Scouting Tri-Cities boys track and field

By David Oberhelman

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Aurora Central Catholic

Coach: Troy Kerber (25th year).

Last year: Second in the Suburban Christian Conference; fifth at the 2A Glenbard South sectional; three state qualifiers.

Top returnees: Steve Amoni, so., springs; Adam Blake, sr., throws; Alex Chettiah, sr., throws; Alex Duncan, jr., middle distance; Joe Fese, so., sprints; Zach Flint, so., sprints, jumps; Louis Hizo, sr., sprints; Matt Marter, jr., distance; Nolan McCue, sr., sprints; Matt Meyers, so., middle distance; Joe Reuland, sr., hurdles; Mike Reuland, sr., hurdles; Jimmy Spencer, sr., distance;

Top newcomers: Adrian Alviar, so., middle distance; Jacob Dressel, fr., high jump; Oscar Gomez, so., distance; Marcus Jefferson, jr., sprints, jumps; Justin Jerwerz, so., middle distance; Patrick Lefevre, fr., jumps; Justin Walosky, so., pole vault.

Outlook: Veteran coach Kerber is at the stage where he’s starting to coach the children of former athletes he’s coached. “It’s been a blessing,” he said of his lengthy tenure. Another blessing is the Chargers’ string of qualifying at least one event 18 straight years. Last season the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relays all made it, and with the return of athletes such as speedy Joe “The Italian Tank” Fese, Meyers, Spencer and the Reulands who ran on those relays, one of Kerber’s goals is to reach the 2A finals, not just preliminaries. ACC returns 110 of the 124 points it scored at the 2010 SCC outdoor meet, losing to Marmion by a point on the last event. Those points were all on the track; the squad’s soft spot is in field events, but Flint, Blake and Chettiah hope to add points there. Over the next couple months Kerber aims to “expand our core of athletes” to qualify one or more relays with fresh legs elsewhere to qualify individually. Basically, just keep improving. “We just want to build on last year,” he said.

Aurora Christian

Coach: Dr. Jeff Schutt (seventh year).

Last year: Sixth in the Suburban Christian Conference, one state qualifier.

Top returnees: Quientin Boston, jr., throws; Jake Gehman, so., middle distance; Billy Howorth, jr., pole vault; Nate Jensen, jr., sprints; Sam Schuette, jr., distance; C.J. Schutt, jr., jumps.

Top newcomers: Jonathan Harrell, fr., sprints, jumps; Jake Wert, jr., middle distance.

Outlook: Dr. Schutt likes the depth of this group, which also has several individual athletes who could qualify for the Class 1A state meet. All the coach needs is one more runner to join Jensen, Howorth and Gehman, who competed with the graduated Sean Culp in the 1,600-meter relay last year in Charleston. Howorth has vaulted 12 feet, 9 inches this indoor season, which is a 15-inch improvement over last spring; Boston needs just 20 more feet on his top discus to qualify. Gehman broke the school’s indoor 800-meter record and is just a sophomore and another youngster, freshman Harrell, set the school 200 indoor record and flew 20 feet on his first try in long jump. Youngest child in a big, athletic family, Harrell may have potential to go downstate in long jump, triple jump, the 200 or 400, plus relays. Schutt said. Last year’s SCC finish, middle of the pack, is about what can be expected this season. Schutt hopes to get a couple of relays downstate, as well as a few select individuals. “If we can get that done we’ll have a very successful year,” Schutt said.

Batavia

Coach: Dennis Piron (13th year).

Last year: Fifth in the Western Sun Conference; second at the 3A Streamwood sectional; six state qualifiers.

Top returnees: Jake Benner, sr., discus, sprints; Brandon Clabough, jr., pole vault; Ben Fornek, jr., jumps, sprints, hurdles; Bennett Hartmann, jr., pole vault; Emund Kabba, sr., sprints; Matt Lash, sr., distance; Gavontae Marshall, sr., hurdles; Rob Mohr, sr., hurdles; Vince Ortiz, sr., distance; Mike Redmond, jr., distance; Chris Spatafora, jr., distance; Brian Wilson, sr., shot put.

