Boys cross country: Scouting Northwest
MID-SUBURBAN EASTBuffalo GroveCoach: Zack Crandall (third year)
Last year: Second in MSL, sixth at Schaumburg sectional, Libertyville regional champions, MSL East Division champions.
Key losses: Jake Wenzel, Montana Nimerfroh, Tripp Wallner.
Top returning runners: Kevin Salvano (sr.), Tom Cleary (sr), Mitchell Guittar (so.), Josh Hellyer (jr.), Jack Lenard (sr.), Arturo Bautista (jr.), Evan Schmidt (sr.).
Promising newcomers: Jake Spies, Luke Wenzel, Javier Guerrero.
Outlook: Buffalo Grove pushed Hersey for the MSL title last season before coming up 6 points short. The Bisons seemed to be in good position for a state qualification, but BG finished sixth at the Schaumburg sectional -just 9 points out of fifth place - and missed what seemed to be a sure bet for state. That disappointment should push the Bison attack this fall. Salvano, a two-time state medalist, is back. He finished fourth in state last season and is the top MSL runner and also a major contender for a state title. He will lead a team that will be in the hunt for an MSL title. Cleary, Lenard, and Schmidt will form the chase pack. Hellyer and Guittar also are looking to contribute for a Bison squad that has a bit of unfinished business to take care of this season.
Elk GroveCoach: David Dompke (eighth year)
Last year: 12th in MSL
Key losses: Matt Warrington
Top returning runners: Sean Frintner (jr.), Mike Banasik (sr.), Campbell Kraemer (sr.), Quentin Lange (jr.), Mike Bravos
Promising newcomers: Oscar Patino (so.), Nate Kraemer (fr.), Ethan Bilodea (fr.)
Outlook: Frintner will push the Grenadiers' attack. The junior put in a good summer and will look to make a jump up this fall. Banasik and Campbell Kraemer offer big-meet experience and will also contribute. Keep an eye on a freshman group that could also contribute.
HerseyCoach: Jay Renaud (fifth year)
Last year: Eighth in Class 3A, MSL champions, Hoffman Estate regional champions, Schaumburg sectional champions.
Key losses: David Rodriguez (Bradley), Josh Plischke, Grant von der Lippe, Kevin Ziegenhorn
Top returning runners: Jacob Krupa (jr.), Sam Svienty (jr.), Kevin Paton (sr.), Dan Gerardi (sr.), Tom Schwaba (sr.), Nick Wagner (sr.), Eric Czarnota (sr.), Andrew Hyndman (jr.), Brendan Stonequist (sr.), Trent Dela Riva (sr.)
Promising newcomers: Quinn Cunningham (so.), Jack Fredian (so.), Ryan Theisen (so.), Nate Mayo (so.), Ryan Buch (fr.), Josh Harden (fr.), Thomas McCarthy (fr.)
Outlook: Hersey lost its top four runners to graduation, including Rodriguez, who finished 10th in Class 3A. But Renaud and the Huskies still have high hopes to challenge for a third consecutive MSL title. Krupa was the Huskies' top returning runner, but the junior has been slowed by health issues. Renaud will depend on a solid pack led by Svienty and Paton. Also keep an eye out for Czarnota, who had a strong summer. Cunningham and Fredien also have made an impression. Paton and Wagner will provide the leadership for a deep Huskies team that has 13 runners competing for top seven spots.
ProspectCoach: Mike Stokes (25th year)
Last year: Third in MSL, 14th at Schaumburg sectional
Key losses: Mike Anderson.
Top returning runners: Matt Corzine (sr.), Alec Heyde (sr.), Karson LeComte (sr.), Jack O'Donnell (jr.), Max Crowninshield (sr.), Sean Sanaghan (jr.), James Riordan (jr.), Jack Terry (so.), Luke Filipic (sr.).
Promising newcomers: Mackenzie Bach, Andrew Reimann (fr.), Nathan Fowler (fr.).
Outlook: Prospect will be an interesting team to watch this fall. The Knights return six of seven varsity runners from last year and have the potential to do some damage. Corzine and Heyde ran off Anderson last season; they should lead the Knights' pack this season. But LeComte and Crowninshield are not too far off the pace. The Knights finished third in the MSL, but had a disappointing sectional run with a 14th-place finish. The ending could change this season.
Rolling MeadowsCoach: Frank Schweda (seventh year)
Last year: 10th in MSL
Key losses: Tim Howley (West Alabama), Colin Piscitello
Top returning runners: John Gerardi (jr.), Joe Hume (jr.), Robert Heck (jr.) Jose Padilla (sr.) Dennis Gainulin (sr.), Tripp Turchik (sr.), Liam Collins (jr.)
