Girls cross country / Scouting Northwest
Scouting girls cross country
Barrington
Coach Debbie Revolta directed the Fillies to an eighth-place finish in Class 3A last season. Barrington returns five of its top 7 runners from last year’s team, including junior Rebecca Batliner, who finished in 10th place in 3A. Batliner was injured during track season, but is a talented runner when healthy. Senior Elizabeth Tracy and senior Alexa Argianas give the Fillies a powerful top three. Senior Caroline Carley, senior Lauren Herrmann, senior Kaila Privatsky, and junior Rachel Simon add depth for a team that figures to keep rolling in 2010.
Buffalo Grove
Coach Sarah Cleveland’s Bison finished ninth in the MSL in 2010, and return Katie Geraghty and Caitlin Kelly. Other returning runners include Olivia Jones, Mami Sherman, Amy Schiller, and Hana VanderVeen. Newcomer Mia Imnan is looking to make a contribution for the Bison attack.
Conant
Coach Ron Theberge and the Cougars are looking to make some progress this season after finishing 10th in the MSL in 2010. Rebecca Moore, Carly Acks, and Tulsi Joshi return to help lead the attack. Christina Rentner and Kelly Urbanowicz will also aid the Cougars. Look for the Cougars to start moving up.
Elk Grove
Coach Mark Heinz gets four of his top five runners back for the Grenadiers, who finished 11th in the MSL last season. Rachel Pruim, Marissa Dipietro, and Loredona Lappano will lead the Grens’ attack. Lisa Vivacqua and Lauren Schwerzler will also contribute.
Hersey
Coach Jim Miks and the Huskies took a bit of a hit due to graduation, losing three of their top five runners. Hersey finished eighth in the MSL last season. Nora Gawlik, Leya Allind, Sara Dospod, and Clarissa Cruz will be looking to solidify the Huskies pack.
Fremd
Coach Mark Anderson’s Vikings are ready to make a move to the front of the pack in the MSL. Last year the Vikings finished fifth in conference and seventh at the Schaumburg sectional. Keep an eye on junior Kelly Breen; she finished 21st in 3A last season and will be a threat to make all-state once again. Katherine Filosa, Morgan Brauer, Samantha Bartolai and Bridget Dincher all contributed on varsity last season and will push the Vikings attack this season. Anderson has plenty of other options for a deep Viking attack that is looking to close the gap with Breen.
Hoffman Estates
Coach Kirk Macnider and the Hawks are eyeing a return to the state meet after finishing sixth at the Schaumburg sectional last season. It starts with senior Haley Goers, who is coming off an incredible cross country and track season. Goers finished 13th in cross country in Class 3A, then finished fourth in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600 in leading Hoffman to a third-place trophy in 3A for track. Goers is one of the most electric distance runners in the state. Senior Haley Worman and Takshaka Patel will give the Hawks a potent 1-2-3 punch. Patel finished 27th in 3A in 2009. But it doesn’t stop with this powerful trio, as seniors Deedee Delahunt, Katie Johnson and Kim Allen will contribute. Freshman Alondra Aquirre is a major talent, and junior Rachel Flach offers plenty of experience. Macnider has the Hawks flying high and they don’t anticipate a letdown this season.
Leyden
Coach Katie Gudex directed the Eagles to a third-place finish in the West Suburban Conference meet last season. Christa Pitts, Danyle Segura, Megan Murphy, Patrycja Gumkowski, Marta Ramirez, and Angela Prydol will pace the Eagles’ attack this season.
Palatine
Coach Joe Parks’ team is coming off a state title in 2009 and state runner-up finish in 2010. The Pirates also finished eighth at the Nike Nationals in December. So what can we expect this year from the Pirates? Palatine lost all-state runner Courtney Brown (fourth place), Sarah McIntosh, and Becca Sund. Also not returning is junior Emily Schulte, who was a major contributor for the Pirates. But the Pirates, who won the Schaumburg sectional, do have junior Tess Wasowicz back. Last season she took 15th in Class 3A and combined with sophomore Cassidy McPherson in helping lead Palatine to a third-place finish in the 3,200 relay in Class 3A for track. Wasowicz is definitely a difference-maker. Sophomore Jessica Lincoln gained valuable experience running with the varsity last season and will be counted on again. Lincoln, McPherson, sophomore Liz Cox give the Pirates a trio of talented youngsters. Senior Ellen Smith, senior Laura Schweikert, senior Carly Colvin and junior Jacqui Paneral also give the Pirates depth. Palatine has a talented group of freshman that will be looking to crack the varsity roster. The Pirates enter the season ranked No. 3 according to dyestat.com and definitely have the talent to make a trophy chase in 2011.
Prospect
Coach Dave Wurster’s squad is gearing up for big things after finishing fifth in Class 3A last season. It starts with junior sensation Brooke Wolfe (fifth in Class 3A), who will be in the hunt for an individual state title. Wolfe finished 18th at the Nike Nationals in December and will lead the Knights squad that also returns all-state junior Lauren Poplawski (20th place), Laura Maibuecher, Kate Welch and Rachel Henk. Sophomore Katrina Leeney, along with freshmen Ellen Siefke and Maggie Sullivan, will also be looking to contribute.
Rolling Meadows
Coach Kevin Young and the Mustangs took a big hit with the graduation of three-time all-state runner Christina Gastfield. The Mustangs also lost three other seniors from last year’s team, so it will be time to rebuild. Senior Ashley Miller, junior Melissa Whowell, and senior Amanda Sanchez will be looking to pick up the slack for a team that finished sixth in the MSL. Miller is looking to take the lead for a young Mustang attack that will look for the right combination throughout the season.
Schaumburg
Gone are hall-of-fame coach Jon Macnider, who won three state titles, including last year’s in 3A. Also gone are all-state runners Karen Lesiewicz, Colette Falsey, and Britten Petrey, who powered the Saxons to an MSL and state title. But first-year coach Jason Beers is ready to pick up the pieces. Back are junior Kelsey Steenstrup and Hannah Coombs, who were instrumental in the Saxons’ state title pursuit. Sam Nordli, Grace Haerr, Sarah Richter, Karyn Baldwin, Maika Kumamoto and Debra Sodimu will also be looking to contribute. The Saxons should progress throughout the season and Beers is looking forward their growth.
St. Viator
Coach Jim Milner is quietly building a solid program at Viator and welcomes back a pair of state qualifiers in junior Hanna Winter and sophomore Meghan Carrol. Shannon Cooney, Jiana Toben, Jenny Joyce, Dominique LoVerde, Katie Malek, and Meghan Saulka are all looking to contribute to the Lions’ attack.
Wheeling
Coach Meredith Silverman is ready to direct a young Wildcat attack. Lori Delfin, Maria Tinajero, Christina Lorey, Joceline Marchan, and Andrea Arriaga will lead the charge for the Wildcats.