Girls cross country: Lake County previews
NORTH SUBURBAN LAKE
Lake Zurich
Coach: Ian Silverman (12th season)
Last year's record: 2nd in NSC, Class 3A sectional qualifier
Top graduated seniors: Kaitlin Leopold, Olivia Holicky, Kelsey Iverhouse, Katie Harlan (Carroll College)
Top returning competitors: seniors Amy Polhemus, Audrey Smith; juniors Cassie Houghton, Andrea Adams; sophomore Angela Ufheil
Key newcomers: junior Elizabeth Berton; sophomore Maddie Gelinas
Outlook: After taking runner-up honors in the NSC last fall, the Bears return in 2010 with high expectations again despite having quite a few new faces in the varsity lineup. Lake Zurich could be in a real dogfight with Stevenson and Libertyville for the top spot in the NSC again this year.
Libertyville
Coach: Joe Roth (second season)
Last year's record: NSC champions, Class 3A sectional qualifiers
Top graduated seniors: Megan Janezic (Loyola), Sarah Farish (Illinois), Michelle McCracken (Iowa), Sara Fitzgerald (Augustana), Eleanor Feely (Ohio Wesleyan)
Top returning competitors: seniors Erin Jaffke, Erika Danckers, Megan Ryan; junior Lexie Zafiratos; sophomores Nicole Jaffke, Abigail Toohey, Maggie Fiorito
Key newcomers: junior Meaghan Polk; freshmen Kathleen Graham, Robin Villanueva, Katia Arteaga
Outlook: The Wildcats have some rebuilding to do this fall as they have to replace four of their top seven runners from last year's NSC title team. But Libertyville already has some new runners stepping up to make a potential run for back-to-back NSC crowns in 2010.
Mundelein
Coach: John Osmanski (seventh season)
Last year's record: Class 3A sectional qualifier, sixth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Kelsey Moon (Augustana), Angela Norton (Augustana)
Top returning competitors: juniors Katie Christensen, Lisa Nootbaar;sophomores Marisa Perreault, Steph Johnson, Morgan Lohr, Claire Naughton
Key newcomers: seniors Sarah Bassett;sophomores Lauren Anderson, Emily Zagula, Ellie Palacios
Outlook: The Mustangs suffered two huge losses to graduation in Moon and Norton, but they do have some very positive additions to the team. Mundelein has a great front-runner back in Perreault to lead their pack into contention in the Lake Division.
Stevenson
Coach: Don Proft (12th season)
Last year's record: 3rd in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Paige Ekenberg, Kristin James
Top returning competitors: seniors Anna Franke, Tessa Lancaster;junior Emily Cunningham; sophomores Mackenzie Levy (10th in Class 3A), Jenna Weiner, Samantha Tarnoff
Key newcomers: junior Amy Dondalski; sophomore Kimi Kulacic; freshmen Becky Callen, Melissa Engel
Outlook: The Patriots' young but experienced team should really thrive this fall behind the sophomore duo of Levy and Weiner as Levy is the top returning runner in the NSC in 2010. Stevenson will have to out-battle familiar foes Libertyville, Lake Forest, and Lake Zurich if it wants to win the conference crown.
Warren
Coach: Cheryl Anderson (ninth season)
Last year's record: eighth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Annie Brandes
Top returning competitors: seniors Gabby Nystrom, Maggie Demaegd, Victoria Knaus; juniors Andrea Saigh, Jolyn Achs; sophomores Amanda Harper, Meg Tully
Key newcomers: senior Julie Wienerslage (from track); freshman Christine Storli
Outlook: With a school record 75 runners in the program this season, the future looks pretty bright for the Blue Devils. Warren has a good front-runner in Nystrom, but it will need to develop more of a pack to contend with the top teams in the Lake Division.
NORTH SUBURBAN PRAIRIE
Antioch
Coach: Chris Bailey (second season)
Last year's record: Class 2A sectional qualifier, 10th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Erin Poss (Drake)
Top returning competitors: junior Haedyn Smith; sophomore Alyssa Achenbrener
Key newcomers: freshmen Ashley LaPointe, Hannah Bohn
Outlook: After placing sixth and seventh in the state as an individual in Class 2A the past two seasons, the Erin Poss era is over at Antioch. With four of their top eight varsity runners being only freshmen, the Sequoits' will definitely be fielding a very young team this year.
