Boys cross country: Scouting Lake County

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

LAKE ZURICHCoach: J.B. Hanson (13th season)

Last season: 11th in Class 3A, second in sectionals, first in regionals, first in NSC

Returning runners: juniors Patrick Hart, Adam Cupples; sophomore Jack Gilboy, Jake Myers

Newcomers: freshman Danny Burns

Noteworthy: After placing third in the state in 2016 and 11th last year, the Bears graduated four of their top seven runners from last season. Lake Zurich has dominated the NSC with nine titles in the past 10 years as well as a dual-meet winning streak above 70 and 10 straight years qualifying for state. Patrick Hart (16th in NSC meet last year), Adam Cupples (13th in NSC) and Jack Gilboy (10th in NSC) lead the way this season.

LIBERTYVILLECoach: Stuart Mendelsohn (fourth season)

Last season: 10th in sectionals, fourth in regionals, fourth in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Max Sauers, Jon Timm, Ben Johnson, Cooper Miller

Newcomers: sophomores Andrew Clark, Liam Tucker

Noteworthy: With Alex Tam (15th in Class 3A) running at Miami of Ohio, the Wildcats will turn to a solid nucleus of experienced senior runners to lead their pack this fall.

MUNDELEINCoach: Kurt Rutz (sixth season)

Last season: 12th in Class 3A, fourth in sectionals, first in regionals, second in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Robert St. Clair, Aidan Afonso, Michael Parduhn, Matt Olorvida; junior Dillon Blake (41st in Class 3A, ninth in NSC)

Newcomers: senior Sean Finerty; juniors Carter Schorr, Trevor Werner; sophomore Elian Salgado

Noteworthy: After earning their first trip downstate in school history last fall, the Mustangs return four of their top five runners. A late-season injury to Michael Parduhn (14th in NSC meet) was probably the only thing that kept Mundelein from a top-10 finish at state. Robert St. Clair (34th in Class 3A, fourth in NSC), Dillon Blake (41st at state, ninth in NSC) and Aidan Afonso (53rd at state, 12th in NSC) also return.

STEVENSONCoach: Scott Sommers (11th season)

Last season: ninth at sectionals, second at regionals, third in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Alex Beckerman, Alan Sherman

Newcomers: senior Daniel Saltz; juniors Cameron Coffey, Corey Pacernick, Cameron Sprague, Anthony Rodriguez; sophomores Jack Lee, Wesley Park

Noteworthy: The Patriots graduated 10 of their top 15 runners, but a talented younger group should make the team competitive again. Alex Beckerman should take over as the team's No. 1 runner.

WARRENCoach: Bill Dawson (37th season)

Last season: 17th at sectionals, fifth at regionals, sixth in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Bryan Holland, Sevario Hernandez, Dan Whalen; juniors Hunter Subry, John Wiser, Andrew Metcalf, Nathan Papierniak, Esteban Padilla; sophomores Griffen Pasha, Carlos Villa

Newcomers: freshman Luke Wiley

Noteworthy: The Blue Devils return six of their top-seven runners who competed in the sectional meet last year. No. 2 runner Collins Jones has transferred to a school in Georgia. Bryan Holland and Hunter Subry were both state qualifiers in track last spring.

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY CONFERENCE

ANTIOCHCoach: Chris Bailey (10th season)

Last season: 11th in sectionals, second in regionals, first in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Mikey Volkmar, Eric Hart; juniors Charlie Smith, Josh Linck, Luke Menzies

Newcomers: sophomore Owen Lane

Noteworthy: Charlie Smith exploded onto the scene last fall, winning the NLCC meet, placing sixth in the sectional and finishing 10th at state. He returns for his junior season to lead Antioch's pack with support from senior teammates Mikey Volkmar (13th in NLCC meet last year) and Eric Hart, as the Sequoits try to make it back-to-back NLCC championships.GRANTCoach: Jeff Durlak (12th season)

Last season: ninth in regionals, sixth in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors D.J. Cardy, Nolan Bauer; juniors Justin Splitt, Ryan Bishop; sophomores Colton Romig, Jalen Rios, Emilio Figueroa, Josh Delgado

Newcomers: junior Christian Suaste; freshmen Randal Holm, Charlie Hamann

Noteworthy: The Bulldogs are young but return six of their top-seven runners, including sectional-qualifier Justin Splitt. Splitt and Colton Roming were ninth and 14th, respectively, in the NLCC meet last fall.

