Eureka's Natalie Bardwell will be a key factor in her team's success this season (Steven Bugarin photo)
Overall Remarks: In this top 20-11 list, you have mostly teams that are not new to the concept of competing at state, either because their squad has ran the state meet numerous times before or because the program is known for preparing the athletes well for the challenges that lie ahead. The exception to this rule is the team ranked 11th, which may have not seen much action lately with Detweiller but given the talent they should get, their time has likely come. Most of these teams will be in the mix for a hard-fought battle for a top ten spot.
20. Westmont
2015 final placement: 22nd place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Halle Nash (Jr.) 18:57, Peyton Nash (Jr.) 20:16, Lisa Niemiec (Jr.) 20:49, Lily Arndt (Jr.) 21:05, Frankie Fabry (So.) 21:27, Hannah Abbatacola (Jr.) 22:13
Snap Analysis: Returning six, including their strong lead Halle Nash, the Sentinels looks to improve on their 22nd place showing from last year. Significant improvements on their pack could even put them in the top 15.
19. Winnebago
2015 final placement: 19th place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Hannah Insko (Sr.) 19:32, Hailey Gomon (So.) 19:50, Samantha Heavlin (Jr.) 20:48, Tiana Bielskis (Jr.) 20:50, Cameryn Baldwin (Sr.) 21:42, Lauren Peterson (So.) 21:59
Snap Analysis: Looks like the Winnebago Indians have successfully rebounded their squad and last year made their return to Detweiller after just missing it the year before. This year, they return six of seven, including their front contributors. Winnebago will not be going away from the state spotlight anytime soon.
18. Carterville
2015 final placement: 21st place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Reese Herrin (So.) 19:23, Megan Adams (Sr.) 19:28, Shelby Olson (Jr.) 19:41, McKenzie Rogman (So.) 22:27
Snap Analysis: The Lady Lions return the four fastest of the six that ran last year at state. The kicker is that all three of their front runners ran well below 20:00. Finding a decent fifth shouldn't be too much of a hassle for this team who have competed at state finals five years in a row.
17. Monticello
2015 final placement: 7th place- Decatur Sectional
Possible Roster: Morgan Elmore (Jr.) 18:44, Alyssa McPike (So.), Madison Mesplay (Jr.), Abby Elston (So.), Ashton Fain (Jr.)
Snap Analysis: For the Sages to go back to the state scene this year, the young pack will have to develop. But for anyone who knows the long history of Monticello cross country, the team has been very well acquainted with that word: Develop.
16. Breese (Mater-Dei)
2015 final placement: 14th place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Elyse Faust (So.) 19:09, Malina Isaak (Jr.) 20:06, Sophia Lager (Sr.) 20:14, Kinsey Stockmann (Jr.) 20:51, Grace Fuehne (Jr.) 22:11
Snap Analysis: As predicted last year, the Lady Knights were beneficiaries of a bump down to 1A. This year, they stay 1A, so with five returning led by the young Elyse Faust, it should be more of the same in terms of showing up at state and holding their own against the competition.
15. Eureka
2015 final placement: 12th place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Emma Argo (So.) 18:47, Natalie Bardwell (Jr.) 20:07, McKenzie Walz (Sr.) 20:11, Lexi Grober (So.) 21:15, Abby King (So.) 21:26
Snap Analysis: A lot of bodies return for a team that is generally pretty good at filling them in. If the pack stays tightly together and Emma Argo finishes somewhere in the neighborhood of all-state, that will likely be a top 10 finish.
14. Decatur (St. Teresa)
2015 final placement: 23rd place- 2A State Finals
Possible Roster: Grace Lehmann (So.) 19:59, Pamela Tacud (Jr.) 20:19, Tegan Lakshmanan (Jr.) 21:43, Makenzie Kleist (Sr.) 23:12
Snap Analysis: The good news for teams trying to qualify out of the Decatur sectional is Urbana University got bumped up to 2A, but the bad news for those teams is St. Teresa gets bumped down back to 1A. While the Bulldogs don't have a lot of returners to work with, you can count on them to develop new talent.
13. Freeburg
2015 final placement: 16th place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Ashley Gilmore (Sr.) 18:47, Kayla Whitworth (Jr.) 19:42, Kristen Collier (Sr.) 19:47, Katherine Marler (So.) 20:09, Brandy Stambaugh (So.) 21:40, Page Lee (So.) 22:01
Snap Analysis: The Lady Midgets return six for an overall deep team that will be top ten contenders. There is a lot of potential for this pack who last year was in large part young and is going to mature the year after their first visit to Detweiller.
12. Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy)
2015 final placement: 18th place- State Finals
Possible Roster: Nygia Pollard (Jr.) 17:54, Richter Cassidy (Jr.) 20:42, Rachel Higbee (Jr.) 20:46, Kaelie Sjodin (Sr.) 20:46, Rayna Steiner (Jr.) 21:04, Hannah Pientowski (Jr.) 21:32
Snap Analysis: There's always a team or two that is the "sleeper team" on the rankings. And that last year was Harvest Christian Academy. The Lions were led by top ten finisher Nygia Pollard, and have a tight pack of five that were in the neighborhood of 21 minutes and less. With six of seven returning, including Pollard, Harvest Christian Academy will be contending for a top ten finish.
11. Williamsville
2015 final placement: 10th place- Elmwood Sectional
Possible Roster: Audra Koechle (So.), Riley Sanders (So.), Cara Buckley (Jr.), Grace Gudwien (Jr.), Ashton Henrikson (Jr.), Morgan Rottinghaus (Sr.), Lexy Henrikson (Fr.), Caroline Gwaltney (Fr.), Hannah Stinnett (Fr.), Aden Davis (Fr.)
Snap Analysis: Seems like the team to place your bets on as the next up and coming team to come out of nowhere into a top ten finish. Returning six of their varsity seven is one thing. But also getting maybe as much as four freshmen from a 7th place IESA 2A team on top of that is a whole other matter.