Grant
Coach: Jeff Durlak (fourth season)
Last year's record: 11th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Alexis Capps (NIU), Audrey Carrothers
Top returning competitors: seniors Trisha Palmieri, Vianca Bermeo; juniors Kacie Wodek, Tara Cwiak, Kassie Stimpson, Hayley Walsh, Taylor Mannes, Jill Sales; sophomore Kyra Schmidt
Key newcomers: junior Iony Schmidt; sophomore Ana Hebein; freshman Lindsey Lewis
Outlook: The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them in the NSC. But with Wodek as one of their leaders again and Lewis off to a great start, Grant hopes to be competitive in the Prairie Division.
Lakes
Coach: Keith West (seventh season)
Last year's record: Prairie Division champions, fifth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Kayle Searle (BYU-Idaho)
Top returning competitors: juniors Kathryn Dean, Hannah Wittman;sophomore Amanda Timmerman
Key newcomers: freshman Marissa Franson
Outlook: With the junior duo of Dean and Wittman setting the pace, the Eagles will be aiming for a third consecutive Prairie Division title while pushing for a top-three finish in the overall NSC standings.
Round Lake
Coach: Kevin Brady (sixth season)
Last year's record: 13th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Danya Aceves, Ashley Carey
Top returning competitors: seniors Elena Briones, Maria Acosta, Kassandra Campa;junior Celeste Acosta;sophomore Rachel White
Key newcomers: senior Vanessa Garcia;junior Sydney Rose;sophomore Alison Werth
Outlook: Losing their second and third runners to graduation will be difficult for the Panthers to replace this year. But Round Lake will hope to return to the sectional meet this season after missing the cut in 2009.
Vernon Hills
Coach: Suzanne Richert (sixth season)
Last year's record: ninth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Carley Umphress, Jessica Feece
Top returning competitors: senior Kelley Gallagher; juniors Danielle Fiarito, Abbie Letts; sophomore Ali Marks; senior Kelly Firnbach, junior Carly Alm
Key newcomers: seniors Brittany Bernal (from soccer), Marylena Lehocky; sophomore Alina Lehocky
Outlook: The Cougars head into the 2010 season with great optimism as they try to track down perennial power Lakes in the Prairie Division. Gallagher provides a very steady No. 1 runner for Vernon Hills, but she will need a lot of support from her teammates for the squad to shine.
Wauconda
Coach: Al Willhoit (32nd season)
Last year's record: 12th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Renee Struwing, Ashley Collier
Top returning competitors: senior Liz Michelau; juniors Megan Mikenas, Haley Kramer, Katie Richards, Paige Johnson; sophomore Lexi Brunn
Outlook: The Bulldogs do have some veteran runners back on the varsity level this season. But they will need some support from inexperienced runners stepping up if they are to improve on their 2009 NSC standings.
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Carmel
Coach: Jim Halford (24th season)
Last year's record: Class 3A sectional qualifier, fourth in ESCC
Top graduated seniors: Hilary Halford (University of St. Francis), Shannon Howell (Washington U.), Bonnie Micelli (Minnesota), Jackie Migliarese (Marquette), Stephanie Gutkowski (Minnesota)
Top returning competitors: juniors Sarah Myss, Keli Dodge; sophomores Lizzy Kelly, Katie Housner
Key newcomers: senior Mary Beth Berg; juniors Haley Hunter, Caitlin Jung; sophomores Kasey Duffy, Erika Schoenfeld; freshmen Nicole Bitter, Sadie Jung
Outlook: The Corsairs did lose some great leadership to graduation. But they will try to rebuild into another solid team by the end of the season behind the duo of Myss and Berg hoping to lead the way back to sectionals.
FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE
Grayslake Central
Coach: Jim Centella (2nd season)
Last year's record: Class 2A sectional qualifier, 10th in FVC
Top graduated seniors: Sammy Wong (Northwestern College)
Top returning competitors: senior Erika Garcia (captain); sophomores Miranda Gomez, Elsie Rehberg
Key newcomers: junior Becky May; freshmen Korina Gomez, Callie Calamia
Outlook: With all but one key runner returning from their sectional team last year, the Rams are hoping to make some major improvements this season in the powerful FVC while also trying to have a better showing in sectional competition.
Grayslake North
Coach: Brandon Boyd (sixth season)
Last year's record: Class 2A sectional qualifier
Top graduated seniors: Kaitlin Kearney, Emmaly Schwartz
Top returning competitors: seniors Kimmy Denikas, Jill Petracek; junior Sabrina Karas
Key newcomers: sophomore Emily Lyon; freshman Erin Llanes-Smith
Outlook: After reaching sectionals as a sophomore, Denikas suffered through an injury-plaged junior season when she never really reached 100 percent physically. But with Denikas back and ready to lead the Knights' pack again, things are looking promising for Grayslake North in the FVC.