Boys cross country: Scouting DuPage County
ADDISON TRAIL
The Blazers were seventh in the West Suburban Conference a year ago and return seniors Thomas Cabrera and Peter Sanchez to go with sophomore newcomers Nathan Gunderson and Gahel Lezema.
"We are very young and will be relying on a group with very little experience," said 20th-year coach Brad Donaldson. “We have good athletes and we will need a number of races to develop an identity."
FENTON
Coach Patrick Fritsch’s Bison were eighth in the Upstate Eight Conference, sixth in the Class 2A Kaneland regional and 18th at Woodstock sectional last year.
Fenton’s core includes seniors Matt Seoane, Alejandro Zavale and Mario Guizar, and sophomores Matthew Anderson, Josh Cade and Giovanni Dorado.
"It is a rebuilding year," said Fritsch. “A pair of sophomore could be in our top three. We lost a lot of senior leadership from last season.”
DOWNERS GROVE NORTH
It was a year to remember for the Trojans, who won the Class 3A state title, the Nike Midwest regional and finished seventh at the Nike nationals.
Back for the state champs are senior Grant Schneider (10th), and juniors Phil Cupial (seventh) and Will Surratt (30th), plus seniors John Courtney, Colin Finn, Owen Kelly, Jack Loftus and Brady Travers.
"The conference might be the best conference in the nation," said coach John Sipple. “We have many teams ranked in the Top 25 in the state. We have lofty goals for the season."
DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH
The Mustangs bring back senior Josh Poeschel who was 32nd in the state in 3A and will run at Division III Washington University.
Others back are seniors TJ Harvat, Billy Neuman and Martin Joy along with juniors John Clinton, Will Miller, Harris Kelliher and Andrew Erdal, and sophomores Aditya Kota, Charlie Delapaz and Conrad Saner. Freshmen Jayden Augusten and Sam Axelson join the team.
"It will be a tough battle in the conference with Hinsdale South along with Morton." said coach Brian Caldwell. “It will ultimately come down to the fourth and fifth runners. We need to get healthy. We are trending in the right direction. We want to win the conference at all levels. We want to advance to the sectionals for the 19th straight year."
GLENBARD EAST
The Rams were fifth in the Upstate Eight Conference a year ago and bring back seniors Miles DePhillips, Leo Cardenas and Gavin McDonald along with junior Mason Hephner and sophomore Alex Hernandez.
"It should be a competitive conference," said coach Andrew Adduci. “We look to finish in the middle of the conference.”
GLENBARD SOUTH
Coach Doug Gorski’s Raiders were runner-up in Class 2A a year ago and third in 2022. Sophomore Tom Jocum had an outstanding freshman season with a 15th-place finish at the state meet which earned him all-state accolades.
Others back are seniors Lucas Van Ohlen (203rd), Lucas Galles and Jonas Kling, along with junior Gus Kling. Freshmen Giancarlo Peitrasanto has the talent to crack the top five.
"Led by Tom Jocum we should have a tight pack two through seven," said Gorski. “We want to advance through the regional and sectional and make appearance at the state meet as a team for the sixth straight year. We hope to compete for a conference title, but newcomers West Aurora and Riverside-Brookfield are strong teams as well as South Elgin."
GLENBARD WEST
The Hilltoppers, led by 15th-year coach Kyle Nugent, were ninth at the Class 3A Lake Park sectional with seniors Graham Faris, Ryan Fader, Liam Grady, Cayden Camp and Brandon Carpenter along with junior Matt King returning.
"The WSC Silver is loaded," said Nugent. “We hope be in the top five.”
HINSDALE SOUTH
Returning for the Hornets are sophomore state qualifier Wojtek Gilarski (72nd, Class 2A) and junior Andrew Petersen (195th) to go with senior Dziugas Meiliulis, Eric Fornier, sophomore Ryan Murphy and sophomore newcomer Javier Terrell.
“We are improved,” coach Jim Dickerson said. “This is the most competitive conference (WSCC Gold) we had in awhile. This is a fun group."
LAKE PARK
The Lancers, sixth in the rugged DuKane Conference and eighth in a Class 3A regional, return seniors Jimmy Jalowiec, Lucas Skupien, Daniel Bernel and Holden Anderson, juniors Nick Sheklarevski and Nick Zegger, and sophomores Tommy Jalowiec and Brandon Arguello.
Newcomers include sophomore Christien Gallant and freshmen Tim Dellaria and Lukas Svabas.
"The conference as always is excellent," said coach Joey Pacione. “We could finish as high as fourth and as low as seventh. We want to be in the top five in the conference, qualify for sectionals and improve across the board."
MONTINI
Back for Montini from an 18th-place finish at state are senior Conor Kaefer, and sophomores Gavin Conway, Adriel Garcia and Owen Ferris. Freshman Kevin Barrett hopes to crack the top seven.
“We want to be competitive in the Catholic League White Division and advance through regionals and sectionals and improve on the state finish," said 12th-year coach Eric Brechtel.
NAPERVILLE NORTH
The Huskies, who were fourth in the DuPage Valley Conference a year ago, return senior Ammar Bhanpuri who was 37th in the state in Class 3A.
