Scouting Fox Valley boys cross country
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Troy Kerber (32nd year)
Top runners: Seniors: Mac Doherty, McKimmon Englehardt, Ethan Hansford; Juniors: Kennedy Cross, Tony Cepeda, Rob McCarthy, Damon Becker, Jacob Montelongo, Michael Easton; Sophomores: Tony Lopresti, Sam Woody, Jared Horsfall; Freshman: Max Meyers
Outlook: Lopresti, Cross, Cepeda, McCarthy and Doherty are the top returnees for the Chargers who will make the move back to Class 1A for the state series. Aurora Central also welcomes a younger group of runners who took the Metro Suburban West Conference frosh/soph title last season over Glenbard South, Riverside-Brookfield, Illiana Christian and Fenton. "This could be a good young team by the end of the season," Kerber said. "We will be competing in Class 1A for the first time in 10 years. This will be the first time in a decade where we are competing against schools our actual size. Regardless of that, we will still continue to compete with a rugged schedule that includes several strong 3A and 2A programs." Kerber is excited about the amount of runners out for the team this year. "Our strength will be our strength in numbers," Kerber said. "We don't have a breakaway front-runner yet, however we have some nice interchange between Lopresti, Cross and Cepeda. We will start the season slowly but by the end of September we will formulate and could be a pretty good team."
Bartlett
Coach: Jeremy Ruston (4th year)
Last year: Qualified for sectionals
Top runners: Seniors: Nathan Smith, Brandon Kim, Andrew Matuszewski; Juniors: Angelo Peters, Alan Michalek, Patrick Stephen; Sophomores: Luke Jennes, Sam Jennes, Jonathan Jasso
Outlook: The Hawks welcome newcomers to varsity who won the frosh-soph Valley Division title a year ago. "Most of them ran down a lot of the season and placed well at most meets," Ruston said. "Our No. 1 runner Angelo Peters won the Upstate Eight Conference race on the frosh/soph level." After missing the sectional two straight years, the Hawks made it last year and have five of those runners back. "We definitely have higher expectations this season," Ruston said. "Last year we had a very young team and the main focus was getting experience. This year the goal is to keep improving and take another step forward. A majority of the team is returning and they seem very motivated to make a jump to the next level. We had a great summer of training and are well ahead of last year. Angelo Peters looks strong and should be out near the front of most races. The rest of the group should pack up very well and will likely be pretty interchangeable. Last year they were almost a minute behind Angelo and if they can close that gap to under 30 seconds we will do very well."
Batavia
Coach: Bronco Meeks (4th year)
Last year: Third in conference, fifth at regionals and 11th at sectionals
Top runners: Seniors: Sean Adams, Shane Knanishu, Jack Gillerlain; Juniors: Chris Levario, Reid Coyle; Sophomores: Adam Kennedy, Damian Rodriguez, Joe Knanishu, Eamon Samsami
Outlook: After running three freshmen up last year on varsity, the Bulldogs are more experienced this fall with six of their top seven and eight of the top 10 back. "We have a really strong team this year and just a fun bunch of guys," Meeks said. "Last year we were an extremely young team. We had some great races, including winning the West Aurora Stampede, but struggled a little with injuries and confidence at the end of the year." Meeks said he has a balanced team with nine or 10 runners who have potential to be on the varsity squad. Levario ran a 16:48 in cross country last year but a 9:44 at the 3,200 in the sectional for spring track. "Chris's confidence has grown tremendously. He has brought that confidence into cross country thus far, and has been leading the way in most of our workouts this summer," Meeks said. Samsami is another runner Meeks said has cut his time and been more consistent. "I think the team has shown they have high expectations for themselves just through their improved work ethic and dedication," said Meeks, adding seniors Knanishu and Adams also have had strong offseasons and are leaders for the team. Gillerlain (15:54) and Coyle (16:17) will be counted on. "We feel like we have the pieces to do some exciting things this season."
