Boys track: Scouting the Fox Valley
Bartlett HawksCoach: Eric Kramer (8th season)
2014 finish: Sixth place Upstate Eight Valley Division
Top returning athletes: Seniors Bryce Petty (sprints), Dan Danek (throws), Will McConville (distance), juniors Nolan Bernat (sprints), AJ Santori (sprints), Pat Karys (hurdles), Justin Sowinski (sprints), Lucas Isla (distance), Justin Isla (distance)
Key newcomers: Juniors Trevaughn Stagen (sprints), Will Rajewski (sprints)
Outlook: Bartlett qualified two relays and four individuals for the state meet last year. Bernat, Petty and Santori are back from the state 400 and 800 relay teams. Santori qualified in the 300 hurdles, while Danek qualified in the discus. "Our team's focus is for every athlete to set a personal record three times or more in their primary event this season," said Kramer. "At the Upstate Eight meet we want to place in the Top 3. At the sectional at West Aurora we want to compete to win the meet and at the Class 3A state finals our goal is to medal in three or more events."
Burlington Central RocketsCoach: Mike Schmidt (20th season)
2014 finish: Big Northern Conference champions for fourth year in a row. Sectional runner-up, third place in Class 2A.
Top returning athletes: Seniors Lucas Ege (hurdles, sprints), Kyle Neubauer (400, 800), Clay Musial (3,200, 1,600), Anton Christansen (shot, disc), Zach Gorman (shot, disc), Trevor Davison (sprints, relays), juniors Jason Berango (sprints, long jump, relays), Nick Harvey (800, 1,600), Tim Goehrke (sprints, long jump), Drew Kries (400, 800), Keegan Whitmer (pole vault), sophomores Dionte Smith (jumps, sprints), Jared Trupp (pole vault, hurdles), Jimmy Fay (400, 800)
Key newcomers: Junior Brad Sorensen (sprints, relays), sophomores Mitchell Roedel (400, 800), Elijah Abejide (high jump), freshmen Michael Caluso (sprints), Aakansh Sharma (hurdles)
Outlook: Ege won the Class 2A state 300 hurdles title and set a 2A state record in the process. He also was third in the 110 hurdles at state. Central's 1,600 relay team placed third and the 400 team was fourth at the state meet. Ege and Neubauer are back from the 1,600 team, while Ege and Berango are back from the 400 team. "We return one of our best teams in recent memory," said Schmidt. "We have depth all over the track and in the field, highlighted by five key athletes from last year's third-place state team." Ege, one of the top hurdlers in the country, will head to Stanford next year. "Our field events, which are usually a weakness, are a surprising area of strength with great jumpers, vaulters and throwers on this year's team," Schmidt said. Schmidt said the team is the prohibitive favorite to win a fifth conference title and should be a favorite along with Kaneland for the sectional title. The Rockets also have their eye on getting another team state trophy.
Cary-Grove TrojansCoach: Layne Holter
2014 finish: Fourth place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning athletes: Seniors Michael Saxon (hurdles), Ricky Hurley (throws), Matt Wade (throws), Daniel Speer (sprints), Jeff Yokup (sprints), Tyler Stordahl (distance), Frank San Filippo (jumps), junior Robbie Gleeson (sprints), sophomore Alex Ratkovich (distance)
Key newcomers: Sophomore Ryan Magel (sprints), freshmen Andrew Stokes (throws), Jack Warnecke (hurdles, middle distance), Eric Stiegman (middle distance), Caiden Kautzman (sprints)
Outlook: Holter likes the team's depth and balance. "We are well-balanced," he said. "We have returning state qualifiers in the hurdles, throws, 400 and sprint relays. We are coming off our best indoor season in recent memory. We are better balanced and deeper than we have been in years. We have several new additions to the program that will be key contributors as the season progresses. We are in good shape and have high expectations."
