Girls cross country: State meet scouting, Lake County
38th annual IHSA girls cross country state meet
Class 2A
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
Area teams:
• Vernon Hills - Coach Suzanne Curry; junior Lauren Katz (eighth in 2015); sophomores Payton Makowskyj (34th in 2015), Hannah Ray (62nd in 2015), Ryan Schofield (114th in 2015), Katie Wilkowski, Leah Wilkowski; freshman Lily Blase
• Grayslake Central - Coach Jimmy Centella; seniors Megan Girmscheid (39th in 2015), Elizabeth Aho (80th in 2015), Riley Acthemeier (146th in 2015); junior Vanessa Olmos; sophomores Mali Chiodi, Lauren Brunk; freshman Leah Minsky
Outlook: After bringing home third-place trophies in 2013 and 2015, No. 3-ranked Vernon Hills is hoping to pull off that task again, despite having some key new faces in its lineup. The Cougars will turn to the relatively experienced 1-2 punch of Katz and Makowskyj to lead their pack with sophomore teammates Ray and Schofield also boasting state-meet experience. The Wilkowski twins have shined in their first season of high school cross country. Despite their youth, Curry is confident that her team can make a push for yet another trophy. Sectional champ Belvidere North is the top-ranked team followed by Dunlap. No. 4-ranked Crystal Lake Central was only four points behind Vernon Hills at sectionals. "These girls have done it all season long," said Curry, whose team has no seniors. "They haven't wavered, and they believe in themselves. I think the key is going to be our pack and how close our 1-5 split will be, and we need to get rid of the nerves early."
Grayslake Central has three seniors back with state-meet experience. But the addition of the freshman Minsky has given the Rams a boost recently, as she was Central's No. 2 runner at sectionals. Many Rams will be making a push for an all-state (top 25) finish after the team placed ninth in 2015. "I think we can be in the top 10," Centella said. "We don't have that superstar No. 1 runner so hopefully the girls can run some personal bests."
Class 3A
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
Area teams:
• Stevenson - Coach Maureen LeVanti; juniors Isabelle Sparreo (10th in 2015), Natalie Sparreo (99th in 2015), Shea Kirby (131st in 2015), Gabriela Jagielo (157th in 2015); sophomore Kendall Roberts (196th in 2015); freshmen Caimin Xi, Michelle Yu
• Grant - Coach Jeff Durlak; seniors Rachael Temple (107th in 2015), Brooke Drabek (132nd in 2015), Lauren Troemel; junior Roxanne Temple (186th in 2015); sophomores Danielle Osmon (58th in 2015), Eva Cardy (76th in 2015), Jana Nehila
Outlook: After winning its first regional crown in school history two weeks ago, a more mature yet senior-less Stevenson team is hoping to improve on its 13th-place finish from last year at state. Junior Isabelle Sparreo continues to shine as the front-runner for the Patriots, and she got solid support from teammates Jagielo, Natalie Sparreo and Roberts last weekend at sectionals. LeVanti hopes her troops can pull through with their best effort of the season downstate. "We want top 10, for sure, and the key is that they are mentally ready and mentally tough," said LeVanti, whose team has five runners with state-meet experience. "We expected to run another week, and I have complete confidence in them."
Grant also has five runners back from state last year. And the Bulldogs have the luxury of a great top duo in Osmon and Cardy. "We're hoping to run as well as we did down there last year with all of our girls getting PRs," said Jeff Durlak, whose team placed 11th in 2015."If we can do that, it would be a good finish to our season."