Others back are juniors Jackson Truty, Simon Reckamp, Lukas Keene, Brian Hartelstad and Aidan Malana, while senior JT Schmitt joins the team.
"We want to be in the top two in the conference and qualify for state as a team," said coach Tim Brown.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
The Redhawks’ top runner back is sophomore Manny Najera, who was 118th in Class 3A in 2023. He’s joined by senior Patrick Chung, juniors Gavin George and Vaughn Scherer, and Matt Wang, Richard Zang and Zach Hoffstetter.
Coach Grant Baganz's troops finished second in the DuPage Valley Conference, third in sectionals and 20th in the state.
NEUQUA VALLEY
james Janota has a veteran team returning from last season's squad which finished ninth in the state in Class 3A. The Wildcats, looking for a 23rd state appearance, return seniors Ryan Adamski, Aaron Hamilton, Tarun Avantsa, Liam Yack and Neel Chawla along with juniors Garrett Anderson, Anish Bhagwat and Max Meyer and sophomore Jesse Gaudauskas. Freshman Sachun Sivakumar joins the team.
"We want to continue our streak of state qualifications and develop a lot of underclassmen this summer," said Janota
ST. FRANCIS
Newcomers for Jason Accardi are freshmen Mark Andrzejewski, Teddy Artl and Cole Mocko. The Spartans hope to improve on a third-place finish in the GCAC and seventh in a Class 2A sectional.
TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN
The Trojans are paced by senior 1A state qualifier Ryan McKenzie. Others back with varsity experience are seniors Jack Gudgel and Jake Ellans, juniors Joel Fan, Caleb Lindemulder, AJ Rakers and Noah Potoschink, and sophomores Ben Ellans, Nate Bemister and Peyton Scholma. The Trojans add sophomores Josh Kay and Will Gritters and freshmen Ryan Vanderwal, Hudson Tseng and Jack Vanderzee.
"We want to qualify downstate as a team and finish well in the conference (Chicagoland Christian),“ said coach Erica Plaisier.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
Under Kevin Rafferty, the Warriors were fifth in the DVC and sixth in the sectionals.
"We are aiming on improving in practice every day," said the Warriors coach.
WHEATON ACADEMY
The Warriors won the Chicagoland Christian Conference a year ago and were seventh in a Class 2A regional. Coach Chris Felinski returns seniors Mike Osielski, and Simeon Gabriel, juniors Toby Morden and Luke Osterholm and sophomore Miguel Boney while adding freshmen Luke Linstra and Andrew Nyquist.
"We lost two athletes but we think a couple of freshmen will fill their shoes," said Felinski. “We want to repeat as conference champs, finish in the top four in the regionals and qualify for the sectionals."
WHEATON NORTH
The Falcons under 20th-year coach Nathan Roe were third in the DuKane Conference, second at the Class 3A St. Charles East regional, seventh at the Lake Park sectional and 25th in the state.
The top runner back is senior Aidan Murphy who was an all-stater with a 23rd-place effort at the 2023 state meet. Others back are seniors Luke Hawarth and Quinn Murphy and juniors Seth Pacer and Dan Xochitecatl. Newcomers include sophomores Levi Turner and Judah Clark and freshman Nathan Carroll.
"It is the most balanced year since the inception of the DuKane," said Roe. “Our goal is always to make it to the state meet and finish as high as possible. There is many talented teams and individuals in the conference. It is hard to make all-conference. Our top seven is constantly changing. It keeps our guys motivated and to work hard."
WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH
WW South finished second in the DuKane Conference last year, won Class 3A regional and sectionals and took 17th at the state meet.
Senior Josiah Narayanan placed 12th and senior Aiden Noel was 49th at state, and the Tigers also return seniors Sam Purdue, Jack Ruswick and Atticus Cunningham.
"The DuKane is a great conference," said coach Chris Kuntz. “We should be in the hunt for the conference championship with Wheaton North, St. Charles East and Batavia. It will be tough but fun. The kids worked hard over the summer and have high expectations for the season."
WILLOWBROOK
The Warriors bring back seniors Kasen Blain, Jake Skibbe and Adriano Quentero.
"We have the largest team (47) we have had with 14 seasons," said coach TJ Artman. “We hope for a competitive season in the WSC Gold and in the state series."
YORK
Charlie Kern, who replaced longtime legendary coach Joe Newton in 2016, saw his team place 24th in the state in Class 3A last year, sixth in the sectionals and fifth in the West Suburban Conference Silver.
Six runners who competed at the state meet a year ago return: seniors Sam Kehoe (96th), Zach Saltiel (115th), Max Zangan (127th), Emmett Bradford (141st) and Evan Zapata (190th) along with juniors Carter Olsen (171st). Senior Jack Sebastian has varsity experience, and the Dukes add senior Everett Stinson, junior Ryker Hargas, sophomore Harrison Monternach and freshman Patrick Hill.
“DGN is the team to beat in the conference," said Kern. ”We want to contend with other teams for second and at least finish in the top three in the WSCC. We want to qualify for the state as a team and see self improvement."