Cook boys cross country preview
Teams to watch
Palatine
With five consecutive top-six finishes at state, including the runner-up spot to perennial state contender York in 2004 and 2005, how could you not keep an eye on the Pirates in '08? The varsity experience may not be as impressive as in previous years, but paced by junior Chano Bernardo (36th at state in '07, 15:03), the defending MSL West and conference champs have plenty of talent and depth in juniors Alec Bollman (24th at '07 MSL meet, 15:05; 75th at state, 15:06) and Jeff Larson, and seniors Juan Perez, Adam Bethke, Colin Morlock, Tom Laskowske and Luke Kierys.
Conant
Could this be the year the Cougars return to the state meet? They've finished eighth at the Schaumburg sectional the past two years and haven't competed at state as a team since 2002 (27th), but with this group of experienced runners, this could be the year they make the 170-mile trip to Peoria in early November. And this time, not just to cheer for senior Jeff Thode, who finished 15th at state last fall (14:48). With a talented lineup, including seniors Tyler Fuchs (12th at conference meet in '07, 14:52), Ben Anderson, David Trinco and Pablo Ramirez (injured ankle last season), Conant has good reason to be excited at its prospects in '08.
Schaumburg
The program's 17th and 18th regional titles the past two seasons were nice, but the Saxons have greater goals in 2008. With a 9th-place finish at its sectional last season, Schaumburg is targeting its first state berth in two years, when the Saxons took third overall for the program's ninth top-3 state finish. Paced by junior Pat Lesiewicz (3rd at '07 Lake Park regional, 15:14), Coach Jim Macnider's group has good depth with seniors Jay McNamara and Phil Allman, and sophomore Connor Prizy.
Prospect
One head coach called the Knights the most talented up-and-coming team in the area. Looking at 18th-year coach Mike Stokes' lineup, it's hard to disagree with this assessment. Leading the pack for the Knights this season is senior Chris Hayek, who took 32nd at last season's state meet (15:03). Although Hayek was the lone Prospect runner to advance past the Palatine Class 3A sectional (15th place, 15:04), the Knights could very well find themselves at the state meet this season for the first time since finishing 17th in 2006 (9th place in '04, 4th in '05). Sophomore Kellen Strobel was the top freshman finisher (33rd, 15:19) at last season's MSL meet, and with junior Chris Spudic (21st at '07 Rolling Meadows regional, 16:00), sophomore Matt Ashton and senior Dave Gorak, it wouldn't be a surprise if you saw the Knights taking on the 3-mile, Detweiller Park course on Nov. 8.
Individuals to watch:
Micah Koenig, Sr., Barrington; Jeff Robinson, Sr., Barrington; Chris Cogswell, Jr., Barrington; Will Chan, Sr., Barrington; Mike Galla, Jr., Buffalo Grove; Mark Giannis, Jr., Buffalo Grove; Jeff Thode, Sr., Conant; Tyler Fuchs, Sr., Conant; Ben Anderson, Sr., Conant; Ryan Loftus, Sr., Elk Grove; Aaron Ferst, Jr., Fremd; Matt Cwiok, Jr., Hersey; Erik Stanton, Sr., Hersey: Matt Perez, Sr., Hoffman Estates: Ethan Rivera, Sr., Leyden; Mizael Carrera, Sr., Leyden; Ray Rivera, Sr., Leyden; Martin Chavez, Sr., Maine West; Chano Bernardo, Jr., Palatine; Alec Bollman, Jr., Palatine; Chris Hayek, Sr., Prospect: Chris Spudic, Jr., Prospect: Kellan Strobel, So., Prospect: Matt Ashton, So., Prospect: Kevin Clark, Sr., Rolling Meadows: Angelos Karkalis, Jr., Rolling Meadows; Nick Fratto, Sr., St. Viator; Nick Fiore, So., St. Viator; Eric Loy, So., St. Viator; Pat Lesiewicz, Jr., Schaumburg; Jay McNamara, Sr., Schaumburg ; Phil Allman, Sr., Schaumburg; Connor Prizy, So., Schaumburg ; Eric Rodriguez, Sr., Wheeling:
Meets to watch:
Sat., Sept. 6
Fenton Early Bird Classic, 9 a.m. ; Crystal Lake South Invite, 9 a.m.; Hinsdale South Invite ; Lyons Invite at 8 a.m. ;
Wednesday, Sept. 10
St. Viator Artman Invitational, 4:30 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 11
Palatine-Schaumburg dual at Hoover Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 13
Lake Park Invite at East Campus, 8:30 a.m.; Peoria Woodruff Invite at Detweiller Park, 9 a.m. ; Wauconda Invite at Lakewood Forest Preserve, 9 a.m.; Rosary Invite at Marmion Academy, 8 a.m. ;
Sat., Sept. 20
Peoria Notre Dame Invite at Detweiller Park, 9 a.m. ; Libertyville Invite at Adler Park, 9 a.m. ; Argo Invite at Bull Frog Lake, 9 a.m. ; Forest City Invite at Rockford, 10 a.m. ; Minooka Invite at Channanhon Park, 9 a.m. ;
Thurs., Sept. 25
Conant at Schaumburg at Hoover Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 27
Bartlett Invite at Sunrise Park, 9 a.m. ; Palatine Invite at Deer Grove East, 9 a.m. ; Eagle Invite at Center Point Park, 9 a.m.
Thurs., Oct. 2
Palatine, Barrington, Conant triangular at Ron Beese Park, 4:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 4
Antioch Invite at Fox River Park, 10 a.m.; Peoria Invite at Detweiller Park, 10 a.m.; St. Charles North Invite
Sat., Oct. 11
Wheeling Wildcat Invite at Heritage Park, 9:30; Sterling Invite at Hoover Park, 9 a.m. ; West Aurora Stampede, 8:30 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 18
Mid-Suburban League meet at Busse Woods, 11 a.m. ; ESCC Championship meet, 9 a.m.
Tues., Oct. 21
Prospect Invite, 4:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 25 Sat. Nov. 1 Sat., Nov. 8
IHSA regionals IHSA sectional IHSA state meet at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Three things to watch
1. Will the MSL West place a team in the top three in state for the sixth consecutive year?
2. Can an experienced Conant squad make its first state appearance since 2002?
3. How will Hersey follow up last season's eighth-place state finish with senior Erik Stanton out the first few weeks with a stress fracture in his shin?
What they're saying:
"We were really happy with the way we ran (last season). With five kids back and with Jeffrey (Thode) leading the charge, we're very excited about this season." - Conant coach John Powers
"I don't know if we go much deeper than 3 or 4 - we're a pretty young team. We're still learning, but as the year goes on we'll get better." - St. Viator coach Wayne Edelman
- Matt Beardmore