Scouting DuPage County girls cross country
Top area teams: Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central, Naperville North, York, Downers Grove South, Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North, Hinsdale Central, Wheaton Academy, Glenbard West.
Top athletes: Benet: McKinzie Schulz, sr., Katie Porada, sr., Nini Marchese, soph., Jenny Bohac, sr.; Downers Grove North: Samantha Fry, Jr.; Downers Grove South: Grace Magliola, sr., Casey Harms, sr., Jacqueline Thate, soph., Rebecca Sterns, soph.; Glenbard South: Karen Lipa, jr.; Glenbard West: Maddie Nagle, soph., Katie Born, soph.; Hinsdale Central: Graylin Harrison, sr., Katie Kummerer, sr., Rita Kuckertz, jr., Grace Klein, soph., Grace Hucek, sr., Colleen Leahy, sr., Kelsey Chetosky, sr.; Naperville Central: Amanda Fox, soph., Shelby Pealer, sr., Rachel Irion, sr., Kaley Mikulek, soph., Lina Alvina, jr.; Naperville North: Jamie Schertz, sr., Emily Grissom, sr., Joanna Brodecki, sr., Adrienne Schertz, jr., Christina Rei, sr., Rachel Weathered, soph., Julie Carroll, jr., Britney Weizeorick, soph.; Neuqua Valley: Megan Taylor, sr., Kelly Horton, sr., Kelcie Gaven, sr.; St. Francis: Kelly McShea, jr., Ann Kolker, soph., Bridget Reczek, jr., Maggie Deaton, sr., Joelle Nelson, jr., Claire Stark, sr.; Waubonsie Valley: Hannah Mrozek, sr.; Wheaton Academy: Alli Witt, soph., Hannah Huff, sr., Erica Wilk, sr., Jaqulyn Smith, fresh.; Wheaton North: Alexa Reinecke, jr., Maggie Westwater, jr., Kelsey Thanstrom, sr., Emily Delaney, sr., Katina Bolos, sr., Meggie Exner, sr.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Colleen Gibbons, sr., Anne Wanner, sr., Bridget Kelly, jr., Megan Witnik, jr., Lauren Mordini, soph.; York: Meghan Frigo, sr., Michelle Frigo, soph., Megan Fry, sr., Stephanie Huster, jr., Shari Lund, soph., Kayla Spencer, soph.
Scouting report: Defending champion Geneva will be tough to slow again in 2009, but perennial state powers Naperville North and Hinsdale Central are deep and talented this fall, yet each will also be tested by their loaded conferences. Huskies coach Dan Iverson returns six of the top seven runners from last year's squad that took fourth in 3A.
"We are quite deep," said Iverson, who in his 14th year as head coach at Naperville North is looking for his ninth top-three state trophy. "Jamie Schertz, Christina Rei and Joanna Brodecki will lead us early, but we have a good pack not too far back. A good pack of 10-12 is where we are right now. Either that means we're pretty mediocre or very good. We have good athletes at each grade level, so that is good as well." Don't expect any mediocrity out of the Huskies any time soon. Schertz was 40th in the state a year ago and even without graduated all-stater Michelle Stratton, Naperville North returns a ton of state-meet experience. "We do look to finish at or near the top of the DVC and the state, but there are excellent teams in the DVC, and of course, in the state. This will be an extremely competitive year for girls' cross country," he said.
In the DVC alone both Wheaton schools seem primed for a run at a state berth, while coach Aislinn Hicks has Naperville Central on the rise. Wheaton North has Kelsey Tharnstrom and Emily Engel back after missing 2008 with injuries, while Alexa Reinecke enters the season after qualifying for state in both track and cross country a year ago. WW South took 11th in 3A and returns its top three runners in Lauren Mordini (50th), Colleen Gibbons (51st) and Anne Wanner (77th).
The Redhawks have sophomore state qualifier Amanda Fox, who also won a regional crown as a freshman, and senior Shelby Pealer (16th in the state in 2007) at the top of their lineup. "I think we have taken another step forward. We've got some returning talent and we're pretty excited to start running Saturday (at Hornet-Red Devil meet)," coach Hicks said.
Benet returns four varsity runners from last year's team that took 15th in the state. At the top is senior McKinzie Schulz, who won the 800-meter state track title in the spring. She was fifth at regionals, second at sectionals and 19th at state last fall with a time of 17:36 at Peoria. Katie Porada, Nini Marchese and Jenny Bohac round out the returners, but coach Scott Brooks has plenty of strong options to turn to to fill out the lineup. Freshman Maddie Gilleran appears ready to crack the top seven from Day 1, and the Redwings have several other strong newcomers ready to push a group of talented upperclassmen.
As usual both West Suburban Conference divisions are strong, and the Red Devils enter the new campaign after six straight seasons in the top 10, including last year's runner-up finish. With five runners off last year's squad now competing in Division I, Hinsdale Central will have to reload somewhat, but five seniors will help carry on the program's strong tradition. "I don't think I can ever remember a year where so many teams can make a run at top 10 or top 15 in the state," coach Mark McCabe said. "It is very deep. Our conference and the area are so deep with talent." That talent includes a York team that was young last season and still managed to finish ninth in the state. Glenbard West will be paced by state qualifier Maddie Nagle and sophomore Katie Born.
In Class 2A Wheaton Academy will be competing in the new Suburban Christian Conference. The Warriors will be paced by Alli Witt, who was 21st in the state as Wheaton Academy took eighth in the state a year ago. Hannah Huff and Erica Wilk round out the top three and freshman Jaqulyn Smith is expected to contribute immediately. Coach Bill Bickhart has nine solid freshmen who should help as the Warriors look to qualify for state for the 12th year in a row.