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Girls cross country / Scouting Northwest

By Michael Eaken

Daily Herald Correspondent

MID-SUBURBAN EAST

Buffalo Grove

Coach: Sara Cleveland (fifth year).

Last year: 9th in MSL.

Key losses: Marni Sherman, Mary Schaefer, Hana VanderVeeen.

Top returning runners: Katie Gergaghty (jr.), Caitlin Kelley (sr.), Kendall Marthaler (jr.) Mia Inman (so.), Allie Toriumi (jr.) and Andrea Mau.

Top newcomers: Kaitlyn Ko, Megan Gardner.

Outlook: Gergaghty leads a veteran squad that returns plenty of experience. Ko will be a welcome addition to the Bison attack.

Elk Grove

Coach: Mark Heintz (fifth year).

Last year: 11th in MSL.

Key losses: Claire Flood, Rachel Scianna, Rachel Pruim.

Top returning runners: Loredana Lappano (jr.), Marissa DiPeitro (jr.), Stephanie Calmeyh (so.), Beatriz Perez (jr.), Becky McDonough (so.), Olivia Zajac (so.).

Top newcomers: Jeanne McCormick (fr.), Sara Lasovska (fr.), and Kelly Naughton (sr.).

Outlook: Lappano and DiPeitro are the top returning runners for the Grenadiers. McCormick has potential to aid Elk Grove’s attack.

Hersey

Coach: Jim Miks (ninth year).

Last year: 8th in MSL.

Key losses: Nora Gawlik, Caitlin O’Mara, Leya Allind.

Top returning runners: Clarrissa Cruz (sr.), Amanda Cortese (sr.), Sara Bayerle (sr.), Halle Lyon (so.), Juliette Vanisi (so.), Callie Joncas (so.), Marilee Stonas (so.), Maddi Lipowski, Lauren Solberg, Liz Smith.

Top newcomers: Sara Thomsen, Kristen Farrell.

Outlook: Hersey loses Gawlik, but the Huskies return a trio of seniors in Cruz, Cortese, and Bayerle to pace the attack.

Prospect

Coach: Dave Wurster (17th year).

Last year: 5th in Class 3A, 1st at Schaumburg sectional, 2nd at Hoffman regional, 1st in MSL.

Key losses: Laura Maibuecher (Purdue), Kate Welch, Taylor Smith.

Top returning runners: Brooke Wolfe (sr.), Lauren Poplawski (sr.), Rachel Henk (jr.), Hannah Getschman (so.), Katrina Leeney (jr.), Ellen Siefke (so.).

Outlook: The Knights rebounded nicely after a slow start last season, earning the MSL title and Schaumburg sectional title, then finishing fifth in Class 3A. Wolfe earned her second consecutive all-state honor and will team with Poplawski, who was all-state in 2010, giving the Knights a powerful 1-2 punch. Getschman, Henk and Leeney have experience and will aid Prospect’s attack. Prospect is seeking its third MSL title in four years and also will be in contention for a state trophy.

Rolling Meadows

Coach: Kevin Young (fourth year).

Last year: Fifth in Hoffman regional, 7th in MSL.

Key losses: Ashley Miller, Amanda Sanchez.

Top returning runners: Vanessa Sanchez (jr.), Mariah Heck (sr.), Zoe Franton (so.), Melissa Whowell (sr.).

Top newcomers: Gabby Sanchez (fr.), Sara O’Malley (fr.), Hannah Schultz (fr.).

Outlook: Vanessa Sanchez, Whowell, and Franton are the Mustangs top returning runners and will pace the attack. Freshman Gabby Sanchez is coming on strong and will challenge.

Wheeling

Coach: Tim Nowicki (first year).

Last year: 12th in MSL.

Top returning runners: Marta Dazunda (jr.), Andrea Arriaga (jr.), Jessie Sanford (so.), Irene Cruz (so.), Cecilia Uriostegui (so.).

