11. Johnsburg
2015 Finish: 9th - State
Coach: Chris Setzler
Key returners:
Tim Bertulis (Jr.) 15:49 / 10:32
Myles Rozell (Sr.) 17:00
AJ Betancourt (Sr.) 17:08 / 10:34 / 4:54
Ian Rasper (Jr.) 17:43
Jon Molidor (So.) 18:23
Josh Faller (So.) 12:12
Ray's Take: Life after three-time all stater Matt Stelmasek begins for Johnsburg, who now look to Tim Bertulis to lead the Skyhawks to second straight top-10 finish at state. Myles Rozell, AJ Betancourt and Ian Rasper are proven pack runners that will help Johnsburg immensely but the Skyhawks lack a dependable 5th runner at the moment. The two best candidates to fill the need are Jon Molidor and Josh Faller, but Johnsburg will likely have to produce a fifth runner better than 17:30 if they want to return to the top-10 in 2016.
12. Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central)
2015 Finish: 15th - State
Coach: Dennis Fraikes
Key returners:
Owen Habeger (Jr.) 15:52 / 9:58 / 4:38
Jordan Gerberding (Jr.) 16:10 / 11:00
Devin Smith (Sr.) 16:16 / 10:27 / 4:53
Noah Slater (Jr.)
Finnian Jetton (So.)
Ray's Take: Another major player in the deep Corn Belt conference is Illinois Valley Central, a top 15 team from 2015. Owen Habeger's big 2016 track season makes him the Grey Ghosts' clear #1 runner and an all-state contender. Jordan Gerberding and Devin Smith round out a very solid top three for IVC. They will have their sights set on a possible top 10 finish at Detweiller.
13. Tolono (Unity)
2016 Finish: State Champions
Coach: Thomas Mathis
Key returners:
Nathan Seiler (Sr.) 16:09 /
Cory Miller (Sr.) 9:47 / 4:27
Luke Woods (Jr.) 17:17 / 10:35
Cameron Woodard (So.) 10:41 / 4:50
Evan Morris (Jr.) 17:52
Jordan Payne (Jr.)
Ray's Take: Unity High School's dominance of 1A State last year was historic. The Rockets scored just 30 points-even less than their total winning the regional meet two weeks prior! Unity knows winning now... but they are going to have to do it with an almost completely different cast of characters. Aside from Sandburg, Unity loses more than any other team in the state to graduation. Only Nathan Seiler remains from the championship team, but his 16:09 shows he will be running at the front. Cory Miller's track season was spectacular and included 9:47 and a 4:27, and he has the talent to be the new leader for the Rockets in place of Andrew Warnes. Luke Woods, Cameron Woodard and Evan Morris must step in as well for Unity, whose goals must shift slightly this year to qualifying for a state berth.
14. Aledo (Mercer County)
2015 Finish: 7th - Elmwood Sectional
Coach: Alex Robertson
Key returners:
Ethan Morrow (Sr.) 16:13 / 4:43
Ethan Adolphson (Sr.) 16:18 / 10:30 / 5:00
Nick Hawk (Sr.) 16:50 / 4:57
Cody Jackson (Sr.) 16:48
Giovanni Lee (Jr.) 17:53
Zach Leonhart (Jr.) 17:49
Phoenix Becker (Jr.)
Tony's Take: The Golden Eagles have the luxury of returning all seven runners from their regional championship team in 2015. Two Ethans: Adolphson and Morrow, lead the team. Mercer County has a regional championship and a conference championship to defend-they defeated Mid County by one point using a 90 second split on Morrow. They have a strong shot at qualifying for the state meet.
15. Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda)
2015 Finish: 7th - Decatur (St. Teresa) Sectional
Coach: Dustin Franckey
Key returners:
Kody Harrison (Jr.) 16:35 /10:49
Alec St. Julien (So.) 17:18
Brendan Van Antwerp (Sr.) 18:12 / 11:15
Jordan Giese (So.) 11:56
Erik Reck (So.)
Gavin Ogburn (Jr.)
Levi Garret (Jr.)
Ray's Take: Like so many other strong teams, Paxton-Buckley-Loda finished on the wrong side of the Decatur (St. Teresa) sectional in 2015. Top runner Hunter Cobbley has graduated and a very young squad moves up to take the reins for the Panthers. The front man is junior Kody Harrison, coming in with the best 3200 and three- mile times on the team. Just Alec St. Julien and Brendan Van Antwerp were also on the sectional team, so a group of younger runners will have to step up into scoring roles, including Jordan Giese, Erik Reck, Gavin Ogburn, Levi Garret. Their road to state will be a tough one again in 2016.
