2022 Class A Girls Pre-Season Preview: #1 team


Head Coach: Jason Retz
Last year's finish: 4th place- State Championship
Key returners: Savanna Franzen (So.), Chloe Burkhalter (Jr.), Kaytlyn Baker (Sr.), Lia Patterson (So.), Madison Clampitt (So.), Chloe Allen (Jr.)
Key additions: None yet
Summary: The St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans finished just ten points away from the podium on the strength of the best 1-2 punch in the state. There is a new look to this team that lost four seniors from that state team. "At this point, we will only have seven girls on the team," says coach Jason Retz. "All will be very important. Our goals are to be the best versions of ourselves." Leading the Spartans is Savanna Franzen, who blasted onto the scene as a freshman last year and is the third-fastest returner from the state meet last year with her 6th-place finish. This stick is incredibly important for SJO, who only has Chloe Burkhalter (also a member of the 7th place 4x800 team along with Franzen) returning as a sub-20 runner. The other returners are Kaytlyn Baker, Madison Clampitt, and Chloe Allen. Strong newcomers can be a real key for St. Joseph Ogden.

Head Coach: Jim Helton
Last year's finish: 27th place- State Championship
Key returners: Elena Rybak (So.), Kaitlyn Hatley (Jr.), Jane Cummins (So.), Alyssa Terhaar (Sr.), Sofia Luna (Sr.), Isabella Harris (So.), Emma Martinez (Sr.), Ava Giovando (So.)
Key additions: None yet
Summary: Father McGivney is one of the most up-and-coming squads in 1A and made school history in 2021. "Our girls' team had its best ever season in its fifth year, a full team, front runners, and senior leadership," says coach Jim Helton. "It was the first girl's team in any sport at FMCHS to compete in the State Championships."

The Griffins finished 27th at state last year, but this spot is misleading since this involved a DNF from star Elena Rybak, whose presence may have brought Father McGivney into the top 15. At the Wesclin sectional, Rybak collapsed in the final 400 meters but summoned the strength to cross the line eventually in 17th. Rybak may be the favorite in the class in 2022. Rybak turned heads with a masterful 2:12 anchor on the 4x800 relay that finished second for the Griffins, and then followed that performance with her first sub-5:00 1600m performance to win her first state title. Rybak returned in two weeks to run 4:58.10 for the full mile at the HOKA Festival of Miles. Rybak's absence from last year's state meet means she may go under some radars before the season begins, but the Griffins will enjoy her low stick at every meet they run. Rybak is not the only all-state hopeful.

Junior Kaitlyn Hatley also emerged during her last cross country season and managed 18:55 to lead the team at state last year. Hatley finished third in the 800m final and joined Rybak along with Jane Cummins and Alyssa Terhaar to grab all-state spots in the 4x800 and 4x400 as well. Cummins and Terhaar comprise the rest of a powerful core that will lead the Griffins but need to find a fifth runner. With some key departures, that may be Sofia Luna or Isabella Harris for the Griffins. This is a growing program that has made history in short order and could continue a very hot streak on its way to state this year.

Head Coach: Josh Bluhm
Last year's finish: 14th place- State Championship
Key returners: Vivian Rahmel (Sr.), Kaitlyn Lee (Sr.), Grayson Hady (Jr.), Ava Hancock (So.), Reese Watson (So.), Paige Mattiuz (Sr.), Kyis Kinnel (So.)
Key additions: Emma Johnson (Fr.), Karigan Books (Fr.), Olivia Paul (So.)
Summary: Historic powerhouse Sacred Heart-Griffin finished 14th at the state meet and returns all but one of their state scorers from last year. "Seniors Vivian Rahmel and Kaitlyn Lee will be our top two runners," says coach Josh Bluhm. "Both girls had their best summers in regards to training -- following up on very strong showings during the Spring track season." Rahmel (11:54, 5:40) and Lee (5:36, 2:26) both ran under 19:20, and Grayson Hady joined them as top-100 finishers at state last year.

Reese Watson, Paige Mattiuz, and Kyis Kinnel all bring back to the state meet experience for the Cyclones in 2022. There is a gap between the front pack that includes Hady and Watson and the rest of the returning pack, so another varsity athlete stepping it up will go a long way for Sacred-Heart Griffin who has outside trophy hopes this year. There could be help from frosh Emma Johnson or Karigan Brooks, as well as Olivia Paul who transferred from Glenwood High School and was the 22nd place finisher at the Central State Eight conference meet (placing what would have been the fourth athlete for Sacred Heart-Griffin).