Top newcomers: Aurora Mala (so.), Yessenia Leyva (fr.), Melissa Rodriguez (fr.), Teresa Correa (fr.), Ann Gutierrez (fr.).

Outlook: Dazunda and Arriaga have had a strong summer and have set the bar for the Wildcats’ attack. Nowicki, a 2002 Wheeling graduate, is in his first year as head coach and is looking to lead the Wildcats back to their glory days.

MID-SUBURBAN WEST

Barrington

Coach: Debbie Revolta (22nd year).

Last year: Seventh in Class 3A, 2nd at Schaumburg sectional, 2nd Palatine regional, 4th in MSL.

Key losses: Elizabeth Tracy (Loyola), Alexa Argianas, Lauren Herrmann, Caroline Carley (Holy Cross).

Top returning runners: Rebecca Batliner (sr.), Cary Reynolds (jr.), Rachel Simon (sr.)

Top newcomers: Ashleigh Kleinjan (sr.), Lauren Conroy (fr.).

Outlook: Barrington finished strong last season, taking second at both the regional and sectional meet, then finishing in the top 10 at state. The Fillies lost some depth with graduation, but return top runner Batliner, who was an all-state runner in 2010. Reynolds and Simon will add experience, and Kleinjan was injured last cross country season but qualified for the 3,200 in track. The Fillies will hold their own this season and should make a return trip to the state meet.

Conant

Coach: Ron Theberge (third year).

Last year: 10th in the MSL.

Key losses: Sophie Huang, Carly Acks, Rebecca Moore.

Top returning runners: Mollie Dalton (sr.), Michelle Marasigan (so.), Emily Day (sr.), Heidi Hutch (sr.), Sarah Gregory (so.), Stephanie Buga (jr.), Melody Lien (sr.).

Top newcomers: Taylor Bogacz (jr.), Abby Tripp (so.), Zoe Shoro (fr.), Heather Cizek (fr.), Allie Gade (fr.), Natalia Lakomski (fr.), Briann Miles (jr.).

Outlook: Dalton, Day, and Hutch are Conant’s top returning runners and will be leading the Cougars charge.

Fremd

Coach: Mark Anderson (10th year).

Last year: Seventh at Schaumburg sectional, 4th at Hoffman Estates regional, 5th in the MSL.

Top returning runners: Kelly Breen (sr.), Katie Filosa (sr.), Ayako Higuchi (so.), Megan Moroney (sr.), Morgan Brauer (sr.), Samantha Bartolai (sr.).

Top newcomers: Lauren Ciardiello, Jessica Peterson, Olivia Youman.

Outlook: Fremd returns a very experienced team that seems to be on the brink of cracking a state berth. Breen leads the charge, the senior has made all-state in back-to-back season and is ready for a final push. After Breen the Vikings rely on a tight pack that will need to move up this season. Fremd has not qualified for the state meet since 2006, but the Vikings seem poised this year.

Hoffman Estates

Coach: Kirk Macnider (ninth year).

Last year: 13th in Class 3A, tied for fifth at Schaumburg sectional, 1st place Hoffman Estates regional, 3rd in MSL.

Key losses: Haley Goers (Purdue), Haley Worman (Purdue), Takshaka Patel (UIC), Deedee Delahunt (Western Illinois).

Top returning runners: Solome Haile (jr.), Alondra Aguirre (soph.), Elsabet Haile (jr.), Brianna Anderson (jr.), Rachel Flach (sr.), Yesenia Nunez, Tyra Palmer (sr.).

Top newcomers: Janki Patel, Reena Prahbu, Kaylan Williams.

Outlook: Hoffman lost a lot, including 3-time all state runner Goers, who finished eighth last season in Class 3A. But Macnider has reloaded the Hawks attack, that will feature Solome Haile and Aguirre at the front of the pack. Hoffman won a regional title last year and the Hawks are always a dangerous squad. Hoffman is a deep team, and despite the losses the Hawks figure to be in the hunt for a state berth.

