Check out last year's thriller- the 3A Girls highlight reel by Jamie Nicholson.
Once again it's going to be an interesting time this season in terms of what goes down on the state scene with Covid-19 as the highlighter. But if all goes well, there should be some good cross country this fall.
We enter the final stretch of teams here including the dynasty Naperville North Huskies. This could be one of their best ever teams. Read all about them and the rest of the best!
Good luck and best wishes to all this fall!
10. St. Charles East
Head Coach/coaches: Bradley Kaplan/Heather O'Brien
Last year's finish: State Championship- 15th place
Key returners: Ava Abbott (Jr), Gia Klasa (Jr), Venezia Munoz (Jr), Brooklyn Walker (So),
Shauna Norgaard (So), Eleanor Clark (So), Hannah Kilpatrick (Jr), Laci Chivari (Jr), Faith Piercy (Jr)
Projected top 7: Marley Andelman, Morgan Sandlund, Mackenzie Loomis, Ava Abbott, Venezia Munoz, Gia Klasa and Shauna Norgaard
Newcomers: Marley Andelman (2nd in IESA), Morgan Sandlund (Tennis), Mackenzie Loomis
(FR)
Coach Kaplan's thoughts on the team: Losing our top runner Alice Abbott for the season will hurt but we
have been training well to run for her. We bring back everyone except one from last year's state
team and gain three new athletes in Marley, Morgan and Mackenzie who has been training up with
Ava Abbott all summer. Everyone is working very hard. The top five splits should be much closer
than in year's past. We've got a strong 4 group and then looking for Venezia, Gia, and Shauna to
shut the door.
9. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)
Head Coach/coach: Paul Hass / Dan Kim
Last year's finish: State Championship- 6th Place
Key returners: Audrey Allman (Jr), Delaney Engel (Jr), Anna Nickoley (Jr), Olivia Cline (Sr), Zoe Umlauf (Sr), Maya Umlauf (Sr), Belle Adduci (Sr), Hannah Moffatt (So), Carlin Hass (So), Paige King (So)
Projected top 7: Allman, Delaney Engel,Nickoley . . . ?
Newcomers: Morgan Clifford (Sr), El ayna Boeh (Fr)
Coach Hass' outlook on the team: Many girls on the team enjoyed solid summers, recording more miles than any team I coached in my career; how this translates to meet performance remains to be seen, but the work ethic and commitment on this team are off the charts.
Audrey Allman spent a month over the summer training in Colorado's altitude and appears ready to take the reins from Katelynne Hart and lead our team into the competition.
Delaney Engel also appears prepared to take the next step and could be mentioned
among others in the upper tier of state runners.
Anna Nickoley has looked better in practice this summer than in any previous year and is primed for a great fall campaign. After those top three returnees, it is an open competition to see who steps into the top seven.
Hannah Moffatt and twins Maya and Zoe Umlauf certainly have the ability to do it, as does Carlie Hass, Paige King, Olivia Cline and Belle Adduci.
We certainly look forward to seeing who emerges to grab the remaining varsity slots,
and may change from week to week. Given the current situation, we are thankful to have a season and look forward to the chance to compete against our incredible conference competition. If we continue to focus upon improving every day in practice and working together as a team, this year's squad will be prepared for whatever competition the IHSA provides us at the end of the 2020 season.
8. Batavia
Head Coach/coaches: Chad Hillman/Samantha Miller
Last year's finish: State Championship- 4th place
Key returners: Katrina Schlenker (Jr), Jenna Schifferer (Sr), Liliana Bednarek (So), Ava Thomas (So)
Projected top 7: I don't like to make these projections this early. We have a handful of girls who will be battling to make the top 7.
Newcomers: Celia Schifferer (Fr), Alli Olson (Fr), Leah Mapes (Fr)
Coach Hillman's thoughts on the team: The girls did a great job of training on their own when they had to and took advantage of the opportunities to train together when they could. They stayed hungry and are very determined to race together and be as good as they can be.
7. Wilmette (Loyola Academy)
Head coach/coach: Chrisjon Simon/Katie Seeberg
Last year's finish: Lake Park Sectional- 6th place
Key returners: Ellie Grammas (So.), Sarah Jay (Sr.), Hayes Flanagan (Sr.), Maeve Norman (So.), Caitlyn Garofoli (Jr.)
Newcomers: Morgan Mackie (Fr.), Lauren Woodward (Fr.), Lizzie Quackenbush (Sr.)
Projected Top 7: Mackie, Grammas, Jay, Flanagan, Norman, Garofoli, Woodward
Coach Simon's thoughts on the season: We are excited for a season in whatever form. We have the largest team in awhile with about 85 girls.
Varsity- we have one goal qualify for "state" and be a highly ranked team. We think we have two true front runners and then a pack of four.
I hope this works and thanks for the coverage.
Also, just FYI we are organizing a "top" level meet on Friday, Oct 2. Run under the lights at our west campus.
As of now girl's teams- LA, prospect, palatine, Hersey, NT, ETHS; the boys are running as well with some impressive teams. I hope we get that far. Our kids want to compete so bad!
