The final bastion of the pre-season previews is finally here. The opening teams and fringers are dangerous and will have to be monitored very closely this season
25. Lockport
Head Coach/coaches: Regan Cronholm/Erin Truesdale
Last year's finish: State- 23rd place
Key returners: Alexandra Skibicki (So), Kate Wojcikiewicz (Sr), Madison Polinski (Jr), Anna Kozak (Jr), Abbey Kozak (Jr), Josephine Bober (So), Megan Mitchell (So)
Tony's thoughts: The good news is the Lady Porters are deep and return all seven starters from a year ago. They had an 8th runner who subbed at sectionals and ran 18:48. Josephine Bober should be among the team's top runners if you take in account that she bossed the track ledger 3200m and advance to Charleston. Hopefully, she or someone can be a top low-stick that accompanies last year's top scoring split. As we all know it means nothing if you can't run in the company of the top teams.
24. Oswego East
Head Coach/coaches: Lisa Cook, Head Coach Steve Ideran, Assistant Coach
Last year's finish: State- 21st place
Key returners: Morgan Ede (Jr), Kara Webb (Jr), Katherine Sim (Sr), Elyssa Gall (Sr), Emma McKillip (Jr), Samantha Garcia (So), Catheryn Scheerenberger (Sr), Kathleen Sim (Sr), Naylah Allen (So)
Projected top 7: Ede , Webb , Sim , Gall, Allen, Madison Zarembski (Fr), Ana Barroso (Fr)
Newcomers: Zarembski, Barroso, Hannah King (Fr), Nicky Hartigan (Fr) , Leah Allgaier (Fr)
Coach's thoughts on the team: 2017 was a very big year for OE girls cross country. We finally broke through and qualified for the state meet as a team for the first time in school history. We graduated a very talented class who displayed tremendous leadership over the past four years. We will look to Morgan, Kara, Katherine, and Elyssa to continue their great leadership and work with our new team members to build upon what the 2017 team accomplished. We have a very talented and hard-working freshman class this year that will be ready to step up and fill in the gaps after the strong summer of training they have had. We are very excited to get the season going and continue building the Oswego East distance running program.
Head Coach/coaches: Jack Young/Tom Gavin, Ryan Stapinski, Becky Cherry, Jackie Burke
Last year's finish: State- 20th- State
Projected top 7: Brownrigg, Allen, Baumgartner, Sammy Waters (Sr), Lexy Sams (Jr), Colleen Erdman (So), Carly Shipman (So)
Newcomers: n/a
Coach's thoughts on the team: We had our best finish in the 3-mile era last year. We didn't have our best race at state and hope to move up. We are returning our top 3 and hope that the experience at state last year will motivate the group and help them understand that everyone makes a difference in the top 7, not just the top runner.
22. Fox Lake (Grant)
Head Coach/coaches: Jeff Durlak/Nick Nenni, Mike Kennedy, Jeff Harvey
Last year's finish: Hoffman Estates Sectional- 12th place
Key returners: Danielle Osmon (Sr.), Eva Cardy (Sr.), Jana Nehila (Sr.), Eliza Scoggin (Jr.), Drue Polka (Jr.), Taylor Bushman (Jr.)
Projected top 7: Too early to predict. Any of the names mentioned here plus a few others will compete for these spots throughout the season.
Newcomers: Aly Negovetich (Fr.)
Coach's thoughts on the team: Summer training has gone well with no injuries up to this point. Two of our top seven from last year have graduated (Roxanne Temple and Samantha Kaye). Danielle missed most of last Cross Country season and was not 100% when she returned for the State Series. Danielle is healthy once again and has had an excellent summer of training so far. Eva really stepped up as our #1 runner while Danielle was out last year and expect her to take another step forward this season. Eliza and Jana both add valuable experience and look to improve upon their performances from last season. Aly comes in with a very proven middle school resume finishing 2nd in Class 3A in Cross Country (11:05 for 2 miles) and 2nd in Class AA in track & field in the 1600m (5:02.08) as an 8th grader. Aly will definitely be a welcome addition to our team and someone to watch out for this year. If we are able to stay healthy, there is a good chance to have a successful end to the season.