Palatine

Coach: Joe Parks (fourth year).

Last year: 10th in Class 3A, tied for 5th at Schaumburg sectional, 1st place Palatine regional, 2nd in MSL.

Key losses: Ellen Smith, Laura Schweikert (Marquette).

Top returning runners: Tess Wasowicz (sr.), Jessica Lincoln (jr.), Cassidy McPherson (jr.), Liz Cox (jr.), Kara Burton (so.), Jacqui Paneral (sr.), Madi Berg (jr.).

Top newcomers: Taylor Tenca (sr.), Morgan Balog (fr.), Bridget Silvera (fr.), Kelly O’Brien (fr.), Rebecca Duran (fr.).

Outlook: After finishing with a state title in 2009, and a second-place finish in the 2010, the Pirates attack slipped a bit in 2011, but still finished in the top 10 in Class 3A. Lincoln was all-state last year and will team with Wasowicz (all-state in 2010), giving the Pirates a solid 1-2 punch. McPherson and Cox will aid the Pirates attack. Last year Palatine had problems finding a fifth runner but Parks is optimistic that one will be found this year. If so, mark the Pirates down for a state trophy.

Schaumburg

Coach: Jason Beer (second year).

Last year: 19th in Class 3A, 3rd at Schaumburg sectional, 3rd at Hoffman Estates regional, 6th in MSL.

Key losses: Kelsey Steenstrup, Grace Haerr.

Top returning runners: Hannah Coombs (sr.), Caroline Kurdej (so.), Ali Gutt (soph.), Sam Nordli (sr.), Erin Falsey (so.), Debra Sodimu (jr.), Sarah Richter (sr.).

Outlook: Beer did a nice job directing the Schaumburg attack in his first season, culminating with a state berth. The Saxons are looking to keep the momentum going this season, and Coombs will lead the charge. Kurdej is coming off a strong track season, and Falsey and Gutt have made progress. There is work to be done, but another state berth is within reach for a team that may just surprise a few people.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

Maine West

Coach: Greg Regalado (16th year).

Last year: 12th in CSL

Key loss: Gloria Rojas

Top returning runners: Cynthia Delgado, Mayra Velazquez, Ashley Grahn, Gigi Ortiz.

Top newcomers: Anne McCrea (fr.), Erin Ross (jr.).

Outlook: Velazquez is the top returning runner for the Warriors, Ortiz and Delgado will add experience to the attack.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

St. Viator

Coach: Jim Milner (fourth year).

Last year: Fourth in ESCC, 6th at Hoffman Estates regional.

Top returning runners: Hanna Winter (sr.), Shannon Cooney (sr.), Jenny Joyce (sr.), Meghan Saulka (sr.), Meghan Carroll (jr.), Katie Malek (jr.), Dominique LoVerde (jr.), Maria Dugo (soph.), Kelly Kompanowski.

Top newcomer: Julia Bergstrom.

Outlook: Winter is coming off a sensational fall, the senior earned all-state with a 19th place finish in Class 3A last season. Carroll combines with Winter to give the Lions a nice 1-2 punch. Viator moves

back down to Class 2A this year, and the Lions are looking to make some noise.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Leyden

Coach: Katie Gudex (sixth year).

Last year: 4th at St. Ignatius regional, 3rd in WSG.

Key losses: Christa Pitts, Megan Murphy, Patrycja Gumkowski, Nerissa Marcial.

Top returning runners: Danyle Segura (sr.), Aleks Kijowska, Joanna Kopcinska (sr.), Marta Ramirez (sr.), Michelle Fuentes (jr.), Angela Pyrdol, Autumn Hankins.

Top newcomers: Miriam Hernandez, Mischa Szetlak.

Outlook: The Eagles return 4 of their top 7 runners, including Segura, who will lead the attack. Leyden had a strong summer and is counting on the contributions of Kopcinska and Fuentes.

  Two-time all-stater Kelly Breen of Fremd competes during last season’s cross country invite at Warren. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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