St Joe-Ogden won the Decatur (St. Teresa) Sectional. Defending state champ St. Teresa was among the victims (Beth Schied photo)
Date: 11/8/14
Location: Detweiller Park; Peoria, IL
Course: 3.0 miles
Race time: 9am
Awards Ceremony: 11am
Media coverage: follow Illinois Prepster @ilptt on twitter for live action as well as pre and post race action of the meet. Use hastag #ihsaxcstate14
The qualifying teams: #1 Petersburg (Porta), #2 St. Joseph (Ogden), #3 Rochester, #4 Decatur (St. Teresa), #5 Urbana (University), #6 Kewanee (Wethersfield), #7 Rock Island (Alleman), #8 Freeburg, #9 Monticello, #10 Tolono (Unity), #11 Elmwood-Brimfield, #12 Seneca, #13 Woodstock (Marian), #14 Monmouth (M.-Roseville), #15 Henry (H.-Senachwine), #16 Herrin, #17 Palos Heights (Chicago Christian), #18 Winnebago, #19 Carterville, #20 Red Bud, Clifton (Central), Des Plaines (Willows Academy), Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy), Murphysboro, Westmont
Opening remarks: This race is looking to be rather the opposite of last year. As opposed to just a few key players that will outshine the rest, we have much what one would call “parity” going into this state meet. I could honestly see any of the top five teams ranked teams placing this meet in any order, and then any team ranked in the top ten could conceivably outdo a team in the top five. Without further ado, here are the teams to watch.
Meet the key teams:
Petersburg (Porta)
Head Coach: Jim Brauer
2013 state finish: 8th
Pre-season rank: #6
Final season rank: #1
Probable starting lineup: Maria Brauer (Jr.), Anna Tamborski (Jr.), Adrienne Brauer (Jr.), Keely Miller (Jr.), Katherine Pickerill (Jr.), Amber Stier (Fr.), Madison Kuehl (So.)
Road to state: Quincy Regional-1st, Elmwood Sectional-1st
Outlook: They did not look like the favorite for a while with the obvious gaps they had to work out. But after running sectionals the way they did, they definitely seem like the favorite going into State. Forget analyzing them in terms of a top 1-5 split! The Lady Jayes just have a deep team right now! Their 1-2-3 punch seems to be a dominant force that doesn’t have any answer right now, and even their 4 and 5 are if anything helping more than hurting now that they have gone under the 20 minute mark at sectionals. While not a definite lock (like one could perhaps say about St. Teresa last year), other teams seeking to win should be most concerned about Petersburg, and even more concerned about them team next season (as their whole top five are juniors!).
St. Joseph (Ogden)
Head Coach: Jason Retz
2013 state finish: 6th
Pre-season rank: #7
Final season rank: #2
Probable starting lineup: Faith Houston (Fr.), Abby Fisher (Sr.), Abby Gawthorp (Jr.), Keely Smith (So.), Hayley Grice (Fr.), Jessica Kassuelke (Sr.), Emma Melchior (Jr.)
Road to state: St. Thomas More Regional-1st, Decatur Sectional-1st
Outlook: I gave them a lower preseason ranking due to my concern for them not being as strong in the front. And I would say they’re definitely beatable. But since mid-Season, their pack running has never failed them. Typically they keep a one minute split behind either Houston or Fisher (whoever of the two runs a better race), and the pack does a good job getting in the right positions to win every meet. Definitely safe to say that a trophy (if not the overall victory) is under their belt.
Rochester
Head Coach: Bill Owens
2013 state finish: State runner up
Pre-season rank: #2
Final season rank: #3
Probable starting lineup: Madeline Campbell (So.), Taylor Bartolozzi (Jr.), Ellie Tjelmeland (Jr.), Kennedy Duffy (Jr.), Annie Gegen (So.), Abby Reichen (Sr.), Sara Kinsella (So.)
Road to state: Quincy Regional-2nd, Elmwood Sectional-2nd
Outlook: A bit of a slow start at the beginning of the season, but that’s just what the Rockets typically do before cranking out that extra gear in the late season. Due to injury troubles hampering down her conditioning, we haven’t seen the kind of front runner power from Bartolozzi that we’ve seen before. But now she is playing her part for the team just fine as a close number two and could turn a lot of heads in this race…as could a potential trophy showing, which I think they are more than capable of.
