fill in their vacated spots with strong younger runners.
Fairbury (Prairie Central)
2015 Finish: 6th at 1A Lisle (Sr.) Sectional
Coach: Scott McGuire
Key returners: Jake Maquet (Jr.) 16:00 / 10:47 / 4:48, Carter Evans (Jr.), Aiden Krieger (Jr.), Adrien Ruiz (So.), Aaron Aberle (Fr.), Jeremiah Dunahee (Sr.), Liam Barnes (So.)
Ray's Take: Prairie Central finished just 5 points outside of the state meet at the Lisle sectional in 2015. A young Hawk squad will follow Maquet, 50th place at Detweiller as a sophomore last year. Coach McGuire: "Our conference is extremely tough (Cornbelt). I try my best to expose my athletes to the best teams in the state. Our goal all along is to make the state meet as a team. We have been on the brink the last 3-4 years."
Henry (H.-Senachwine)
2015 Finish: 7th at 1A Oregon Sectional
Coach: James Downey
Key returners: Jarrod Pettis (Jr.) 16:29, Ryan Garrison (Jr.) 16:31 / 4:53, Gage Schoeple (Jr.), Noah Vosteen (So.), Connor Baldoni (Jr.)
Ray's Take: Henry-Senachwine finished just 12 points out of state qualifying and will have their sights set on the same goal, but will have to bring the pack closer to Pettis and Garrison to do so. This squad looks to return in its entirety in 2017 as well so keep a close eye on this team from Marshall County to the north of Peoria the next couple of years. The Mallards finished 3rd at their Regional meet last year.
Melrose Park (Walther Christian)
2015 Finish: 22nd at 1A State
Coach: Paul Goffron
Key returners: Luis Dieguez (Jr.) 16:40, David Garcia (Jr.) 17:13, Jaylin Williams (Sr.) 17:25, Jose Rebolledo (Sr.) 17:42, Kobe Morris (Sr.) 18:06
Ray's Take: The 2015 Aurora Christian regional champs return 5 of their 7 from their 22nd place state squad. If the Broncos pack can stay within a minute of first returner Dieguez, they have a good chance at returning to the state meet through the Chicagoland sectional.
Pleasant Plains
2015 Finish: 6th at 1A Elmwood Sectional
Coach: Derek DeBarr
Key returners: Liam Bradley (Jr.) 17:14 (2014) / 11:18, Otis Sanders (So.) 17:40, Joey Monke (Jr.) 18:04
Ray's Take: The 2015 1A Franklin regional champs return only 1 runner, Sanders, from their top 7 last year and will have to rebuild if they want to improve on 2015's finish, a narrow 6th place sectional finish just 2 points away from qualifying for Detweiller.
Rock Falls
2015 Finish: 14th at 1A State
Coach: Mark Truesdell
Key returners: Brayden Hamblen (Sr.) 14:51 / 9:37 / 4:29, Jonathan Ross (Sr.) 17:43, Jerome Warren (Jr.) 11:51, Javier Delatorre (So.), Rio Salas (So.)
Ray's Take: The Rockets lose a lot to graduation in 2016, but they DO keep Hamblen, who could be the favorite to win the 1A State Championship (he IS the fastest returner, after all). Hamblen figures to be an easy 1 stick for most of Rock Falls' season, but they have a lot ot replace if they intend to make it back to the state meet.
Tremont
2015 Finish: 8th at 1A Elmwood Sectional
Coach: Mike Lynn
Key returners: Luke Miller (Sr.) 16:48 / 10:40, Andrew Hellrigel (So.) 17:13, Jesse Pflederer (Jr.) 17:21 / 4:44, Dalton Petro (So.) 18:04 / 4:46, Austin Shafer (So.) 18:03, Jack Miller (Sr.) 18:22
Ray's Take: Tremont's packs returns 6 runners from 2015 and is separated by less than 2 minutes. Jack and #1 runner Luke Miller are the only seniors as well, so they will lead this young squad to improving their 8th place finish from last year's sectional. The Turks also have what is arguably the best mascot in central Illinois.