Cross country: State meet scouting, Lake County
70th annual IHSA boys state cross country meet
Class 2A
When: noon Saturday, awards ceremony at 1 p.m.
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
Area teams: Grayslake Central - seniors Jack Battaglia (37th in 2014), John Girmscheid (89th in 2014), Danny Vincent (113th in 2014), Alden Aaberg; juniors Jack Aho (11th in 2014), Matt Aho; sophomore Eli Minsky (96th in 2014)
Area individuals: Vernon Hills junior Shane Williamson (third in 2014)
Outlook: After being ranked second to Mahomet-Seymour all season, Grayslake Central should be ready to make a huge push for its first top-three trophy in school history with elite juniors Jack and Matt Aho expected to lead the way. Grayslake Central has been dominant all season with Fox Valley Conference, regional and sectional championships. After placing sixth in Class 2A last year, the Rams are a force to be reckoned. Matt Aho, who played soccer last fall, has been a key newcomer. "The goal is to run our best race of the season and hopefully that will put us in a position to get the win," Rams coach Jimmy Centella said. "If Jack (Aho) is one of the top five individuals, and if our spread between our top five runners is about 50 seconds, we can challenge for the win. I think we're ready. They've put in the work, and we're as healthy and fit as we've been all season." ... Vernon Hills junior Shane Williamson placed second to Jack Aho by three seconds at the Woodstock North sectional, and he is the top-ranked returning runner from last year's state meet. "It's going to be a great race, it's going to be super-competitive again this year, and a lot of these guys have competed against each other this year," Vernon Hills coach Mark Whitney said. "(Williamson) just has to stay in contact throughout the race with the leaders is the key, and it's probably going to come down to who is the strongest in the last 800 meters or so of the race."
Class 3A
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, awards ceremony at 3 p.m.
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
Area teams: Lake Zurich - seniors Nate Quinn, Matt Milner; juniors Matt Pereira (third in 2014), Kyle Griffith (117th in 2014), Brian Griffith (141st in 2014); sophomores Patrick Burns (121st in 2014), Eric Metzger
Area individuals: Warren senior Dustin Macuiba (17th in 2014), Stevenson senior Jared Borowsky
Outlook: With three juniors and two sophomores in their top seven, the best could still be yet to come for Lake Zurich and elite junior Matt Pereira. But as was the case when the Bears finished just two points behind York for the 2010 state crown, this Lake Zurich squad is a very dangerous top-three trophy contender after winning the sectional crown last weekend. Pereira is the top-ranked returning runner from the 2014 state meet, and he won regional and sectional races the past two weekends. "Hopefully we can have another state champion from this (Schaumburg) sectional," said Pereira, referring to 2014 state champ Jesse Reiser of McHenry. "I think it's going to be a fast pace, so I'm preparing for that." Lake Zurich coach J.B. Hanson is thrilled with the progress his team has shown in 2015, and he knows Pereira has the potential to take first place. "Matt is running with a lot of confidence right now," Hanson said. "We've been preparing him for next week and he'll be ready to go." ... Warren coach Bill Dawson is also pretty confident about senior Dustin Macuiba, who is making his third state-meet appearance. "He was 17th last year and I think he's a lot better than he was last year," Dawson said. "The key for everybody is getting through that first 800 meters in a good spot and he'll be fine." ... Stevenson senior Jared Borowsky looked strong in placing eighth at sectionals. Patriots coach Scott Sommers hopes Borowsky can make a strong bid for at least an all-state (top 25) finish.
37th annual IHSA girls state cross country meet
Class 2A
When: 11 a.m. Saturday, awards ceremony at 1 p.m.
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
Area teams: Vernon Hills - seniors Vivian Overbeck (13th in 2014), Shannon Skeoch (97th in 2014); sophomore Lauren Katz (68th in 2014); freshmen Payton Makowskyj, Hannah Ray, Ryan Schofield, Katelyn Dohler; Grayslake Central - seniors Lura Quandt, Umaiyal Sridas; juniors Megan Girmscheid, Sara O'Malley, Elizabeth Aho, Riley Achtemeier; freshman Greta Ruhlmann
Area individuals: Lakes senior Kortney Schardt (seventh in 2014)
Outlook: After winning its first sectional in school history, No. 3-ranked Vernon Hills is hoping to capture one of the top three trophies in the state meet. The Cougars brought home that third-place trophy in 2013, and they will certainly face very tough competition from four-time defending champion Yorkville and No. 2-ranked Dunlap. Senior Vivian Overbeck is running in her fourth state meet, including all-state performances as a sophomore (11th) and junior (13th). Sophomore Lauren Katz has been outstanding late in the season, while senior Shannon Skeoch is running in the fabled meet for a fourth straight year. "Yorkville is going to be tough to catch, but after them I think there are going to be some trophies up for grabs," Vernon Hills coach Suzanne Curry said. "It was the first time our girls have ever won a sectional so hopefully we can take some of this momentum going into the state meet." ... After placing seventh in the state as a junior, Lakes senior Kortney Schardt is hoping to close out her stellar high school career on a high note. ... Grayslake Central placed fourth at the powerful Woodstock North sectional to earn its trip downstate where the Rams will join their No. 2-ranked boys cross country team in competing on the fabled 3-mile Detweiller Park course.
Class 3A
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, awards ceremony at 3 p.m.
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
Area teams: Grant - senior Madison Romig (60th in 2014); juniors Rachael Temple, Brooke Drabek; sophomores Samantha Kaye, Roxanne Temple; freshmen Danielle Osmon, Eva Cardy. Stevenson - senior Jessica Philipp; sophomores Isabelle Sparreo, Natalie Sparreo, Gabriela Jagielo, Shea Kirby, Lauren Appell; freshman Kendall Roberts
Area individuals: Lake Zurich senior Caitlin Shepard (35th in 2014), Libertyville sophomore Melissa Manetsch
Outlook: With senior Madison Romig leading its pack, Grant came of age with a second-place finish at sectionals to qualify for the state meet for the first time in school history. Freshman Danielle Osmon was also a huge factor with an eighth-place finish at sectionals. ... Led by sophomore Isabelle Sparreo and senior Jessica Philipp, Stevenson had an impressive fourth-place breakthrough at sectionals to qualify for state as coach Maureen LeVanti has seen the Patriots emerge in the late stages of the 2015 campaign. ... Lake Zurich's Caitlin Shepard was a regional champ and sectional runner-up, and she is poised to have a great end to her senior season. ... After not being at 100 percent for the sectional meet last year, Libertyville sophomore Melissa Manetsch came through big-time for Libertyville under some pretty brutal running conditions last weekend at sectionals to reach her first state meet.