15. Riverside-Brookfield
Head Coach: Larry Forberg
Last year's finish: 11th- State Championship
Key returners: Connor O'Brien (Sr.), Jacob Wardzala (Sr.), Jack Sagen (Sr.), Ryan Hahn (Sr.), Chris Magno (Jr.), Jason Noel (Sr.), David Keen (Jr.), Connor Raymond (Jr.)
Synopsis: The Bulldogs enjoyed an outstanding year in 2016 in which they finished 11th and missing out on the top 10 by a mere four points. The prospects this season will be a taller challenge in getting inside the upper crust of the classification without a top notched runner. Three returners from the state meet are back and they will take their experience and retool with some solid junior varsity runners who put in the summer work.
14. Normal West
Head Coach: Chad Aubin
Last year's finish: 6th- 3A Edwardsville Sectional
Key returners: Tyler Dunn (Sr.), Gabriel Bush (Jr.), Charlie Wetzel (So.), Colin McQueen (Sr.), Spencer Allsop (Sr.), Zaine Losk (Sr.), Nick Baumgardner (Sr.), Jacob Tomera (Jr.), Michael Cleary (Sr.)
Synopsis: The fact that the Wildcats have been a classification yoyo over the past few years does not sit well within the cross country establishment. This time there is a chance of doing some damage in 2A after a solid 2016 that sees a healthy return of talent led by state qualifier Tyler Dunn. Dunn rebounded from a last place finish last November to have a good track season (qualified in two events: 1:56/800m). There was a strong pack presence behind Dunn last year. Look for that to continue for the Wildcats as they make their way up the rankings ladder.
13. Arlington Heights (St. Viator)
Head Coach: Wayne Edelman
Last year's finish: 14th- State Championship
Key returners: Kevin
Goss (Sr.), Brady Collis (Sr.), Richard Rinka (Sr.), Patric Natindim (So.),
John Leineiger (Sr.), Ryan Springer (Sr.)
Synopsis: Last year St. Viator made a
huge jump, going from last at state, to 14th. That improvement cemented them as
a potential factor this year in the state meet. The Lions look to improve on
that mark again with a strong summer of training.
12. Darien (Hinsdale South)
Head Coach: Jim Dickerson
Last year's finish: 16th- State Championship
Key runners: Brett Haffner (Sr), Trevor Schauer (Sr), Trevor Lehmann (Jr), Tim Rudolph (Jr), Will Hogan (Sr), Nick Beronio (So), Josh Baron (So), Tanner Booth (Jr), Christian Schulte (Sr)
Coach Dickerson's synopsis: "We will be the deepest we have been in my 6 years here, but our meet finishes will obviously be dependent on how fast they are. Track, time trials, and Detweiller at Dark all have been giving very positive feedback. On paper, I have us in the 15-20 range at State, but I feel like we have a good chance to place much higher. We will have a group of 10 guys fighting for the 3-7 spots and we have not had that before. That should make everyone better."
11. Bloomington
Head Coach: John Szabo
Last year's finish: 10th- Metamora Sectional
Key returners: Nick Doud (Jr.), Austin Bicknell (Sr.), Roger Mendiola (Jr.), Brayden Olmstead (So.), Zach Bradford (Sr.), Quinn Olson (Jr.), Zach Reynolds (So.), Evan Turnbull (So.), Drew Gibson (So.), Dylan Kosloskus (Jr.), Luke Moore (So.)
Synopsis: The depth of central Illinois cross country, particularly in the Normal-Bloomington area will continue to be strong. The Purple Raiders will have #1 runner Nick Doud leading the way. Doud could be an all-state candidate considering he improved immensely during the track season. Doud narrowly missed qualifying for the 3200 at the Danville Sectional. He will have a ton of teammates backing him, and hopefully for the Purple Raiders it will mean a trip to Detweiller for the state championship.
10. Sterling
Head Coach: Greg Hendrix
Last year's finish: 4th- State Championship
Key returners: Jacob Gebhardt (Sr), Mikio Martinez (Jr), Isaiah Moorman (Jr), Sam Janssen (So), Jake Wike (So), Dillon Nitz (So), Ruben Leal (Jr), Andrew Iverson (Jr)
Synopsis: The Golden Warriors netted a #24 ranking in last season's pre-season affair. They would finish 4th in the big dance. With six returners led by Jacob Gebhardt, the Golden Warriors deserve this top 10 nod. Speaking of Gebhardt, he is one of the best distance runners in the entire state and his 2017 track season proves that. The state runner up in the 1600m would run the full mile in 4:10.09 (makes him the second fastest returner when the 2018 season arrives). Gebhardt should also see improvement on his 14:41 personal best, and if that happens look for him to be a candidate for an individual title.
9. Dixon
Head Coach: Evan Thorpe
Last year's finish: 13th- State Championship
Key returners: Jonah Fulton (Sr.), Christian Seagren (So.), Collin Grady (Jr.), Andrew Lohse (Jr.), Jacob Heller (Sr.)
Synopsis: The Dukes will have success this season only if
they maintain order and run as a tightly pack team just as they had last year.
The 13-second scoring split at the Belvidere Sectional got them the final spot
to Detweiller. Though the scoring split ballooned to 34 seconds at state, it
was still healthy enough to get the job done.
