Scouting Fox Valley boys track and field

Top teams: Huntley, Burlington Central, Jacobs, Batavia, St. Charles North, West Aurora, Kaneland

Top returning athletes: Huntley's Jadon Conroy (Sr., distance, 3,200 relay), Ian Geisler (Jr., distance, 3,200 relay), Josh Guyer (Jr., jumps), Antonio Passarelli (Jr., 100, 200, sprint relays); Burlington Central's Connor Wagner (hurdles, relay), Adam Kries (800, relay), Anthony Farmer (3,200, 1,600), Jake Borman (shot put, discus); Jacobs' Zach Albrecht (Sr., distance), Mark Lemke (Sr., distance), Tommy Subaric (Sr., hurdles), Connor Frank (Soph., jumps, hurdles, sprints); Hampshire's Cameron Reedy (400), Jonah Varvara (400), Tommy Croissant (pole vault), Ryan Higgins (long jump, triple jump); Crystal Lake South's Matt Reall (Sr., jumps, sprints, relays), Zach Borgert (Sr., sprints, relays), Dylan Law (Jr., hurdles), Matt Brown (Soph., distance); Elgin's Darien Jackson (long jump), Manny Lopez (1,600), David Celestine (100), Wesley Mullens; Larkin's Jahari Stubbs (hurdles, sprints, relays), Isai Rios (shot put), Mailk Walkine (high jump, relay), Carlos Miranda (400, 800, 1,600 relay), Oliver Wah (100, 200, sprint relays); Bartlett's Mario Harris (Jr., 100), Alec Cullitan (Sr., 200), Austin Cichon (Sr., triple jump), Vinni Krysko (Jr., 200), Spencer Konstanzer (100, 800 relay); South Elgin's Elijah Patrick (Soph., 400, 800, relays), Davion Cherwin (Soph., 100, 200, relays), Jake Todd (Sr., 100, 200, relays), Matt Jacobson (Sr., 200, relays); Westminster Christian's Gavin Versaw (Soph., 400, 800), Dillian Leach (Sr., 400), Harvest Christian's Victor Croitoru (Sr., 400), Erik Richter (Jr., 800, relays), Sam Morris (Jr., hurdles, 400, 800), Mathew Olech (Soph., 1,600); Elgin Academy's Seth Cisneros, Jaden Tabak (400), Christopher Perez (800, 1,600), Anthony Perez (800, 1,600); West Aurora's Moshe Rogers (triple jump), Andrew Stapleton-Jones (pole vault), Davaris Cheeks (triple jump), Reegan McCue (1,600), Tre Tittle (shot put), Will Nicholas (800), Davion Richardson (800), Jaquan Buchanan (200), Drew Polk (200); Batavia's Adam Kennedy (Jr., 800, relays), Joe Knanishu (Jr., 800, relays), Trevor Tousana (Sr., 400, relays), Julian Davis (Sr., 400, relays), Art Taylor (Jr., jumps, relays), Danny Wells (Sr., high jump), Damien Rodriguez (Jr., distance); Geneva's Frank Martin (shot put), Lawi Djuma (triple/long jumps, sprints), Cody Machlet (triple jump, hurdles), Andrew Olenek (sprints), Ryan Kredell (distance); St. Charles North's Josh DiNatalie (Soph, sprints), Ryan Arnold (Jr., distance), Ben Cook (Jr., middle distance), Gil Braglia (Sr., pole vault); St. Charles East's Alek Crawford (Sr., high jump), Micah Wilson (Fresh., 3,200), Bob Liking (Jr., 3,200), Aidan King (Jr, 1,600, relay), Bennet Melone (Sr., 1,600, relay), Charles Murphy (Sr., 800, 1,600); Kaneland's Daniel Occhipinti (Jr., 800, 1,600), Austin Adams (Jr., 400, 800), Ted Allen (Soph., sprints, pole vault), Porter Conroy (Soph., high jump); Aurora Central Catholic's Tony Vinson (Sr., sprints), Rohn Ritchie (Soph., middle distance-distance, relay), Kennedy Cross (Sr., middle distance, relays), Jacob Montelongo (Sr., middle distance, relays), Tony Cepeda (Sr., middle distance, distance), relay), Bryce Wiltgen (Sr., sprints, relay), Brice Krpan (Jr., throws), Aurora Christian's Thomas Williams (Sr., sprints, relays), Max Williams (Sr., throws), Luke Richardson (Jr., hurdles, sprints), J.J. Angelo (Sr., 800, 1,600, relay), Joe Cannon (Sr., sprints, hurdles, throws), Stephen Kersey (Sr., 800, 1,600, relay), J.J. Hasulube (Jr., 800, 1,600, relays); Marmion's Keoni English (distance, 3,200 relay), Keegan Bennett (distance, 3,200 relay), Jacob Coffman (distance, 3,200 relay), Anthony Zangler (distance, 3,200 relay), Andrew Saloga (pole vault)

Dates to circle: Batavia Invitational (4-5), Kaneland Peterson Prep (4-20), McHenry County Meet (4-18 at Huntley), Kane County Meet (5-3 at West Aurora), Upstate Eight Conference Meet (5-9 at East Aurora), Kishwaukee River Conference Meet (5-9, at Richmond-Burton), DuKane Conference Meet (5-10 at Glenbard North), Fox Valley Conference Meet (5-10 at Huntley)