Burlington Central
Coach: Vince Neil (14th year)
Last year: 11th at Belvidere sectional
Top runners: Seniors: Jack Zettl, Arnie Rodriguez Juniors: Tyler Gerke, Jack Hartmann, Adam Kries, Enrique Martinez; Sophomores: Anthony Farmer, Gio Martinez
Outlook: Five of the top seven return for the Rockets. Farmer is the lead runner while Neil said newcomers Kries and Martinez will be big additions. "Pack running will be a huge key to our success this fall," Neil said. "Anthony Farmer will provide a low number for us but the team push will have come from runners two through seven. Each day the boys continue to get stronger and the pack a stride closer to closing down the gap to Farmer. The boys had a great summer of training and with the returning athletes a year stronger and the new additions we will have a very competitive boys team." Neil eliminated some of the team's midweek meets in order to focus on invitationals. "We have adjusted our schedule by limiting weekday meets and focusing our attention on Saturday invites," Neil said. "The revamping of our schedule will help our teams be more competitive down the stretch."
Cary-Grove
Coach: Layne Holter (18th year)
Last year: 2nd in Fox Valley Conference
Top runners: Senior: Jonathon Lewis; Juniors: Derek Warren, AJ Lewis, James Wozniak; Sophomore Maxum Caesar; Freshmen: Jacob Felix, Ryan Peters, Peter Wallis
Outlook: While Holter called this a rebuilding year for the Trojans, he still expects his kids to be competitive. "We lost some big guns to graduation and are looking to rebuild this year," Holter said. "Dundee-Crown should be considered the preseason FVC favorite but we think we will be in the mix with Jacobs and Huntley for the next few spots. Many guys made significant off-season improvements from last year and are hungry for competition."
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Rich Eschman (25th year)
Top runners: Seniors: Jack Becker, Ryan Foster, Matt VanWitzenburg, Mke Bonagura; Junior: Clayton Pfeifer; Sophomore: Christopher Davis; Freshmen: Alex Picchi, Matt Brown
Outlook: Among the goals for this year's Trojans is to move up the conference standings. "We will be trying to improve on our ninth-place finish last year in the Fox Valley Conference," Eschman said.
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Jake Zappia (1st year)
Top runners: Seniors: Danny Price, Joey DeVita, Anthony Hurgoi, Jorge Hernandez; Juniors: Lucas Janikowski, Mark Jensen
Outlook: Zappia called new runner Adam Swanson one "to look out for." Combine him with the returners and the Chargers should have a solid lineup. "We have a great team of runners returning back to us this year," Zappia said.
Elgin
Coach: Drew Smith (3rd year)
Last year: Three individuals qualified for sectionals
Top runners: Seniors Cameron Carranza, Jon Porras, Ben Pinsel, Giorgio Boschi; Juniors: Juan Villagomez, Enrique Delgado, Riley Keating, Cameron Fischer, Gio Cisneros; Sophomore: Max Coryell; Freshmen: Nick Vences, Manny Lopez
Outlook: Four return from last year's lineup, and they impressed Smith with their offseason work. "Cameron, Jon, Ben and Giorgio Boschi all put in a strong summer so I'm excited to see what they can do for us," Smith said. "We will have a heated weekly intersquad battle for the top seven varsity spots with 12 candidates all hungry to compete in the varsity races." Villagomez is the team's No. 1 runner and part of a talented group of juniors. "The junior class is our strongest class," Smith said. "I think all of them have the potential to run at the next level if they stay focused over the next two years in both cross country and track." Coryell is another runner who had a strong track season and is "moving up our ranks quickly," said Smith, who also likes what he's seen from his freshmen. Overall, the third-year coach is optimistic. "This is certainly going to be the strongest team I've had in the last three years," Smith said. "I think we'll be moving to sectionals as a team and I believe we have some individuals who can move on to state."
