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HINSDALE – Ethan Forsell and Ben Huey were the principal actors in ending a drought for the Oswego boys cross country team.
The Panthers followed their first conference championship since 2007 with an even more significant milestone by claiming the Oswego East regional last week.
It was the first postseason team title for the program in exactly three decades.
The Panthers’ last team state appearance was almost equally long ago, but Forsell and Huey made sure the entire six-man roster would enjoy another week to further leave a lasting imprint.
Forsell was sixth in 15:28.9; Huey checked in two spots lower with his eighth-place finish, and Balin Doud made it a triumvirate in the top 15 for Oswego.
With its 84 points Oswego earned its first team state appearance since 1994 by placing fourth in the 18-team field.
“It is so fun leading this team,’ said Forsell. “We’re not built on (runners) one, two and three; we’re built on four and five. I am leading a team, not myself.”
“This (season) has been insane,” Huey said. “We knew we were going to be the group (to break the state drought).”
“It’s still sinking in,” Oswego coach Dan Whipple said. “I’m thrilled for the team, thrilled for the boys. It’s been a fantastic journey for this group. A state trophy has been our mind for 11 and a half months. We’re going to make it a reality.”
“We are going to try our hardest and sure as hell try,” Huey said of the ultimate goal in Peoria.
Oswego East junior Parker Nold had the finest showing among athletes who failed to advance with a team.
Nold was clocked in 15:19.51 on the three-mile layout to best Forsell by one spot with his fifth-place result.
“I was trying to get out fast today and get top five,” Nold said. “I just tried a way to get out front. I am going to try and get all-state (top 25) next week.”
The two Oswego girls programs failed to launch a full team downstate.
Oswego and Oswego East were ninth and 10th, respectively, with their 202- and 207-point totals.
But three individuals extended their seasons in the process.
Oswego junior Audra Soderlind also authored the best performance by an individual not on an advancing team with her sixth-place effort in 18:07.
“I felt like I had to get out strong (to advance),” Soderlind said. “It was getting out in the pack and staying there (that was key) afterwards. The footing was definitely a little rough. You have to stay mentally tough and keep your position.”
Angeles Mendoza and Morgan Dick were in slots numbered 15 and 25 to make the individual cut for Oswego East.
“This has definitely been difficult and more challenging,” Mendoza said of her personal journey to qualify. “I feel like I have improved a lot. (The sectional) has been one of my best races of the season.”
“I had to surge a lot throughout and race and push myself up the hills,” Dick said. “It’s really disheartening (the team failed to qualify), but I have a teammate to go to state with.”
Katrina Schlenker nearly collapsed short of the finish line after surging toward the lead in the early going for Batavia.
But the Liberty-bound senior, who owns a runner-up and third-place state finish as an underclassmen, had enough in the tank to extend the Bulldogs’ streak of consecutive state appearances to eight for the girls program.
“I was a little worried at first that we weren’t going to make it, especially because of how important the points are if I finish second or third,” said Schlenker, who finished 10th. “When I hit the mile, my legs started to give out on me. It’s another week of training with the girls I love.”
“Considering the sectional we are in, it’s even sweeter, I guess you can say,” Batavia coach Chad Hillman said of his athletes extending the program streak of excellence. “It almost feels like a mini-state meet.”
Quinten Lowe was the lone local state qualifier in the boys division; the Batavia junior finished No 20.