advertisement

Boys track and field: Scouting Northwest

MID-SUBURBAN EASTBuffalo GroveTop returning athletes: Seniors Arturo Bautista (800), Josh Hellyer (2-mile), Cam Adams (hurdles), Jack Pontarelli (hurdles/high jump), Demetri Lomnick (jumps), Jordan McDonald (high jump), Tom Kelly (pole vault), Zak Herner (sprints); juniors Alberto Rivera (800), Ronald Michel (sprints), Zach Sheasby (triple jump), Evan Linborg (throws); sophomores Jon Peici (sprints), Luke Wenzel (mile), Javier Guerrero (800)

Outlook: Coach Tim Podulka got some great news from the MSL indoor invite recently, as senior Arturo Bautista won the 800 (1:58.29) and senior Demetri Lomnick won the long jump, tying the indoor school record with a leap of 21 feet, 8½ inches. "This year I really believe our senior leadership is better than it has ever been," Podulka said. "We have a group of guys that have been competing at a high level for most of their careers. They set great examples for the younger members of our program." While the Bison have state hopefuls in Bautista and Lomnick, Podulka is hoping others achieve at the highest levels this spring. "Those two are pretty good bets to be our state qualifiers this year," Podulka said, "but I also am expecting big things from Jack Pontarelli, Cam Adams, Jordan McDonald and Alberto Rivera as well. This is shaping up to be a very exciting year for the Bison."

Elk GroveTop returning athletes: Dominic Schiavone (Sr.), Connor Cloherty (Sr.), Raj Patel (Sr.), Tony Rogus (Sr.), AJ Bingayen (Sr.), Eric Kolton (Jr.), Brandon Paeng (Jr.), Adian Keserovic (Jr.), Oscar Patino (Jr.)

Promising newcomers: Devaughn Tillman (So.), Alex Pillith (So.), Kosei Kusunoki (Fr.), Michael Johnson (Fr.)

Outlook: Coach Brian Bucciarelli has a developing group and expects to see big gains over the course of the season. A couple of strong senior role models figure to help in that progress. "This year's team will be very young," he says. "We graduated a lot of seniors over the past two years that were great athletes for us. The seniors that are still in the program are extremely hard-working and great leaders, as well as mentors for our younger athletes to model themselves after. I expect great things from seniors Dominic Schiavone and Connor Cloherty this year, as well as our younger athletes developing over the course of the season."

HerseyTop returners: Brendan Igoe (jumps/sprints), Alex Nickens (sprints/hurdles), Tom Platt (jumps), Jack Rasmussen (high jump/sprints), Sigmund Serranilla (sprints), Tom Snyder (sprints), Grant Wagner (sprints, high jump), Luke Cecala (sprints), Shawn Bolin (sprints), Zak Karman (hurdles/jumps), Dan Gritt (mid distance), Jacob Krupa (distance), Sam Svienty (distance), Eric Wagner (distance), Bobby Szymanski (throws)

Promising newcomers: Brendan Watson (discus), Jack Fredian (distance), Nate Mayo (distance), Joe Theisen (distance), Ryan Busch (distance), Josh Methner (distance), Max Svienty (distance), Jack Harmon (hurdles), Caleb Havel (sprints), Tim Huff (sprints), Kacper Rutkiewicz (sprints), Nick Steger (hurldes/Sprints)

Outlook: Coach Ken Blazek and a team with an especially strong distance group is taking aim at lofty goals this spring. "Our goal at Hersey is to be extremely competitive and try to win the East Division," Blazek said. "At the conference level, we always want to place top three and then qualify as many athletes to state as possible. Our team has a very strong distance core and we have a lot of depth in sprints. Hersey has some really good seniors and a lot of strong underclassman. Hopefully we can put together a solid outdoor season and be competitive in the end."