Geneva
Coach: Bob Thomson (16th year)
Last year: Upstate Eight champions, regional champions, 15th at state
Top runners: Senior: Cole Montgomery; Juniors: Josh Rodgers, Ryan Kredell
Outlook: Three of the top seven are back for the Vikings, who are hoping to make a repeat state appearance and also defend their conference title. "Within the conference, there are four teams on both sides (boys and girls) that will compete for the title with us: St. Charles East, St. Charles North and Batavia," Thomson said. "We also have several returning runners that worked hard over the summer to improve."
Hampshire
Coach: Dennis Wozniak (8th year)
Top runners: Seniors: Santiago Arreola, Elijah Stuart
Outlook: Like the Hampshire girls team, which Wozniak also coaches, the Whip-Purs have four runners back. "The boys should be in the top half of conference," Wozniak said. "We have many younger kids competing for the six and seven spots."
Harvest Christian
Coach: Steven Bland (6th year)
Last year: Won the Class 1A state championship
Top runners: Seniors: Andrew Dobrescu, Mark Davila, Kyler Young, Connor Seals; Junior: Chris Dobrescu; Erik Richter, Josh Peterson; Freshmen: Mathew Olech, Hayden Colclasure
Outlook: The defending state champions lost all-stater Michael Sisko and also their No. 3, but the Lions have plenty of talent to build around including Dobrescu, who ran a 15:28 at state to take 20th. Davila (15:59), Young (16:02) and Seals (16:31) also ran at the state meet. Bland said the team's first goal is to win conference, then they are "hoping to be in a position that also allows us the opportunity to compete for a regional and sectional title and if possible, find our way back to the podium at the IHSA state championship." He knows it won't be easy but the additions of the freshman class could help. "Though we have lost some of our key runners we will be deeper and our pack will be much tighter than last year," Bland said. "We've picked up a couple talented freshmen. Mathew Olech could very well be an all-state runner as a freshman, and Hayden Colclasure could emerge as a top seven runner." Bland likes the team's leadership and experience. "Mentally we have to stay strong and focused," Bland said. "We have to stay hungry. Winning sometimes satisfies, and having won the state championship last year, we may not have that burning desire. We have to keep that fire stoked and if we can, we may be able to repeat."
Huntley
Coach: Matt Kaplan (10th year)
Last year: 5-1 duals, fifth in Fox Valley Conference
Top runners: Seniors: Josh Segura, Joey Ozzauto; Juniors: Jadon Conroy, Jeremy Roe, Chris Simek; Sophomores: Ian Geisler, Josh Olson; Freshmen: Grant Yonamine, Owen Cravens, Blake Nastermak
Outlook: After winning the Rockford regional, then taking 12th at the West Aurora sectional, Huntley heads into the season needing to replace Matt Kapolnek and Rafael Rivera from that squad. The Red Raiders did have four sophomores in their lineup last year, and Kaplan said the youth and inexperience showed at the end of the season. "This season we return six runners from last year's top seven which gives us a chance to improve on what we failed to do last year," Kaplan said. "I expect the team to be led by the trio of Conroy, Roe and Geisler. All three are coming off great track seasons and look to work together to give us some consistency up front." Kaplan said Segura had a breakout track season running (9:50/4:37) and should be up in the mix with the top three. Kaplan likes Ozzauto fighting to be in the top five and a senior leader, and senior Rasheed Ahmad, and juniors Chris Simek and Shaaf Iqbal battling for the top seven. "If this group can stay healthy, I think they'll be surprised on what they can accomplish this season," Kaplan said. "This team has a goal of performing better at the Fox Valley Conference meet and the postseason. This young group now a year older should be fun to watch." Kaplan likes Dundee-Crown, McHenry, Jacobs and Cary-Grove to provide the toughest tests in conference and Downers Grove North as a Class 3A state favorite.