Top newcomers: Jon Gray, jr., jumps; Trevor Hollis, so., middle distance; Jake Pollack, so., high jump; Troy Tousana, jr., sprints; David Voland, sr., sprints, hurdles, pole vault.

Outlook: Having placed third in the 14-team Upstate Eight Conference indoor meet, the Bulldogs look to win the River Division outdoors, the Kane County Meet and at least compete for the Bartlett sectional title. It’s a balanced team with solid entries in most every event and particular strength in sprint relays and hurdles, headed by returning state qualifier Mohr, who set school records in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. “We’ve kind of got everything covered,” said Piron, who despite being named the new varsity football head coach has no desire to relinquish the track spot.

Mohr was disappointed with his 2010 state showing, and that’s motivated the future Princeton runner ever since. Kabba, the UEC indoor 55 champ, heads a sprint corps that should spread out to form solid 400 and 800 relays, and Piron said a 1,600 relay potentially featuring Mohr, Benner, Tousana and Fornek “could be something special” by the end of the season. Distance coach Bronco Meeks has a variety of athletes who could be close to qualifying either individually or as a 3,200 relay. In throws, Benner was within four feet of qualifying in discus last season; Wilson, in shot put, like Benner is on Batavia’s records list. Of interest is the versatile Voland, back after injuries robbed him of a junior season. “I think we have the type of team that could be in the running for a couple of titles come May,” Piron said. “Mainly it comes down to our guys being healthy when the time comes.”

Geneva

Coach: Gale Gross (sixth year).

Last year: First in the Western Sun Conference; first at the 3A Streamwood sectional; eight state qualifiers.

Top returnees: Ryan Ahern, sr., hurdles; Peter Archibald, jr., middle distance; Connor Bartel, sr., distance; Jericho Buck, sr., sprints, jumps; Tom Frederick, sr., hurdles, high jump; Jackson Grimes, sr., throws; Tyler Johnson, sr., middle distance; Alex Ostgaard, sr., jumps; Andee Phorasavong, sr., jumps.

Top newcomers: Russell Acton, sr., middle distance; Jacob Bastin, so., throws; Justin Davis, so., sprints; Billy Koskiewicz, sr., distance; Jake Stocker, sr., sprints.

Outlook: A deceptive seventh-place indoor Upstate Eight Conference finish — five points out of fourth — is no embarrassment when the league includes Nos. 1, 3 and 8 in last year’s 3A state finals. More important when breaking into divisions outdoors is the Vikings’ place behind Batavia and both St. Charles teams. “Coming off a third conference title and coming into a new conference, obviously we want to try to do well in the new conference, which will be very tough this year,” Gross said. Not out of the question, with two returning downstate hurdlers in Ahern and Frederick, who set program records in both the 110 and 300s at last year’s sectional.

Archibald also qualified in the 800 as a sophomore, and competed in the 1,600 at the recent Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic. Koskiewicz won the UEC indoor 3,200 and was part of a 3,200 relay with Archibald, Bartel and Nathan Wendt that ran at the IPTT. Primary among Geneva’s graduation losses from a team that won its first sectional title since 1989 was four-time all-state thrower and program record holder Frank Boenzi, an area the Vikings need to solidify. Grimes went 49-11 in shot put at the UEC indoor yet didn’t place in the loaded league. Geneva also graduated three sprinters who helped qualify 400 and 800 relays in school-record times. (Stocker returns from the former.) Gross believes the Vikings will be there at the end to compete for the River division title and qualify their usual fistful of events. “We just need to pick up experience, which will come in the outdoor season,” he said. “That’ll be the key, how much we grow through the outdoor season.”

Kaneland

Coach: Eric Baron (six years).

Last year: Second in the Western Sun Conference; first at the 2A Sterling sectional; 11 state qualifiers; tied for second in 2A.

Top returnees: Taylor Andrews, sr., hurdles; Brandon Cottier, so., sprints; Andrew Essex, jr., sprints; Frankie Furco, jr., high jump; Trevor Holm, sr., middle distance; Curtis Secrest, sr., sprints; Matt Spitzzeri, sr., triple jump, Tommy Whittaker, sr., sprints.

Top newcomers: Quinn Buschbacher, jr., sprints; Sean Carter, jr., hurdles, jumps; Alex Gil, so., pole vault; Kory Harner, so., pole vault; Connor Jensen, so., distance; Blake Serpa, sr., sprints, throws; Chad Swieca, so., hurdles.

