West Aurora ready for 1st state trip in 35 years

Geneva, St. Charles North and West Aurora all punched their tickets to state at the Class 3A St. Charles East sectional last week. That might be all the three local teams have in common heading into Saturday's state meet.

It was Geneva, who entered sectional hoping to find a way to scratch out a top-five finish and advance, that turned in the surprise of the season by winning their first sectional championship.

West Aurora has enjoyed an unforgettable fall, the best cross country team the school has produced in 35 years. Yet the Blackhawks enter just their second state appearance flooded with uncertainty after the stunning way top runner Steve Loran has fallen out of both the regional and sectional race the past two weeks in identical fashion with the lead two miles into the race.

St. Charles North has been steady all year, starting with the Leavey Invitational title to begin the season. Now the North Stars have a bit of a chip on their shoulder after coming up 2 points shy of Geneva last Saturday for the sectional title on their home course.

Meanwhile the best bet for a state trophy is in 2A where Marmion coach Dan Billish views his team as one of six with a shot at a top-three finish.

No doubt, the state meet promises to be an entertaining affair. It's the first time since 1976 West Aurora is part of it, and among the many well-wishers coach Matt Sinnott has heard from was 1979 school record holder in the 1,600 and 3,200 Steve Gramsch via e-mail. Gramsch was on the only other West Aurora state qualifier.

“It certainly is exciting that we finally have made it back to Peoria,” Sinnott said. “He (Gramsch) was excited to see that it had finally happened again and gave some encouraging words to the boys.

“It has truly been a great season and we are excited to see how all the hard work and great expectations develop on Saturday. Our motivation these last few months, and a word that has been our mantra most of the season, has been from the movie Miracle a group of no-names going up against the toughest competition around and surpassing all expectations to come out on top. That sounds about right.”

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks might be without Loran after he had to be taken to the hospital from Saturday's sectional. When Loran dropped out of the regional race the previous week, it was thought perhaps dehydration or poor nutrition was the cause.

“This time, he went on the ambulance and got more medical attention and it still is not clear what exactly is wrong,” Sinnott said. “He was severely dehydrated by the time he arrived at the hospital and has been tested for all kinds of things. The latest idea is that he has some kind of viral infection.”

Loran has made huge strides this year going from a good to an elite runner who had just won the West Aurora Stampede two weeks before the problems started.

“It would be such a disappointment for Steve because he has worked so hard to accomplish so much this year only to have the rug pulled out from under him at the pinnacle of the season by something completely out of his control,” Sinnott said. “On the other hand, the priority for Steve is his health, and if he is not medically fit to run then it may be the wisest decision.”

If Loran doesn't run Sinnott is looking for seniors Ryan Bartell and Matt Muth, sophomores Robert Herrera, Omar Gomez and Graham Isaacson, and junior Josh Robinson to score around 300 for a team finish in the top 10.

“We have always had the goal of placing in the top 10 at state,” Sinnott said. “We believe that we can do that if our guys run to their capabilities. Each runner has had a breakout race recently and if we can have everyone break out on the same day, then we might exceed our own expectations.”

Bartell, West Aurora's top runner at sectionals who won the DuPage Valley Conference title this fall, said he likes the Detweiller course.

“It's a flat course so it's good for the speed guy and I run the 800 and like the kick at the end,” Bartell said. “We've got to tighten up our top seven, get the core group together.”

Geneva coach Bob Thomson was surprised as anyone last Saturday when Geneva won the first sectional title in school history. Runner-up Kevin McDowell and first-year cross country runner Billy Koskiewicz led the way.

Thomson pointed to the Schaumburg sectional in 2007 when the team placed sixth and just missed qualifying as a turning point for the program. Geneva finished third in state in 2008.

“It's been a different work ethic since then,” Thomson said. “Different desire how they approach practices and meets. They come back a little more intense the next week.”

McDowell, an all-stater in 2008, has been battling groin and outer hip pain. This could be his last cross country race as will focus on triathlons in college.

“It's going to be great and to go down with the team is going to be so much fun, just soak it all up,” McDowell said. “It's going to be a fun time down there. (Second at sectionals) gives me confidence. I'm going to take it bit by bit because I don't want to push too much and get this injury going again.”

Peter Archibald, Connor Bartel, Ryan Ahern, Nate Wendt and Michael Bianchina round out Geneva's top seven. McDowell pointed to Koskiewicz' decision to come out for cross country as critical to their success.

“Billy has been amazing to have him here,” McDowell said. “He's been the key. He's doing way more than we could have ever asked for. He's another great runner to come here and push everyone.”

Koskiewicz said he was nervous before his first sectional race and likely will be again at state.

“It was nerve-racking and a lot of good teams, the best teams we've seen all year,” said Koskiewicz, who set his PR by a wide margin taking 26th at the Woodruff meet earlier this year. “I'm just happy to go down. We'll see what happens.

“I kind of just did it (cross country) for fun and it turned out to be fun and I took it seriously. All the work in the summer I didn't want to waste it all. I wanted to go all out.”

Kevin Harrington's North Stars have been pointing to the state meet all season.

“Early in the year our goal was to get to state,” Harrington said. “We punched our ticket. I think right now it will be to see what teams we can we catch. Because coming out of (sectionals) second is a good showing for us and should give us a lot of confidence but we won't be on the top of a lot of people's list when we get down there. I don't mind that at all.”

Led by fourth-place sectional finisher senior Ryan Senci, the North Stars' sectional top five included a trio of juniors Declan Duggan, Billy Clink and Zach Heuer, and sophomore Spencer Gray. They have experience running at Detweiller.

“We ran pretty well down there,” Harrington said. “Our four and five hadn't come along like they have now so it will be new and different this time. A big crush about a quarter mile and that's what it is down there. We feel confident on what we need to do.”

So does Marmion in the 2A race that starts at noon ahead of the 2 p.m. 3A boys race. Billish said Marmion didn't really celebrate either its regional title or third-place sectional finish.

“Last year we were riding the high off simply qualifying for the state finals, but this year the demeanor has been different,” Billish said. “We have set out from the beginning of the year to be a trophy team and that is exactly how they are acting.”

Billish expects Ben Kanute to be in the lead group and Nolan Dickson and Bennett Marsh to vie for all-state honors. Those kind of scores from Marmion's top three would put the Cadets where they need to be for a team trophy.

Marmion also entered state last year ranked fourth but finished 15th.

“When I began coaching at Marmion, I preached the importance of redefining normal. The boys have done just that with one step to go,” Billish said. “Last year did not end as we hoped so the boys are in a unique position to make matters right.”

While Chris Hebert and Brady Hunt are the team's fourth and fifth runners, Billish likes his depth so much from 8-14 that he wasn't sure early in the week who his sixth and seventh runners will be.

“The consistency of Bennett Marsh, Chris Hebert, and Brady Hunt makes this top five a scary group when they are all on,” Billish said. “This week will be telling and hopefully one for the record books securing the first state trophy in Marmion's cross country history.”

Burlington Central's Clint Kliem, Kaneland's Trevor Holm and Joe Giamberdino all qualified as individuals.