Season skinny: In the Fox Valley Conference, all signs point to defending champion Huntley, which won a sectional team title last year, having another extremely strong year. Conroy, Geisler, Guyer and Passarelli all are returning state qualifiers with Passarelli, senior Zach Tepper and senior Ronel Noll finishing seventh in the state in the 400 relay. "We have a lot of guys who have had great success in bigger meets and many returning state qualifiers," said new Huntley coach Chris Maxedon, who takes over for longtime coach Jim Rolando. "With the number of returning guys we have we have set goals to win our conference meet and sectional." Over in Burlington, the Central Rockets not only have their sights set on a ninth conference title in a row, but a state trophy as well. However, injuries have crept into the picture. All-state high-jumper Patrick Mayfield has a shoulder injury and distance star Anthony Farmer is out with a broken jaw. Longtime coach Mike Schmidt says if Farmer can return to the lineup, Central's prospects for success on the blue track in Charleston will go way up. Wagner is the top returning 300 hurdler in 2A and recently signed with Lewis University. Kries is one of the top 800 runners in the state. "This team still has many talented runners and some strong developing field-event contributors as well," Schmidt said. "Our jumpers are young and promising. A very strong and deep distance core will lead this team, with a few talented sprinters. We will be tough to beat in 2A competition." Jacobs coach Jason Borhart has high hopes for his group as well. "We have some very good seniors with high expectations," he said. "Our middle classes will support those seniors well this year. No one should touch Huntley." Hampshire has its largest team in years. "Our strength is mid-distance," said Hampshire coach Joe Watzlawick. "Huntley and Jacobs are very good this year. Our goal is to get better and see what happens." Crystal Lake South returns state qualifiers in Reall and Borgert, while Law won the frosh-soph 110 hurdles title last year. Elgin coach Anthony Mason said his team reached key goals of having 100 kids in the program and winning an indoor meet. Elgin's 3,200 relay won the UEC indoor title. "We are constantly aiming to be a competitive track and field team where we are getting points across the board and having a great chance to win meets," he said. Larkin's Stubbs qualified for state in the 110 hurdles last year and won the UEC 55 high-hurdle indoor title recently. "Our goals are to qualify five to six kids for the state meet and continue our upward trajectory as a program," Larkin coach Nate Williams said. Bartlett coach Jaron Baker noted he has a couple key individuals who have been excelling in open races. "We're looking forward to how they can contribute in the 4x4 and 4x2 relays as we transition to the outdoor season," he said. South Elgin finished second to West Aurora in the UEC. Patrick, Cherwin, Todd and Jacobson all are returning state qualifiers for the Storm. "Each athlete has a role and we are going to work to meet 100 percent success in that role," South Elgin coach Anthony LaRue said. "We will only go as far as our athletes focus on doing their best for the team. I believe when we focus on working together we can be successful at any invitational." Harvest Christian Academy coach Steve Bland said the Lions are looking for a third conference title in a row and after that, "getting as many athletes to state as possible and then getting them on the podium," he said. Elgin Academy coach Brian LeVanti is excited about his team's prospects this season. "Our team's goal is to continue to break school records as well as improving on individual times," he said. "Both The Latin School and Northridge Prep look to content for the top of the award stand in the Independent School League, however we look to bring home some individual titles." Always talent-filled West Aurora returns state qualifiers in Rogers and Stapleton-Jones and is fresh off winning the UEC indoor title. "We are a more well-rounded team this year," Blackhawks coach Cortney Lamb said. "We are able to score in all areas and are hoping to challenge for team titles at our weekend invitational meets. We want to challenge for the county, conference and sectional team titles, qualify all our relays as well as our field-event guys for the state meet." Batavia won the UEC River and Kane County titles last year and has seven