Unclassified Section includes Illini Christian who finished third in the 2A classification race at the massive First To The Finish Invitational (Steve Bulgarin photo)
Lansing (Illiana Christian)
Coach: James Piaskowy
Last Year’s Finish: 3rd in 2A State
Impact Runners:
Nick Wondaal (Sr.): (14:54,9:42,4:18,1:56)
Colin DeYoung (Sr.): (14:49,9:21,4:27,2:04)
Derek Vanproyen (So.): (16:29,10:35,4:56,2:05)
Austin Ohm (So.): (16:27,10:50,5:00)
Jacob Thompson (Jr.): (16:35,4:59)
Ryan Koontz (Jr.): (17:09,10:44)
Aaron Knapper (Sr.): (17:42,11:33,5:31)
Alex Wondaal (Fr.): INCOMING
Outlook:
After being a 2A powerhouse for the last couple of years, Illiana Christian has received the bump to 3A and is the smallest school in the division by more than 400 students. They have the talent to make the jump, however; particularly, Nick Wondaal and Colin DeYoung have both already broken 15:00 at Detweiller and will hope to finish All-State this year. They will be supported by a young crew, including Jacob Thompson and sophomores Derek Vanproyen and Austin Ohm, all returners from last year’s state team. Coach Piaskowy: “[Our runners] are on their own most of the summer. They do have desire and commitment to the team, so they have put on a good base for the season.” The addition of Illiana Christian to 3A will be one of the more compelling story lines this season, especially considering the school size and also a move to St. John, IN looming in the future. “Making it to the State Meet will take a tremendous team effort. It will be our victory lap,” says Coach Piaskowy.
Minooka
Coach: Kevin Gummerson
Last Year’s Finish: 7th at Quincy Sectional
Impact Runners:
Soren Knudsen (Jr.): (15:48,9:24,4:21)
Miguel Lomeli (Jr.): (15:45,10:25,4:43)
Justin Tutt (Jr.): (15:54,10:07,4:42)
Jack Sullivan (Jr.): (16:11,10:27,5:00)
Matt Mason (Jr.): (16:26,10:27,2:03)
Cody Hosell (So.): (16:26,5:02)
Lorenzo Capista (Jr.): (16:50,10:44,5:06)
Coach Gummerson's outlook: “Knudsen, Lomeli, Tutt, Sullivan, Mason are all returning with Sectional experience. We also have a very solid group of freshman boys that already have a love for the sport. To put some objective goals out there, we are looking to improve upon last year’s finish at each of the meets throughout the championship phase. We need to return to the state meet as a team for the first time since 2012. There is a ton of work to do to get to that point; however, there is no doubt in my mind that they are capable of accomplishing their goals this season.”
Oswego (H.S.)
Coach: Daniel Whipple
Last Year’s Finish: 6th at Marist Sectional
Impact runners:
Bennett Peterson (Jr.): (15:17,9:55,4:42)
Collin Boone (Jr.): (15:32,10:33,4:48,2:01)
Jackson Simon (Sr.): (16:14,4:43)
Owen Kelty (Sr.): (16:41,10:52,4:54,2:03)
David Gaytan (Jr.): (16;49,10:35,4:40)
Mitch Bradford (So.): (16:59,10:23,4:49)
Brandon Nelson (So.): (18:55,10:42)
Erik Kivela (Jr.): (17:17,4:54)
Coach Whipple's outlook: “The team is focused; training has been going well. The bar was raised for us and last season left us incomplete. The returners who lived that and the younger up-and-coming varsity runners felt that loss. We are looking to repeat as SPC Conference Champs and qualify our team to the state meet. It has been too long since Oswego HS has had a team qualify and we are working to change that. Last year we had the best Sectional finish in almost 2 decades just out of qualifying last year in an incredibly tough Sectional. The team has a single focus to qualify the team to state.”
Algonquin (Jacobs)
Coach: Kevin Christian
Last Year’s Finish: 8th at Schaumburg Sectional
Kyle Ross (Sr.): (15:44,4:36,1:57)
Cole Schwarz (Sr.): (16:09,10:32,4:51)
Garrett Brenzier (Jr.): (10:07,4:42)
James Hennessy (Sr.): (17:05,4:39)
Austin Albrecht (Sr.): (16:13,10:48,4:47)
Cam Reedy (Fr.): INCOMING
Zach Albrecht (Fr.): INCOMING
Coach Christian's outlook: “We have 3 returning all-conference runners from last year in seniors Kyle Ross and Cole Schwarz, and junior Garrett Brenizer. Kyle is looking to be a solid top option after going 1:57 in track and 15:44 last season in cross country. Garrett Brenizer ran 10:08 in flats indoors in track before getting hurt and is having a great summer. We have had two guys really step up this summer in seniors James Hennessy and Austin Albrecht, they are looking to round out the top 5. We have two freshmen runners who will have a great chance of contributing on varsity with Cam Reedy and Zach Albrecht. The goal is to finish towards the top of the deep Fox Valley Conference. The boys have potential to be a state qualifying team if they can race as good as they are training. With the additions we have to an already solid team they are looking to challenge anyone locally.”