Outlook: Starting with Logan Markuson, Derek Bus, Edgar Valle and 2A high jump champ Nick Sinon the Knights lost a ton through graduation. While this year’s senior ranks are a little thin, just seven out, Baron likes who’s coming back. “I think we’ll surprise some people by how good we are,” he said. “We lost some talent but we return some great talent.” Among this year’s batch that wishes to make its own mark is Andrews, who placed fifth in the 110 hurdles last season. Baron suspects Andrews again will earn all-state honors, and said Whittaker offers that possibility in the 400 dash. In Charleston last year Whittaker led off a first-place 1,600 relay and also ran in 400 and 800 relays that, with Essex and Cottier in each, return intact. Buschbacher, this indoor season’s top short sprinter, will help. Holm is the leading contender in a distance group that must retool with youth, and the throws also have little experience.

Kaneland also has a 29-year streak of qualifying a pole vaulter to the state meet on the line, and vault coach Andy Drendel is working to extend it. Last year’s second straight sectional title and a great state meet, plus its success in football and basketball, has Kaneland in a buoyant state as it enters the Northern Illinois Big 12 vying with Yorkville for the inaugural conference title. “The success kind of spreads,” Baron said, “plus the new conference has got everybody excited. We’re doing well in it. It’s really a great time to be coaching at Kaneland.”

Marmion

Coach: Dan Thorpe (fifth year).

Last year: First in the Suburban Christian Conference; second at the 2A Glenbard South sectional; six state qualifiers.

Top returnees: Eddy Grahovec, sr., hurdles, middle distance, jumps; Chris Hebert, sr., distance; Phil Kloc, sr., sprints; T.J. Lally, sr., shot put, sprints; Bennett Marsh, sr., distance; Blake Mickey, jr., throws; Nate Pacer, sr., discus; Dan Wycklendt, sr., sprints.

Top newcomers: Garret Becker, jr., sprints; Matt Choice, jr., distance; Benton Cole, jr., triple jump; Freddy d’Escoto, jr., hurdles; Brady Hunt, jr., distance; Mike Mueller, jr., sprints; Jake Ruddy, so., sprints; Peter Stefanski, jr., high jump.

Outlook: When a team has won five straight conference titles a major emphasis is winning a sixth. That and getting as many state qualifiers as possible through the grueling Glenbard South sectional is where Marmion stands. On paper the Cadets entered last year’s inaugural Suburban Christian Conference outdoor meet behind Aurora Central, but they battled to the last event to win 125-124. The two schools are again the favorites, probably ACC more so. “We’ll have to be creative to win the conference meet this year, like we were last year,” Thorpe said. Central to the cause is the indispensable Grahovec. He qualified in the 300 hurdles last season and will be asked to provide a super-utility role depending on needs at the time. Thorpe cites a lack of flat-out speed, which hinders not only the open sprints but the shorter relays.

Though all-state miler Zach Young graduated, distance remains a strength. Last year Marsh placed eighth in the 2A 3,200 and has run faster this indoor season; Hunt and Choice both return from a state-qualifying 3,200 relay. The Cadets will also get help in field events, where Lally returns as a state shot put qualifier and high jumper Stefanski indoors has already reached the 6-3 state qualifying height. Cole will consistently score big as he improves his personal-best 40-9 triple jump. As Marmion has proved, every point counts. “We can win several events but we need those thirds and fourths,” Thorpe said. “That’s how we did it last year.”

St. Charles East

Coach: Chris Bosworth (first year).

Last year: Sixth in the Upstate Eight Conference; 11th at the 3A Streamwood sectional; one state qualifier.

Top returnees: Mike Brown, sr., sprints; Ben Chaloupka, sr., triple jump; Rob Davidsen, sr., pole vault; Steven Decker, sr., middle distance; Nick Devor, jr., hurdles, sprints; Kevin Earl, sr., distance; David Lyon, sr., throws; Ben Manibog, jr., sprints, jumps; Jake Mazanke, jr., sprints; Dillon Mugge, sr., sprints.