6. Minooka
Head Coach: Kevin Gummerson
Last years finish: State Championship- 9th Place
Key Returners: Gabriella McCollom (So), Gabby Kics (So), Kathryn Cichon (Jr), Mary Rushing (Sr), Jocelyn Host (Jr), Sara McLaughlin (Jr.), Kendra Martin (So), Sophia Miller (So), Brooke Wlodek (Jr), Emma Wilson (Jr), -Audrey Boles (Jr) - out for season with injury
Projected Top 7: too early to tell
Newcomers: we have a strong freshman class coming to Minooka High School
Coach Gummerson's thoughts on the season:
The girls started the summer with a few weeks of running under their belt. We took a little break earlier in May than we normally do, and that allowed them to start up the summer training a few weeks earlier.
I feel like we have done our summer homework and some of my concerns about a lack of or a weak summer program are gone. Back in May, I was not sure that we would be able to meet as a team. While the summer program looked different. We were able to use the time we were given to improve. I am excited about the impact this freshman class can make on this team. Like every other team in the nation, there is a tremendous amount of uncertainty right now. However, it is clear to me that these girls realize that they need to do their part, focus on getting better, and enjoy the opportunities that they do have.
5. Oak Park-River Forest
Head Coach/coaches: Ashley Raymond/Megumi Hosh/Laura Turk
Last year's finish: State Championship-13th
Key returners: Nora Wollen (Sr), Josephine Welin (Jr), Parker Hulen (Sr), Samantha Duwe (Jr)
Projected top 7: Welin, Wollen, Duwe, Hulen, Maggie Rose baron, Avery Minnis, 7th TBD
Newcomers: Lenny Steritt, Samantha Welin, Katie Stabb
Coach Raymond's thoughts on the team: We have [an excellent] varsity squad. I'm so proud of every athlete and their commitment to improving this past spring and summer. They've shown me they are gritty, creative, and ready to seize every opportunity. We have big goals; we'll be ready if there is a state series and if not, we will find a way to show our fitness.
4. Oswego
Head Coach/coaches: Eric Simon/Colleen Predl, Alicia Rafferty, Craig Weyrich
Last year's finish: State Championship- 11th place
Key returners: Audra Soderlind (So), Peyton Brueck (Sr), Becca Corbett (Jr), Ella Hale (Sr), Sophia Marasco (So)
Projected top 7: Same group as above, plus some good comp for remaining two spots
Newcomers: Kaitlyn Pienta, Kate Soderlind- both will make a run for a top 7 spot
Coach Simon's thoughts on the team: The team is very motivated to improve on last year's finish at state. Given the situation this year, it may not be attainable given the potential for no state meet. The team is still focused and excited to compete against the great teams in the Southwest Prairie Conference. Like any year, we hope to remain healthy and continue to push our program forward.
3. Mt. Prospect (Prospect)
Head Coach/coaches: Pete Wintermute/Lisa Cottrell
Last year's finish: State Championship- 8th place
Key returners: Audrey Ginsberg (Jr), Annika Erickson (Sr), Reese Lettow (Sr), Paige Runkle (Sr), Elena Barbaric (Sr), Hailey Erickson (So), Cam Kalaway (So)
Projected top 7: Year in and year out it is very difficult to project a varsity top 7 in August and not having a
outdoor track season has made this even more difficult to project growth for each athlete. One
thing for certain is that we have a number of girls that have been consistent in their training, love
the sport, have embraced the challenges during the past 6 months, and have been there to support
one another during these crazy times.
Newcomers: Lily Ginsberg (fr), Kaitlyn Skelton (fr), Fiona Chojdecki (fr), Bridget Derengowski (fr), Jillian
Sawadski (so), Kate Woodland (so), Jacqueline Keane (jr)
Coach Wintermute's thoughts on the team: The Knights return six of the top seven from last year's team. On top of that, we have a number of girls that have drastically improved since last year and will challenge for a top spot. During these COVID times, we have all had to step back and realize that we should not and cannot take life and sports for granted. The Knights are going to continue to be there for our teammates, support each other, and enjoy each day. We are not quite sure what all the meets/races will look like but
the Knights are hungry and ready to lace them up.
2.Yorkville
Head Coach/coaches: Chris
Muth/Kerry Stillmunkes, Lauren Vriezen, Tori Gatlin, Brian Long
Last year's finish: STATE RUNNER-UP
Key returners: Helena Kleronomos (Sr), Haily Simmons (Sr), Sara Klemm (Sr), Anna Hunter (Jr), Maggie Hunter (Jr), Alex Stewart (So), Makenna Edwards (So), Lucy Anderson (So)
Projected top 7: Kleronomos, Simmons, Klemm, A. Hunter, M. Hunter, Stewart, Edwards, Anderson
Newcomers: Neither are newcomers, but Alex Stewart and
Lucy Anderson didn't run in the state meet last year but should make a
difference in the top seven this year. Both have had an
excellent summer and have become more consistent and educated in the
sport.
Coach Muth's thoughts on the team: I think we are a healthy and deep team that needs to compete ASAP. They have worked really hard over these past six months, but are needing to see the hard work pay off in some race results. I wish we could have competed in the traditional schedule that we have put together over the past several seasons, but they have some lofty goals that they have set for the dual meets. This is a very special senior class of athletes that will make the best out of the season they are given. They continue to control what they can and make the best of the rest. My and there hope is that they just get a chance to compete against the best in the state in the end.