O'Fallon
Coach: Jon Burnett
Last Year’s Finish: 10th at 3A State
Impact runners:
Joey Black (Jr.): (16:22,10:13,4:30,1:57)
Alex Harrison (Sr.): (16:05,10:41)
Bryson Whiteside (Sr.): (16:20)
Caleb Walton (Sr.): (16:24,10:24,4:49)
Josh Kolb (Sr.): (16:39,2:04)
Zion Ward (Jr.): (16:50,5:05)
Coach Burnett's outlook: “From last season’s top 12, we are returning Joey Black, Alex Harrison, Caleb Walton and Josh Kolb. Each of these runners has run at during the state series but none have run at the state meet. The Summer has gone well. We have new leaders and new varsity runners emerging. For the first time since 2009, we do not have a returning all-state runner this season. Our strength will be in our pack. I foresee a 1-7 gap of less than 60 seconds.
Our biggest challenge this season will be overcoming the graduation of our entire top 7 from last fall. Our goals are the same every season. We will try to win conference and go as far into the state series as possible.”
Skokie (Niles North)
Coach: Dave Shafron
Last Year’s Finish: 7th at Niles West Sectional
Impact runners:
Martin Barr (Sr.): (15:36,9:21,4:20)
Conor Perreault (So.): (16:23,10:38,4:55)
Andrew Mareczko (Sr.): (16:22,10:42,4:45)
Tommy Montgomery (Jr.): (16:04,10:38,4:55)
Russell Reyes (Sr.): (17:00,10:33,4:51)
Jay Patel (Jr.): (18:07,11:01,4:54)
Zach Harris (Jr.): (17:00,10:43,5:01)
Coach Shafron's outlook: “My number one goal for any season is to show improvement from one year to the next, both as a team and with our individual runners. It is also our goal to build and implement a training program that will put us at our best at the end of the season. I also know that with good health, we can surprise some teams too. It’s fun being one of the teams on the bubble. We have consistently run well at the end of the year and we love being a sleeper team and would be thrilled to fight for the chance at one of the final qualifying places.”
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)
Coach: John Taylor
Last Year’s Finish: 18th at 3A State
Impact runners:
Ian Peterson (Sr.): (15:12,9:56,4:33)
Zak Hutchinson (So.): (15:42,4:36)
Nathan Coppens (Sr.): (15:59,10:10)
Ryan Barry (Sr.): (17:01,5:00)
Patrick Gabriel (Sr.): (17:19,11:22,5:00)
Tony Brongiel (Sr.): (17:40)
Kevin Nolan (Jr.): (17:46)
Andrew Englert (Fr.): INCOMING
Make Lomalie (Fr.): INCOMING
Coach Taylor's outlook: “Since we graduated four out of top five from last year’s State team, the road to State will be more challenging. However, we are still going to put in the work to achieve our team and individual goals and go after a State bound position at Sectionals.”
Batavia
Coach: Bronco Meeks
Last Year’s Finish: 22nd at 3A State
Impact runners:
Shea Bastian (Sr.): (15:31,9:45,4:29,1:59)
Zach Choffin (Sr.): (16:11,4:41)
Keaton Keller (Jr.): (16:33,10:36,4:54)
Sean Adams (So.): (16:17,2:07)
Shane Knanishu (So.): (17:17,10:27,4:42)
Nolan Evans (So): (18:14,10:23,2:19)
Jack Gillerlain (So.): (17:06,11:19,5:02)
John McElmeel (Sr.): (17:19,4:58)
Coach Meeks' outlook: “Our top runner will be Senior Shea Bastian (15:30-XC, 9:45-3200). Shea had a breakout year during the 2014 cross season. We look for him to continue his progress during the upcoming season. Behind Shea we bring back 3 of our Varsity runners from last years state qualifying team (Zach Choffin, Keaton Keller, Sean Adams). The athletes have 2 major goals. The first would be to win a conference title. They have come extremely close, taking 2nd place by single digits the past 3 year. The second goal is to return to the state meet. Our team qualified for our first state meet in school history in 2013. They were able to return last year for the 2014 campaign. If they are able to continue the qualifying streak this year, it will set our young group of athletes up for some major success in the future.”