ProspectTop returning athletes: Seniors Anthony Kies (sprints), Kevin Sherwood (jumps, sprints), Ian Arms (sprints), Nick Konstantinou (sprints), Jeremy Potratz (jumps, sprints), Andrew Shafis (sprints, jumps, hurdles), Jack O'Donnell (distance), James Riordan (distance), Sean Sanagha (distance), Jeff Snell (distance), Nick Serio (distance), Billy Matzek (throws), Vince Shields (throws), Alex Palczewski (throws). James Estrella (Pole Vault and hurdles); juniors Nate Cozine (distance), Casey Daleiden (Distance), Jack Hempleman (distance), Red Sumulong (sprints and jumps), Jack Terry (distance); sophomore Michael Shafis (jumps).

Promising newcomers: Sophs Tim Zalinski (sprints and jumps), Jack Young (sprints), Nathan Kowalski (sprints and jumps), Andy Reimann (distance), Nathan Fowler (distance), Avery Johnson (throws); freshmen Will Horvath (sprints and jumps), Justin Carreon (sprints), Eric Snell (distance), Tom Walter (distance), John Moellankamp (sprints and jumps).

Outlook: Renaud heads an all-star cast of coaches including Tim Bieshir and Rich Hedstrom (throws), Jeff Collier (jumps), Mike Stokes (distance), Mike Sebestyen (sprints and hurdles) and Tim Clements (pole vault). And it looks like this group has plenty to work with. The defending outdoors conference champs had a strong indoor season, taking second at York's invite, second in the MSL invite and winning last weekend at Proviso East. Renaud expects the throws group to be exceptional with Matzek, Shields, and Palczewski leading the way. A deep sprints group includes Kies, Konstantinou, Arms, Sherwood, Shafis, Potratz and Zalinski, and Jack O'Donnell sets the standard for a typically strong distance group. Michael Shafis is a returning state qualifier in the high jump (6-5), and Andrew Shafis and Kevin Sherwood are both 42-plus in the triple jump. Andrew Shafis heads up the hurdles group. "Our goals this season haven't wavered: Win the MSL East and MSL championship while running our best at the sectional to qualify as many athletes as possible," Renaud said. "Have fun and set personal bests in high-pressure meets."

Rolling MeadowsTop returning athletes: Seniors John Gerardi (mid-distance), Zach Gunger (pole vault), Mike Utyro (sprints/long hurdles), Mark Lopez (sprints/long hurdles), Mat Zieba (sprints), Nigel Wilson (sprints); juniors: Andrew Neville (throws), Will Rezny (throws), Jared Axelrad (sprints), Zach Olberg (long sprints).

Promising newcomers: Sophomores Joe Boyer (throws), Eddie Lennon (distance), Tim Szylak (sprints/hurdles), Kasper Lesniak (triple jump).

Outlook: Coach Frank Schweda and the Mustangs are looking to improve upon last year's eighth-place finish in the conference - and there are several good, young reasons to base that upon. After all, last year Meadows won the frosh-soph conference track and field meet, and just last fall, the Mustangs were tops in the frosh-soph conference cross country meet. Another goal is getting some downstate representation at season's end, with Zach Gunger and John Gerardi as lead candidates. Gunger is the defending conference champ in the pole vault, and Gerardi was second last spring at the MSL meet. Schweda also thinks getting a sprint relay to race downstate is a possibility. "We are going to have to work hard up until the end," he said. "Illinois has some great track and field athletes and some outstanding teams - and the MSL has both. We have a good mix of exerience and youth on the team, so I am excited to see what we can do."

WheelingTop returning athletes: Seniors Jason Shannon (sprints), T.J. Best (jumps), Sinai Rodriguez (sprints, distance), Victor Wiski (throws), Matt Hoffman (distance), Carlos Montiel (distance), Blake Greenberg (sprints); juniors Lawrence Knish (hurdles, jumps).

Promising newcomers: Senior Leo Sierra (distance); juniors Phil Bucko (sprints, jumps), Logan Laude (sprints), Braxton Barrett (sprints, hurdles), Eric Le (distance); freshman Jordan Teran (distance).