16. El Paso (E.P.-Gridley)
2016 Finish: 7th - State
Coach: Michael Melick
Key returners:
Andy Layden (Sr.) 15:30 / 9:48 / 4:34
Adam Ludy (Sr.) 15:59 / 4:37
Noah Smith (So.) 17:11 / 11:07
Brendan Loftus (Jr.) 17:19
Will Bushert (So.) 11:19
Jeb Uphoff (Jr.)
Ray's Take: 2016 is a year full of 1A teams returning their entire squads from state, so El Paso Gridley's three returners poses a slight disadvantage for the 2016 Titans squad. Their men at the front, Andy Layden and Adam Lundy (same initials), are both within shouting distance of All-State contention. There is a steep drop off afterwards, however, and runners like Brendan Loftus and Noah Smith will need to fill in if the Titans want to get back to the state meet.
17. Nashville
2015 Finish: 18th - State
Coach: Jean Orr
Key returners:
Brandon Schnitker (Jr.) 15:38 / 10:48 / 4:39
Caleb Zgonina (Jr.) 16:35 / 11:14 / 4:53
Ray Bailey (Sr.) 16:21 / 11:38
Landon Davis (So.) 17:40 / 10:58
Chris Lamczyk (Jr.) 12:20
Ray's Take: Nashville narrowly lost a conference showdown to Pinckneyville in 2015, and they reload enough for the Hornets to make a run at a title in the Mississippi division of the Southern IL River to River conference. Brandon Schnitker is the conference's top returner and an all-state contender and will work to lead the Hornets as they try to improve on their 18th place at state in 2015.
18. Niles (Northridge Prep)
2015 Finish: State- 21st
Coach: Mike Egle
Key returners:
Peter Conroy (Sr.) 16:06 / 9:58 / 4:42
Sebastian Fuentes-Branas (Sr.) 16:35 / 11:12
Drew Litkowiak (Sr.) 16:59 / 10:40
Patrick Moore (Sr.) 17:09 / 11:01
John Madigan (Jr.) 17:54
Joe Barisas (Sr.) 18:00
Mike Dula (Sr.)
Ray's Take: Northridge Prep was not much of a factor in the 2015 state meet, finishing 21st. However, do not expect that to be the case in 2016, because the Knights return all seven runners from their qualifying team last year and look sharp. Peter Conroy has the talent to run All-State and Sbastian Fuentes-Branas, Drew Litowiak and Patrick Moore form a solid top four that make the Knights the best team returning from the Lisle Sectional. Never underestimate a team that returns its entire varsity squad. I like Northridge as a silent contender to finish in the top 10 or better this year.
19. Liberty
2015 Finish: 13th at 1A State
Coach: Jared Schmidt
Key returners:
Lucas Booher (Sr.) 15:44 / 10:14 / 4:44
Reed Tate (Sr.) 16:22 / 10:21 / 4:49
Logan Waid (Sr.) 16:30 / 11:05 / 4:48
Mason Tate (So.) 18:02 / 11:34
Jordan Neisen (Fr.)
Logan Graham (Sr.)
Ray's Take: The Eagles finished 13th at state last year and hope to make a return. Lucas Booher finished 46th in 2015 and is the team's leader and an all-state contender. Liberty will look to younger runners to fill out the top five, particularly sophomore Mason Tate and newcomer Jason Neisen. "I believe our goals will be very similar to last season. Compete at every meet we attend, continue to get better, and focus on the end of the season," says coach Jared Schmidt. "Along with that, winning our Conference Championship again, winning a regional title(which we haven't done in some time), and advancing to State again. Last year was the first time we qualified for state in 12 years. We hope to start a streak of going, not staying home."
20. Urbana
(University)
2015
Finish: 8th at 1A Decatur (St. Teresa) Sectional
Coach: Doug Mynatt
Key returners:
Grant Allen (Jr.) 16:15 / 10:49 / 4:52
Timmy Purnell (Sr.) 17:07
Jacob Minin (So.) 17:22
Isaac Freund (Sr.) 17:23 / 11:38
Alex Swanson-Linville (So.) 17:57
Vincente Aldunate (Jr.) 11:29 / 5:38
Ray's Take: The University Lab school of Urbana returns their #1 runner, Grant Allen, to help the Illineks make a run at the state meet out of the most challenging sectional in the state. Jacob Minin and Timmy Purnell step up to replace some of the senior firepower lost from last year.