Scouting DuPage County boys cross country
Top teams: Downers Grove North, York, Neuqua Valley, Wheaton Warrenville South, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Naperville Central, Wheaton North, Glenbard West, Naperville North.
Top athletes: Addison Trail: Danny Bueno, sr., Ian Smith, jr., Luis Vargas, sr.; Benet: James Austgen, sr., Tommy Diehl, jr., David Hightower, jr., Dylan Kingston, sr., Connor O'Keefe, jr.; Downers Grove North: Ryan Birkmeier, sr., Nick Chudzik, sr., Matt Moravec, sr., Jacob Ridderhoff, sr.; Downers Grove South: Nick Dziedzik, sr., Akhil Ghosh, sr., Stephen Pipilas, sr., Eddie Siuda, jr.; Fenton: Michael Lieggi, sr., Jeremy Lodewyck, sr., Christian Sanchez, sr., Alex Whyte, sr.; Glenbard East: David Crossland, sr., Aidan Ihms, soph.; Glenbard North: Ryan Czaja, sr., Marat Schatz, jr., Omar Solario, jr., Matthew Sulocha, jr.; Glenbard South: Ryan Allspach, fr., Wesley Jedlicka, jr., Austin MacClure, soph., Edwin Szobada, soph.; Glenbard West: Cameron Benes, sr., Rory Cavan, jr., Stephen Moody, jr., Will O'Brien, jr., Ian Repking, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Neil Cumberland, sr., Alec Hill, jr., Sean O'Connell, sr., Sam Schiavitti, sr.; Hinsdale South: Brett Haffner, sr., Trevor Lehmann, jr., Tim Rudolph, jr.; IC Catholic Prep: Dominic Gaudio, soph., Howard Haung, sr., Casey Kristie, sr., Fabian Perez, jr., Patrick Shannon, sr.; Lake Park: Eric Bayer, sr., Colin Kirkham, sr., Jack Murphy, soph., Eugene Ranalo, sr., Derek Szczekocki, sr., Matt Tumbarello, jr.; Lisle: Joey Chan, jr.; Metea Valley: Mohammed Abrar, fr., Matt Corso, jr., Rokas Gudinavcius, sr., Ralph Papa, sr., Michael Varzino, jr.; Montini: Matt Baka, sr., Drew Bolisay, jr., Jayden Gertsen, jr., Ian Kwit, jr., Jacob Mondschean, sr.; Naperville Central: Adam Balutowski, sr., Tyler Evans, jr., Seth Klein-Colins, jr., Thomas Shilgalis, sr.; Naperville North: Jake Allen, soph., Luke Boelke, soph., John Eifler, sr., Nick Trattner, jr.; Neuqua Valley: Tyler Bombacino, sr., Alex Johnson, sr., Chris Keeley, jr., Ryan Kennedy, sr., Zach Kinne, jr., Michael Madiol, jr., Danny Winek, sr.; St. Francis: Jon Aquino, jr., Alex Hernandez, sr., Joe Leo, sr., Dan Weizeorick, soph.; Timothy Christian: Clint Fincher, jr., Caleb Mitchell, soph., William Terpstra, sr.; Waubonsie Valley: Wes Beitler, soph., Alex Barrenbrugge, jr., Jake Saindon, jr., Wes York, sr.; Westmont: Jake Dooley, jr., Jason Eiermann, soph., Matt Gedraitis, jr., Jasper Requiron, sr.; West Chicago: Kellen Klapatch, jr., Rickson Naway, jr., Peter Osielski, soph., Kamel Patel, jr.; Wheaton Academy: Ryan Lotz, sr., Will Lyon, jr., Jeff Ridge, sr., Ryan Wittstock, sr.; Wheaton North: Kevin Boehm, jr., Nick Garza, jr., Justin Ostrem, sr., Kevin Riley, sr., Joey Simon, sr., Connor Zydek, jr.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Andrew Dixon, sr., Billy Hauenstein, soph., Jacob Kluckhohn, soph., John Keys, sr., Sean Maison, jr., Scott Maison, jr.; Willowbrook: Matt Caron, jr., Ian Costello, sr., Alec Gruchalski, sr., Michael Isaacson, sr.; York: Jackson Bode, sr., Danny Hohnquest, sr., Ethan Kern, soph., Charlie Kern, sr., Sean MacGregor, sr.