8. Danville
Head Coach: Todd Orvis
Last year's finish: 12th- State Championship
Key returners: Sincere Williams-Davis (Sr.), Michael Moreman (So.), Brandon Barfell (Jr.), Roberto Rangel (Jr.), Phillip Hall (Sr.)
Synopsis: The Vikings were a team to be reckoned with last year after finishing a strong second to Marion at the Decatur MacArthur Sectional. This team of middle-distance running bandits led by Phillip Hall would finish 12th. Five starters from the state meet are back. The Vikings can and will be as good as they want depending on pack play and closing out races.
7. Chatham-Glenwood
Head Coach: Mike Garber
Last year's finish: 8th- State Championship
Key returners: Dathan Maton (Jr.), Drey Maton (Jr.), Eli Rudin (Sr.), Cooper Peterson (Jr.), Logan Capps (Sr.)
Coach Garber's synopsis: "We have big eyes and big hearts for this season. The boys team has the talent and the depth to make noise in 2017. Our Top 7 is hungry for hardware and are willing to work to get it. We lost Chris Durr to graduation, but my sophomores and juniors from last season are ready to take the top spot. The incoming freshmen crew were IESA Cross Country champions last year and bring a hunger to find the awards stand again this season. We have had a lot of guys putting in great work over summer and they are prepared to do whatever it takes.
6. Springfield
Head Coach: Dan Delvin
Last year's finish: 10th- State Championship
Key returners: Kyle Boughter (So.), Will Formea (Jr.), Shaul Latif (Sr.), Ryan Waldinger (Jr.), Isaac Becker (So.), Jack Flesner (Jr.)
Synopsis: The rising Senators may be a team of the future as they are stocked full of talent led by Kyle Boughter who returns as the top man. Boughter had an exceptional season as a freshman placing 34th at state. As he continues to grow and became a great one, the rest of the scoring pack will need to grow as well and keep pace. Assuming the scoring split can go 45 seconds in championship level meets, the Senators will be fine and fighting for a trophy.
5. Sycamore
Head Coach: Michael Lambdin
Last year's finish: 9th- State Championship
Key returners: Quinton Benzschawel (Sr.), Jake Carani (Sr.), Riley Melton (Sr.), Stephen Poorten (Sr.), David Lerohl (Jr.), Lucas McKay (Jr.), Dayton Ward (Jr.), Zack Zographos (Jr.), Bryce Guerrettaz (So.), Paul Ruetten (So.), Aaron Trier (Jr.)
Synopsis: The Spartans are dangerous team after coming off of a great track season. Lead runner Stephen Poorten returned from an injury to place 6th at state in the 3200, and Sycamores 4x800 finished 8th down in Charleston. Three of those legs join Stephen this fall to make Sycamore a trophy contender this year.
4. Marion
Head Coach: Eli Baker
Last year's finish: 7th- State Championship
Key
returners: John Bruce (So.), Ryan Melvin (Sr.),
Levi Bryant (Sr.), (76, Julian McPhail (Sr.) (135, 16:31), Michael Rutkowski
(Sr.), Jade Chew (Jr.) (205, 18:01), Joe Sullins (Jr.), Steven Kosco (So.)
Synopsis: The Wildcats started last season
unranked and stayed that way until six weeks into the season. They would go on
to disappoint and surprise many of team's plans of bigger finishes. This season
the expectations are much bigger as six state starters return. John Bruce is
one of three guys who has run under 16:00. The key for developing into a state
trophy team is finding a 4th and 5th runner. As it stands
now, the replacements are nearly a minute back.
3. Metamora
Head Coach: Gene Jones
Last year's finish: 6th- State Championship
Key returners: Adam Gilbreath-Glaub (So.), Nick Koval (Sr.), Ryan Meyer (Sr.), John Rapp (Jr.), Frank De Luca (Sr.), Jacob Gray (Jr), Travis Roe (Sr), Austin Gale (So).
Synopsis: There will be plenty of firepower despite the graduation of super all-stater Jake Gillum and the transfer of then freshman Robert Pedroza. Pedroza moved to Key West, Florida and became an all-state track athlete. Gilbreath-Glaub will be the leader here and he is already one of the top distance runners in 2A entering his sophomore season. As always to win a championship there needs to be a strong pack on five runners.
Normal U High knows their time is right for a state championship this season (Steve Bugarin photo)
2. Normal University
Head Coach: Lester Hampton
Last year's finish: 3rd- State Championship
Key returners: Jared Schuckman (Sr.), Tanner Gillam (Sr.), Matthew Zachiras (Sr.), Harrison Porter (Sr.), Jackson McClure (Jr.), Dane Alexander (Jr.), Alok Kamatar (Sr.), Sean Supan (Jr.), Cooper Wilken (Jr.), Alex Hess (So.), Josh Lewis (Sr.)
Synopsis: Despite two big losses with Jared Schuckman and Zach Wolfold, the Pioneers are going to be the main threat to defending champion Mahomet-Seymour. The key element will be to establish a front runner in Jared Schuckman. He led off the state 4x800 relay last spring and should be among the leaders race in and race this fall. However, as everyone knows it takes a tight pack to win a state championship. Mahomet-Seymour dropped a 23 second masterpiece vs. the 1:57 that the Pioneers produced. Expect everything to improve come November.