Emotion fuels Irish XC drive to 1A sectional

There are many things that can motivate runners to perform at their best, especially under the adverse conditions all high school athletes are dealing with.

For some, like Marquette’s Lucas Hoffman, it’s simply a matter of doing better each race. For others, like the Amboy cross country squad, it’s about realizing its full potential. For still others, like the Fieldcrest XC teams, it's about overcoming a mediocre performance to reach a goal.

But there was another in effect for the Seneca Fighting Irish this postseason: honoring a teammate.

The Irish learned just days before the St. Bede 1A Regional that 2019 SHS graduate and standout athlete Trevor Till had passed away.

The news shocked coach Kim Foster, her runners and even those new to the program who didn’t know Till when he starred for the cross country and track teams during his four years there. That left the coach not knowing what to expect from her grieving team at St. Bede, but she couldn’t be prouder of what she got from them all.

The Seneca boys, projected to battle several teams for the fifth and last spot advancing to this weekend’s sectional at their own ag farm course, rallied emotionally to a surprise third-place finish and just missed second place, while the Lady Irish did claim second place.

“This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever gone through in my coaching career. It’s just heart-breaking for us all,” said Foster. “Going into Saturday, I had no idea if kids were even going to show up … but they were so inspired running for Trevor and from all the support we got from the other schools and the community, it’s just left me speechless. They ran their butts off, so hard and determined and when they finished, they just broke and we all sobbing.

“I didn’t care where they finished … But getting third when it was unsure we’d even get fifth, that just speaks volumes about these boys. I’m just so proud of both of my teams for pulling together the way they did. It was beautiful … and now they want to do it again this Saturday, for Trevor.”

The Irish will need a repeat of freshman Austin Aldridge’s team-best seventh-place 17:15.48 on their more difficult home course to get closer to Amboy. Foster sees her undefeated girls team, led by Ashley Alsvig’s third place [20:28.72] and Amber Vroman’s fourth [21:13.44] joining regional champ Rock Falls as challenger to probable sectional favorite Winnebago.

Marquette’s Hoffman, who won easily with a clocking of 16:33.23, faced an unexpected challenge early at SBA, but expects much more competition this weekend.

“I felt great,” said Hoffman. “I was planning on going out and leading the entire race, but [Amboy’s Brock Loftus] went out and led the first mile. I was surprised he went out that fast, but the pace was OK. I just stayed with him, stayed comfortable and ended up where I wanted to finish.

“I wish there was a state, but I’m looking forward to sectional and having some good competition there, runners who will push me. This is our state meet this year.”

Marquette’s only other advancer was Lilly Craig, who was ninth [22:24.88]. She will be joined in the girls race by St. Bede’s Brady Mudge, who was 11th [21:35.30] and the teams from Henry-Senachwine, which was third led by Nakeita Kessling’s fifth place [21:17.19], and fourth-place Princeton, behind Lexi Bohm’s eight place [21:29.24].

Right behind him Hoffman the leaders of Amboy’s team champs, runnerup Loftus [16:52.75] and third-place Kyler McNich [17:07.65]. In the girls race, Lauren Althaus’s 11th-place 21:36.84 led the advancing Lady Clippers to fifth as a team.

Amboy coach Michael Robinson felt that his boys club, which hasn’t lost to a 1A team all season despite not having a full seven-runner team until Saturday, is living up to its potential.

“Team-wise, it was our best, but it was our most anticipated race of the year,” said Robinson. “We felt last year that we could have made it to state, but we fell 15 points short of it. That lit a fire under us this year and looking at the numbers as we went along, we thought we could win a regional and we pulled it out … This week is our state and we want to make the most of it.”

Fieldcrest’s boys were projected as a possible winner at SBA, but an off day for most of her runners left coach Carol Bauer hoping for better results now that they’ve experienced the three-heat format for each gender. The Knights were fifth as a team, led by junior Mason Stoeger’s sixth-place 17:11.11.

“We got in a little over our heads in the first mile and everyone had difficulty coming home, so we’re happy to advance,” said Bauer. “It’s tough because we work in practice on running in packs and now the person they key on is in another heat. We couldn’t even warm up with each other … I just keep telling the kids, the second you think about complaining about anything, remember what happened last year during track. We’re lucky to be here and whatever rules they’re going to give us to make it happen, we’re going to follow them and be happy to be here.”