21. Elmhurst (York)
Head Coach/coaches: Lauren Deangelis /Keegan Maletich, Ashley Tucker
Last year's finish: State- 24th place
Key returners: Lydia Hickey (Jr), Emma Kern (Jr), Kelly Leonard (Sr), Sarah May (Sr), Francesca Mordini (Sr), Grace Moriarty (Jr), Abby Moriarty (Jr), Gianna Stephan (So), Maggie Clink (Jr)
Projected top 7: To early to tell. The dual meet against Glenbard West on August 28th with determine our first top 7 line up of the season!
Newcomers: Due to many of the freshman taking summer school it is very early to tell. We have a lot of young talent on the team with the potential to make a difference this year and years to come.
Coach's thoughts on the team: This team is lead by many veteran runners who are determined to place better within the WSC Silver Division along with finishing at the state meet near the top 10. Many of the girls on the team have had a strong summer training with increased miles, hills and tempo runs.
20. Plainfield North
Head Coach/coaches: Tammy Gummerson/Kevin Markwell
Last year's finish: State- 22nd place
Key returners: Juliana Stogsdill (Sr), Katie Nalley (So), Caitlin Russell (Sr), Riley Frankel (Jr), Emily Bedford (Jr), Sarah Conley (Jr)
Projected top 7: above, others
Newcomers: Aminah Hussain (Fr), Lauren Walczak (Fr), Andrea Ballard (Sr)
Coache's thoughts: This is the largest incoming freshmen xc crew we have ever had- Hussain and Walczak finished in our top ten at Detweiller at Dark. Ballard is new to cross country but had run distance for track. In addition, the girls are hoping to qualify for the state finals again this fall. We are returning Juliana Stogsdill, as well as several of the ladies from the 2017 squad. Half our team consists of freshmen, so we are hoping for big things from those ladies.
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Teams On The Verge-
Head Coach: Amanda Ameling /Corie Sanders, Andrew Voller, Bruyn Yunk
Last year's finish: Waubonsie Valley Sectional- 7th place
Projected top 7: Rushing, Medina, Robinson, Emily Stine, Katie Kingsbury, Michaela Hassler, Arianna Drechsler
Newcomers: Hard question to answer as we are not entirely sure the freshmen class we will end up with. Although, we are very lucky and will be having a sophomore joining our ranks this season who is an outstanding athlete, Emily Stine. She originally chose to do swimming and has now directed her attention towards running.
Coach's thoughts on the team: We graduated a few key top runners last year who were not only talented but leaders for our team. Luckily, we have athletes who are ready to work hard and fill those shoes. In terms of experience, we will be a relatively young team. We also as a program are going through a rebuilding phase focusing on commitment, goal setting, and culture. Those are our focus points for this year and within that journey, our team will flourish even if it takes a few seasons to do so.
Head Coach/coaches: Kristen Zillmer/Robin Bingham
Last year's finish: Hoffman Estates Sectional- 12th place
Projected top 7: Jensen, Treni, Jenks, Katie Smith (Jr), Elizabeth Sodimu (Sr), Kyra Lewis (Sr), Izzy Hernandez (Jr)
Newcomers: Lexus Gruszka (Fr), Erin Repple (Fr)
Coach's thoughts on the team: A lot of key seniors graduated from the Saxon 2017 roster. It will be difficult to replace Madison Marasco, but the team is looking to work together to make a name for themselves. This group of ladies work well as a pack but are not afraid to step it up when they are needed. Mikeelie Jensen and Ashlee Jenks run well together to lead the Saxons. The top 7 will be changing throughout the season because there are many strong team members vying for the spots. Our season goal is to qualify for the state meet.
