Class A Girls Kicks Off Pre Season With Many Even Teams: #25-21

Carlinville will be a team to watch throughout the 2016 cross country season (Steve Bugarin photo)


25. Carlinville

2015 final placement: 10th place 1A State Finals

Possible Roster: Molly Lewis (So.) 19:58, Madelynn Williams (Jr.) 20:23, Stasia Nejmanowski (Jr.) 20:59, Ryleigh Gibbel (Jr.) 21:04, Mackenzie Harris (Jr.) 21:14

Snap Analysis: The loss of all-state finishers Jacey Roper and Colleen Madden is a heavy one for the Cavaliers. But one should remember that it was the strong, young pack of five that enabled them to not only qualify out of a tough sectional but finish in the top ten at state. This year the pack returns to prove they are not finished.

24. Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)

2015 final placement: 10th place- Oregon Sectional

Possible Roster: Teagan Mckenna (Jr.), Kelsey Simpson (Sr.), Natalie Amezola (Jr.), Kate Bonnell (Jr.), Kirsten Tunink (Jr.), Elizabeth Oswalt (Jr.), Jillienne Roe (Jr.)

Snap Analysis: Don't let inflated times from the rugged Oregon Sectional course fool you. This is a solid pack of seven Lady Comets that are all returning and looking to make their mark on Detweiller ground.

23. Knoxville

2015 final placement: 6th place- Elmwood Sectional

Possible Roster: Ryan Block (Sr.) 18:09, Madison Johnson (Sr.), Mackenzie Pruett (So.), Alison Scott (Sr.), Olivia Hall (So.), Brooke Carlson (So.)

Snap Analysis: Last year, the ranked Blue Bullets had a tough break at the Elmwood Sectional, finishing sixth. But the good news is they return all members of a varsity led by all-state veteran Ryan Block.

22. Champaign (St. Thomas More)

2015 final placement: 8th place- Decatur Sectional

Possible Roster: Morgan Cinnamon  (Jr.), Amy Bohlen (So.), Claire Pollard (Jr.), Marguerite Hendri (Jr.)

Snap Analysis: The Sabers of Champaign have succeeded at building a competitive team from the ground up. Now St. Thomas More has a chance to capitalize on spots that have become accessible for teams of the East Central Illinois region such as this one.

21. El-Paso-Gridley

2015 final placement: 16th place- Elmwood Sectional

Possible Roster: Cate Atkins (So.) 19:19, Maddie Morrison (Sr.), Megan Endress (So.), Sarah Schug (Jr.), Courtney Cobbley (Sr.), Carmen Sant-Amour (So.), Julia Reid (Fr.), Allison Kelly (Fr.), Hannah Ludy (Fr.)

Snap Analysis: The Titans hail a state veteran leader by the name of Cate Atkins. While they lose a few in their roster from last year, the likely influx of freshmen from a 9th place 2A girls IESA finals team should more than offset that, and looks good for Gridley girls cross country in the years to come.