Lakes aims to take another big step forward
It was about 30-40 minutes after the final race had ended at Zion-Benton last spring that the North Suburban Conference boys track and field championships were decided.
By finishing second in the 1,600-relay, Zion-Benton appeared to have wrapped up its first title outright in three years. But, after careful research, the Zee-Bees and Lake Zurich wound up in a tie for the meet title and a split championship.
While the 2008 season doesn't appear, on paper at least, to be that close, one team that should factor into the overall team standings is Lakes.
In just its second year as a program, Lakes captured the NSC Prairie Division title by completing a sweep of the other six teams in the division. While it didn't translate into a conference title in 2007, the Eagles appear to have the best chance to contend with overwhelming favorite Zion-Benton this spring.
"Our first goal is to win our division again," said Lakes coach Kurt Rowells. "After that, we can take a look at contending for the conference and getting kids in position to get downstate."
The program has come a long way in a very short period of time. In their first year, the Eagles finished at the bottom of the NSC. One year later, however, Lakes was in the top half of the conference and earned its first state qualifier in freshman Marcel Kirkmanbey.
The forecast for the 2008 season is a bright one for the Eagles, whose returnees include the sophomore Kirkmanbey.
"We have the group of seniors that helped build this program," Rowells said. "These guys have big expectations and want to leave their mark for future teams."
When it comes to the building blocks that Rowells speaks of, it starts and ends with seniors Jon DeGrave and Andrew Stein. Both have been a part of the program since its inception. Stein and DeGrave area also two of the top returning jumpers in Lake County and should be right there come sectional time at Vernon Hills.
Chasing down the Eagles in the Prairie Division will not be an easy challenge, but Grant figures to have the horses to contend with the defending champions.
The Bulldogs will have a new coach for the first time in 24 years, though the face is a familiar one.
Kurt Rous leaves the tremendously successful girls program to lend a hand to the boys team. He served as an assistant to girls head coach Jim Cramer.
Rous, who doubles as the head football coach at Grant, not only brings with him the success and energy that helped the Bulldogs set records on the football field in 2007, but a number of tremendous athletes. Included is senior Pavel Zurkowski, who was Rous' all-area quarterback.
Zurkowski contributed on the track last spring and has been tearing up the indoor track record book this year.
"We have had a terrific indoor with a lot of guys coming up with personal-best efforts and setting records," Rous said. "I know the guys are excited to get out and take that success outside."
Derek Hall, Brandon Bushing and Tommy Bychowski will also be counted on for the Bulldogs this spring.
Vernon Hills, with seniors Mo Bahrani and Zach Wheeler, and Antioch, with senior Lamarr Pottinger, will play roles when it gets to sectional time. All of the above-mentioned athletes should be running the last weekend of the season in Charleston.
In the Lake Division, Lake Zurich will be hard-pressed to match its 2007 accomplishments.
With a heavy hit coming from graduation and another to returning athletes concentrating on football, the 2008 Bears will be far different than the 2007 record-setting team.
"We will be young this year, no question about it," said Lake Zurich coach Chad Beaver. "But that is a good thing because it gives a lot of kids the chance to step up and perform."
With solid and up-and-coming freshman and sophomore groups, Lake Zurich appears to have a strong future.
Warren captured the conference title two years ago and may have the best sprinter this side of Zion-Benton in sophomore Greg Kennedy. Kennedy was a narrow miss in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the sectional last spring, but don't expect that to happen again.
Kennedy was dazzling during the football season and figures to perform with that same zest when the Blue Devils start competing outdoors. If Warren can get back a healthy Carson Greene, it might have enough to challenge Zion-Benton at the top of the division.
Zion-Benton is loaded and not just this season. Led by the best all-around athlete in the county in senior Vernon George, the Zee Bees are as close to a sure thing to win the conference title as there has been in some time.
Libertyville and Mundelein will sport new coaches this spring. Ray Albin replaces current athletic director Briant Kelly at Libertyville while Kevin Shifley takes over for Bill Murphy.
Mundelein will be much improved, led by seniors Adam Bassett and Jamell Ross. Ross is a returning state qualifier in the long jump and will challenge Kennedy and a host of others in the sprints. Bassett has already cleared the required 6-4 (state qualifying) in the high jump and could contend for a state berth.