returning state qualifiers. "Although we had a disappointing finish to the indoor conference (lost on a DQ), the potential and effort was on display with tons of PRs," said Batavia coach Dennis Piron. "This is a strong relay team and looks to build depth throughout. We should be one of the favorites for the DuKane outdoors and again be one of the top teams in Kane County. We believe we should have some very strong state-level athletes this year as well as our relay teams." Geneva's Martin and Machlet won indoor conference titles. "Our goal is to finish higher in the outdoor conference than we did indoors," Geneva coach Gale Gross said. "Batavia, Wheaton Warrenville South and Wheaton North are tough and it will take everything we have to improve our finish about them, but it is our goal." St. Charles North has Arnold (state cross country qualifier) and Braglia (pole vault state qualifier) back, as well as sophomore sprinter DiNatale back (two strong finishes at DuKane indoor). "Our major goal is to develop as a team," North coach Kevin Harrington said. "Being so young, we have a lot to learn, but we are confident we can compete at the highest levels. The DuKane Conference is the best in the state considering the sum of all events. A good track team could easily get seventh. It is a great opportunity and challenge to be better than 'good.'" St. Charles East's Crawford hit the state-qualifying high-jump mark three times indoors and won the DuKane indoor high-jump title. Wilson and Liking already are under the 3,200 state mark (done indoors). "Our team goals are to keep improving as we heard toward outdoor conference and sectionals," East coach Brad Kaplan said. "We look to improve on our fifth-place indoor finish. We want to be healthy and feeling good come sectionals. Our goal always is to qualify as many relays/individuals as possible. This year is no different. The new DuKane Conference is extremely competitive. All eight teams are very good and it was difficult to score points at the indoor conference meet." Kaneland, which won indoor and outdoor conference titles a year ago and took 15th in the state in Class 3A, has its largest team ever with 105 athletes. "There is a long of young talent led by a strong group of seniors," Kaneland coach Andy Drendel said. "We have a lot of depth in our sprint events and can mix and match a number of guys across relays and open events without much of a drop-off. Las year was our first year in 3A and finishing 15th proved to the boys that we can compete with the best in the largest classification despite being the third-smallest school. A number of individuals and a couple relays will be pushing hard in May to put themselves into position to qualify." Aurora Central Catholic coach Troy Kerber calls Ritchie and Vinson "special talents." "We are talented and our goal is to stay healthy and progress," he said. "Obviously, we would like to get back to the state outdoor finals in some fashion. As far as conference is concerned, Riverside-Brookfield and Saint Francis look to be strong. We feel we should be in contention at conference and whichever sectional we are assigned." Aurora Christian moves to the Metro Suburban Conference. "The Metro Suburban has some very good teams," coach Ron Arb said. "ACC always puts together good middle distance and 4 x 800 relay teams. IC Catholic Prep typically has great sprinting. We went from the NAC being one of the larger schools to the Metro Suburban being the smallest student population in the conference, yet target to be in the top four in the conference meet. We have picked up some great 2A- and 3A-level meets this season to challenge our athletes so when they compete at 1A sectionals this year, they are ready to compete at the highest level." Marmion is coming off a third-place finish a year ago in the Chicago Catholic League. "Our team goal is to win the famed Chicago Catholic League conference meet and sectional title," said Cadets coach Dan Thorpe. "It will be very difficult, but doable if we get some points in all events and we are creative in our entries." Thorpe lauded the efforts of his coaching staff. "Our coaches have been together for many years and form a very knowledgeable and dedicated staff," he said. "That is really what makes Marmion Academy track so consistent."