Expect banner season from MSL
The Mid-Suburban League is known for its strong boys cross country teams, and this could be the strongest year yet.
In the West, Palatine didn't rest after winning its fourth straight MSL title. Instead, the Pirates trained harder than they ever have, according to coach Chris Quick.
Seniors Kevin O'Brien and Alex Mourosias each ran 1,000 miles this summer and hope to close the gap behind senior, and two-time all-state performer Mat Smoody.
Quick said senior Eddie Lopez and junior Tom Laskowske should round out the top five with eight or nine others battling for the final two spots.
Despite losing four of his top five runners from a year ago, Schaumburg coach Jim Macnider doesn't think the Saxons will fall far from their third-place finish at the state meet last season.
Seniors Nathan Rutz, Brian Burkhardt and Erich Seimetz, will be accompanied by impact freshman Travis Morrison, whom Macnider calls the best incoming runner he's had in 35 years of coaching. Sophomore Pat Leskiewicz and juniors Phil Allman and Jay McNamara complete the top seven.
Hoffman Estates will be led by junior Matt Perez and senior Emilio Saraga.
They will be joined by seniors Ross Goers, Chris Sutphen, Chris Hoffman, Dan Hernandez and Josh Perez. Coach Matt Dowd believes that, if healthy, the Hawks could finish third in the conference.
Barrington will be headed by seniors Matt Barns, Dan Quarfoot and Mike Pfeifer. Juniors Will Chan and Micah Koenig head a deep group of 12 guys competing for the last four spots. Coach Ty Gorman is hoping the depth translates into a tight pack.
Conant returns seven upperclassmen, led by senior co-captains Tyler Hinckley and Andrew Mueller. Juniors Jeffrey Thode, Tyler Fuchs, Pablo Ramirez, David Trinco and Ben Anderson will complete the varsity squad.
Coach John Powers is optimistic that after a summer of hard work, his seasoned squad can make it to the state tournament.
Fremd is looking to seniors Nick Hurley, Matt Jacobson, Matt Bruns, and sophomores Aaron Ferst and Spiros Angelakos to form a tight pack this year. Coach Mike Bruce said the two underclassmen, as well as junior Wade Adams, have really opened his eyes.
Hersey is the favorite in the East after finishing 12th in the state last year and returning its top seven. Seniors Kevin Havel and Billy Wisser, junior Erik Stanton, and seniors Mike McCartan, Eric Johansen, Mitch Pajcic and Mike Tisza have put in a lot of hard work over the summer and hope to turn expectations into results.
Prospect will field a young but talented team in 2007 with two sophomores, Albert Ciolek and Chris Spudic, joining junior Chris Hayek, and seniors Michael Spyzek and Tommy Lawler in the top five.
Coach Mike Stokes believes Hayek, Spyzek and Ciolek are capable of sub-16:00 races and is looking for three more runners to get under 16:20.
Buffalo Grove coach Jamie Klotz expects his team to contend for the East title and a state meet berth. Senior Clay Locke and sophomore Tim Marr were sectional qualifiers last year and junior Eric Maher and sophomores Mike Galla and Mark Giannis also return.
Seniors Toni Segura and Ken Diedrich, along with junior Eric Rodriguez should be out in front for Wheeling this year. Coach Tom Polak said the performances of his fourth and fifth runners, seniors Mark Swakow and Norbert Gajos, will be vital to a successful season.
Elk Grove is a little thin this year with only six varsity runner. However, first-year coach David Dompke said he loves the attitudes of seniors Tim Mucha, Kevin O'Keefe, Peter Herznann, juniors Ryan Loftus and Pat Connaghan, and sophomore Jeremy Demoss.
A disappointing summer effort by Rolling Meadows has coach Jim Voyles looking to 2008. Voyles sees a lot of potential in junior A.J. Adams and has high hopes for sophomores Mike Bobowski, Eric Arrazola, and twin brothers Angelos and Photis Karkalis.
However, the underclassmen likely won't run on varsity until the end of the season.
In the Central Suburban North, junior Juan Chavez and senior Matt Schiavone will lead Maine West. Joining them will be junior Martin Chavez, Juan's twin brother, seniors Bryan Katamay and Rick Sloma, sophomore Ogar Somo, junior Kevin Norman and senior Chris Milham.
Sophomores Fernando Ramirez and Harold Alvarez should join juniors Rafael Crisosto and Mazael Carrera in the top four for Leyden. Senior Matt Gramum, juniors Hernando Sevilla and Ethan Rivera, along with sophomore Hector Patino are the front runners for the final three spots.
Coach Brad Henning is happy with the Eagles' progress and would like to advance to sectionals.
St. Viator will look to finish fourth in the East Suburban Catholic League with senior captains Dan Kozicki and Frank Urbanus and juniors Nick Fratto and Brett Biondi rounding out the top four. Freshmen Nick Fiore, a three-time state cross country qualifier in junior high, and Steve Pesche could also be in the mix.