Decatur (St. Teresa)
Head Coach: Todd Vohland
2013 state finish: State Champion
Pre-season rank: #1
Final season rank: #4
Probable starting lineup: Lauren Evelti (Jr.), Bree Tschosik (Sr.), Ashton Jerger (Jr.), Emma Reedy (Sr.), Amber Johnson (Jr.), Pamela Tacud (Fr.), Ana Mort (Fr.)
Road to state: Carlinville Regional-1st, Decatur Sectional-2nd
Outlook: Hard to know what to expect of the defending state champions. As amazing as the Bulldogs are this year, it’s hard to believe how much more dominant they’ve been in years upon years before. Well this year, their 4th and 5th runners are farther back than their low scoring top three can compensate in points, if they are to beat other first rate teams like SJO and Petersburg. But that is not to say a trophy, or even the team victory, is outside their grasp.
Urbana (University)
Head Coach: Doug Mynatt
2013 state finish: 11th
Pre-season rank: #4
Final season rank: #5
Probable starting lineup: Arielle Summitt (Fr.), Annemarie Michael (So.), Tori Aber (So.), Katie Tender (Jr.), Ha-il Son (So.), Elizabeth Atkinson (Fr.),Berit Hudson-Rasmussen (Jr)
Road to state: St. Thomas More Regional-3rd, Decatur Sectional-4th
Outlook: Despite seeming to fall back as of late in the season, this state meet is still shining favorably upon the Illineks as they race with arguably the best 1-2 punch in this race. We’re talking about a 1-2 punch of Summit and Michael that could literally go 1-2 in team scoring, especially with Michael’s numbers now up to where they were last year. Yes, they lost to Monticello twice in this championship series, but keep in mind that they have Tender returning who will likely run a better race at state and give their pack the depth they need, as well as state just being a different race with favorable scoring weight for having top individuals. Don’t be surprised if you see the kind of team on Saturday that captured the First to Finish crown earlier in the season.
Kewanee (Wethersfield)
Head Coach: Creston Fenn
2013 state finish: 4th
Pre-season rank: #3
Final season rank: #6
Probable starting lineup: Kirstie Ramsey (So.), Kaitlyn Cline (Sr.), Olivia Draminski (Jr.), Dana Baele (Sr.), Kylie Cline (Sr.), Diana Satkauskas (So.), Kaleigh Nimrick (Fr.)
Road to state: Rock Falls-1st, Oregon Sectional-1st
Outlook: Kewanee is another team that likes to start their season off slow, but they have been underestimated before and perhaps they’re being underestimated this year, too. Their 2-5 pack split of 19:57-20:48 at Oregon will translate to some considerably faster times at Detweiller than when they ran before. The Flying Geese have what it takes to be a trophy team!
Rock Island (Alleman)
Head Coach: Doug Burke
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #7
Probable starting lineup: Kaytlyn Golding (So.), Madeline Chambers (Fr.), Addie Pulley (Fr.), Reagan Bush (So.), Olivia Gonzalez (Sr.), Lexie Mallary (Sr.), Michaela Hird (Sr.)
Road to state: Farmington Regional-1st, Elmwood Sectional-3rd
Outlook: It’s strange that the girls are in 1A but the boys are in 2A (because their enrollment is right in the border), but no complaints. That just means more competition. We have seen the Pioneers solidly race against both 1A competition and 2A competition alike. Now we will see how their pack races in the state setting.
Freeburg
Head Coach: Carl Florczyk
2013 state finish: 18th
Pre-season rank: #11
Final season rank: #8
Probable starting lineup: Ashley Gilmore (So.), Emily Marler (Sr.), Kayla Whitworth (Fr.), Kristen Collier (So.), Lindsey Mank (Sr.), Emily Hartmann (Sr.), Taylor Haskenhoff (Sr.)
Road to state: Freeburg Regional-1st, Edwardsville Sectional-1st
Outlook: This is the southern Illinois wonder team that looks to really impress many other teams, and show that their sectional crown was not simply won due to the “ease” of the sectional. Watch for Gilmore, Marler, or Whitworth to run a standout race to represent the Lady Midgets.
