The field at the FTTF Peoria Invite will be similar to this weekend (Steve Bugarin photo)
The Qualifying Teams: Elmwood, Freeburg, Elgin Harvest Christian Academy, Rockford Christian, St. Joseph Ogden, Richmond Burton, Carthage (Illini West), Robinson, Deer Creek Mackinaw, Athens, Sterling Newman (Central Catholic), Carlinville, Lawrenceville, El Paso Gridley, Champaign St. Thomas More, Chilicothe IVC, Pickneyville, Niles Northridge Prep., Breese Mater Dei, Peotone, Steelville, Chicago DePaul College Prep., Roxanna, Melrose Park Walther Christian, Elmhurst Timothy Christian
The Remarks: What the heck is going on here!? Upsets and close races are occurring galore in these sectionals, particularly in the Effingham and Elmwood sectionals. At Effingham, you had Robinson upset St. Joseph Ogden, and at Elmwood you had the favored hosts nearly beaten by Carthage who was not even thought of as a trophy contender before that race. Let's also not forget that there was only a 24 point differential between the top five at the Elmwood sectional. All in all, we have a lot to unpack, and really the top 9-17 could happen in any order.
Elmwood
Head Coach: Greg Myers
2015 state meet finish: 5th place
Pre-season rank: #2
Final regular season rank: #3
Probable starting line-up :
Cooper Hoffmann (Jr.) 2 16:00
Trevor Dunkel (Jr.) 8 16:13
Derek McCoy (Sr.) 23 16:44
Alex Hermann (Jr.) 33 17:03
Logan Whitney (So.) 47 17:26
Drew Lueschow (Sr.) 50 17:37
Dayton Rumbold (Sr.) 53 17:41
Is the preview writer nuts!? What's he doing putting the Trojans is the faves? They've ran to their competition every race, including sectionals! Ok...but...the thing to understand is that Elmwood has had a history at peaking for the state meet. They run to their competition every race, but that includes the TOP competition the week of state. The concept of Elmwood surprise winning may seem like all hype until you remember that year 2013 when they finished FOURTH at their sectional and they ended up winning the title, beating teams that they didn't even face in that sectional. In this sort of crazy year where no team seems to dominate anyone, it seems like that very Elmwood sort of year.
Freeburg
Head Coach: Carl Florczyk
2015 state meet finish: 8th place
Pre-season rank: #3
Final regular season rank: #1
Probable starting line-up :
Charlie Parrish (Jr.) 1 16:26
Alex Mack (Sr.) 4 16:50
Corbin Schwable (So.) 10 17:29
Blake Hatter (So.) 11 17:40
Craig Collier (Sr.) 16 17:57
Carson Smith (So.) 19 18:06
Drew Wilkerson (Sr.) 20 18:06
Make no doubt about it, Freeburg is the best on paper, with a Peoria invitational performance where everyone was at 16 or below. Their regional and sectional performances may not show that, but that's because they have no incentive to run with no competition at their sectional. At state, you will probably see a replicated performance of the Peoria invite or better.
Elgin Harvest Christian Academy
Head Coach: Steven Bland
2015 state meet finish: 10th place
Pre-season rank: #5
Final regular season rank: #4
Probable starting line-up :
Michael Sisko (Sr.) 1 16:15
Andrew Dobrescu (Jr.) 2 16;34
Payton Kasper (So.) 3 16:42
Mark Davila (Jr.) 4 16:54
Connor Seals (Jr.) 5 17:24
Kyler Young (Jr.) 6 17:25
Riley Steiner (Sr.) 7 17:42
Putting four under 16 at the Oregon sectional will likely mean four under 16 at state. The lions ran out of their minds at the Oregon sectional, and if other contenders don't quite race as expected, then first place honors might just end up with this team.
Rockford Christian
Head Coach: Randy Moore
2015 state meet finish: 18th place (2A)
Pre-season rank: #16 (2A)
Final regular season rank: #2
Probable starting line-up :
Riley Wells (So.) 1 16:18
Josiah Vogel (Jr.) 2 16:44
Jack Kurtz (Sr.) 3 17:06
Brent Brunner (So.) 4 17:11
Noah Wells (Sr.) 5 17:19
Nicholas Capriola (So.) 6 17:25
Cal Granite (So.) 7 18:10
The royal lions bumped down to 1A just in time for all the madness. Elgin may have had their way against them at sectionals, but best believe they are a major trophy contender! Not writing this squad off anytime soon!
