Atchison, Buffalo Grove savor milestone season
The air was filled with a quiet tension at the Schaumburg sectional on the Busse Woods Forest Preserve course last Saturday.
Buffalo Grove’s boys cross country team nervously awaited it fate. First reports had the Bison qualifying for its first-ever state meet.
But a glitch in the timing system had caused a number of the top 50 runners to be missed. Officials had to go back and review the video of the race and rescore the meet.
Rumors started to circulate that Buffalo Grove would miss qualifying. But at the end of the review the Bison were still in, qualifying with fifth and final spot.
Needless to say it was a pretty eventful ride on Saturday for the BG faithful — yet still nothing compared to the ride the Bison have given their fans this season.
“Sometimes it’s easier to get into heaven than it is to get out of the Schaumburg sectional,” said BG coach Jamie Klotz in summing up the Bison’s agonizing wait.
But after 39 years, Buffalo Grove’s first state qualification was definitely worth the wait.
“It’s a big deal,” said BG senior and No. 2 runner Taras Didenko. “It’s the first time, so we want to go out there and set a new standard.”
This year’s team has been raising the bar since the start of the season. The Bison won its first Mid-Suburban East title on September 28. BG continued its assault by taking second at the MSL meet — its highest finish in school history. And they finished the job at the sectionals.
“The idea was ‘Why not here?’ ” said Klotz of the Bison’s breakthrough season. “We have all these great runners, we do all these good things, compete all the time … why are we not at the top of the game?”
“That focus has carried over. It’s not ‘Why not here’ — it is here now.”
Senior Jereme Atchison sets the tone for the Bison. He has quietly upped his game each year. Going from not qualifying, to qualifying, to making all-state, to finally this year where he has a chance at the Class 3A title.
Atchison finished 21st at state last season becoming the first BG runner to make all-state. This season the Bison senior has emerged as one of Illinois’ elite runners, finishing second to Barrington’s Erik Peterson at the MSL meet and third at the sectional.
“He’s bought a ticket to have an opportunity to be a state champion,” said Klotz of his senior star. “Not too many people get those tickets.”
Atchison has already run an impressive 14:27 on the Detweiller state course this season, which is the seventh-best mark of the season. And the BG senior will not be alone when he steps to line on Saturday, unlike the previous two state meets.
“That’s pretty awesome,” added Atchison, “It’s not a team experience running by yourself. Definitely extra motivation.”
Didenko, senior Dan Roe, sophomore Steven Salvano and Ryan Degalmann will join Atchison at the line.
Atchison and Didenko have been the heart and soul of the BG program. While Atchison is a quiet leader, Didenko provides the energy.
Roe and Salvano have emerged this season to give the Bison four front runners that can challenge most teams. Degalmann has quietly been closing the gap. Unburdened by sectional expectations, the Bison are hoping to run a bit looser this weekend.
“Our biggest goal has been getting to the state meet,” said Roe of the Bison drive. “Now it feels like some of the pressure is off. We can go out there and run our best.”
The momentum started with the summer workouts, continued in early September when Buffalo Grove took second at a tough Peoria Woodruff Invite, and came full bloom when the Bison took second at the MSL meet with four runners in the top 12 positions.
“We’ve been performing all season,” said Atchison the Bison climb. “We just kept fighting.”
“We knew we had the potential,” added Roe of the Bison summer work. “We just knew we had to keep working.”
And the hard worked paid off for a team that had been struggling to break into the MSL’s upper half.
On Saturday at 2 p.m., BG will be looking to add one final chapter to an impressive season.
“Your best race needs to be your last race,” said Klotz. “And when your best race is your last race, you have nothing to think about except the fact that ‘I’ve laid everything on the line and in the most challenging situation in my life.’ That’s what we’re looking to do this weekend. Let the chips fall where they may.”
So far the chips have been falling right into place for Buffalo Grove.