Girls cross country: Scouting DuPage County
BENET
First year head coach Dan Billish, who was at Naperville North previously, returns a solid squad from a team that won the East Suburban Catholic Conference, 2A sectionals and finished 19th at state.
Returners are seniors Aniela Gaudio and Megan Leegan, junior Emma Greco and sophomores Lily Pervan and Faye Ferrell.
Newcomers include freshmen Claire Bremner, Adde Amidei and Kaya Luciano.
"The ESCC is tough and we need to improve every day and that could land us in Peoria at the end of the day," said Billish. “We are nursing some injuries which could play a major development.”
DOWNERS GROVE NORTH
The Trojans under 24th-year coach Tim McDonald enjoyed a successful 2023 season.
DGN was second in the state in 3A, Hinsdale Central sectional champs and second in the West Suburban Conference Silver.
McDonald's troops return all six from the runner-up team: seniors Audrey Casten, Ava Gilley, Hannah Renner, Alaina Todnen and McKenzie Willard, and junior Lily Eddington. Freshman Macy Ermitage, the state IESA champ as an eighth-grader, hopes to break into the lineup.
"We want to contend for the conference championship and if healthy compete with the best teams in the state," said McDonald.
DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH
The Mustangs won the WSC Gold championship for a 25th straight year. The Mustangs were fourth in the 3A Naperville North regional and 11th at the Hinsdale Central sectional.
Senior Holly Johnson, who was 25th in the state in 2023, returns for the Mustangs.
Others back are senior Greta Paschall, junior Claire Posmer and sophomores Rosie Jones, Gianna Lamb and Nia Ortega. Freshmen newcomers are Cora Murphy, Nora Maier and Lilly Ring.
"We want to win the conference championship for a 26th straight season," said coach Doug Plunkett. “We want to qualify for state as a team."
FENTON
The Bison finished eighth in the Upstate Eight Conference and eighth in 2A regional.
Junior Josslyn Wade placed 16th in the state in Class 2A.
"Wade will compete for the individual title in the conference," said coach Frank Kekstadt. “It is too early to see where we will be as a team. We want consistent improvement and maintain good health."
GLENBARD EAST
The Rams placed second in the Upstate Eight Conference in 2023.Coach Chris Pietsch, in his 11th year, returns Elena Kosorog, Kathleen Nevels, Evelynne Barry and Sophie DeMarchi. Teigan O Donnell is new to the program.
"We want to finish in the middle of the conference," said Pietsch.
GLENBARD NORTH
The Panthers were eighth in the DuKane Conference a year ago.
Returners are junior Payton Marshall along with sophomores Jazlene Korsh, Melissa Gomez and Julia Narlock.
"The DuKane continues its strong tradition and has multiple top 30 ranked teams and individuals," said 13th-year coach Eric Day. “We have a young team that is learning the commitment necessary to be successful in cross country. We have the confidence we are laying the foundation for future track and cross country seasons.”
GLENBARD SOUTH
The Raiders were seventh in the Upstate Eight and 10th in a Class 2A sectional and bring back seniors Diana Kalvelage, Taylor Koenig, Simone Witort, Ashelyn Anders, Mariela Flores, Angela Comparan, Makenna Miller and Olivia Weber along with junior Jillian DeMayo.
Newcomers include senior Alyssa Longo, sophomores Ella Anderson and Delilah Durek, and freshmen Mia Siguenza, Alexis Baygood, Molly Clarin, Audrey Loney, Adriana Lehr, Ava Meline and Abigail Comparan.
"We want to qualify a full team for state," said coach Daniel Bledsoe.
GLENBARD WEST
The Hilltoppers were sixth in the WSCC Silver, seventh at the Lake Park 3A sectional and 24th in the state.
Returners are juniors MacKenzie Gilbert (141st, 3A state finals) and Ella Demchinski (181st).
Others back are senior Maia Kasiewicz and Alexia Gomez, junior Alexa Novak and sophomores Lauren Bennett, Alexia Gomez and Ava Chase.
"We want to improve on last season's conference finish," said coach Paul Hass. “Without hyperbole this is the toughest conference in the nation. Downers Grove North and York participated in the Nike Nationals and are likely to return to the nationals. It will be competitive in the conference for every school not named York or DGN. Any team in the conference is a challenge."
HINSDALE CENTRAL
The Red Devils were 13th in the state in Class 3A and bring back juniors Lily Hodneland and Addie Krogstie along with sophomores Ella Satre and Evelyn Shay.
Newcomers are juniors Grace Gruber, Sophia Molfese, Sam Guereca and Ella Gray along with sophomores Morgan Khan and Lucy McCormick.
"We are fostering a positive attitude," said coach Mark McCabe. “We have no seniors and are very young. The past 23 years we have been in the top 11 at the state 14 times. We have high hopes and we want to be the best we can be."
HINSDALE SOUTH
Seventh in a Class 2A regional a year ago, returners for the Hornets are senior Andy Esposito and Samantha Kantz, juniors Anna Wilcox, Anna Frankel and Audrey Koepfle and sophomores Alyssa Pendon and Emma Koehler.
Newcomers are senior Sarah Shumond, sophomores Emma Gonzalez, Sofia Salazar and Yelena Haidamaka, and freshmen Lucy Wang, Gianna Picardi and Karina Zhelikhovska.
LAKE PARK
The Lancers were seventh in the DuKane Conference and seventh in a Class 2A regional a year ago. Senior Brynn Ellenbecker and sophomores Ruth Dellaria and Lillian Potts return
"We want to finish in the top half of the conference and qualify for the sectional as a team and get some individual state qualifiers," said coach Jay Ivory.
METEA VALLEY
The Mustangs were third in the DuPage Valley Conference last season.
Five girls have graduated with only senior Isabella Sieben and junior Julia Hannon returning.