Scouting report: The roles are completely reversed for Neuqua Valley and Downers Grove North on the local boys cross country scene this fall. A year ago, Neuqua Valley was ranked the top team in the United States in certain national polls. The prognosis certainly proved to be accurate on the state level after the Wildcats defeated Downers Grove North 83-116 at the Class 3A finals en route to an appearance at the Nike Nationals in Portland. But as the first major weekend of high-profile meets kicks off this weekend, Downers North has supplanted Neuqua Valley as the team to beat. "They are one of the top five to seven teams in the nation," Neuqua Valley coach Paul Vandersteen said of the Trojans.
"I wouldn't disagree with that (assessment)," Downers North coach John Sipple said. The cross country coaches' poll released this week is affirmation DuPage County will, once again, have an abundance of talent. Downers North earned the No. 1 spot, with Neuqua Valley and York sharing the second position. Wheaton Warrenville South, Downers South, Hinsdale Central, Naperville Central and Wheaton North are also ranked either by the coaches or the authoritative website ilxctf.com. The corresponding suburban landscape and traditional downstate powers offer unlimited potential for an unforgettable season. "This may be the toughest year ever," Vandersteen said. "Illinois seems to step up the game."
The top three teams have subplots in their own right to work out this season. The programs collectively have the only area all-state runners returning in Class 3A this fall in the Dukes' Charlie Kern and MacGregor, the Trojans' Ridderhoff and the Wildcats' Kinne. The Trojans have their entire nucleus back from a state runner-up team, headlined by Ridderhoff, who finished 15th overall. "It was only logical that we would get that ranking," Sipple said of the Trojans' preseason honor. "(Neuqua Valley) is going to be pretty darn good this year, too." Vandersteen is in an almost identical position as seven years ago. The Wildcats were the defending state champion, only to lose their entire state lineup to graduation. Kinne is the lone returnee this season from last year in Peoria. The Wildcats' junior was two slots behind Ridderhoff as one of three all-state athletes for Neuqua Valley. Kinne also showcased his stamina on the track by finishing fifth in the 3,200-meter run last spring. "We all have it all in us," Kinne said of the Wildcats' outlook. "The state meet is like any other meet for us." Vandersteen will look for Kinne to shoulder much this season. "(Kinne) really exudes our philosophy of moderation and consistency," Vandersteen said. "He's only a junior. I think you're going to see him get better as time goes on."
Winek figures to be a major storyline for the Wildcats' potential success this fall. Winek missed his junior season with a major lower-back injury. "(Winek) is critical," Vandersteen said. "He's not ready to run yet. He's healthy right now but not racing. We have a much better chance for a trophy than without him." Kennedy and Bombacino are equally anxious to move into the starting lineup for Neuqua Valley. Bombacino was a member of the Wildcats' state-championship 3,200 relay last spring in Charleston. "In track some of us ran in bigger meets, which will help in cross country," Bombacino said. Vandersteen is ready to unleash his latest edition in search of a potential fourth state championship. "They are working extremely hard," Vandersteen said. "They are ready to go."
It will be decades before Neuqua Valley could possibly match the historic state haul of York. Even with Charlie Kern and MacGregor finishing fourth and 10th last fall, the Dukes had much grander ambitions than placing No. 16 as a team. For the first time in more than half a century, Joe Newton will not have any capacity with the program. The Dukes have 28 state titles in cross country. "We owe a great deal of gratitude to (Newton)," Vandersteen said. "He put Illinois cross country on the map. This is the first year coach (Charlie) Kern has a chance to own his own program. I think you are going to see some good things. They have a heck of a 1-2 punch (with the younger Kern and MacGregor).