Monticello
Head Coach: David Remmert
2013 state finish: 9th
Pre-season rank: #14
Final season rank: #9
Probable starting lineup: Madison Tutich (Sr.), Taylor Helenthal (Jr.), Hannah Offenback (Fr.), Maggie Utgaard (Sr.), Morgan Elmore (Fr.), Audrey Duncan (Sr.), Alex Danos (Fr.)
Road to state: St. Tomas More Regional-2nd, Decatur Sectional-3rd
Outlook: While last year was definitely below expectations, this year has thus far been considerably above expectations. They have addressed very well to concerns of not having the fourth and five runners they need. As it stands in sectionals, their 2-5 split is 50 seconds. The Sages are a major surprise factor going into this year’s state meet.
Tolono (Unity)
Head Coach: Gary Wieneke
2013 state finish: 5th
Pre-season rank: #5
Final season rank: #10
Probable starting lineup: Nicole Bagwell (So.), Taylor Renfroe (Jr.), Savannah Day (Fr.), Sisay Eisenmenger (Sr.), Rhoda Brucker (Sr.), Morgan Amdor (Sr.), Natalie King (Fr.)
Road to state: St. Thomas More Regional-4th, Decatur Sectional-5th
Outlook: This season we’ve seen amazing numbers from their top two, sometimes their top three. However, their four and five have been hurting them a bit. This is however, déjà vu from last season when they needed to work on gap troubles and came up with the step-up runners come exactly the state meet to finish as a top five team, so it would be wrong to doubt these Rockets.
Elmwood-Brimfield
Head Coach: Hayley Davis
2013 state finish: 15th
Pre-season rank: #13
Final season rank: #11
Probable starting lineup: Emily McCauley (Fr.), Kendra Gorham (Sr.), Taylor Armbruster (Sr.), Cassie Karn (So.), Hannelore Book (Sr.), Carrie Young (Sr.), Allie Meyers (So.)
Road to state: Farmington Regional-3rd, Elmwood Sectional-4th
Outlook: The Lady Trojans will live and die in the top five pack that they have made for themselves, which is at an all-time high in being bunched up (only 18 seconds). It would be a bit of a stretch to say that they are looking to trophy (not that they couldn’t), but with the kind of depth this team has, they could definitely finish in the top 10!
Seneca
Head Coach: Kim Sedlock
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #12
Probable starting lineup: Eva Bruno (So.), Carina Collet (So.), Sarah Virgo (So.), Sarah Cameron (So.), Eve Odum (Fr.), Emily Misener (So.), Karlie Punke (Jr.)
Road to state: Peru Regional-1st, Oregon Sectional-2nd
Outlook: Here we have a motivated group of young girls who are doing what they need to do to be in the top 10 hunt and perhaps look to contend for the trophy next year. Before their top 1-5 split was off, but the Fighting Irish have fixed this considerably at sectionals, and will most likely replicate at state. Watch also for Bruno to crack into the all-state crowd.
Woodstock (Marian)
Head Coach: Amy Beattie
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #13
Probable starting lineup: Abigail Jones (So.), Shelby Truckenbrod (Fr.), Morgan Litterer (So.), Grace Knudsen (Fr.), Emma Baumert (Sr.), Karla Juarez (So.), Monica Juarez (Jr.)
Road to state: Winnegago Regional-1st, Oregon Sectional-3rd
Outlook: This was a team that was way under radar until the championship season when they won the Winnebago regional. We definitely, however, saw Jones who will be contending for all-state along with her teammate Truckenbrod. The Hurricanes could blow a lot of other teams away in surprise this week.
Monmouth (M.-Roseville)
Head Coach: Sam Marlow
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #14
Probable starting lineup: Maddie Dulin (Sr.), Griselda Gandarilla (Sr.), Jordan Copeland (Fr.), Dyesha Taylor (Jr.), Jessica Salinas (Sr.), Skyler Merry (So.), Kara Fisher (Fr.)
Road to state: Macomb Regional-2nd, Elmwood Sectional-5th
Outlook: To be honest, I didn’t even see Titans coming, especially since they sat one of their runners out in the middle of the season. They finished regionals first of all behind Macomb and second of all beat out a highly ranked Eureka squad. This simply testifies to how good of a race this squad ran at sectionals and how good they could run at state.
