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Ottawa
Boys
Coach: Mark Andrews
Top returners: Ryan Nelson (sr.), Dominic Nero (sr.), Aaron Noble (sr.), Duncan Perry (sr.), Deklan Ragan (sr.), Daniel Reinhard (jr.), Cole Smelko (jr.), Liam Tipple (jr.)
Key newcomers: Dakota Frederick (sr.), Gabe Nye (jr.), Kasey Dose (so.), Sean Farrell (so.), Alex McCalmont (so.), Oliver Ruvalcaba (so), Samuel White (so.), Owen Cowden (fr.), Tucker Ditchfield (fr.)
Worth noting: Tipple already has a good history, having placed 20th in 17:41.0 at the Morris Regional and 80th in 17:52.8 at the Peoria Notre Dame Sectional as a soph. He will be challenged by Nelson (44th at Morris) and Noble (40th). Ruvalcaba and Nye have the potential to break into the top seven runners.
Girls
Coach: Dan Heaver
Top returners: Lainey Billings (sr.), Paris Blankenship (sr.), Makenna Chiaventone (sr.), Gianna Corsolini (sr.), Grace Carroll (jr.), Eva Heimsoth (jr.), Megan Smelko (jr.)
Key newcomers: Gabby Buendia (sr.), Paris Duffy (sr.), Lauren Haff (sr.), Raigan Hanley (sr.), Serina Prebe (sr.), Michaela Froisland (jr.), Emma Heiser (jr.), Kendra Martin (jr.), Kendall Lowery (so.),Kate Passwater (so.), Mayla Ragan (so.), Isabella Ruiz (so.), Hailey Larsen (fr.), Addy Miller (fr.), Rachel Stewart (fr.)
Worth noting: Ottawa has a solid nucleus back from a sectional team in the fall. Billings is coming off a junior season in which she placed 10th (20:32.8) and led OHS to fifth at the Morris 2A Regional. She turned in a 20:51.0, good for 47th at the Peoria Notre Dame Sectional. Also back are Heimsoth (31st at Morris, 80th at PND), Blankenship (52nd, 86th), Corsolini and Chiaventone. Contenders include Duffy and Martin, a transfer from Minooka.
In a few words: “The girls are poised for another great year with many varsity runners returning. There will be plenty of competition to round out the top seven.” - Heaver
“While the boys have not advanced from regional to sectional the last several years, they have grown as a team and have a great running pack mentality that will help push them all to that next level. They return nearly every varsity runner from last year, putting them in a great spot.” - Andrews
Streator
Coach: Brad Brittin
Boys
Top returners: Nick Adams (jr.), Kannin Angelico (jr.), Kody Danko (jr.), Cooper Spears (so.)
Key newcomers: Trevor Mitts (sr.), Ryan Seaton (so.), Cian Reed (fr.), Chance Robart (fr.), Eli Ward (fr.)
Worth noting: Leading the boys will be Danko, a state track qualifier in the 800 who last fall placed seventh (16:37.4) at the Morris 2A Regional and 37th (16:44.5) at the Peoria Notre Dame Sectional. He will be joined in the top five by veterans Adams (36th at Morris, 18:45.7), Angelico (52nd), who also play golf and soccer, respectively, and Spears (63rd), with Seaton sliding into the mix.
Girls
Top returners: Skyler Schimek (sr.), Abby Pierce (jr.), Claire Durdan (so.), Illiana Gomez (so.), Lily Kupec (so.), Sydney Long (so.), Katie Monaghan (so.)
Key newcomers: Kiley Rhodes (jr.), Sarah Reed (fr.)
Worth noting: Kupec was a surprise sectional qualifier last fall, placing a solid 25th (21:46.1) at the Morris Regional, not far behind the graduated Abby Seaton, then finished a respectable 67th (21:55.6) at Peoria Notre Dame Sectional. Pierce, a state track qualifier in the spring, and Rhodes, a middle-distance runner in track, will be joined in the top five by Monoghan and Schimek, with Long working to break into that pack.
