1A
[Girls]
Meet the key teams: #1 Tolono (Unity), #2 Pleasant Plaines, #3 Anna-Jonesboro, #5 Clinton, #6 Eureka, Peoria Heights (Christian), #9 Peoria (Notre Dame), #10 El Paso-Gridley, #11 Williamsville, #19 Seneca, #20 Stanford (Olympia), #21 Winnebago, #22 Aurora (Central Catholic), #23 Elmwood
Outlook: Mia Kotler (Jr., Chicago Latin) is the heavy favorite in this one, and if she aims to break sub 17:00, she will have to do it alone. After winning the vaulted Hinsdale C Red Devil Invite a week ago, she may vault into the #1 individual premium with another stellar effort. Elena Rybak (Jr., Father McGivney) is perhaps the only one who could provide any resistance to Kotler.
The field is loaded with talent, as nearly 20 ranked squads are here. FTTF always seems to attract the best 1A talent in terms of invitationals. Unity is the defending champion and heavy favorite. The race for second will be among the quality 2-10 teams entered.
[Boys]
Meet the key teams: #1 Tuscola, #4 Eureka, #5 Aurora (Central Catholic), #6 Elmwood, #9 St. Joseph-Odgen, #10 Pleasant Plains, #11 Rockford (Christian), #12 Clinton, #13 Lombard (Montini), #14 Erie, #15 El Paso Gridley, #16 Winnebago, ##19 Urbana (University), #24 Tolono (Unity)
Outlook: Tuscola comes in as the overwhelming favorite, and this will be their first time fully locked and loaded. Some have predicted this team to be among Class A's best of all time. That's because the 1-2 punch of Jackson Barrett and Josiah Hortin are as good as any duo in the state. One can only wonder how badly they will beat up their competitors. Perhaps they should have moved up to 2A and battled.
There are other good teams in the field, and they will not go down without a fight. Eureka, Elmwood, and Especially St. Joe-Odgen will be heard from. Maybe the upstart ACC can contend for a top-three placement.
Individually, Barrett and Hortin are the favorites but don't count out the likes of Nolan Ferris (Jr., Montini), Isaiah Hill (Sr., Elmwood), Weston Forward (Sr., Rockford Christian), and Patrick Hilby (Sr., ACC. Hilby is a speed demon, and if the race is close, watch out.