Jacobs
Coach: Kevin Christian (11th year)
Top runners: Senior: Jacob Melgosa; Juniors: Zach Albrecht, Mark Lemke, Brandon Cole, Brett Bognar
Outlook: Albrecht leads a strong junior class, and overall Jacbos brings back six of its top seven runners. "All of our varsity runners already have varsity experience so they are not going to be intimidated by moving up levels," Christian said. "Zach Albrecht was the runner-up at last year's conference meet and after going 4:17 in the 1,600 last season is looking to qualify for state and do some damage when he gets there." Christian was impressed with how his squad worked this summer. "Jacob Melgosa and Mark Lemke improved more than anyone this summer and should move up even further from where they are," Christian said. "We had a huge group put in a ton of miles this summer so I am really looking forward to seeing what this team can do."
Kaneland
Coach: Chad Clarey (23rd year)
Last year: Fifth in the Northern Illinois Big XII, seventh at Burlington regional
Top runners: Seniors: Matt Richtman, Henry Nosek, Peyton Heiser, Sam Webster; Juniors: Jacob Wielgos, Aidan Lodwig; Sophomore Daniel Occhipinti
Outlook: Richtman leads the way after taking third in sectional, then fourth in the Class 2A state finals in a school-record 14:35. He's one of seven in Kaneland's top eight from last year who are back. Occhipinti finished last year as Kaneland's No. 2. "It is exciting to know that our full lineup has state series experience; albeit somewhat sour from 2016," Clarey said. "The boys have had a very strong summer of training, and they are a very tight-knit group of runners. Our upperclassmen are very close, in friendships, as well as in the pack they train in. It would be ideal to see this group meld into a pack that races within 25 seconds of one another for three through seven. Packing up behind Daniel at two, and then within 90 seconds or less of Matt would bring some great opportunities for the group." Kaneland needs that pack against another schedule filled with strong opponents. "Our NIB XII conference is as strong as it has ever been," Clarey said. "We could have a solid team and still finish fifth or sixth, it's that deep. We have some very nice frosh-soph runners who can push the varsity. Time will tell if we have a chance to see any of them in the state series. As always, our overall health is a critical factor in how far the team can move through the postseason."
Larkin
Coach: Nate Williams (3rd year)
Top runners: Seniors: Evan Powers, Josh Aros, Oscar Birungi; Juniors: Carlos Miranda, Andres Dominguez, Erik Antunez, Keith Carver, James Kodie, Alexis Alvarado; Sophomores: Miguel Uriostegui, Jair Villagomez, Leo Solis Freshman: Miguel Rodriguez
Outlook: Miranda qualified for sectional last year. He's one of six back from last year's team. Williams called Rodriguez the team's top newcomer, and he's looking for those two plus Uriostegui, Powers and Villagomez to be in the top five. "We are looking for a very competitive battle at the bottom of our varsity roster between Josh Aros, Leo Solis, Andres Dominguez, Keith Carver, Alonso Hernandez and Oscar Birungi to battle for spots six and seven," Williams said. "Our sophomores are one of our strengths. We believe the Tri-Cities and the Auroras will be the class of the conference once again, and hope to have two or more top five finishes this year. We believe we can return to sectionals as a team for the first time in four or five years."
Marmion
Coach: Dan Klatt (5th year)
Last year: Won Chicago Catholic League Championship, 12th at state meet
Top runners: Seniors: Michael Ronzone, Sean Galle; Juniors: Jack Brewster, Jake Harron, Jacob Coffman; Keoni English, Keegan Bennett; Sophomores: Alex Carlson, Anthony Zangler
Outlook: Four runners return from Marmion's state team, led by Ronzone and Galle who placed 36th and 57th last year in Peoria. "Our expectation each season is to continue to build winning habits that help us maximize our potential as a team," Klatt said. "In terms of outcome goals, as a program we always set our sights on being a top 10 team in the state. Because of the effort of the athletes on the team, our program has steadily improved each year and this year's group has even higher expectations."