Henry (H.-Senachwine)
Head Coach: Clark Owsley
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #15
Probable starting lineup: Jillian Monier (Sr.), Melanie Yanke (Sr.), Ronna Pettis (Jr.), Hana Hart (Fr.), Emma Cluskey (Sr.), Jackie Abella (Jr.), Jenna Rock (Jr.)
Road to state: Peru Regional-3rd, Oregon Sectional-4th
Outlook: This is the kind of program that you never want to underlook, even when they seem vulnerable. One meet they finish 3rd, but an even bigger race they finish 4th. This is the kind of team that the Lady Mallards are and perhaps they have more tricks under their sleeve at state. Speaking of which, watch for Monier possibly going all-state this weekend.
Herrin
Head Coach: Dusty Mallow
2013 state finish: 22nd
Pre-season rank: #16
Final season rank: #16
Probable starting lineup: Kara Martin (Jr.), Maura Farrell (Jr.), Kendra Knight (Sr.), Courtney Garrison (So.), Jamera Hubbard (So.), Skye Ross (Fr.), Lexis Wieland (Jr.)
Road to state: Chester Regional-1st, Edwardsville Sectional-2nd
Outlook: The Herrin tigers have a pretty decent pack with a great scoring advantage with Martin and Farrell looking to go all-state. This group definitely has what it takes to finish in the top 15.
Palos Heights (Chicago Christian)
Head Coach: Jake Christiansen
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #17
Probable starting lineup: Allie Boss (Fr.), Jill Van Dyk (So.), Breanna Kooiman (Sr.), Cassidy VandeKamp (So.), Becca Falb (So.), Sarah Claud (Jr.), Jessica Brady (Sr.)
Road to state: Aurora Regional-1st, Lisle Sectional-1st
Outlook: The under-radar Lisle sectional champions, Palos Heights could make some very unanticipated noise at Detweiller this Saturday. They have the kind of pack to pull it off.
Winnebago
Head Coach: Janet Erb
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #18
Probable starting lineup: Hannah Insko (So.), Emily Walden (Sr.), Andrea Whitehouse (Jr.), Tiana Bielskis (Fr.), Samantha Heavlin (Fr.), Cameryn Baldwin (So.), Kelsey Shellhorn (Jr.)
Road to state: Winnebago Regional-4th, Oregon Regional-5th
Outlook: Had a bit of a downturn earlier in the season, but the Indians fixed that just in time for sectionals. Be on the lookout for them at state.
Carterville
Head Coach: Heather Webb
2013 state finish: 14th
Pre-season rank: #9
Final season rank: #19
Probable starting lineup: Scarlett DeRousse (Sr.), Megan Adams (So.), Shelby Olson (Fr.), Ashlee Childers (Jr.), Josie Hoch (Jr.), Kelly Adams (Sr.), Brooke Hewlett (Sr.)
Road to state: Chester Regional-2nd, Edwardsville Sectional-4th
Outlook: This is a team that had pretty high hopes from their high finish at state last year. Unfortunately the Lady lions had a bit of health issues and now their pack is not what it was last year. Still, they could work up some tapering magic at state.
Red Bud
Head Coach: Bob Ashley
2013 state finish: n/a
Pre-season rank: NR
Final season rank: #20
Probable starting lineup: Keri Burmester (Jr.), Deanna Deterding (Sr.), Brooke Supancic (So.), Daniele London (So.), Gloria Neuhaus (Jr.), Emma Neumeyer (So.), Kendra Reichling (Sr.)
Road to state: Chester Regional-6th, Edwardsville Sectional-3rd
Outlook: Now the Musketeers are just a testament to how scoring can work out for certain teams in favorable situations. At Chester it didn’t work out so well but all that mattered is they managed to qualify (crazy to think they wouldn’t even be here if it was only the top five teams that came out of regionals). Sectionals was the perfect race for them since it was small enough that their fourth and fifth didn’t weigh them down in points too much but big enough that getting 1-2 in points was a massive advantage, plus the competition was such that their third runner could sneak in for some points. I think despite having possibly the slowest 4-5, they could still crack in the top 20 simply because of the duo of Burmester and Deterding.