In a few words: “Claire, Sara and Iliana will compete for the 6-7-8 spots for the girls. … We have a small team, but with high expectations. ... Nick and Ryan will be key contributors for the boys this fall, and Chance has shown in practice that he can make an impact. Cian and Eli have a chance to fit into our top seven. have a good chance at the top seven.” - Brittin
Marquette
Coach: Jeff Cook
Boys
Top returners: Maclane Rinearson (sr.), Daniel Hoffman (so.)
Key newcomers: Rilee Lieske (sr.), Jimmy Lawsha (fr.)
Worth noting: Now that The Times Runner of the Year Lucas Hoffman has graduated, the boys squad will be making due with pretty small numbers. Rinearson returns after having essentially two seasons off, and Lieske and Lawsha are new to the sport, so that leaves Hoffman, Lucas’ younger brother, leader of the pack. Cook will continue to scan the hallways for a fifth that would make MA eligible for team honors at meets.
Girls team
Top returners: Izzy Garkey (sr.), Brynn Hofreiter (sr.), Maddy Howard (sr.), Sheyanne Tipsord (sr.), Ella Biggins (jr.), Darby Morganflash (jr.), Grace Dose (so.)
Key newcomers: Maggie Jewett (fr.), Keely Nelson (fr.), Morgan Nelson (fr.)
Worth noting: Team captain Garkey takes on the leadership role in her second year. She and Biggins, who worked her way to No. 2 a year ago, should be 2-3 behind Jewett, an experienced state-caliber XC runner at MA junior high who is fast enough to challenge the boys. The improving Dose and Morganflash also return, but Hofreiter, a transfer last year from Morris, is an unknown. Howard and Tipsord are new to the sport, as are the Nelson twins.
In a few words: “There is some experience there, and I really do think we can be in the mix at most meets, and will be competitive. There are some unknown quantities, but they’re learning. I’m happy with our core group and so far they’re off to a good start. ... It will be interesting to see how the boys will develop. Being so young and, in some cases, so new to the sport, obviously there’s a lot of room for improvement, but I like their potential. It will be fun to watch them grow.” - Jeff Cook
Seneca
Coach: Kim Foster
Boys
Top returners: Brady Danek (sr.), Eli Hill (sr.), Calvin Maierhofer (jr.), Chris Poyner (jr.), Austin Aldridge (so.)
Key newcomers: Joe Nelson (jr.), Sy Salinas (jr.), Drew Danek (so.), Carter Thomas (so.), William Gordon (so.), Holten Struck (so.), Connor Pabian (fr.), Nate Sprinkel (fr.), Chris Smith (fr.)
Worth noting: The Irish boys will be very young, but have a solid core of experience to build around. Aldridge was a force in his freshman season, placing seventh at the Irish’s own 1A Sectional. With Poyner (31st at sectional), Danek (40th) and Maierhofer (69th), they led SHS to fifth as a team and gives it a formidable core to build around.
Girls
Top returners: Miranda Araujo (sr.), Jessica Daggett (sr.), Kaitlyn Ehrler (sr.), Audrey Jenkins (sr.), Ashley Alsvig (jr.), Gracie Steffes (so.), Lauren Cronkrite (so.)
Key newcomers: Maggie Gordon (fr,), Natalie Misener (fr.), Evelyn O’Connor (fr.)
Worth noting: Gone is captain and No. 1 Amber Vroman, but her running partner Alsvig leads a strong returning class. Those two finished 11th (20:46.7) and 12th (20:50.3) at the Seneca 1A Sectional last fall, leading the Irish to third as a team. O’Connor will step into that No. 1-B role this fall with Jenkins, who was 25th (21:32.8) at sectional, and Steffes are right behind. Misener leads the contenders for the fifth spot.