Promising newcomers: Brendan Brady (fr.), Eddy Lennon (fr.), CJ Miller (fr.), Royce Piscitello (fr.), Matt Schoessling (fr.)
Outlook: Rolling Meadows will miss the contributions of Howley, but the Mustangs will look for Gerardi to set the tone this season. He'll be looking to take a big step forward this season. Hume and Heck will push the chase pack, with Padilla and Turchik offering experience for a team that is looking to take a step forward. Schweda is also very optimistic about an incoming freshman class that could make an impact by season's end.
WheelingCoach: Tom Polak (16th year)
Last year: Fifth in MSL, 11th at Schaumburg sectional
Key losses: Cole Dammeier, Edwin Hernandez, Drew Schwartz, Steven Abraham, Brian Hernandez, David Vergel
Top returning runners: Justin Loquercio (sr.), Matt Hoffman (jr.), Elliot Nabatov (sr.), Joe Swiech (sr.), Lewis Monaxious (jr.), Anthony Gonzalez (sr.)
Promising newcomers: Dan Kozub (jr.), Adrian Figueroa, Chris Modlin (so.), Sean Straub(jr.), Sahil Sharma (jr.), Jimmy Morales (jr.), Pedro Godinez (jr.).
Outlook: Wheeling made quite a statement with a top-five finish in the MSL last season. This year the Wildcats are looking to continue that momentum. It starts with Loquercio, one of the top returning runners in the MSL. He finished fifth in the MSL last season and is hoping to use the experience from last season to take a leap forward this year. Hoffman and Nabatov also made an impact last season, and those two will look to continue their progress and lead the chase pack. Polak is a bit concerned about his team's depth, but the Wildcats are headed in the right direction.
MID-SUBURBAN WESTBarringtonCoach: Tom Root (second year)
Last year: 21st in Class 3A, seventh in MSL, third at Schaumburg sectional.
Key losses: Kyle Monahan, Konrad Eiring, Ben Laning, Andrew Gensburg, Tate Fisher, Kurtis Monahan.
Top returning runners: Alex Maher (sr.), Connor Mahoney (so.).
Promising newcomers: Nick Laning (so.), Ryan Ziolkowski (sr.), Thomas Herrmann (sr.), Jack Coombs (sr.), Scott Williams (sr.), Bart Susol (jr.).
Outlook: Barrington lost six of its top seven runners from a team that finished third at the Schaumburg sectional. The Broncos are looking to reload this season, with Maher pushing the pace. He finished as the top Broncos runner at state and will be among the top MSL runners this fall. Root will have to be patient as his team develops, but he hopes to have them peaking for the postseason.
ConantCoach: John Powers (15th year)
Last year: Eighth in MSL, ninth at Schaumburg sectional.
Key losses: Zach Dale ( Illinois), Shu Sultan (Illinois State), James Janczy, Dominic DeMore, Joel Almodovar
Top returning runners: Chris Serrano (sr.), Jason Guiliano (jr.), Hiro Fukuda (sr.), Armaan Goyal (so.)
Promising newcomers: Chris DiGoia (jr.), Nick Elms (sr.)
Outlook: Conant took a big hit in losing a chunk of its team to graduation, including Zach Dale - the MSL champion, and the No. 2 runner in Class 3A. Powers is looking to put the pieces back together. Serrano finished as the Cougars' No. 2 runner at sectional and will pace the attack this season. Guiliano and DiGoia also offer experience.
FremdCoach: Darius Sanchez (fifth year).
Last year: ninth in MSL, 13th at Schaumburg sectional.
Top returning runners: Danny Peterson (jr.), Jack Buban (jr.), Luke Vogelgesang (jr.), Joe Smaga (sr.), Alex Lytle (sr.)
Outlook: Fremd will be a team to watch as the season progresses. Peterson should be among the top MSL runners and Buban had a strong track season and will be looking to continue the momentum this fall. Peterson and Buban will give the Vikings a strong 1-2 punch. Lytle had a very strong summer and will be a key contributor. Also look for Vogelgesang and Smaga to make an impact. Fremd has only two seniors among its top seven, but the young Vikings are looking to make a mark this season.
Hoffman EstatesCoach: Brenden Mariano (fifth year)
Last year: MSL West Division champions, 24th in Class 3A, fifth at Schuamburg sectional, sixth in MSL
Key losses: Michael Sanfillippo.
Top returning runners: Bryan Gamboa (sr.), Ryan Greenwalt (jr.), Alex Makrounis (jr.), Nathan Otto (sr.), Shiv Patel (sr.), Matt Petersen (sr.), Jack Worman (jr.).