Top newcomers: Alec Jacquot, fr., sprints; Carter Reading, jr., sprints; Marcus Smith, jr., sprints.

Outlook: The Saints’ second place indoor UEC finish opened some eyes, and ears. “I think we’re sitting OK. We’re not in the lead but we’re right there,” said Bosworth, the Lake Park graduate who succeeded veteran Ben Provencher, opting out for more family time. “Our names are kind of getting mentioned, and that’s good for the guys.” From one 2010 state qualifier — Decker returns from the 3,200 relay — Bosworth has similar goals for several events including the 800 and 1,600 relays plus Devor, Davidsen, Decker, Brown and Mazanke, who ran a first-place, school-record 800 at the UEC indoor. He might want to add Mugge, a mere .43 seconds behind Neuqua Valley’s Jake Bender in the 400. Sprints lead the pack, bulked up by strength workouts under the leadership of new sprints coach Tyler Sheehan, with Jacquot, Reading and Smith offering support for headliners like Brown in the relays.

To maintain the edge outdoors both in the UEC River Division and at the Bartlett sectional over Batavia and St. Charles North, St. Charles East will need a little more help from its longer distance races and field events, though both Davidsen and Chaloupka have exceeded what they did last outdoor season. But belief is part of the package, and Bosworth thinks his athletes are starting to get it. “We’re ahead of where we were last year strength-wise, time wise,” said the North Central College 2005 cross country All-American. “We’re getting to the point where maybe we can make the finals in some of the sprint races and a relay.”

St. Charles North

Coach: Don Spencer (first year, fourth overall).

Last year: Fifth in the Upstate Eight Conference; fourth at the 3A Streamwood sectional; five state qualifiers.

Top returnees: Nick Bordo, sr., sprints; Graham Bultema, sr., middle distance; Billy Clink, jr., distance; Declan Duggan, jr., distance; Alec Eickert, jr., sprints; Ben Hodges, sr., sprints; Oshay Hodges, jr., jumps; Connor Larson, sr., sprints; Ryan Senci, sr., distance; Dan Washington, sr., jumps.

Top newcomers: Brandon Baymon, sr., sprints; Mike Begovich, jr., throws; Kurt Druffel, sr., pole vault; Jack Feeney, fr., sprints; Zach Kirby, so., sprints; Connor Larson, so., sprints.

Outlook: Spencer, who coached at Paw Paw, Malta and Sycamore before St. Charles North, is typical of the track and field lifer. That’s to say, a positive influence who aims to extend lessons taught by his coach at downstate Windsor High School to his own 90-athlete squad. Spencer’s philosophy: “I do think you become a better person with track and field. I’m talking about the whole nine yards — making sure you better yourself morally, mentally, ethically, physically.”

A sprints specialist, Spencer succeeds Kevin Harrington in the head spot, Harrington remaining as high jump and hurdles coach. In Oshay Hodges, the North Stars have a high jumper developing into one of Illinois’ best. Hodges’ 6-8 leap at the UEC indoor meet was a dramatic improvement over his sophomore 6-2 personal best. Last year Hodges qualified for state in triple jump while another jumper, Washington, led the area in that event and qualified in long jump; he’s recovering from shin splints. Sixth at the UEC indoor, the North Stars are set decently in their usual distance strength with Duggan, Senci and Clink, last year’s frosh-soph outdoor 1,600 winner. Baymon, a transfer from Elgin, lends experience to an otherwise young 1,600 relay and hopes to spin off as an individual 400 qualifier. St. Charles North will sprinkle points throughout the field events with the strength in jumps. On the track it’ll execute Spencer’s main goal simply to have “the kids improving their times” while they enjoy the sport’s beneficial lifestyle. “It’s a good group of kids to work out with — and to work with, too,” Spencer said.

West Aurora

Coach: Cortney Lamb (seventh year).

Last year: Seventh in the DuPage Valley Conference; third at the 3A West Aurora sectional; eight state qualifiers.

Top returnees: Ryan Bartell, sr., middle distance; Alex Chollet, sr., throws; Vontrell Hawkins, jr., middle distance; Steve Loran, sr., distance; George Malina, sr., pole vault; Matt Muth, sr., distance; Demarlon Rayford, sr., jumps; Patrick Schultz, sr., sprints, hurdles; Matt Souvannasing, sr., sprints; Marcus Waller, sr., hurdles; Zach Woods, sr., sprints.

