Chicago Jones lose a bevy of talent anchored by the Public League’s best ever distance runner Jamison Dale (now at Loyola University). However, Coach Andrew Adelmann will return a ton of talented youngsters to fill spots. Can the likes of Illiana Christian and Glenbard South move up and take hold of the mantle?
5. Yorkville-
Head Coach/asst. coaches: Chris Muth/ Ben Draper & Lauren Bales
Last year’s finish season finish:state- 3rd (129pts)
Key returners: Jake Hoffert (Jr.)- 12th, Luke Hoffert (Jr.)- 15th , Nolan Tweedy (Sr.)- 73rd, Richard Skogsberg (Sr.), (Detwiler at dark time 16:26), Trevor Wills (So.), (10:14-3200),
Projected top 7: Jake Hoffert, Luke Hoffert, Tweedy, Skogsberg, Wills, Alex Nauman (Fr.), Thor Hester (So.)
Newcomers: Nauman, Hester, and Dawson Deidrich (Fr.).
Season outlook by Coach Muth: “We lose a senior class, 4 of varsity top 7, which was very experienced and had a ton of big meets under their belts. We had a really solid summer of training as a varsity team that consisted of great participation and 45+ miles a week of base training. Our goal this year is for the guys to continue to get experience and confidence throughout the season and continue to progress. We have a very talented and experienced top three, but how well our second group develops will determine how we finish at the end of the year. We have potential, but are very far away from a finished product. If we can stay healthy, we should be in the mix for a top 10 finish at the end of the year.”
4. Head coach: Bill Eschman
Last year’s final season finish: state- 4th (182pts)
Key returners: Ryan Pitner (Sr.)-23rd, Nick Amato (Sr.)-47th, Zach Gemmell (Sr.)-82nd, PJ McKay (Sr.)-120th, Michael Penza (Jr.).
Season outlook: A proud program, led by all-state runner Ryan Pitner, will return four starters with big game experience. Pitner will be fine after posting a solid track season (4:27/9:48). It will be interesting to see how the other returners find their roles in the early portion of the season. P.J. McKay and Zach Gemmell clocked 9:59 and 10:01 respectively during the spring. If they continue to improve all will be needed is a solid fifth runner. Perhaps, Michael Penza can make that leap. He anchored the team’s 11th place 4x800m relay last May.
3. Chicago Jones College Prep-
Head Coach/asst. coach: Andrew Adelmann/ Ben Mahon.
Last year’s final season finish: State Champions- (85 pts.).
Key returners: Peter Schaible (Sr.)-31st, Kyle Maloney (Jr.)-39th, MarkiyanProtsiv (Jr.), Will Sarchet (Jr.), Tony Solis (Jr.), Tony Gonzalez (Sr.), Kevin Johnson (Sr.), Nikolas Merten (So.), Daryl Cordova (Jr.).
Projected top 7: Schaible, Maloney, Protsiv, Sarchet, Solis, Gonzalez, Johnson.
Newcomers: Jones will feature a strong crop of freshmen to keep their farm system well stocked. Watch out for Jeremy Adams and Steven Claudin the future.
Season outlook by Coach Adelmann: “We had a strong summer of training again this year and the turnout once again grew, which to us is a good indicator of whether things are going in the right direction or not. Our goals for this fall are the same as they always are and that is just to see personal growth in all of our runners and be ready to run our best when we need to. If we do that and control what we can control along the way then things will fall in to place naturally.”
2. Head Coach/coach: Doug Gorski
Last year’s finish: state-5th (190pts).
Key returners: John (JZ) Wold (Sr.)-state champion, Joe Singleton (Sr.)- 6th, Andrew Kladiva (Sr.)- 55th, JoeMeade (Sr.)- 161st.
Projected top 7: Wold, Singleton, Kladiva, J. Meade, Colin Meade (Jr.), Jon O’Rourke (So.), Andrew Sunberg (So.), or Ricardo Hilliard (Sr.), Ibrahim Jawad(Jr.).
Newcomers:Mike King.
Season outlook: The state’s top tandem of John “JZ” Wold and Joe Singleton are extremely dangerous and will be even better this season. Wold may be the best overall runner in Illinois and is a lock to repeat now that he enjoyed a great spring which resulted in a state title in the 800m. The third returning runner, Andrew Kladiva, had a great summer of running and will be expected to vie for all-state honors this season. The fourth and fifth positions will have to improve in order for the Raiders to compete for a trophy. Coach Gorski has a strong feeling that newcomer Mike King will come to the team’s aid by the end of the season.
1. Lansing (Illiana Christian)-
Head Coach/coach: Jim Piaskowy
Last year’s finish: state- 6th (202pts)
Key returners: Tony Wondaal(Sr.)-13th, Nick Fiene(Jr.)- 38th, Colin DeYoung(So.)- 49th, Nick Wondaal(So.)- 50th, Kevin Vroegh(Sr.), Austin Gibson (Sr.), Tommy Mcguire(Jr.).
Projected top 7: T. Wondaal, Fiene, DeYoung, N. Wondaal, Vroegh, Gibson, Mcguire.
Season outlook:Let’s just say that last year was an emerging year for the Viking crew as they fought for notoriety among the top teams in the classification. Tony Wondaal was the first of four guys on his team that placed in the top 50 overall. It was a tremendous learning experience that bolds well for a team that is projected to carry a big stick against their opponents every time out. However, the fifth man will be the key for the Vikings if they hope to bring home their first state title.