Head Coach/coaches: Meaghan Fastert/Natalie Kaminski
Last year's finish: Hoffman Estates- 6th place
Key returners: Kate Jortberg (Jr)
Projected top 7: Jortberg, Lauren Hayes , Lila Frick, Claire Williams , Catherine Nowak , Molly Durlow , Gigi Walsh
Newcomers: Molly Durlow
Coach's thoughts on the team: I am going to really focus on the team this year and push the girls to really work with each other both in and outside of practice and races. I want the girls to train effectively and enjoy the season by going on team outings and just having fun. I am focused on creating a strong mental game where my girls will go into every race with confidence and enjoy the ups and downs of running
Head Coach/Coaches: Jeff Downing/Jen Roddick-Small, Harvey Braus
Last Years Finish: State- 25th place
Key Returners: Lauren May (Sr), Carley Bomrad (Sr)
Projected Top 7: May, Bomrad, Keeley Flynn, Klaudia Wachnik, Laura Downey, Madison Purtell, Peyton Tauber
Newcomers: Maria Marcucci
Coaches thoughts on the team: We are coming off a season where we did make the state meet but finished at the bottom. 3 of our top 7 graduated, including 1 all-stater (Olivia Niziolek). Niziolek helped us by running up front in most meets, and she will be hard to replace, so we will be looking to run as a tight pack. Hopefully, our leadership from May and Bomrad will be sufficient as we attempt to get the pack as far to the front as possible. It is too early to know for sure, but after a solid summer of running, we might have several new faces to add to our pack, including an incoming freshman listed above (Marcucci) who impressed in the summer.
Head Coach/coaches: Kirk Macnider/Matt Ihms, Jon Macnider
Last year's finish: Hoffman Estates Sectional- 11th place
Key returners: Nikki Rong, Anna Miller, Bella Alansari, Michelle Diaz, Jenna Cochran, Mikkaela Palmer Projected top 7: TBD
Newcomers: Valerie Daniel
Coach's thoughts on the team: Nine Seniors with lots of track success. Time to translate that mentality to the XC course. We will do all we can to battle the 3a juggernauts - as we always have - despite the many systematic challenges we face.
Head Coach/coaches: Danielle Freeman/Annette White
Last year's finish: Hoffman Estates Sectional- 8th place
Key returners: Katie Fredian, Erin Moran, Teagan Beckley, Veronika Makowski, Aubrey Hasley, Erin Barton, Jane Stefaniak, Katie O'Brien
Projected top 7: Fredian, Moran, Teagan Beckley, Veronika Makowski, Hasley, Barton, O'Brien
Newcomers:
Coach's thoughts on the team: After a disappointing 8 th place finish at Sectionals last season, this team's commitment to getting back to the state meet was more than apparent in their summer training. After a slow start in June due to getting over few track injuries, this team looks great heading into August! I can't wait to see what October will hold for them!
Coach/coaches: Matt Blondell/ Aislinn Hicks, Katie Ulreich, Samantha Stanley
Last year's finish: 14th 3A State Finals
Key returners: Emily R. Scott, Cora Marcet, Kayla Zimmer, Althea Foster, Madeline Engels, Noelle Veome, Thrisha Bandepallee, Carlyn Sokol, Indya Smith-Johnson, Haley Engels, Kate Scrima, Michelle Loar, Audrey Davis, Mary McGrail, Ellen Spencer
Projected top 7: It is hard to project. It could include any of the above and possibly a few others.
Newcomers: We do not have any newcomers to the program besides our freshmen. It is too early to say whether or not any of our freshmen will contribute in their first year.
Coach's thoughts on the team: We are excited about the upcoming season and hope to improve upon our State Final finish from last year. We have a solid core group who is coming off of a really good track season. I am hoping that the significant improvements individuals made during the track season will translate well to cross country.