Kaneland aims for 3rd straight sectional title
What will Kaneland’s boys track team do for an encore? We’re about to find out.
From its squad that in 2010 tied Cahokia for second place behind Hillcrest in Class 2A the Knights graduated a boatload of talent — let’s call it a busload as an homage to all-state 800-meter runner Derek Bus.
Returning all-state athletes like sprinter Tommy Whittaker, distance runner Trevor Holm and hurdler Taylor Andrews, plus 2010 state-qualifying triple jump qualifier Matt Spitzzeri ensured that Kaneland coach Eric Baron’s coffers were far from empty. The Knights enter Thursday’s Rochelle sectional fresh off the inaugural title of the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference title.
“We are trying for our third straight sectional title. It won’t come easy. Burlington Central has a great team as does Sterling, Dixon and Ottawa,” Baron said.
“We are looking to get all our relays qualified. All but the 800 relay have run under the qualifying time this season.”
Except for Spitzzeri, who sticks to the horizontal jumps, each of the above athletes will be work horses. Holm is a principal of the 3,200 relay, while both Whittaker and Andrews will run on relays with a cast that includes senior Curtis Secrest, junior Sean Carter, sophomore Brandon Cottier and freshman Jesse Balluf.
Unless something crazy happens, Andrews will qualify in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles; he finished fifth in 2A in the 110s last year. Whittaker brings the speed to the 100 and 400 dashes.
The Knights also have a unique streak on the line. For 29 years Kaneland has qualified a pole vaulter to the state meet, a span that includes state champions Jerry Oksas (1990), Marty Keifer (1998) and Kurt Long (1999). The current vaulters a pair of sophomores, have yet to clear the qualifying standard of 13 feet, 3 inches.
Baron obviously hopes for magic there as well as for good things from the likes of freshman discus thrower Nate Dyer.
“Last year we had lots of kids surprise us with great performances,” Baron said. “I believe we have several this year who could really do something big.”
Around the horn:
Marmion, another Class 2A school, just celebrated its seventh straight conference title and second consecutive in the Suburban Christian Conference. For that the Cadets are rewarded by visiting the Glenbard South sectional. The host Raiders are among several teams, including Cahokia, Springfield and Belleville North, who Baron believes could line up for a trophy in Charleston.
Along with Wheaton Academy also at Glenbard South, Aurora Central brings speedster Joe Fese and hurdlers Mike and Joe Reuland there, plus Jimmy Spencer and Matt Meyers from a 3,200-meter relay that made the 2A finals last year.
At Glenbard South too is St. Francis. Coach Scott Nelson offers the tireless Joe Giamberdino, who finished second in the 1,600 at the DuPage County meet. Giamberdino ran on an all-state 3,200 relay last year, but this year looks like a better bet for a distance double.
Marmion, however, is best suited to challenge Glenbard South. Bennett Marsh, second to Giamberdino in the SCC 3,200, seeks a chance to improve on his eighth-place state finish in that event, and the Cadets return shot put qualifier T.J. Lally and Eddy Grahovec, who made it downstate in the 300 hurdles in 2010. Grahovec was the sole SCC runner to break 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles and 2 minutes in the 800 at the SCC meet. Ben Cole stands a chance in triple jump, while junior high jumper Peter Stefanski has routinely cleared the 6-foot-3 qualifying standard this season.
In 1A, Friday at Rockford Christian the Aurora Christian boys hope to duplicate the success of the girls squad, which last week won its first sectional title in history. The host school and Genoa-Kingston are among those who will pose obstacles, but athletic freshman Jonathan Harrell in the jumps and sprints and Billy Howorth in pole vault and the 400 — he won both at the SCC meet — will have a say.
Then come the big boys.
West Aurora, which at the DuPage Valley meet rested sprinter Zach Woods with a hamstring strain, hopes to return Woods to relays and an open 200 at Thursday’s Plainfield North sectional. It’ll be a tough road, with teams such as Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley there, plus fast Plainfield South featuring former Aurora Christian twins John and Sheldon Magee.
Along with individuals like pole vaulter George Malina, thrower Alex Chollet and distance runner Steve Loran, the Blackhawks have a quality pair of open middle-distance runners in Matt Muth and Ryan Bartell. Add Vontrell Hawkins and Zach Truckenbrod, should coach Cortney Lamb desire, and that foursome should qualify in a 3,200 relay.
St. Charles North, St. Charles East, Geneva and inaugural Upstate Eight River champion Batavia all are at Friday’s Class 3A Bartlett sectional at Streamwood’s Millennium Field. Batavia again looks to be the favorite in the team race, but the Bulldogs will see unfamiliar teams with solid pedigrees such as Conant, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg.
This sectional should produce an array of possible qualifiers. It’s a pool that includes St. Charles North jumpers Dan Washington and Oshay Hodges and sprinter Brandon Baymon, to St. Charles East pole vaulter Rob Davidsen and open sprinters Mike Brown, Dillon Mugge and Jake Mazanke, to Geneva sprinter Russ Acton, thrower Jackson Grimes and hurdlers Ryan Ahern and Tom Frederick. The Vikings’ Pete Archibald was out until only recently, but may figure either in the 1,600 or 800.
Befitting a team that scored 160 points at the conference meet, Batavia is well-rounded. Sprint relays led by River 100 champ Emund Kabba are the area’s fastest, and Brian Wilson, Jake Benner and Sean Tews all hope to qualify in throwing events at Plainfield North.
The wild-card is David Voland. After being injured the last two seasons, the senior has had a tremendous outdoor campaign and gives Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron plentiful options in both hurdles events, relays and open sprints, however he chooses.
Regarding hurdles, Batavia’s Rob Mohr has run times among the state’s best this spring in both the 110 and 300. The future Princeton Tiger has been loaded for bear since qualifying in both events as a junior then failing to reach the finals.
It says here that won’t happen again.