Head Coach: Mark Clarke
Last year's finish: 10th place- State Championship
Key returners: Claire Blotnik (Jr.), Ella Dwyer (Jr.), Erica Robinson (So.), Sophia Mihelich (Jr.), Annie Tibbot (Jr.), Kathryn Hammel (Jr.)
Key additions: Jordan Reeves
Summary: The Hilltoppers rounded out the top 10 at 1A State last year, a conclusion of a season with tons of improvement from a squad that featured five sophomores on the postseason top seven. With only one senior from last year graduating (JCA's top runner Ella Farris), Joliet Catholic is primed to improve upon that strong finish.

Claire Blotnik leads the way, besting 19 minutes for the first time at state, finishing 41st. Blotnik broke 6:00 in the 1600m and ran 2:33 in track. She leads that deep class of 2024, which includes Ella Dwyer, Sophia Mihelich, Annie Tibbot, and Kathryn Hammel. Dwyer was solidly the Hilltopper's #3 in 2021. Hammel took steps forward in track, qualifying individually in the 3200m for the state track meet. Watch for Jordan Reeves, who ran with the team at Detweiller at Dark, to contribute to the varsity depth too. The Hilltoppers finished fourth in the ESCC, and hope to close the gap on Nazareth, Benet, and Marist.

Head Coach: David Remmert
Last year's finish: 6th place- State Championship
Key returners: Mabry Bruhn (Sr.), Estella Miller (Sr.), Sylvia Miller (So.), Joe Walker (Jr.), Rose Talbert (Sr.), Katie Mesplay (Sr.)
Key additions: Olivia Gerdes (Fr.), Mylin Bruhn (Fr.)
Summary: The story with the Monticello Sages entering the state meet was year was their strength through four runners. The top four of Mabry Bruhn, Rachel Koon, Estella, and Sylvia Miller were the best of any quad in the state.

The Sages needed help beyond these four, and Kyara Welter and Joe Walker filled in. Monticello was able to finish sixth. Turning the calendar to 2022, only Koon and Welter graduate, leaving Bruhn to lead Monticello in her final cross country season of a storied career. Bruhn has been all-state all three years in cross country. Both Millers have a shot at all-state this year.

After the first three, the Sages are in a similar situation to last year and need some help behind them. Walker, as mentioned before, looks to break the 20-minute barrier. Rose Talbert and Katie Mesplay come up after Walker, but Monticello may look to Olivia Gerdes or Mylin Bruhn, incoming frosh, for the depth they need. Monticello has a wide range of possible outcomes-- they could finish 15th, they can receive a trophy. How will the season progress for the Sages?

Head Coach: Vic Mead
Last year's finish: 5th place- State Championship
Key returners: Chiara Surtz (So.), Olivia Kunio (Jr.), Vivian Wyller (Jr.), Natalie Goettsch (So.), Ana Hathaway (Sr.)  
Summary: The Royals finished fifth last year on the heel of now graduated star Lianna Surtz who returned to the top of the class for her second cross country state title. "2021 was our best state finish ever, fifth in cross country," says coach Vic Mead. "It was good for our girls to be in the hunt."

Surtz's storied career came to a close in track, and as she moves on to Toledo, her younger sister Chiara takes the reins as the harrier for Vic Mead's Rosary group. Chiara Surtz snuck onto the all-state podium at 25th in 18:31 and matched her time from last year already by replicating that time at Detweiller at Dark on July 29th. Olivia Kunio, Vivian Wyler, Natalie Goettsch, and Annie Hathaway return for Rosary. Kunio, Wyler, and Goettsch were all scorers and sub-20:00 athletes who can push the 19-minute barrier this season. Adding to the top end of that pack can throw Rosary into the trophy hunt as they once again seek the best finish ever (would be fourth or higher now) and defend their conference title against IC Catholic and St. Francis.

4. Eureka
Head Coach: Olivia Morris
Last year's finish: 3rd place- State Championship
Key returners: Laurel Munson (Sr.), Claire Albertson (Jr.), Meika Bender (So.), Elle Hoffman (Sr.), Sophia Musselman (So.), Natali Roth (Jr.), Cora Strawn (Jr.)
Key additions: Isabelle Axelson (Fr.), Adeline Hubert (Fr.), Naomi Wegner (Jr.)
Summary: Eureka now moves into its post-Anna Perry era as the defending third-place finisher. "We had a good mix of freshmen thru seniors on our team," says coach Olivia Morris. "We were able to upset a couple of teams and place 3rd at the state meet. We focused and met little goals all season and that eventually led to a pretty awesome state meet."