GRAYSLAKE CENTRALCoach: Jimmy Centella (10th season)

Last season: 17th in sectionals, sixth in regionals, fourth in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Ty Sato, Roman Tovar, Matt Droessler; juniors Augustus Bankson, Logan Spaulding; sophomore Sushil Suresh

Newcomers: junior Craig Hundley; sophomore Atticus Snow

Noteworthy: Two-time all-stater Eli Minsky graduated. The Rams, who won the Class 2A title in 2015 and placed second in 2016, might experience growing pains this season. They boast a strong senior duo in Ty Sato and Roman Tovar.

GRAYSLAKE NORTHCoach: Anthony DeStephano (second season)

Last season: seventh in regionals, third in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Connor Riss, Jordaan Boxer; juniors Brandt Batteau, John Kalstrup

Newcomers: junior Jacky Guo; sophomore Kyle Engstrom

Noteworthy: The Knights have a great duo in 2017 NLCC runner-up Connor Riss and Brandt Batteau (fifth in NLCC). Riss just missed qualifying for the state meet.

LAKESCoach: Travis Shepherd (fifth season)

Last season: seventh in sectionals, third in regionals, second in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Jack Erwin, Charlie Halberg, Ethan Schommer, Owen Wenberg; juniors R.J. Migas, Talon Knauf

Newcomers: junior Sean Humpa; sophomores Jack Engel, Ty Dwyer, Aidan Gillespie; freshmen Nathan Rolla, Lawson Miller, Gavin Murrie

Noteworthy: The Eagles return a group of seniors who have had a huge impact on their program over the past three seasons. The Eagles missed qualifying for state last year by 9 points. Last spring's track season could provide momentum, as Lakes posted a school record in the 3,200-meter relay an 8:04 clocking. Ethan Schommer (sixth), Owen Wenberg (eighth) and R.J. Migas (15th) all medaled in the NLCC meet last fall.

ROUND LAKECoach: Kevin Brady (14th season)

Last season: seventh in regionals, fifth in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Marco Barcenas, Alex Urbina; sophomores Diego Giron, Cody Arenas

Newcomers: junior John Sanchez; sophomores Pedro Salgado, Jacob Minjares

Noteworthy: The Panthers return four of their top-seven runners. Diego Giron placed 10th in the NLCC meet as a freshman last fall.

WAUCONDACoach: Marie Hamlin (first season)

Last season: 16th in sectionals, fifth in regionals, seventh in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Nick Brunn, Marcus Keller, Eli Wurster; sophomores Kai Keene, Aiden Miller, Pat Jenkins

Newcomers: freshmen Ryan Rininger, Ryan Rockey

Noteworthy: The Bulldogs graduated four of their top-five runners. Nick Brunn provides senior leadership at the front of the pack. Sophomores Kai Keene and Aiden Miller ran in the NLCC meet last season. Marie Hamlin replaces former coach Jeff Helberg.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE NORTH DIVISION

VERNON HILLSCoach: Jason Rush (first season)

Last season: ninth in sectionals, first in regionals, ninth in CSL, fourth in North Division

Returning runners: seniors Jimmy McDonald (33rd in Class 2A), Cameron Overbeck, Matt Huse, Antoni Okinczyc, Evan Peepo, Sean Kim; junior Chase Johnson; sophomores Oscar Jedynak, Alex Utsis

Newcomers: freshmen Christian Gitzinger, Nathan Faitsch, Erik Giezycki

Noteworthy: Former Vernon Hills girls track coach Jason Rush takes over from Mark Whitney, who enjoyed lots of success in his six years. Jimmy McDonald placed 33rd in the Class 2A state meet last fall. The Cougars lost only two varsity scorers.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

CARMELCoach: Jim Halford (32nd season)

Last season: ninth in regionals, fifth in ESCC

Returning runners: senior Jack Bartz; juniors Brendan Collins, Nicholas Sarkis, Andrew White, Josh Lieson, Zach Young; sophomores Evan Ashley, Alex Miller

Newcomers: junior Alexander Speer; sophomores Christian Stieber, Eric Waldschmidt; freshmen Jeremy Bobber, Mario Durnil, Andy Ridosh

Noteworthy: Coach Jim Halford says junior newcomer Alexander Speer should make a huge impact and has the potential to qualify for the state meet.