Outlook: Hoffman Estates had quite a season in 2014. The Hawks qualified for the state meet for the first time since 2006, and they also won their first MSL West division title. Mariano is hoping keep the momentum going forward this season. Gamboa and Petersen return as the Hawks' 1-2 runners. Gamboa has progressed nicely and is hoping to have a big season. Petersen was a solid No. 2 last season and Patel and Makrounis offer experience. Worman can also make an impact. The Hawks didn't have a smooth summer of training, but they have the talent to challenge for an MSL title.
PalatineCoach: Chris Quick (tenth year)
Last year: Fourth in MSL, 12th at Schaumburg sectional.
Key losses: Graham Brown (Arkansas)
Top returning runners: Dan Trejo (sr.), Zach Michael (sr.), Koby Theobald (sr.), Brian Leonard (jr.), Nate Izewski (jr.), Ben Kontney (jr.), Curt Kontney (jr.)
Promising newcomers: Evan Eckels (so.), Henry Lechowicz (so.), Jorge Corona (fr.)
Outlook: Palatine missed qualifying for the state meet for the first time in 12 years last season, and Quick and the Pirates are hoping to correct that this fall. The Pirates will miss the contributions Brown made, but they will look for Leonard to pick up the pace this season. Leonard was a strong No. 2 runner for the Pirates last season and had a strong track season. He will be among the top MSL runners this fall. Trejo and Michael will lead the chase pack. Lechowicz and Corona will also be looking to make an impact. Palatine will challenge for an MSL title and is determined to make a return to Detweiller Park in November.
SchaumburgCoach: Scott Lilley (fifth year)
Last year: 11th in MSL
Key losses: Jonah Kaufman, Eddie Lamas, AJ Vetter
Top returning runners: Lars Hay (sr.), Tom Young (sr.), Nick Olvera (sr.), Paras Adhikary ( sr.), Karston Zielinski (so.), Mike Baranowski (so.).
Outlook: Hay is the top returning varsity runner for a young Saxons squad. Zielinski and Baranowski are looking to make progress from their freshman season. Lilley is looking for improvement for a team that finished 11th in the MSL last season.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHMaine WestCoach: Andrew Trotter (25th year)
Last year: 10th in the CSL
Key losses: Alex Liston, Lucas Martin-Ranft
Top returning runners: Charlie Ellsworth (sr.), Angel Maldonado (sr.), Mark White
Outlook: Maine West will miss Liston, who finished 11th at the CSL meet last fall. Trotter welcomes back a young squad that will be looking to make improvement throughout the season. Ellsworth is the top returning varsity runner and will push the Warriors' attack in a tough CSL North.
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLICSt. ViatorCoach: Wayne Edelman (ninth year)
Last year: 26th in Class 2A, second in ESSC
Top returning runners: Sam Brey (jr.), Drew Morton (sr.), Jacob Bonanotte (sr.), Nick Spanier (sr.), Rich Rinka (so.), Brady Collis, Kevin Goss (so.).
Outlook: St. Viator qualified for its third consecutive Class 2A state meet last season and also finished second in the ESCC for the fourth time in five years. Bonanotte and Brey will push an experienced Lions attack this season. Spanier and Goss also contributed to the Lions state run. Edelman is hoping the Lions can challenge for an ESSC championship this season and he has the pieces for another state run.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLDLeydenCoach: Bradley Henning (second year)
Last year: Fourth in the WSG
Key losses: Juan Castanada, Mati Szelazek
Top returning runners: Alan Prado (sr.), Anthony Avalos (sr.), Nathan Diazleal (jr.), Martin Rios (jr.), Ivan Chaidez (sr.), Kris Carredano (sr.), Ivan Perez (jr.)
Promising newcomers: Alex Salgado (jr.), Brian Santo
Outlook: Leyden will miss the contributions of Castanada and Szelazek. Castanada graduated and Szelazek is out with a back injury. But the Eagles welcome back Prado, who was the top varsity runner last season. He will push an Eagles attack that features a group of seniors. Henning is hoping to improve on his team's conference finish and make progress throughout the season.
NORTHEASTERN ATHLETICChristian Liberty AcademyCoach: Taylor Stafford Bauer
Key losses: Alex Kania
Top returning runners: Tommy Lowry (jr.), Luke Walder (jr.), Scott Naubert.
Outlook: Lowry will once again lead the Chargers' effort. He has had strong freshman and sophomore seasons and continued his progress during the track season. He will look for continued improvement this fall.