The 2022 efforts will be led by a pack of three: Laurel Munson, Claire Albertson, and Meika Bender. Munson especially is the cornerstone for the Hornets, finishing as their second all-stater in 18:22, and is a sub-18:00 candidate for this year. Elle Hoffman and Sophia Musselman return from the state team last year (Eureka graduates 2 scorers), and Cora Strawn looks to be a candidate to add depth too.

Look to Adeline Hubert and Naomi Wegner as newcomers to contribute to a tradition of success at Eureka. "Our team goal is to be competitive in any race we are in, really focusing on that 1-5 split and getting it as low as we can," says Morris. "We always have a goal of getting every athlete to be healthy and to PR/peak by the end of the season." This can be another trophy year for Eureka.

Head Coach: Stephanie Stecz
Last year's finish: 12th place- State Championship
Key additions: Kate Radich (Fr.), Claire Duman (Fr.), Reagan Stecz (Fr.)
Summary: The lone Chicago team to qualify for the 1A State meet was DePaul College Prep, and 2022 represents possibly their final year in the 1A class due to growing enrollment. They will be led by new coach Stephanie Stecz, who arrives at DePaul after thirteen years at St. Benedict Prep in Chicago. "The transition to high school is very exciting," says Stecz. "Depaul Prep is loaded with former Bengals, so I am thrilled to be coaching them again, particularly the seniors (like Maddie Fleming and Lexi Hallgren)."

With 46 runners clocking three-mile times in 2021, DePaul may have the largest team in 1A, and the deepest as well with their top 22 athletes last year all returning. The pack that split only 50 seconds at state last year was led by incoming frosh Lorelei Travers, who did not run track but still looks to break the 19-minute barrier this year.

The entire state team, which almost all finished under 20 minutes, returns including Alexis Hallgren, Erin Mannion, Abigail Arseneau, Grace Moller, Sydney McLeod, and Isabella Shifrin. "This young team returns in 2022 with experience and the desire to compete at a high level," says Stecz. "Our goal is to have a top 5 finish at the State meet. Along the way, we will be competitive at each meet, at all race levels." Incredibly, the top seven in cross country last year did not include incoming junior Gabi Walker, who established herself as a mid-distance stud running 5:21, 2:17, and 59.7 seconds throughout the track season (her 2:17 was good for fifth in the state in the 800). Walker brings a new dimension to the Rams and can immediately impact the fortunes of DePaul by joining Travers at the top of the varsity squad.

DePaul has so much depth and potential star power that they belong firmly in the trophy contention for 1A in 2022, but the team is focused on the present and each other. "This team has the goal of being 1% better every day. Little progress leads to big success," says sophomore Adrian Blair. "I'm excited to push ourselves to new levels this season and compete," says Arseneau.

Head Coach: Joe & Janet Erb
Last year's finish: State Runner-Up
Key returners: Grace Erb (Sr.), Marissa Roggensack (Sr.), Kaylee Woolery (Sr.), Reese Erdahl (Jr.), Sydney Longanecker (Sr), Emma Woolery (So.)
Key additions: Hannah Roggensack (Fr.)
Summary: 'Bago was their typically dominant selves throughout the 2021 season, winning every meet until the state championship, but worked through a tough meet and came away with a second-place trophy, but enjoyed redemption with a 4x800 team title and a third-place team trophy in track.

The Erbs' crew returns four of seven from that second-place team last year, and this version represents one of the most experienced groups that they have ever coached. The core is comprised of seniors Grace Erb, Marissa Roggensack, Kaylee Woolery, and junior Reese Erdahl. Erb has been all-state in every season she has contested in high school--three cross country titles, and two 800m all-state showings as well as anchoring back-to-back 4x800 champion squads. Roggensack has joined Erb on both 4x800 squads and was one spot her freshman year from also being all-state each year in cross country. Woolery has two cross country and three track all-state performances herself. These three all remain in all-state consideration and make Winnebago as dangerous as ever. Erdahl will slot in to lead the pack behind the first three, and she may be joined by Sydney Longanecker, Emma Woolery, and Hannah Roggensack this year.

The success of the Indians riding the Winnebago camper is heavily tied to the culture of the team. "We have goals of a team trophy and success," says Grace Erb. "I enjoy the team dynamic and being able to laugh with each other." "The team this year has goals of [earning a trophy] at the state meet," says Marissa Roggensack. "What I enjoy best about the team is we are all close and support each other in every way. When someone has a good run, we give them positive thoughts. When they are doing tempos, we cheer them on when they are finishing their last repeat. This year, we will need to focus more than ever and train hard and compete hard."