Outlook: The bar has effectively been raised at Wheeling, where the Wildcats turned in the program's best finish since 1999 with a third-place team effort at the Mid-Suburban League meet. Coach Mike Kamedula hopes to be in the discussion for even higher honors this spring. "We hope to contend for the East Division and MSL title," he said. Shannon was terrific in the Top Times Classic over the weekend in the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan, taking third in the 60-meter dash (6.91). He figures to help lead an exceptional senior class with T.J. Best and Sinai Rodriguez. "We're looking for a solid group to compete on Saturday at the state meet," Kamedula said.

MID-SUBURBAN WESTBarringtonTop returning athletes: Seniors John Stefan (throws), Nash Pirie (400), David Lozzio (400), Logan Moews (sprints), Peter Jackowski (jumps/sprints), Ross Bravo (hurdles); juniors Luis Cossio (sprints), Brad Warman (throws), Kevin Curet (hurdles), Nick Laning (distance), Alec Andrea (sprints), Ray Niro (sprints).

Top newcomers: Seniors Matt Siapkaris (sprints), David Stanton (distance), Bartek Susol (distance), Stuart Todd-MiddleDich (distance), Steven Yancey (distance); juniors Josh Gouskos (throws), Geoff Frenk (throws), Ellis Sawyer (sprints), Hamza Firozi (distance), Jake Parson (hurdles), Jeff Hesselbein (distance), Charlie Frank (400); sophomore Michael Curran (sprints); freshmen Aaron Sarkar (distance), EJ Darlington (sprints), Patrick Furlong (jumps), Kyle Rivas (jumps).

Outlook: Coach Todd Kuklinski liked the starting point for this year's team and has high hopes for the areas that could use improvement. "We have a good nucleus back from last year with Luis Cossio, Nash Pirie and David Lozzio all being state qualifiers back in the 1,600-meter relay, and Cossio in the 400 as well," he said. "The strength of the team will be in the throws." John Stefan and Brad Warman are returning state qualifiers; Stefan placed sixth in the shot last spring and also made state in the discus. "Relays and team depth will be a big factor in our success this year," said Kuklinski, whose team placed third in the MSL West and fifth at the MSL meet last spring.

ConantTop returning athletes: Seniors Chris DiGioia (distance), Eliot Chang (jumps, sprints), Jake Stumpf (sprints); juniors Matt Candre (sprints), Nate Foster (middle distance), Michael Lee (sprints, jumps), Sam Torrens (distance).

Outlook: Coach John Powers reports that he's in charge of a fairly small varsity group this year - in stark contrast to the lower levels, where the Cougars have in the neighborhood of 75 athletes. "A lot of places, that's bigger than the entire team," he said. While those younger developing competitors make their strides, seniors DiGioia (distance), Chang (jumps, sprints) and Stumpf (sprints) will lead the way, supported by a capable junior class. Powers says competing in the MSL West always tough, and this year will be no exception. "We all know that going in," he said. "You can count on great competition in MSL. We're in an area that's so strong in cross country, so we tend to have track teams that are strong distance-wise in the conference. Developing the sprints, that's the key to success in track, and we'll all be working on that."

FremdTop returning athletes: Seniors Ethan Hanson (throws), Roman Murashko (throws), Danny Peterson (distance), Jack Buban, Luke Vogelgesang; juniors Jaden Jackson (hurdles, sprints), Ben Konopka (hurdles, sprints), Ed Worthem.

Top newcomers: Throws: Matt Bilek (Jr.), Austin Schwantz (Sr.), Chris Rydberg (Jr.); sprints and jumps: Zach Balis (So.), Kievon Brown (Sr.), Brian Chindblom (Jr.), Tyler Faust (Sr.), Will Ferry (So.), Jim Leahy (So., pole vault), Patryk Ryczek (Sr.), Riley Spankowski (So.), Jiesen Zhang (Jr.). Distance: Charlie O'Brien (So.), Matt Wallace (Jr.), Keith Contreras (Jr.)