In a few words: “My girls numbers are on the small side, but I still expect them to be competitive. Ashley will lead the team with Evelyn close behind, with Audrey No. 3 and Gracie coming in a little behind her … We had a fun summer running together and getting to know the new runners … Our goal is to have fun, improve and run at Detweiller in November. ... The boys numbers are good this season with a lot of experience. Austin is ready for some competition and has worked extremely hard this summer, building a base and improving his speed. … Chris and Brady have been focused and will show improvement and Calvin is right there with them. Like the girls, the fifth spot is open.” - Kim Foster
Fieldcrest
Coach: Carol Bauer
Boys
Top returners: Mikey Scott (sr.), Mason Stoeger (sr.), Pacey Mangan (sr.), Jacob Terres (sr.), Jared Connell (jr.)
Key newcomers: Brandon Connell (fr.), Caleb Krischel (fr.), Landin W right (fr.)
Worth noting: Stoeger, one o the strongest 1A runners in the area, is coming off an excellent junior season in which he would have made XC state, placing fifth at the St. Bede Regional (17:11.11) and ninth at the Seneca Sectional (17:31.5), and earned sixth place in the mile at the IHSA state track meet. Scott was 105th at Seneca, but had a strong track season, as did Mangan.
Girls
Top returners: Natalie Schultz (sr.), Kalla Burns (so.), Melissa Echeveste (so.), Claire Phillips (so), Allie Weisenhofer (so.)
Key newcomers: Carolyn Megow (jr.), Haley Doty (jr.), Tatiana Serna (so.), Angel Serna (fr.)
Worth noting: The Knights already has a solid core coming back in Phillips, who was 32nd at the St. Bede 1A Regional, Schultz (57th, Burns (63rd) and Echeveste (64th). The program added another stellar athlete in Megow, a strong volleyball player who in the spring qualified for state in track in the 300 hurdles.
In a few words: “Claire is our No. 1 runner back from last year. She’s worked really hard and improved. … These girls are hard workers and show some promise. ... Mason has had a great summer of training and we’re looking for the top five in the state for him. … Mikey had a great track season and should get into the 17s.” - Carol Bauer
Sandwich
Boys
Coach: Bolaji Adeoti
Top returners: Dayton Beatty (jr.), Wyatt Miller (jr.), Max Cryer (so.)
Key newcomers: Brian Loss (jr.), Jaedon Thompson (jr.), Hudson Wills (jr.), Miles Corder (so.), Travis Kellogg (so.), Josefh Hernandez (fr.)
Worth noting: The Indians are starting over with a young squad led by letterwinners Miller, Beatty and Cryer, who finished 29th, 39th and 46th, respectively, in the field at the Kaneland 2A Sectional.
Girls
Coach: Mike Lee
Top returners: Molly Roberts (sr.)
Key newcomers: Ashlyn Strenz (so.), Emma White (so.), Mae Allen (fr.), Grace Anderson (fr.), Erin Lissman (fr.), Joanna Rivera (fr.), Hannah Steptoe (fr.), Aleece Subat (fr.)
Worth noting: As young as the boys are, the girls are even younger, after the graduation of stalwarts Claire Roberts and Alana Stahl. Molly Roberts, the only senior in the entire program and the only returnee for the ladies, is solid, having placed 32nd at the Kaneland 2A Sectional last fall.
In a few words: “Our girls team is very young, having only one senior and the rest being sophomores and freshmen. It’s a rebuilding year for the girls, but the future is bright with a solid freshman group. ... We’re excited for this upcoming season, especially with moving down to 1A, and returning most of our young, developing athletes. The boys team is ready to step up this year, as most are veteran runners.” - Adeoti
Newark
Coach: Marla Eltrevoog (2nd season)
Top returners: Logan Pasakarnis (so.), Wyatt Urton (so.), Gwyneth O’Connell (so.)
Worth noting: Ace Logan Benesh graduated from the Norsemen club that finished 13th of 14 teams at last fall’s St. Bede Regional in its first season in the sport. This year’s squad will focus on individual achievement, as both Pasakarnis (80th, 20:55.15) and Urton (99th, 23:05.91) finished their freshman seasons on the upswing. O’Connell (35th, 24:03.57) is the lone female in the program.
In a few words: “Both of the boys had a strong first season last year. They have been working hard and I look forward to see their improvement. … Gwen was in the mix for a medal in most races last year, and I look for her to continue to improve this year and be near the top.” - Eltrevoog