Take a peek at some of the action from last year's championship in Peoria.
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Many of the following teams will aspire to improve their performance from a year ago and return to the state championship.
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Head Coach: Kyle Hummel
Last year's finish: Decatur St. Teresa Sectional- 8th place
Key returners: Ross Kimme (Sr), Bruce Tang (Sr), Pieter Duursma (Sr), Felix Lee (Sr), Luke Fahnestock (Sr)
Outlook: The Illineks enjoyed a solid last season that ended with a top-10 finish at sectionals. Bruce Tank was the top performer at sectionals, but arguably, Ross Kimme is the team's #1 runner. He ran 16:12 at Detweiller At Dark in July. His training is on par; if all else stands firm, he will be in the state meet. The Illineks competed in the state track 4x800 prelims, which helps the program. However, they appear to be lean on quality, so developing the young troops will be the main task overall.
Head Coach: Jim Miller
Last year's finish: Decatur St. Teresa Sectional- 12th place
Outlook: Top returner Cameron Roedl brings back a wealth of experience over the course of a year, which resulted in a state meet appearance across the country. Some of his mates enjoyed a solid track and field field season in which the Pirates advanced to Charleston in the 4x800 relay.
Head Coach: James Helton
Last year's finish: Benton Sectional- 8th place
Key returners: Liam Schmidt (Jr), Levi Huber (Sr), Connor Schmidt (Sr), Liam Boeving (Sr), Aiden Schmidt (Jr)
Outlook: The Griffins return six of their top seven runners, led by Liam Schmidt, who placed in the top 40 in the sectional round. Schmidt and some of his teammates gained valuable experience during the spring track season by advancing to the state meet in the 1600 and 4x800 relay. The Griffins' strength last season was its scoring pack, which often ran under 1:00. That will need to continue throughout this upcoming season if the team has aspirations beyond the sectional round.
22. DuQuoin
Head Coach: Branden Morris
Last year's finish: State Championship- 28th place
Key returners: Hayden Swiney (So), Caiden Cook (So), Zachary Tilley (Jr), Parker Ridgeway (Sr), Reid Tilley (Sr)
Outlook: The Indians were small but potent enough to advance to the state meet. With five scorers back, they will again have the personnel to get the job done this season. One troubling point that must be fixed is the scoring split, which has been very high--over 2:00 in many instances. With the graduation of a top scorer, Connor Gross, his spot must be filled along with a back-end finisher.
Head coach: Jake Christensen/Nate Rivera.
Last year's finish: State Championship- 30th place
Outlook: The Astros took the rear position in last year's state championship (30th) without top runner Noah Luke. Though it appears that losing some core runners will be a challenge, coach Christensen is still optimistic about his team's season outlook. "We are still looking for more additions, and I know with our core group, this team could potentially return to the state meet if we can get a few more guys with the right attitude and effort," he stated. "Last year created a spark for these guys, and now we must continue it."
20. Roxana
Head Coach: Ben Scamihorn
Last year's finish: State Championship- 27th place
Key returners: Wyatt Doyle (Sr), Anthony Hardin (Jr), Noah Smith (Jr), Noah Crump (So), Noah McVey (Sr)
Outlook: Top returner Hunter Ponce has graduated, but seven other runners are returning, making the Shells a viable team once more. Wyatt Doyle was the team's consistent number-two man a year ago. It is plausible that he will move into the top spot. A mix of experience and youth will be the mantra for the Shells this fall.
19. Murphysboro
Head Coach: Cody Ellermeyer
Last year's finish: State Championship- 29th place
Key returners: Jonathan Witzman (Jr), Edgar Garcia (So), Jack Castleman (Sr), Hunter Douglas (So), Brayden Craig (Sr)
Outlook: The top four scorers and a sixth runner from last year's state championship squad are back. This season, the key for the Red Devils will be to move their pack up in big races. For example, their 1:01 scoring split at the state meet wasn't terrible; the pack was too far back to impact a top-20 finish.
18. Clinton
Head Coach: Rachel Lyons
Last year's finish: State Championship- 23rd place
Key returners: Talan Thrasher (Sr), Colin Jameson (Sr), Abel Koritz (Jr), Justin Droke (So), Nolan Rhoades (18:38)
Newcomers: Brockton Sumner (Fr), Cayden Bostic (Fr), Joe Taylor (Fr), Shawn Ferguson (Fr), Brayden Dalton (Fr)
Outlook: "The '23 season saw a historic accomplishment for our program in that both the girl's and boys' teams advanced to state in the same year (first time in our school's history)," according to coach Lyons. "Fittingly, both teams finished 23rd. As a coaching staff, we are so proud of that group and setting the standard for the program."
Coach Lyons and her team have unfinished business. For one, she must replace a steady runner like Drew Moser, who was in the top 50 at the state meet and was a great low-stick performer for the Maroons. Perhaps developing a solid pack emphasizing attacking in the middle of the races could be a plan this fall.