St. Joseph Ogden
Head Coach: Jason Retz
2015 state meet finish: 3rd place
Pre-season rank: #6
Final regular season rank: #5
Probable starting line-up :
Justin Phillips (Sr.) 2 15:26
Wyatt Wolfersberger (Jr.) 10 16:19
Braden Pridemore (Jr.) 20 16:51
Isiah McCune (So.) 21 16:53
Austin Rein (Jr.) 60 18:03
Tom Nichols (Fr.) 102 19:10
Taddy Pettit (Fr.) 126 20:22
Now here's the thing. Usually, having a good sixth man is not that important because the sixth runner rarely counts in scoring. Sometimes we take it for granted that in a team with a strong top five, all five people usually run what is expected. St. Joseph Ogden unfortunately opened themselves to a vulnerability when not all five of their men ran as expected or better, and they didn't have the depth in the six or seven spots to pick up for a bad fifth man race. It meant the Spartans narrowly lost the sectional race to Robinson, but that doesn't mean they won't win a trophy given the level of 1-5 talent on this roster.
Richmond Burton
Head Coach: Ryan Carlson
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: NA
Probable starting line-up :
Ryan Hommowun (Sr.) 1 16:29
Nick Koschak (Sr.) 2 16:54
John Kellum (Sr.) 3 17:07
Chris Williams (Sr.) 4 17:11
Nicholas DeGroot (Jr.) 5 17:21
Thomas Koschak (So.) 6 17:43
Chase Duncan (So.) 7 19:04
Aren't the Rockets glad they got bumped down from 2A? They even have a very reasonable shot at the trophy, for their 1-5 pack is as good as any!
Carthage (Illini West)
Head Coach: Ryan Bliss
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #10
Probable starting line-up :
Jacob Bryan (Jr.) 5 16:06
Cayden Kirkham (Jr.) 18 16:37
Chase Grainger (Sr.) 24 16:49
Clayton Grainger (Sr.) 25 16:50
Dalton Melvin (Jr.) 44 17:21
Kevin White (Jr.) 69 18:02
William Andrews (Jr.) 112 19:37
Wow! The Chargers came out of nowhere to place a narrow second in the Elmwood sectional! The key to this team's success is a really close 1-4 pack led by Jacob Bryan, who will likely be near the all-state bunch. Like the many other 1A teams of Illinois, they too will be contending for a trophy!
Robinson
Head Coach: Tony Cork
2015 state meet finish: 4th place
Pre-season rank: #4
Final regular season rank: #6
Probable starting line-up :
Kobe Lorance (Jr.) 11 16:30
Lukas Baird (Jr.) 12 16:34
Wyatt Bonnell (So.) 22 16:56
Joey Wright (Sr.) 30 17:20
Morgan Beabout (Sr.) 31 17:22
Trayton Tragesser (So.) 43 17:35
Zach Buttolph (Fr.) 57 18:01
After upsetting St. Joseph Ogden, one cannot deny the Effingham Sectional champions' trophy chances. With not as strong a front runners as other trophy-contending teams, it's very important that all of their top five are in the low 16's at Detweiller, which this Maroon squad is more than capable of doing.
Deer Creek Mackinaw
Head Coach: Sam Ingram
2015 state meet finish: NR
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #13
Probable starting line-up :
Dakota Myers (Sr.) 5 16:05
Gary Cates (Jr.) 11 16:18
John Carnicle (So.) 29 16:58
Neal Scheuermann (Jr.) 32 17:02
Colby Johnson (Fr.) 48 17:27
Dalton Myers (Jr.) 60 17:52
Sam Brodahl (Jr.) 94 18:59
What a season for the Chiefs! They've had some front runner prowess for some time, but this year they reall put themselves on the map faster than we anticipated. Should Dakota Myers go all-state and should the rest of their team follow suit, then they could put themselves in position for a top five finish.
Athens
Head Coach: Kerry Trueblood
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #8
Probable starting line-up :
Wyatt McIntyre (Jr.) 1 15:24
Noah McIntyre (Fr.) 21 16:41
Layne Hill (Sr.) 36 17:11
Ryan Nordsiek (So.) 37 17:11
Will Hill (Fr.) 41 17:18
James Goodenow (Fr.) 68 18:01
Joseph Goodenow (Fr.) 76 18:09
The Warriors finished fourth at the Elmwood sectional, but they could just as easily place in the top five at state. They have Wyatt McIntyre to score low, and they have 37 second 2-5 split. In fact they have the best fifth man race at their sectional.