Outlook: It's the final go-round for veteran head coach Jim Aikens, who is in his 28th year of leading the program. And he's got quite a collection of competitors to accompany him. Ethan Hanson is an elite-level thrower who placed 10th in last year's state meet; more recently he won the MSL indoor invite with a toss of 58 feet, 6 inches. Joining him in the throws will be senior Roman Murashko, who Aikens says is ready to compete at the highest level. Junior Jaden Jackson finished sixth in the 300 intermediate hurdles last spring and won the 400 at the MSL Invite; junior Ben Konopka is also among the top sprinters/hurdlers in the MSL. Senior Danny Peterson leads a very strong distance group. The Vikes return their entire state-qualifying 800 relay (Peterson plus Jack Buban, Luke Vogelgesang and Ed Worthem) - but Aikens is hoping for more than mere state qualification this spring. "All of these guys were state qualifiers last year and have worked their butts off to do more than just qualify for the state meet this year," Aiken said. "That being said, the true success of our team will come down to how well our sprints and jumps crew develops over the course of the season. We have some great kids in that group and our coaches are second to none, so I have every confidence that they will be a force to be reckoned with by the end of the season."

Hoffman EstatesTop returning athletes: Seniors Jack Worman (distance), Alex Makrounis (distance), Ryan Greenwalt (distance), Cristian Contreras (mid-distance), Daniel Banahan (sprints), Fynn Alade (jumps), Dylan Kreuzer (sprints); juniors Declan Rustay (sprints), Anijel Jones (sprints, jumps), Jaylen Alexander (throws), Trevon Hall (jumps), Clevontae Jackson (sprints), Julian Pablo (sprints), Marshall Davis (jumps).

Promising newcomers: Cameron Kindred, Jeremiah Blocker, Darian Waits, Chris Blackshear, Max Lock.

Outlook: These are exciting times for the Hoffman Estates program led by coach Tyrone Jones. The Hawks were terrific last season, with accomplishments such as an MSL West championship, a runner-up finish at the MSL meet and a sectional championship, the program's first since 1980. Jones believes the example set by graduated seniors Jelyn Hill, Shiv Patel, Matt Peterson, Nathan Otto, Michael Johnson, Bryan Gamboa and Tahir Hill will continue to pay dividends with this year's talented group. Start with junior sprinter Declan Rustay, who excelled at the recent MSL indoor invite and at the Top Times Classic after taking third in the 100-meter dash and ninth in the 200 in last spring's state meet. The Hawks have plenty of other familiar faces back from last year, including Jack Worman, Alex Makrounis, Daniel Banahan and Anijel Jones. Jones says his program "will be looking to put forth a balanced attack to take the next step forward."

PalatineTop returning athletes: Seniors Matt Ahlgrim (distance), Nate Izewski (distance), Ben and Curt Kontney (distance), Brian Leonard (distance), Ryan Garner (throws), Zach Proctor (throws), Mackenzie Balanganayi (hurdles), John Elischer (hurdles), Cordell Griffin (jumps), Kendall Johnson (jumps), Spencer Poklop (jumps), Tarquis Underwood (jumps), Courtland Cornelius (sprints), Cole Wasowicz (200), Patryk Gajewski (pv), Carlos Maldonado (pv), Nestor Vazquez (pv).

Promising juniors: Evan Eckels (distance), Mason Gratzianna (sprints), Elliott Hardwick (jumps), Cortez Hogans (jumps), Josh Okee (hurdles), Art Oshinson (distance)

Promising sophomores: Joe Ahlgrim (distance), Jorge Corona (distance), David Godsey (throws), Chris Lewiston (jumps)

Promising freshmen: Richie Jacobo (distance).