Crystal Lake South GatorsCoach: Rich Eschman (22nd season)
2014 finish: Ninth place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning athletes: Seniors Kyle Hedge (shot put, discus), Thomas Mroz (shot, discus), Justin Miller (800, mile), Ryan Sisto (sprints), Tony Nuccio (sprints), Matt McCarthy (hurdles, triple jump), Skyler Pentico (hurdles), juniors Jimmy Collins (long jump, triple jump), Scott Coughlin (high jump, long jump), Dan Rastenis (jumps), Doug Cain (middle distance), Tats Daniel (middle distance), Tommy Melone (distance), sophomore Jon Prus (800, 400, mile)
Key newcomers: Sophomores Sam Peschke (pole vault), Peter Polizos (pole vault), freshman Jack Becker (distance)
Outlook: Hedge, headed to DePaul next year, took third in the state in the shot put last year, while South's 3,200 relay team placed ninth. "We should be strong in the field events this year," Eschman said. "Kyle is one of the best throwers in the state. He threw the disc 175 feet during the season." Mroz was an all-conference pick last year and is back healthy this season. "We are hoping he can qualify for state in the shot put," Eschman said. Collins, Coughlin and McCarthy give the Gators depth in the jumps. "They should all make our jumping events a lot more competitive this year," Eschman added. South also should be competitive in the distance races. "Our cross-country team won the conference this past fall so hopefully that will transfer over to the track and we will have a strong mid-distance and distance crew," the coach said. McCarthy, Pentico and Collins have shown improvements in the hurdles, while Sisto and Nuccio will help the sprint group. "We are going for a Top 5 finish in the conference," said Eschman.
Elgin Academy HilltoppersCoach: Adrian Ayala (5th season)
2014 finish: Sixth place Independent School League
Top returning athletes: Seniors Spencer Schael, Jackson Jaworski
Key newcomers: Seniors Tano Xayasarn, Kenny Woltz
Outlook: The Hilltoppers return the likes of Schael in the sprints and hurdles and Jaworski in the distance events. Xayasarn will help in sprints, while Woltz is a thrower for the team. "Lack of numbers is our biggest obstacle," said Ayala. "As a team we would like to continue the progression we've made in the Independent School League."
Hampshire Whip-PursCoach: Joe Watzlawick (3rd season)
2014 finish: 12th place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning athletes: Seniors Andy Pederson (hurdles), Manny Hartsfield (triple jump), sophomores Douglas Stuehler (long jump), Jake Oury (3,200)
Key newcomer: Senior Roberto Urizar (400)
Outlook: Numbers are up at Hampshire with nearly 50 athletes on the team. "We are getting better every year," said Watzlawick. "Senior leadership will help us all year."
Harvest Christian Academy LionsCoach: Steven Bland (3rd season)
Top returning athletes: Senior Jake Adams (800, 1,600, 3,200), junior Brett Cramer (jumps)
Key newcomers: Freshmen Andrew Dobrescu (distance), Kyler Young (distance)
Outlook: The Lions sent a 3,200 relay team and Cramer (high jump) to the Class 1A state meet last year - Harvest's first time qualifying athletes for the meet. "Both our boys and girls teams share the same goals to win conference and advance to the state meet," said Bland. "The strength of our team is in the distance events. We have a core group of committed athletes who are focused and have consistently trained throughout the year. The boys have a few jumpers that could bolster their bid for a first conference title. Being a small school, we lack the numbers to compete against the larger schools that drop down into the 1A category for the track season. We still are recruiting athletes that could help us in the sprint and field events and if we are successful, we may do well at the sectional."
Huntley Red RaidersCoach: Jim Rolando (10th season)
2014 finish: McHenry Co. champions, FVC runner-up, sectional runner-up
Top returning athletes: Seniors Brennan Bell (jumps, hurdles), Connor Boos (sprints), Isaac Jimenez (throws), Aasem Awwad (sprints), Chase Burkhart (throws), juniors Keegan Smith (mid-distance/distance), Seth Conroy (mid-distance/distance), Tim McCloyn (decathlete), Mike Grocholski (mid-distance/distance)
Outlook: Huntley is looking to follow-up on a banner 2014 season where it won a county title and finished second in the conference and at sectionals and qualified athletes in eight different events to the state meet. The Red Raiders also welcome 25 freshmen to the team. "We look to improve as the season goes along," said Rolando. "It will be difficult to repeat some of the performances that helped us win some of the bigger meets last year. Getting the younger guys ready to compete will be a priority for us and that is both a strength and a weakness. They can become like last year's group that competed at the varsity level and stepped up many times, but they also are only freshmen right now and aren't quite ready to compete day in and day out at the varsity level." Rolando said there are a number of teams in the FVC that can contend. "I look for Jacobs to be good. They have a solid core of mid-distance guys, good sprinters and a top 400 runner for sure," he said. "McHenry should be strong and deep as always and I think Dundee-Crown will have a good year. I think the FVC will be pretty even this year."
