Class A Boys Sectional Previews by Alex Goodlab

Edwardsville (Metro East Lutheran) Sectional-

Teams to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Benton

Breese (Mater Dei)

Freeburg

McLeansboro (Hamilton County)

Pinckneyville

Roxana

Steeleville                    

Individuals to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Alex Mack (Sr., Freeburg)

Austin Knight (Jr., Carterville)

Brandon Schnitker (Jr., Nashville)

Charlie Parrish (Jr.., Freeburg)

Corbin Schwable (So., Freeburg)

Grant Batteau (Jr., Pinkneyville)

Luke Goebel (Jr., Breese Mater Dei)

Mason Wills (So., Benton)

Overview: This year might be the most quality Edwardsville (Metro East) Sectional in a while, and that speaks less to uneven sectional distribution in prior years and more to the strength of Southern IL teams like overall 1A favorite Freeburg and ranked Steeleville and Pickneyville, as well as teams like Benton and Hamilton County that are emerging in the late season. Individually, the big favorite is of course Freeburg's lead Charlie Parrish, but he will get a good race from the likes of his teammates, Austin Knight, Brandon Schnitker, and others.

Effingham (St. Anthony) Sectional- 

Teams to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Carlinville

Champaign (St. Thomas More)

Marshall

Monticello

Lawrenceville

Robinson

Shelbyville

St. Joseph Ogden

Individuals to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Alex Helmuth (Jr., Monticello)

Garrett Dixon (So., Monticello)

Grady Wilkinson (Sr., Mt. Carmel)

Jordan Sieger (Sr., Shelbyville)

Justin Phillips (Sr., St. Joseph-Ogden)

Kort McClellan (So., Cumberland)

Logan Hall (Jr., Arthur)

Tyler Pasley (Sr., Shelbyville)

Ryan Skowronski (Jr., Shelbyville)

Trey Houmes (Jr., Hoopeston)

Wyatt Wolfersberger (Jr., St. Joseph-Ogden)

Overview: There are eight teams likely to finish in the top five, with St. Joseph Ogden, Carlinville, and Robinson: The three that really stand out. And if you happened to just miss the cut for qualification (like Carlinville famously last year), that's tough luck, but you won't get much pity since this is a down year for East Central IL teams compared to years past (especially last year!). The Effingham Sectional is not in Decatur and it's not the sectional of death (...for the boys that is, see the girls preview), but it nevertheless will be an interesting race to see who wins out. My guess is the pre-season favorite Shelbyville- with unfortunate #fifthmanproblems that keep them out of the trophy hunt-will have their top four race all-out to get some low scores, with an improved race from their distant fifth to sneak in for fourth place. But not if Champaign (St. Thomas More), Monticello, Lawrenceville, and other teams to watch have anything to say about it. With regards to the individual race, Logan Hall is the definite favorite. But Alex Helmuth, Justin Phillips, Tyler Pasley, and Ryan Skowronski are going to set a strong pace for the chase pack.

Elmwood Sectional-

Teams to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Athens

Aledo (Mercer County)

Carthage (Illini West)

El Paso (E.P.-Gridley)

Elmwood

Eureka

Mackinaw (Deer Creek-M.)

Tremont

Individuals to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Adam Schlenker (Sr., Bloomington Central Catholic)

Cooper Hoffmann (Jr., Elmwood)

Dakota Myers (Sr., DeeMack)

David Snider (So., Havana)

Derek McCoy (Sr., Elmwood)

Eli Ten Eyck (Jr., Pittsfield)

Ethan Morrow (Sr., Aledo Mercer County)

Freeman Shoemaker (Jr., West Central)

Kyle Rader (Sr., Stanford Olympia)

Lucas Booher (Sr., Liberty)

Trevor Dunkel (Jr., Elmwood)

Wyatt McIntyre (Jr., Athens)

Overview: If there was a "toughest sectional award", I would have to lend my hat to the Elmwood Sectional. The Farmington regional alone showcased five pack-running teams that all perhaps have top fifteen state finishing potential in their own right. These teams will live and die by the pack, for it will come down to the packs that manage to edge out the other packs as to who makes it to Detweiller. The individual race has a lot of names for a reason. Wyatt McIntyre-the Patriot Invite champion-is the name that comes to mind for who should be considered the favorite. But guys like Cooper Hoffmann and Eli Ten Eyck are all capable of staying up with Wyatt and possibly nipping him at the finish.

Lisle (Sr.) Sectional-

Teams to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Chicago (DePaul College Prep)

Clifton (Central)

Elmhurst (Timothy Christian)

Melrose Park (Walther Christian)

Niles (Northridge Prep)

Peotone

Pontiac

Individuals to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Adam Swanson (Jr., Beecher)

Matt Gedraitis (So., Westmont)

Hector Martinez (Jr;, Chicago Del Cristo Rey)

Isaiah Ditta (Fr., Clifton Central)

Jake Maquet (Jr., Prairie Central)

Jack McNabola (Chicago Francis Parker)

Jeremy Snejberg (So., Clifton Central)

Luis Dieguez (Jr., Walther Lutheran)

Tommy Lowry (Sr., Christian Liberty)

Zach Crocker (Sr., Peotone)

Overview: This sectional provides a chance for some lower profile teams to emerge and surprise anyone who underestimates northeastern Illinois' 1A presence. It is a common trend that the sectional champion from this area gets under-ranked and sneaks into the top ten. Hopefully this year is the case, because there's no ranked team to speak of on this list, and not really a favorite team, which is to say...it's anyone's race! And Tanner Chada transferred over to Hinckley Big Rock so...individuals? Also anyone's race!

Oregon Sectional-

Teams to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central)

Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy)

Richmond (R.-Burton)

Rock Falls

Rockford (R. Christian)

Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)

Individuals to Watch (listed alphabetically):

Andrew Dobrescu (Sr., Harvest Christian Academy)

Brayden Hamblen (Sr., Rock Falls)

Chris Ahlers (Sr., Sterling Newman Catholic)

Christopher Collet (So., Seneca)

Michael Sisko (So., Harvest Christian Academy)

Owen Habeger (Jr., IVC)

Riley Wells (So., Rockford Christian)

Ryan Hommowun (Sr., Richmond-Burton)

Spencer Mauch (So., Sterling Newman Catholic)

Tanner Chada (Sr., Hinkney Big Rock)

Overview: This sectional has a very strong 1-2-3 lock established between Harvest Christian Academy, Richmond Burton, and Rockford Christian. I don't like using the term "lock", but all of these teams happen to be the projected top five contenders, so that's just the truth of the matter. Whether Chillicothe, Newman Central Catholic, or Rock Falls get in depends mostly on whose 3-5 runners have the better day. Moving on. The individual race is a lot to talk about. You have Tanner Chada and Brayden Hamblen, likely the top two finishers at state, facing off for the first time at Sectionals. But let's not forget that Chris Alhers is a longtime veteran who just ran with Brayden to the wire at regionals. And also that Riley Wells, Ryan Hommowun. Andrew Dobrescu, Michael Sisko are going to be among a very strong chase pack.

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