Sterling Newman Central Catholic
Head Coach: Patrick Warkins
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #21
Probable starting line-up :
Chris Ahlers (Sr.) 1 16:01
Spencer Mauch (So.) 2 16:33
Shay Hafner (So.) 3 17:05
Matt Hodge (Jr.) 4 17:28
Brady Osborne (Sr.) 5 17:50
Ben Sheats (Fr.) 6 18:57
Quentin Larson (Jr.) 7 19:19
The comets are making some noise lately! They finished fourth at the Oregon sectional, but only two points behind Richmond Burton. The key for this group is getting their fifth runner to run even closer to the fourth.
Carlinville
Head Coach: Charles Helton
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: #10
Final regular season rank: #7
Probable starting line-up :
Samuel Mock (Jr.) 26 17:11
Bailey Lippold (So.) 27 17:11
Jason Landon (Jr.) 28 17:15
Charles Helton IV (Jr.) 32 17:23
Grayson Armour (Jr.) 45 17:36
Cale Williams (Fr.) 72 18:21
Briley Roper (Fr.) 99 19:05
Packwise, the Cavaliers have the densest, with a 25 second split between 1-5. That's not always a good thing as they're going to need a front runner to get some points. Now they do have Jason Landon who has ran well under 16 at Detweiller, but the question is if we see that kind of race from him this weekend.
Lawrenceville
Head Coach: Bill Bandy
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #9
Probable starting line-up :
Jack Holden (Jr.) 9 16:12
Blaine Hesler (So.) 15 16:42
Max Smigiel (Jr.) 23 16:57
Cole Sumner (So.) 41 17:43
Gavin Rucker (Jr.) 51 17:48
Colin Benson (Fr.) 83 18:39
Watch for the Lawrenceville Indians, who finished third at the Effingham sectional. They have the top three arsenal to do great things, but a good race from their fourth and fifth runners will be the key to cracking into the top ten.
El Paso Gridley
Head Coach: Michael Melick
2015 state meet finish: 7th place
Pre-season rank: #16
Final regular season rank: #20
Probable starting line-up :
Andy Layden (Sr.) 7 16:12
Adam Ludy (Sr.) 12 16:19
Bo Halvorsen (So.) 34 17:03
Noah Smith (So.) 35 17:05
Will Bushert (So.) 49 17:31
Matt Ingalsbe (Fr.) 72 18:07
Zac Nelson (Fr.) 78 18:23
El Paso once again makes the return, with a pack just as nice as it was last year. They Titans have even got a strong front runner presence, too. Their close fifth place finish depicts them as yet another top ten candidate.
St. Thomas More
Head Coach: David Behm
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #16
Probable starting line-up :
Luke Manolakes (Fr.) 17 16:46
Dominic Magrini (So.) 19 16:50
Michael Lee (Jr.) 24 16:57
Ian Clapper (Fr.) 48 17:39
AJ Wrobel (Fr.) 53 17:50
Lucas Simpson (Jr.) 78 18:29
Drew Dobbins (Sr.) 110 19:23
Could the Sabers pull a top ten finish? You never know. Luke Manolakes is getting better with time, and the pack sure isn't getting worse!
Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central
Head Coach: Dennis Fraikes
2015 state meet finish: 15th place
Pre-season rank: #12
Final regular season rank: #11
Probable starting line-up :
Owen Habeger (Jr.) 1 16:20
Jordan Gerberding (Jr.) 2 16:53
Devin Smith (Sr.) 3 17:29
Noah Slater (Jr.) 4 17:54
Elias Bergman (Fr.) 5 18:07
Finnian Jetton (So.) 6 19:35
Josiah Smith (Sr.) 7 19:40
The ghosts are a team with some nice front runner presence-with even a nice core-although an improved race from somewhere is required for a surprise top ten showing.
Scenes from southern Illinois at the Chester Regional (Tracy Burmester photo)
Pickneyville
Head Coach: Ryan Bruns
2015 state meet finish: #16
Pre-season rank: #22
Final regular season rank: #24
Probable starting line-up :
Grant Batteau (Jr.) 5 16:58
Garrett Johnson (Jr.) 8 17:23
Dustin Bartnicki (Jr.) 23 18:11
Liam Oliver (So.) 29 18:31
Brady Louis (Sr.) 43 18:51
Justin Restoff (Sr.) 48 18:58
TJ Bourque (Jr.) 84 20:07
The team runner up for the Edwardsville sectional? Not bad. The top two will be making a strong individual statement, and the fifth runner seems slow right now but the speedy course that is Detweiller can bring magic to peoples' times!