17. Tuscola
Head Coach: Neal Garrison
Last year's finish: State Champions
Outlook: Last year, the Warriors came out with guns blazing with the four-headed monsters of Jackson Barrett, Will Foltz, Josiah Hortin, and Blake McLeese. For some time last year, they looked like one of the best quartets in state history. Unfortunately, McLeese suffered an injury during the second half of the season, but the Warriors were fortunate enough to hold on against Benton 97-104 to win the state title.
Of course, things will look a bit different with the mass graduation and the transfer of Will Fuson, and the depth is nowhere near as potent as it was a year ago. Still, this team has an opportunity to fight for a top-15 finish by season's end.
16. Eureka
Head Coach/coaches: Olivia Morris/Matt O'Hanlon, Tom Engelhorn, Kellen Ehrenhardt, Kurt Hinrichsen
Last year's finish: State Championship- 5th place
Key returners: Tucker Hinkle (Sr), Timothy Rogers (Jr), Connell Roth (Jr), Gavin Stalter (Jr), Landon Wurmnest (So)
Newcomer: Davin Dingledine
Outlook: The Hornets has been one of the most consistent Class A programs in IHSA history. Head Coach Olivia Morris (nee' Olivia Klaus) was a state champion and star runner at Eureka. Her love for her school and program has produced good numbers despite losing five of its top seven runners. "Summer running has had good numbers, and the team has been consistent; they are setting themselves up well for the upcoming season," she said.
If things go right, the Hornets can knock on the door of the top 10. However, Coach Morris has some perspective on the matter. "We haven't met and talked about goals yet, but the boys know that a competitive and successful season starts in the summer. They have been doing a great job of holding each other accountable, executing their runs, and doing the little things to stay healthy."
Head Coach: Steve Bland
Last year's finish: State Championship- 11th place
Key returners: Luca Bryja (Jr), Tyler Linta (Jr), Lucas Pagan (So), Caleb Gonzalez (Jr), Jack Welsh (Jr)
Outlook: JJ Gonnam and Jimmy Bernaeyge, two key runners from last year's solid team, have graduated. It will be a challenge to replace them, but the Lions are no strangers to competing late in the season. You can bet that Coach Bland has had his troops in the lab all summer, gearing up for another run for Peoria. Luca Bryja is the top returner from the state meet with a time of 15:45 and will be fighting for all-state honors.
Head Coach: Troy Kerber/Larry Lillwitz
Last year's finish: State Championship- 9th place
Key returners:
Ben Bohr (So), Jack Swiatek (Jr), David Valencia (Sr), A.J. Viveros (So), Joseph Escobedo, Chris Ginnochio (Sr), Reece Voller (So), Sam Woodward (Jr), Peter Galer (Sr)
Newcomers: John Reinbold (Fr), Cal Reinbold (Fr), Walter Feldhaus (Fr), Brecken Oester (Fr).
Outlook: "Ben Bohr and Jack Swiatek have the potential to stand on the all-state podium at the end of this season, as well as the team barring anything unforeseen," said coach Kerber. "Right now, our team dynamics feature two elite front runners to go with a strong chase pack of athletes led by 36th in the state returnee David Valencia, A.J. Viveros, freshman standout John Reinbold, and the ever-improving Joseph Escobedo, Chris Ginocchio, and Reece Voller rounding out our top eight runners.
The talent is deep, with Cal Reinbold and Brecken Oester expected to challenge for spots at the end of the season."Our common goal is to state qualify as a team and greatly improve on our 9th place finish at state in 2023," adds Kerber!
Head Coach: Todd Vohland
Last year's finish: State Championship- 19th place
Outlook: The Bulldogs were a small crew last year but got to the promised land and placed in the top 20. Like most top Class A schools, they are solid through three to four runners. Andrew Larry ran close to 5:00 during the track season, and he should be an improved asset this fall. However, finding a fifth runner will be the ultimate challenge for the Bulldogs.
12. Tolono (Unity)
Head Coach: Nicole Bagwell
Last year's finish: State Championship- 25th place
Key returners: Eli Crowe (Jr), Camden Fairbanks (Jr), Ryan Hutson (Jr), Carter Tiemann (Jr), Collin Graven (Jr)
Outlook: Last year's finish to the season was rough, with a 25th-place finish at the state meet. The silver lining was twofold: valuable experience was gained in competing against the classification's very best, and most of the team's core runners are back. Look for improvements in all facets of the running game for the Rockets this fall.
11. Pleasant Plains
Head Coach: Derek Debarr
Last year's finish: State Championship- 13th place
Key returners: Elijah Teefey (Jr), Ryan Driskill (Jr), Cole Payne (Sr), Braeden Galloway (So), Ethan Griminger (Sr),
Outlook: Teefey is a superstar in the making, and of course, he is the team's low-stick runner. He is a candidate to win it all. He ran 9:32 on the track in just a handful of attempts. He did not contest the 3200m at the state meet, vying for the team's 4x800 relay, which took the bronze medal. The Cardinals will be on the rise this fall, hoping to break in the top 10. If so, Ryan Driskill will need to continue his ascent.