East Moline (United)
Coach: Christopher Wallaert
Last Year’s Finish: 8th in Quincy Sectional
Impact runners:
Kyle Riege (Sr.): (15:18,10:09,4:28,1:58)
Justin Verlinden (Sr.): (16:26,10:31,4:34)
Jacob Wright (Sr.): (16:22,10:43,4:49,2:06)
Sawyer Swearingen (Jr.): (16:25,10:26,4:43)
Trevor Viren (Jr.): (17:50,10:40,4:51)
Nathan Scherschel (Jr.): (16:25,10:43,4:49)
Dalton Martin (So.): (10:11,4:52)
Alex Harness (Sr.): (17:29,4:57)
Jacob Varble (Jr.): (16:58,11:03)
Coach Wallaert's outlook: “The entire top 12 from our IHSA post season roster returns this fall. Senior Kyle Riege (79th) is the top returner. Seniors Justin Verlinden and Jacob Wright also return as well as juniors Sawyer Swearingen, Trevor Viren and Nathan Scherschel. Sophomore Dalton Martin will also be fighting for a top 7 spot after running 10:11 this past spring (he played football last fall). The top nine boys have all been extremely devoted this summer. The team has set the goal of qualifying for the state meet and being the best they can be on the day of the state finals.”
Just a quick note: beware of any team that returns the entire top 12 of their roster. Keep an eye on United Township this year.
Chicago (Lane)
Coach: Kris Roof/Tony Jones
Last Year’s Finish: 11th at Niles West Sectional
Impact runners:
Pedro Fernandez (Sr.): (16:45,10:47,4:48)
Augustin Alfaro (Sr.): (16:04,10:27,4:55)
Isaac Gloss (Jr.): (17:20,11:52,5:37)
Andy Granados (Sr.): (17:11,10:52,4:53)
Nick Schoessling (Jr.): (17:35,10:23,4:54)
Marc Hill (Sr.): (17:13,11:11,5:02)
Kyle Haile (So.): (18:01,5:11)
KC Pruitt (So.): (20:38,10:57,5:09)
Coach Jones' outlook: “The summer started off with a lot of question marks because of the depth and seniors that we lost through graduation over the past three years. However, as time passed the returning kids have picked up the winning mentality from the past few years. For example, the current young guys and inexperienced runners have been fortunate enough to hear the war stories of the XC teams that ran at state during the recent three year stretch. They have seen the state championship 4x8 banner in the gym. They know the all-american guys. They trained with state mile champ Pavlo Hutsalyuk. Our new group has enough ingredients to make the rebuilding process go a little smoother than initially anticipated. This new group is aimed to make their own name in time."
Aurora (Metea Valley)
Coach: David Schumacher
Last Year’s Finish: 9th at West Chicago Regional
Impact runners:
Ralph Papa (So.): (16:04,10:19)
Ben Piotrowski (Jr.): (16:25,10:12)
Charlie Schafer (So.): (17:12,4:57,2:06)
Derek Roberts (So.): (17:07,4:48)
Pranav Pitchala (So.): (19:14,11:15)
Raimon Roglans (Sr.): (16:58,10:34,5:00)
Ryan Gaul (Jr.): (18:47,11:44)
Riley Carlson (Jr.): (17:42,11:36)
Kenny Blazer (Fr.): INCOMING
Coach Schumacher's outlook: “We have a young team that is looking to make a big impact this season. Our top runners are Ralph Papa, Ben Piotrowski, Charlie Schafer, Derek Roberts, Pranav Pitchala, Raimon Roglans and Ryan Gaul. Summer training has been the best I have seen since I started coaching at Metea Valley. We have dedicated runners that want to leave a legacy and have an impact on Metea Valley Athletics. Our biggest challenge this year is having our young athletes compete against the older/more experienced athletes on other teams. Most of our athletes started to compete on Varsity last year as Freshman so I have no doubt they are ready for the challenge.”
Edwardsville (H.S.)
Coach: George Patrylak
Last Year’s Finish: 20th at 3A State
Impact runners:
Jacob Schoenthal (Jr.): (17:09,10:45,4:57)
Matt Swanson (So.): (17:30)
Luke Raffaelle (Jr.): (17:36,11:06)
Will Hengehold (So.): (17:54)
Tyler Ferrar (Jr.): (17:58,11:25,5:16)
Nick Aramowicz (Sr.): (18:01,5:28)
Roland Prenzler (Fr.): INCOMING
Jonah Durbin (Fr.): INCOMING
Dan Powell (Fr.): INCOMING
Coach Patrylak's outlook: “We went from our largest senior class in school history to our smallest. Our 2015 team will have only two returning seniors and a transfer. We do have a few juniors who will be fighting for varsity spots, including Jacob Schoenthal, Luke Raffaelle, Sam McCormick and Tyler Farrar. I am also anticipating a sophomore, Holden Potter, fighting for a spot. To be honest, we have one of our best incoming classes in school history. Roland Prenzler, Jonah Durbin and Dan Powell have all had impressive summers and were members of an IESA trophy winning team.”