Outlook: Coach John Nalley brings back a group with great credentials, including state qualifiers Brian Leonard (1,600, 4 x 8), John Elischer (300 hurdles), Courtland Cornelius (100, 4 x 2) and Art Oshinson (4 x 8). More recently, the Pirates had impressive results from Kendall Johnson, who was second at the MSL indoor invite in the triple jump, and from frosh Richie Jacobo, who placed fifth at the same meet in the 3,200 run (9:49.94). Even with all of that good news, Nalley sees it as an uphill battle this year - at least in the conference. "As we have grown to expect, the MSL is tough in all events," Nalley said. "This is what makes this conference so competitive at our division meets, the MSL meet, and at the state level." Nalley considers Hoffman Estates and Prospect the teams to beat, and he's looking forward to seeing his Pirates accept that challenge. "As far as our team, I am excited about our numbers, as over 120 athletes are on the team this year. Also, our 27 seniors are good leaders and we hope the younger athletes learn a great deal from them this year about competing in this conference." As always, the Pirates are looking forward to hosting the Palatine Relays on April 29 - one of the state's great tradition-laden meets, and the longest-running relay meet in Illinois.

SchaumburgTop returning athletes: Seniors Dakari Ferguson (sprints/jumps), Barrak Scott (jumps), Connor Czarniak (hurdles); juniors Victor Olaitan (hurdles/jumps), Justin Maristela (sprints), Mike Baranowski (distance), Karsten Zielinski (distance)

Outlook: Coach Ryan Senica is looking forward to a good-looking group of juniors to help the Saxons make their mark. Leading that class is Victor Olaitan, the defending MSL champ in the 110 high hurdles. Olaitan recent tied the indoor conference record in the 55 high hurdles. "Victor is one of the top athletes in the area in the high hurdles and long jump/triple jump," Senica said. Another team strength will be sprints, where senior Dakari Ferguson leads the way. Junior Justin Maristela joins that effort, and juniors Karsten Zielinski and Mike Baranowski figure to pace the distance group.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHMaine WestTop returning athletes: Seniors Ricky English (sprints), Erik Klingenberg (pole vault), Kevin Leon (800), John Pacini (sprints), Martin Robinson (jumps, sprints), Connor McGing (sprints); juniors Taras Dzhul (pole vault), Donny Johnson (distance), Matt Litas (jumps), Derek Pace (distance).

Newcomers: Jonaas Drain (400), Danny Weller (400).

Outlook: Coach Andy Trotter's team finished sixth in the CSL North indoor meet, but he's hoping a well-rounded group has a chance to make gains by season's end. "We do have a more balanced team this year, which should help us to be more competitive," Trotter said.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLICSt. ViatorTop returning athletes: Seniors Sam Brey (distance); juniors Jack Scislowski (sprints), Michael Steadman (sprints), William Sheriff (sprints, relays), Jeremy Yoder (sprints, jumps), Brady Collis (distance), Richard Rinka (distance); sophomore Kentaro Lim (pole vault).

Promising newcomers: Seniors Paolo Garland (mid. distance), Mark Young (mid. distance), Matt Beiersdorf (throws); juniors Jeremiah Hare VIII (sprints, jumps), Joseph Cleary (throws), Kennedy Gawin (sprints, jumps), Joseph Steinecke (throws); sophomores William Walberg (sprints); freshmen Patric Natindum (mid. distance), Trent Reyes (sprints),

Outlook: Coach Rodero Warren is rightly proud of the tradition that St. Viator has established in its track and field program. Last year, the Lions produced their best-ever placement in the conference meet along with the most complete group yet to compete at state. Along with all that, there's been a steady stream of next-level achievers, most recently Nick Brey (Tennessee). "Our strength is built on taking ownership of the team, and holding themselves accountable while supporting their teammates," Warren says. "Each one of them is the most important part of the team. They don't get to focus on one or two events." Senior Sam Brey figures to lead a group that enjoys the process of improving. "We don't have the great depth we had last year," said Warren, "but we are solid with underclassmen. Somehow we find a way to surprise ourselves. We just keep having fun."

  Anijel Jones is among an impressive group of returning athletes for defending MSL runner-up Hoffman Estates. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.