Newcomers under coach Eric Anerino are freshman Kaylee Russell, and sophomores Swara Kendale, Shunya Patel and Srinika Gundlapally.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
The Redhawks enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign. They were second in the DuPage Valley Conference, third in the sectionals and sixth at the Class 3A state meet.
Back are Lola Satre Morales (47th), Brynn Miller (143rd) and Allie Opalka (201st).
Others back from the state roster include Macy Bjork, Lydia Park, Katelyn Burke, Sophia Dussias, Natalie Enright, Eloise Graft, Soli Karagianis and Lauren Quigg.
"The returning roster from our state team should strengthen the varsity team," said coach Matt Blondell. “We want to finish in the top three in the conference and pursue a top two finish.”
NAPERVILLE NORTH
With five state qualifiers back from a Class 3A fifth-place finish in the state and five other returners, Dan Iverson's troops might be able to improve their placement at the state meet.
Back are state qualifiers seniors Emma Berres and Anika Lovisa, and juniors Shania Tandon and Rianna Tandon.
Others back are seniors Sennah Rashidan and Kate Corcoran along with junior Thain Karr and sophomores Chloe Piot and Elliana White, plus freshman Kathryn Rohr.
ST. FRANCIS
Returners for the Spartans who were sixth in Class 2A are sophomores Elena Mamminga (26th in 2A), Erin Hinsdale (27th) and Margaret Andrzejewski (92nd). They will be joined by sophomore Bella Marquez and freshman Ryleigh Layland.
"We want repeat as regional champs and finish in the top six in the state," said coach Jason Accardi.
TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN
The Trojans are led by junior Jen Carreon, who was a Class 1A state qualifier a year ago. Senior Ella Vanderwal, juniors Ella Potoschnick (missed sophomore season with injury), Sienna Azzinaro and sophomore Bella Hackert also are back.
Newcomers are sophomores Eden Moore and Bri Pasek along with freshmen Abbe Baker, Maddie Turner, Phoebe Leppink and Lucy Wilgenburg.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
The Warriors were fifth in the DuPage Valley Conference, fifth in the Class 3A regional and ninth in the sectionals, and they return state qualifiers senior Lily Baibak and sophomore Mia Bertolini. Others back are seniors Marissa Martin, Emely Galvez and junior Katherine Heap. They add freshman Dhanya Shanmugasandaram.
“We want to finish fourth or better in the competitive DVC meet,” said coach Michelle Wicyk.
WEST CHICAGO
Senior Jessica Balmer, eighth at the Upstate Eight meet a year ago, is back for eighth-year coach Cassie Anderson whose team was fourth in the UEC a year ago.
"We want to finish higher in the conference this year," said Anderson.
WHEATON ACADEMY
The Warriors return sophomore Addie Painter, who was 83rd in the state in 2A.
Others back for coach Daniel Ball are seniors Rachel Nelson and Annie Stoner, juniors Kristen Holwerda and Ann Roth, along with sophomore Halle Van Zee.
The Warriors add senior Lorenna Davis and freshmen Adeline Farrell, Sydnie Becker, Charlotte Brown and Kelsey Brust.
"We want to win the conference (Chicagoland Christian) title," said Ball. “We want to stay healthy and train well. We want to advance from the regional to sectionals."
WHEATON NORTH
The Falcons were eighth in the state in Class 3A, second in the Lake Park sectional, first in the St. Charles East regional and champions of the DuKane Conference.
Coach Paul Anderson return state finishers senior Maddie Romaine (43rd), juniors Ema Eissler (128th) and Sienna Keith (218th), and sophomores June Recterwald (59th), Emily Offutt (69th) and Annika Carlson (220th).
"The DuKane is a very tough conference with several strong teams vying for the championships," said Anderson. “Last season was the most successful season since 2005.”
WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH.
Coach Rob Harvey's Tigers enjoyed a successful 2023 campaign. South was second in the DuKane Conference, third in a 3A regional, fifth in the sectional and 20th in the state.
The top returner is junior Nicole Poglitsch who was seventh in the state.
Other state qualifiers are seniors Frida Martinez and MacKenzie Armstrong, and sophomore Kate Rodakowski. Returning with varsity experience are seniors Sam Osegard and Savannah Bastiaans along with juniors Namie Bachellor, Abby Barrett, Emily Fahrman, Ellie Flores, Eva Martin and Olivia Martinez and sophomore Ariella Friebel..
“We have several impact newcomers and we had a successful 2023 season," said Harvey. ”We hope those positive moments from 2023 springboard us to 2024. This summer we focused on getting stronger and building aerobic strength."
WILLOWBROOK
Senior Amelie Ojeda placed 37th at last season's Class 3A state meet. The Warriors were second in the West Suburban Gold and third at the Lyons Township regional.
Seniors Molly Brown, Rosemary Kling, Malin Meeker and Holly Harris, juniors Allyson Stefani and Mariangela Popoca and sophomore Grace Mamolella also are back, while sophomore newcomer Bethany Yurich and Genevieve King join the mix.
“The outlook for the conference looks good," said coach Clyde Ware. "We have a state qualifier back and several well performing athletes. We want to continue to improve and reach the team’s potential. We want to develop underclassmen."
YORK
The defending Class 3A state champs return juniors Maggie Quinn (28th in the state), Sophia Galiano Sanchez (32nd) and Gigi Hill (49th).
Other returners include seniors Sofia Stoddard and Scarlett Moriarty, junior Lila Stanely and sophomore Julia Weseloh, and the Dukes add freshman Karlin Janowski.
“The WSC Silver is one of the toughest conferences in the state," said coach Lauren DeAngelis. ”The conference meet provides great competition and pushes all athletes. Everyone strives for PR's. We are racing against great programs."