As is typically the case, the West Suburban Silver will be the epicenter of the sport this year with ranked teams Downers North, York, Lyons Twp., Hinsdale Central and Glenbard West at the forefront. "We have been waiting for this season since the juniors were freshmen," Glenbard West coach Kyle Nugent said. "Downers North may be on a different level than any team in the state, (but) our goal is to compete with all of them." Sipple expects the Hilltoppers, who barely missed a state berth last year, to be a factor. "Glenbard West is on a big upswing right now," Sipple said. "I think they're going to surprise some people."
WW South has designs on ending the brilliant run Neuqua Valley has enjoyed in the DuPage Valley Conference since leaving the Upstate Eight two years ago. "Neuqua is Neuqua," WW South coach Chris Kuntz said. "We just hope to do the best we can. Neuqua has been the dominant team in the conference and the area the last two years. Our kids have a great work ethic. They run as a pack. We're hoping to have a pack team again but that moves up further." The Tigers' Maison twins are poised to be the bedrock of the program this fall. "Wheaton Warrenville South looks very deep and talented," Waubonsie Valley coach Kevin Rafferty said.
Wheaton North, Waubonsie Valley and Lake Park all have aspirations to make inroads this fall as well. "The expectations are to compete for a conference championship," Wheaton North coach Nate Roe said. "We have the mindset to do that." Rafferty will craft the Warriors' program around York, all-state in track last spring, and Beitler. "Beitler will give York a run for his money this fall," Rafferty said. "We should be a deep threat for the teams in our area." Lake Park will build its fortunes around seniors Bayer and Kirkham. "We have a solid group," Lake Park coach Lance Murphy said. "We have a big gap (among team members) that we need to close down." DuPage Valley seniors Shilgalis (Naperville Central) and Papa (Metea Valley) - along with Downers South senior Pipilas - are the only returning at-large state qualifiers from last fall. Naperville Central and Naperville North, which surged from an average regional performance last year to qualify for the state meet, are looking to continue their collective postseason success of the last decade-plus. "Both Napervilles are going to be really good," Rafferty said.
Benet attempts to extend an exceptional winning streak in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The Redwings, with Kingston and O'Keefe in their vanguard, have won 17 straight league titles. "That is always the pride of the program," Benet coach Kevin Renicke said. "The small things are what we are working on."
Among the area Class 2A programs, Hinsdale South is the lone ranked school in the preseason poll. The Hornets, one team spot behind St. Francis' 15th position last fall, boast the top returning individual placer in Haffner. St. Francis' Aquino, Hernandez, Leo and Weizeorick all return for another chance to run in Peoria in November. "We definitely think we have a shot to get back," St. Francis coach Scott Nelson said. "We have a goal to get one or two all-staters." Mondschean and Ridge made the state cut as individuals last fall for Montini and Wheaton Academy. "We would expect (Mondschean) to get down again and be an all-state qualifier," said Montini coach Joe Mordente, who sent his whole team to state two years ago. "We are hoping Ian and Jayden can qualify as well."
Metro Suburban Conference combatants Fenton - with state veterans Lieggi, Lodewyck, Sanchez and Whyte back - and Glenbard South - which has Jedlicka and MaClure to reclaim past glories - will have to navigate a hazardous Class 2A postseason route.
In Class 1A Timothy Christian made the state cut as Terpstra will be among the top smallest-class athletes in the area. Gedraitis, a Westmont junior, was an at-large qualifier for the Sentinels. Veteran Lisle coach Ken Jakalski is in an unfamiliar predicament as Chan is one of only three runners in the program. Jeff Fredrickson has ideas of extending the IC Catholic Prep season. "We are looking to get beyond the sectional and qualify either as individuals or a team this year," Fredrickson said.
Key dates: Sept. 2, Red Devil/Hornet Invite; Sept. 2, St. Charles East Leavy Invite; Sept. 2, Fenton Early Bird; Sept. 9, Detweiller Park First to the Finish; Sept. 16, Peoria Notre Dame Invite; Sept. 23, Palatine Invite; Oct. 4, Naperville North Twilight Meet; Oct. 7, West Aurora Stampede; Oct. 13-14, Conference championships.