St. Charles East
Coach: Chris Bosworth (9th year)
Last year: 2nd in Upstate Eight River; 11th in the state
Top runners: Seniors: Cole Adesso, Campbell Koch, Rohan Patel; Junior: Bennett Melone; Sophomores: Aidan King, Bob Liking, Johnny Olenek; Freshmen: Luke Schildmeyer, Matt Connell, Zach Loomis, Tyler Tobin
Outlook: With Adesso, Koch and King, the Saints have returning state experience. Bosworth also is optimistic about his freshman class. "We want to continue to grow our team culture," Bosworth said. "Also, we want to be at our best when the racing season begins. We will move people up and down throughout the season and put forth our best seven come racing season. We may start off slow, but my team is confident in their ability and goals come October and November."
St. Charles North
Coach: Kevin Harrington (8th year)
Top runners: Seniors: Bo Ruttens, Connor Cahill, Jake Estlund, Thomas Wagner; Juniors: Jack Dorrance, Hunter Bletz, Lorenzo Dripps, Nic Gutierrez, Connor Nelis; Sophomores: Ryan Arnold, Ben Cook
Outlook: Ruttens will be the North Stars' No. 1 runner and after that there's a lot of spots up for grabs. "We were a pretty interesting team last year," Harrington said. "Our top seven was a rotating group that had two sprinters, two freshmen, two sophomores, and a couple of seniors. We competed well, but the lack of several experienced and committed distance runners was a complicating factor." Harrington said there's changes coming this fall. "This year we have a slightly different mix. We are still fairly young. We have a pack of guys vying to fill out the top spots." Like most coaches, Harrington is anxious to see what his team looks like in about six weeks. "We are young, but we have a greater hunger than we have in the last few years," Harrington said. "While I think that we will be OK early in the season, I believe that we have the capacity to get better and faster every week."
St. Edward
Coach: Mike Olenek (9th year)
Top runners: Sophomores: Alex Garcia, Max Marquez, Chris Costales, Jacob Linsenmeyer, Jake Middleton; Freshmen: Matt Brady, Brian Lagtapon
Outlook: The Green Wave only have four runners back, and they were all freshmen last year. "With only freshmen and sophomores on the team we are in a building year," Olenek said. "Alex Garcia has been working very hard and is pulling a couple of our new runners along with him. We are looking to have at least one individual make it through to sectionals as well as a significant overall improvement of all our times this year. They are being pushed harder this year and seem to be adjusting nicely."
Streamwood
Coach: Weert Goldenstein (13th year)
Top runners: Senior: Fernando Viveros; Juniors Carlos Ramirez, Marcos Villarreal
Outlook: The Sabres advanced one runner to the sectional last year, Ricardo Villarreal. Three of their top seven return and should be in the front this fall for Streamwood. "After that we have a lot of new guys on the team," Goldenstein said. "It's going to take a few more weeks to really figure out who the rest of our top seven will be. It's hard at this point to really determine who our top seven will be." Goldenstein likes what he's seen from many of the runners in practice. "I see some good potential just from the practices we've had but once we get a few races under our belt we'll have a much better picture," Goldenstein said. "As far as conference goes, I'd love to see us place in the top half. Overall I'm excited about the group of guys that are out for the team this year and can't wait to see what they can do once we start racing."
West Aurora
Coach: Tony Rizzo (6th year)
Top runners: Seniors: Joel Ramos, Patrick Reilly, Zach Thorell; Juniors: Reegan McCue, Jarod Gollwitzer, Will Nicholas, Calvin Watts; Sophomores: Jackson Morrill, Julian DeLeon
Outlook: With five of the top seven back, Rizzo is optimistic as he begins his 10th year at West Aurora, the head coach since 2012. "I am fairly confident in the group of young men," Rizzo said. "They have overcame a ton throughout their careers and will continue to improve as the season progresses. We have several team goals that I believe are achievable and this is the best rounded team I have had the privilege of coaching, even better than the 2011 state qualifying team."