Top newcomers: Omar Gomez, so., distance; Robert Herrera, so., distance; Graham Isaacson, so., distance; Elawrence Langston, sr., throws; Parrish McGhee, jr., long jump; Nate Ocon, sr., sprints; Mike Reyes, jr., throws; Zach Truckenbrod, so., middle distance; Nate Zinzer, jr., sprints.

Outlook: Compare those “Last year” results and it’s plain the Blackhawks’ DVC finish was a sad fluke. Prom kept many athletes away from competition that evening, robbing West from what could have been its first indoor-outdoor DVC sweep in history. The good news is except for the gigantic graduation losses of sprinter Leon Spears and high jumper Aviance King, West returns exceptional quality experience. (The bad news is possible 3A trophy candidate Wheaton Warrenville South won the 2011 indoor by 63 points over West Aurora; still, third in the DVC remains pretty good.) “It’s a depth that we really haven’t had the luxury of having the past couple years,” said Lamb, who’s really got this program rolling. “We’ve had top-end talent, but this year we’re a lot deeper in all areas.”

The Blackhawks return their state-qualifying 3,200 relay intact — Hawkins, Truckenbrod, Muth, Bartell — with Muth and returning 800 qualifier/DVC cross country champ Bartell primed to go down individually. Yes, West lacks the true burner of a Spears or Josh Zinzer which may affect relays, but Lamb also likes the “by committee” approach. This team should be solid in every event on the track including both hurdles races, with the likes of sprinter Souvannasing and returning 300 hurdles qualifier Waller. Lamb doesn’t see the same depth in field events, yet double-scoring possibilities arise in horizontal jumps and throwing events, where Chollet has surpassed state-qualifying discus distance. “In a perfect world,” Lamb said, this well-rounded squad could qualify in most every event. “We’re not just a sprinter-, jumper-dominated team anymore,” Lamb said. “We can score in a variety of places.”

Back in action:

Top returnees

Marks in parentheses are 2011 fully automated qualifying standards for Class 1A, 2A and 3A, respectively.

*** — 2010 Class 3A state qualifier

** — 2010 Class 2A state qualifier

* — 2010 Class 1A state qualifier

a— hand-time converted to fully automated time (FAT) by adding .24 seconds

100 meters (11.14, 11.04, 10.84)

Matt Souvannasing (West Aurora, sr.) 10.84a

Emund Kabba (Batavia, sr.) 11.14a

** Tommy Whittaker (Kaneland, sr.) 11.17

Joe Fese (Aurora Central, so.) 11.29

Mike Brown (St. Charles East, sr.) 11.32

200 meters (22.94, 22.54, 22.24)

Matt Souvannasing (West Aurora, sr.) 22.64a

Emund Kabba (Batavia, sr.) 22.74

Zach Woods (West Aurora, sr.) 22.74a

Mike Brown (St. Charles East, sr.) 22.79

Joe Fese (Aurora Central, so.) 22.86

400 meters (51.74, 50.84, 49.94)

Dillon Mugge (St. Charles East, sr.) 51.24

Tommy Whitaker (Kaneland, sr.) 51.24a

Zach Woods (West Aurora, sr.) 51.44a

Jake Benner (Batavia, sr.) 51.74a

Emund Kabba (Batavia, sr.) 52.24a

800 meters (2:01.24, 1:59.04, 1:56.84)

*** Peter Archibald (Geneva, jr.) :55.90

*** Ryan Bartell (West Aurora, sr.) :56.67

Tyler Johnson (Geneva, sr.) :58.77

Matt Muth (West Aurora, sr.) :58.94a

Graham Isaacson (West Aurora, so.) :02.79

1,600 meters (4:37.24, 4:30.44, 4:21.84)

Matt Muth (West Aurora, sr.) :22.42

Connor Bartel (Geneva, sr.) :26.66

Ryan Bartell (West Aurora, sr.) :31.24a

Ryan Senci (St. Charles North, sr.) :31.55

Trevor Holm (Kaneland, sr.) :34.82

3,200 meters (10:03.04, 9:49.24, 9:29.04)