Jacobs Golden EaglesCoach: Jason Borhart
Top returning athletes: Seniors Josh Walker (sprints), Nick Gierlak (sprints), Matt Goldby (middle distance), Alec Bognar (middle distance), Josh Yonker (400), juniors Dylan Rogers (400), Kyle Ross (middle distance), Patrick Shannon (sprints, long jump), sophomore Garrett Brenzier (distance)
Key newcomers: Junior Cole Schwarz (middle distance), sophomore Conrad Beech (400), freshman Noah Melick (middle distance)
Outlook: Walker is a returning state qualifier in the 100 and the 800 relay, while Gierlak was part of the 800 state relay team along with Shannon. "We should be very competitive on the track in almost every meet we go to," Borhart said. "We could put together some relays that should be pretty good at the end of the year. We are weak in the field, but have some potential to score a few points." Borhart said Huntley is the favorite in the McHenry County meet and in the Fox Valley Conference.
Larkin RoyalsCoach: Nate Williams (2nd season)
Top returning athletes: Eric Gorman (jumps, hurdles), Chevelle Clements (sprints, relays), AJ Hunter (sprints, relays), Zach Fifer (distance), David Hibbler (sprints, relays), Eduardo Baltazar (distance)
Key newcomers: Ty Former (throws), Malik Crenshaw (jumps, hurdles)
Outlook: Larkin is coming off a 2014 season where it qualified a pair of relays (1,600 and 400) for the Class 3A state meet. "We will be dominated by youth this season," said Williams. "Eighty percent of our roster is either freshmen or sophomores." Williams said Hunter, Gorman, Clements and Hibbler will try to build on the legacy left behind by the 2014 class that produced back-to-back 1,600 relay state qualifiers. "While this year's team may not have immediate impact in the UEC, the future is extremely bright," Williams said.
South Elgin Storm
Coach: Anthony La Rue (6th season)
Top returning athlete: Junior Shawn Griffin (100)
Outlook: Griffin is back after qualifying for state as a sophomore in the 100 thanks to a personal-best time of 10.96 at the sectional. South Elgin will move forward after the loss of numerous graduated seniors. "We lost huge amounts of leadership," said LaRue. "We have the talent without them, but all the things that can't be measured on paper is lost with those great South Elgin men graduating."
St. Edward Green WaveCoach: Katie Beckett
Top returning athletes: Junior Albert Lopez, sophomore Dom Washington
Key newcomers: Freshmen Will Gaston, Anthony Calabrese
Outlook: Beckett is in her first season with the both the boys' and girls' teams at St. Edward. "I'm excited to see how everyone develops and grows as the season goes on," she said. "I like the amount of patience they have shown in dealing with the poor weather and indoor practices, as well as the teamwork they demonstrate and the fun they have with each practice."
Streamwood SabresCoach: Dylan Lau (1st season)
Top returning athletes: Juniors Jelyn Hill (jumps, sprints), Brian Adkins (jumps, sprints), Tae Reetz (jumps, sprints), Jake McGlone (jumps, sprints), Robert Douglas (distance), Jarod Adaya (distance), Francisco Vega (distance), sophomores Dylan Munoz (distance), Arin Klimek (throws)
Key newcomers: Juniors Jaleel Jenkins (jumps, sprints), Chance McCray (throws)
Outlook: Lau takes over the boys' program after serving as an assistant in the Streamwood girls' program for the last six seasons. "This year's team has a better balance with Jelyn leading the way in the field event," said Lau. "Our sprinters and relays are off to a good start. The keys for us will be staying healthy and consistent throughout the whole season." Lau said to look for another competitive landscape in the UEC. "The Upstate Eight continues to improve and is one of the better conferences in the state," he said. "A lot of teams in the conference have a lot of depth."
Westminster Christian WarriorsCoach: Adriana Armstrong
Top returning athletes: Tom Danner (1,600, 3,200)
Key newcomers: Junior Zach Anderson (shot put, discus), freshman Jason Yaccino (400, 800), Will DeHaan (200, 400, long jump)
Outlook: Danner is back after winning a conference title in the 3,200 last season. "This year's strength is goal-setting," said Armstrong. "Each athlete knows how they need to perform to be competitive in the postseason and are taking steps to stay committed to practice to achieve those goals." Armstrong said throwing and distance events will be areas of success. "Our roster is the strongest in the throws and distance events," she said. "Zach Anderson is committed to work hard to achieve the distances he wants to throw. He faithfully trains at practice each day and then often trains again on his own time after practice. Our distance runners also are very strong in their commitment to set goals and work hard to achieve the results they desire." Armstrong is looking forward to a productive 2015 season. "What is enjoyable about coaching this team is their desire to try new events," she said. "Since most of the boys on the team are new to the sport, they are very willing to try different events to see if that event is a fit," she said. "As the season begins, one thing we need to do during the first few meets is find our niche and then focus on training well for that event the rest of the season. I expect great things from this team. They are an energetic and competitive group and that inner drive will take them far."
Not responding to requests for information: Dundee-Crown, Elgin