Palatine's Immanuel Lutheran cross country teams reign at state
Setting a state record with a score of 16 points, the Immanuel Lutheran School-Palatine Boys Cross Country defended its Lutheran Sports Association state title recently in Bloomington.
However, this year, the two-time defending boys state champions were accompanied by the Immanuel Lutheran Lady Bobcats team, which captured its first cross country state title. Last year, the Lady Bobcats finished third in their first year of competition.
A total of 123 boys, representing 23 Lutheran grade schools from throughout the state, participated in the meet. The Immanuel boys, also in its second year of competition, placed its top five runners in the first nine finishers: eighth-graders Zach Gyuricza (third place, 11:49.42) and David Nordman (fourth place, 11:54.23); seventh-grader Nate Rathe (sixth place, 12:15.36); sixth-grader Nate Izewski (seventh place); and sixth-grader Dylan Tapia (ninth place, 12:36.76).
The Immanuel Lady Bobcats dethroned five-time defending state champion Zion Lutheran-Marengo to win the state title with a score of 38 points. Eighty-five girls, representing 20 Lutheran grade schools, participated in the meet. The Lady Bobcats placed its top five runners in the first 14 finishers: eighth-grader Katie Conklin (third place, 13:14.48); sixth-graders Nadya Lloyd (fifth place, 13:17.59) and twin-sister Danya Lloyd (sixth place, 13:19.73); sixth-grader Anna LaValle (10th place, 13:42.63); and seventh-grader Brianna Stryczek (14th place, 14:01.63).
In cross country, team scores are calculated by adding the finishing place of a team's top-five runners. The lowest score wins. Teams without five finishing runners are removed from the team scoring and remaining runners advance for team score calculation. As a result, Immanuel Lutheran boys finished first, second, third, fourth and sixth for a team total of 16 points. A perfect cross country team total is 15 points.
The 2010 top five final boys team results were: Immanuel Lutheran in Palatine, 16 points; Trinity Lutheran in Bloomington, 62; Zion Lutheran in Marengo, 89; St. Peter Lutheran in Arlington Heights, 132; and Zion Lutheran in Belleville, 153.
The 2010 top five girls team results were: Immanuel Lutheran in Palatine, 38 points; Zion Lutheran in Marengo, 56; Cross Lutheran in Yorkville, 78; Immanuel Lutheran in Batavia, 128; and Our Savior Lutheran in Springfield, 133.
“It was a huge thrill to be able to win not only one, but two cross country state titles on the same day,” said Ken Heinrich, head coach of both the Immanuel Lutheran boys and girls teams. “Our girls and boys set very high goals for themselves going into the state meet and they exceeded their goals. All 38 of our runners ran personal best times in the two-mile course. Our runners trust in God and give him the glory for their success.”
In addition to Heinrich, the Immanuel Bobcats also are coached by assistants Marcia Mathes and Kim Schneider-Mores.
The Immanuel Boys Cross Country Team members are: Ben Schilf of Algonquin; Adam and Eric Heinrich of Arlington Heights; David Nordman and Zach Stryczek of Barrington; Nate Rathe of Deer Park; Jonah Kaufmann and Austin Valleskey of Hoffman Estates; Hunter Simonini of Lake Zurich; Brandon Amoroso of North Barrington; Arden Bedwell, Aidan Casillas, Zach Gyuricza, Jacob Halleen, Ben Heuretz, Nate Izewski, Nathan Pierini, Cameron Roche, Gabe Serafino, Dylan Tapia, Josh Turner and Matt Ulrich of Palatine; and Patrick Jasionowski of Rolling Meadows.
The Immanuel Girls Cross Country Team members are: Demi Pappas and Brianna Stryczek of Barrington; Megan Fenn of Hoffman Estates; Lauren Glaser, Carrie Happel and Callie Schmitt of Inverness; and Daniela Casillas, Katie Conklin, Rachel Currid, Peyton Henderson, Lexi Heuertz, Danya and Nadya Lloyd, Anna and Julia LaValle and Maggie Walsh of Palatine.
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