Niles Northridge Prep
Head Coach: Mike Egle
2015 state meet finish: 21st place
Pre-season rank: #18
Final regular season rank: NR
Probable starting line-up :
Peter Conroy (Sr.) 1 16:54
Drew Litkowiak (Sr.) 10 17:34
Sebastian Fuentes-Branas (Sr.) 15 17:45
Patrick Moore (Sr.) 30 18:27
John Presberg (Jr.) 42 18:56
John Madigan (Jr.) 55 19:21
Joe Barisas (Sr.) 71 19:48
As the Lisle sectional champions, how well will they fare at Detweiller? On paper they look to be the underdog, but generally the Lisle champions-who may not look necessarily great on paper-exceed expectations with their upward momentum.
Breese Mater Dei
Head Coach: Marv Eversgerd
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: NR
Probable starting line-up :
Luke Goebel (Jr.) 3 16:48
Kevin Medlin (Jr.) 15 17:56
Otto Stark (Sr.) 22 18:10
Keegan Spirek (Sr.) 35 18:42
Alex Detmer (So.) 47 18:56
Mitchell Wilke (Sr.) 71 19:47
Tyler Fritch (Sr.) 75 19:51
I've had a feeling the Knights would qualify out of this sectional eventually. A strong front runner like Luke Goebel certainly makes that possible. And their pack this year may not set them up for a top ten finish, but it's certainly nothing to scoff at.
Peotone
Head Coach: William Benner
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: #23
Zach Crocker (Sr.) 5 17:27
Will Gaskin (Sr.) 13 17:37
Peyton Walker (Jr.) 14 17:44
Joey Uthe (Fr.) 39 18:45
Andrew Grzeskowiak (So.) 53 19:21
Nick Stefinsky (Jr.) 80 20:03
Dereck Walker (Fr.) 86 20:16
The Lisle runner-ups have three front runners of note. But someone needs to step it up to place within the top twenty.
Steelville
Head Coach: Neal Haertling
2015 state meet finish: 19th place
Pre-season rank: #23
Final regular season rank: #18
Mel Mulholland (So.) 12 17:41
Gavin Conway (So.) 13 17:45
Dustin Sutton (Sr.) 18 18:05
Hunter Fedderke (Sr.) 34 18:38
Logan Fulkerson (Fr.) 52 19:08
Jacob Fedderke (Jr.) 65 19:34
Patrick Rohlfing (Sr.) 78 19:54
Definitely saw the Warriors coming. They've been a force to reckon with in the southern area. But the question is how well they assert themselves against this very competitive year.
Chicago DePaul College Prep
Head Coach: Christopher Wolf
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: NR
Eric La Luz (Sr.) 11 17:36
Fred Bautista (Sr.) 16 17:51
Alfredo MacLaughlin (Fr.) 19 18:02
Logan Kurker (Jr.) 31 18:27
David Rios (Jr.) 49 19:10
Joel Ortiz (So.) 79 20:00
Henry Stultz (Fr.) 92 20:37
It's always interesting to see who the always unanticipated Lisle qualifiers are. This year, it's the DePaul College Prep rams hailing the third spot.
Melrose Park Walther Christian
Head Coach: Paul Goffron
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: NR
Luis Dieguez (Jr.) 7 17:29
Jack Simzyk (Sr.) 23 18:11
Julio Padilla (So.) 29 18:22
Jaylin Williams (Sr.) 33 18:30
Darryl Norwood Jr (Fr.) 60 19:29
Gus Viise (Jr.) 84 20:11
Nathaniel Nunez (So.) 96 20:50
Fifth place at Lisle, but a low score Luis Dieguez could prevent the Broncos from a last place team finish.
Elmhurst Timothy Christian
Head Coach: Dick Zylstra
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: NR
William Terpstra (Jr.) 17 18:00
Matt Fox (Sr.) 20 18:04
Clint Fincher (So.) 32 18:30
Xavier Ross (Jr.) 34 18:32
Caleb Mitchell (Fr.) 35 18:40
Tommy Troxel (Sr.) 54 19:21
Andy Mittlestaedt (Sr.) 57 19:22
A nicely bunched pack, but the lack of front runner could get them into trouble.
Roxanna
Head Coach: Scott Edwards
2015 state meet finish: NA
Pre-season rank: NR
Final regular season rank: NR
Cree Stumpf (So.) 17 18:04
James Henseler (Sr.) 25 18:14
Brandon Isom (Sr.) 28 18:26
Dakota Stumpf (Sr.) 32 18:36
Will Cotter (Sr.) 58 19:22
Nathan Lowe (Jr.) 93 20:28
Joel Woodruff (So.) 112 21:06
Last year the girls team qualified as the fifth spot in the Edwardsville sectional. This year, it's the boys turn to compete at state as qualifiers of that sectional.