Steve Loran (West Aurora, sr.) :34.86

Ryan Senci (St. Charles North, sr.) :41.70

(8th-2A) Bennett Marsh (Marmion, sr.) :43.97

Trevor Holm (Kaneland, sr.) :46.01

Declan Duggan (St. Charles North, jr.) :48.83

110 hurdles (15.44, 14.94, 14.74)

*** Rob Mohr (Batavia, sr.) 14.44

(5th-2A) Taylor Andrews (Kaneland, sr.) 14.54

*** Tom Frederick (Geneva, sr.) 14.63

Ryan Ahern (Geneva, sr.) 14.97

Marcus Waller (West Aurora, sr.) 15.18

300 hurdles (41.24, 40.44, 39.84)

*** Rob Mohr (Batavia, sr.) 38.78

Ryan Ahern (Geneva, sr.) 39.52

*** Tom Frederick (Geneva, sr.) 39.55

*** Marcus Waller (West Aurora, sr.) 39.68

** Eddy Grahovec (Marmion, sr.) 39.95

400 relay (44.64, 43.74, 42.84)

West Aurora 42.74a

*** Batavia 42.95

*** Geneva 43.08

** Kaneland 43.57

Aurora Central Catholic 44.12

800 relay (1:33.74, 1:31.74, 1:29.64)

(7th-3A) West Aurora :27.76

*** Geneva :29.65

*** Batavia :30.48

** Kaneland :31.82

** Aurora Central Catholic :31.87

1,600 relay (3:31.74, 3:27.44, 3:23.74)

(1st-2A) Kaneland :20.29

*** West Aurora :24.02

Batavia :26.67

** Aurora Central Catholic :28.13

Geneva :28.07

3,200 relay (8:22.24, 8:15.24, 8:00.04)

*** West Aurora :58.90

*** St. Charles East :01.08

(7th-2A) Kaneland :01.44

*** Batavia :01.49

St. Charles North :09.64a

Pole vault (13-0, 13-3, 13-9)

Rob Davidsen (St. Charles East, sr.) 13-3

George Malina (West Aurora, sr.) 13-3

Bennett Hartmann (Batavia, jr.) 12-3

Brandon Clabough (Batavia, jr.) 12-0

Nic Hall (Geneva, sr.) 11-9

Jeremy Hultquist (St. Charles East, jr.) 11-9

Eddie Sak (West Aurora, jr.) 11-9

High jump (6-3, 6-3, 6-5)

(3rd-1A) Oumara Abdulahi (Mooseheart, fr.) 6-7

Oshay Hodges (St. Charles North, sr.) 6-2

Tom Frederick (Geneva, sr.) 6-1

Jake Pollack (Batavia, so.) 6-1

Demarlon Rayford (West Aurora, sr.) 6-1

Long jump (21-3, 21-8, 22-3)

Matt Souvannasing (West Aurora, sr.) 21-11

*** Daniel Washington (St. Charles North, sr.) 21-6½

Luke Bossert (St. Charles North, sr.) 19-10¼

Zach Flint (Aurora Central, so.) 19-8

Jericho Buck (Geneva, sr.) 19-7¼

Triple jump (42-3, 43-8, 45-0)

Daniel Washington (St. Charles North, sr.) 44-6

*** Oshay Hodges (St. Charles North, jr.) 43-7¼

** Mark Spitzzeri (Kaneland, sr.) 43-7

Matt Souvannasing (West Aurora, sr.) 43-¾

Alex Ostgaard (Geneva, sr.) 41-8¼

Shot put (49-3, 50-11, 52-11)

** T.J. Lally (Marmion, sr.) 49-3½

Jackson Grimes (Geneva, sr.) 48-4

Brian Wilson (Batavia, sr.) 47-7½

Alex Chollet (West Aurora, sr.) 47-9

Jacob Bastin (Geneva, so.) 40-11½

Discus (143-0, 148-0, 155-0)

Alex Chollet (West Aurora, sr.) 159-5

Jake Benner (Batavia, sr.) 153-8

Mike Reyes (West Aurora, jr.) 141-4½

Adam Blake (Aurora Central, sr.) 140-7

Jackson Grimes (Geneva, sr.) 139-6