Lake Zurich aims for big finish

The Lake Zurich boys cross country team has already solidified itself as the best squad in school history after winning the school's first sectional crown last weekend at Schaumburg.

But the sixth-ranked Bears are not quite satisfied with just that sectional title heading into the Class 3A state meet Saturday at Peoria's Detweiller Park beginning at 2 p.m.

After making back-to-back appearances in the pressure-packed 3-mile state meet last fall, Lake Zurich is poised to make a much bigger impact this weekend in their third straight appearance downstate and only its third trip in school history.

Junior Pat Juras has been the driving force behind the Bears' late-season push as he won the North Suburban Conference meet three weeks ago before taking first place in the Libertyville regional.

Last weekend, Juras took second place at sectionals when Barrington junior Erik Peterson put on a late burst of speed to win in just over two seconds to snap Juras' string of individual victories in late October.

But early November has always been the time and the state meet the place that championships are won and all-state (top 25) medals are earned.

While No. 1-ranked perennial power York will head into the meet as the favorites, teams like Lake Zurich and other sectional champs will certainly be trying their best to run down a top-three trophy in the almost always competitive state meet.

After placing 13th in 2008 when Juras ran on varsity as a freshman, Lake Zurich struggled to 16th place last year without top runner Francisco Soto and the injured Juras out of the lineup downstate.

“He (Juras) was basically sick all year and he just had a lot of respiratory problems that held him out all season,” said Lake Zurich coach J.B. Hanson. “These kids work really hard and you have to give them credit for doing the work to accomplish their goals.”

Juras has been the Bears' No. 1 runner lately, but seniors Victor Delatorre, Ryan Moncrieff, and Alex Brend have all been huge factors for Lake Zurich for the past two seasons and they all have state meet experience along with key junior Jon Smith. Senior Shawn Picha and sophomore Jared Ripoli will fill out the Bears' lineup downstate.

“They've been switching and flip-flopping places all season and we're just going to try to stay as comfortable as we can until the end and let the chips fall where they may,” Hanson said. “We're just going to go and run our race as best as we can and see where that lands us.”

Now at 100-percent strength and running great, Juras will head to Peoria hoping to peak with his veteran teammates.

“Everyone just needs to run their best race and for most of the kids on our team it's the last race of their high school career,” said Juras. “Not everybody ran their best race (at sectionals) and several guys can improve. That's where we can beat New Trier and get in the top five in the state.”

Sometimes disappointment and adversity have a way of inspiring, motivating, and bringing out the best in people.

That seems to be the case with Stevenson senior Kevin Wood, who stormed to fifth place to earn the first at-large berth to state out of sectionals last weekend and avenge a 20th-place finish under rainy conditions at sectionals last year.

“He (Wood) definitely has a shot at all-state and he can run with the guys who are going to go after it,” said Stevenson coach Scott Somers. “He has the confidence to try to be all-state and compete for the top 25 and he goes out and executes the race plan almost to a T.”

Like Wood, Grant senior Ryan Mamerow also faced disappointment last year at sectionals. But he didn't come nearly as close to state after placing 51st.

Last Saturday, Mamerow came of age with yet another outstanding performance to earn an at-large berth to state with a 10th-place finish.

“It's definitely going to be incredibly hard to make all-state and you just have to want it more than anybody else,” said Mamerow, who is the first Grant runner to reach state. “I want to go out fast, try to keep the lead, and just keep my pace after that.”

“It's a totally different environment and we know he (Mamerow) has to get out extremely fast and try to get a P.R.,” said Grant coach Jeff Durlak. “Just to make it down there is an accomplishment itself, and he's really put it together in the last few races.”

While just getting to state is tough, going two years in a row is even tougher. But Round Lake senior Juan Carrera was able to overcome the odds and accomplish the feat.

Carrera placed 17th at sectionals to earn the sixth at-large berth and edge Prospect's Kellan Stobel (18th), who earned the seventh and final at-large berth.

While Carrera really struggled in his first state meet last fall as a junior, he is confident that he will make a much better showing Saturday.

“I won't be afraid, I won't be as nervous, and I just have to go out there and attack,” Carrera said. “You've got to be ruthless down there and it's your last high school cross country race so you can't regret anything.”

Round Lake coach Kevin Brady has seen Carrera grow into a seasoned veteran and he hopes Carrera has learned from the past.

“I think he (Carrera) wants to atone for last year because last year he really didn't run a good race at state,” said Brady. “I think the experience overwhelmed him, but since he has been there before I think he will do better.”

The Class 3A awards ceremony will take place at 3 p.m.

In the Class 2A meet beginning at 12 p.m., Lakes sophomore Ryan Prais will have a huge challenge if he wants to match or improve on his 16th-place finish in the state meet last year.

Prais (20th) and Grayslake Central junior standout Luke Zygmunt (19th) barely qualified out of the Belvidere sectional with the sixth and final at-large berths to state.

“He (Prais) feels a little pressure after doing so well last year and if he comes back with a medal or a PR that would be great,” said Lakes coach Andy Schroeder. “We have to get him healthy and if he goes out with the front pack he should do pretty well. But just getting downstate two years in a row is a great accomplishment.”

The Class 2A awards ceremony is at 1 p.m.