Boys cross country: York's hoping it's Summer season

Ethan Summer has been to Peoria's Detweiller Park for the IHSA Class 3A state cross country meet, but only as an observer.

The York senior wants his next visit to count, both for himself and his team.

While Summer and fellow seniors Jeff Luka, Garrett Schwan, Jackson Geiger and Eric Rutherford aren't making hotel reservations quite yet, there is a good chance they'll have to in about two months.

"It's a lot different from any other cross country meet," Summer said of state. "There is a lot of energy and pressure with all the people there, but personally, I know our team really likes that pressure."

Summer has had an interesting high school running career. His dad was a runner in high school and college, and he fell into the sport as a grade schooler. By the time he got to eighth grade, though, he decided he wasn't going to go out for cross country as a freshman, but instead play soccer.

He didn't enjoy soccer much, so he went out for track that spring, and "I fell back in love with it."

As a sophomore, he battled nagging injuries, but last season, despite the limitations of COVID-19, he had a breakout season, finishing in the top 20 in both the Lyons Twp. sectional meet and the unofficial state meet at downstate Chillicothe, the 2020 XC Championships. To boot, he finished 17th at state track in the 3,200 meters earlier this summer with a time of 9:34.29. Luka was 25th in 10:08.46.

What makes Summer so tough on the course? According to his coach, Charlie Kern, it's what he does off it - the mental game.

"I think it's what he does before he gets on the course," Kern said. "He wants to be successful and asks, 'Why?' Not as a challenge, but just to understand. We tell people this in every aspect of life, it's about the preparation."

York has a storied cross country history, thanks in large part to late former coach Joe Newton, and more recently Kern. That's something Summer and his cohorts take seriously.

"I always look at York's history as motivation for us, but I don't try to focus on our history too much," he said. "It's awesome to have that legacy behind us, so we know we can do it."

Added Schwan: "The legacy of York crosses my mind a lot of times a week. When you wear that jersey, you know the legacy behind it. It really helps to push each other. There is so much tradition."

Summer said that the leadership is not just a him thing; it's about he and his four senior teammates making the team accountable to each other. Schwan said that "Ethan is a little more verbal, and Jackson is a little more verbal as well. I definitely lead more by example."

Kern says his Big Five are well positioned to not only get to Detweiller Park but do some damage, like the great teams of the past.

"The have all had little tastes of success," he said. "They are at a time in life where they want to get into the top spot. Each had a different path bringing them to their senior year."