Folders |
2018 IHSA 3A Boys Cross Country State Meet PreviewPublished by
By Michael Newman
ILXCSPEEDRATING.COM 3A BOYS STATE MEET PROJECTIONS
3A Boys Individuals to Watch Thomas Shilgalis, Naperville Central; Josh Methner, Hersey; Ethan Kern, York; Tommy Brady, Maine South; Jack Roberts, Downers Grove North; Stephen Moody, Glenbard West; Christian Knowlton, Plainfield South; Charlie Wetzel, Normal West; Tyler Cushing, Bolingbrook; Eddie Siuda, Downers Grove South; Brett Gardner, Lincoln-Way East; Sam Rivera, Whitney Young; William Hauenstein, Wheaton-Warrenville South; Bob Liking, St. Charles East; Rory Cavan, Glenbard West; Daniel Klysh, York, Ian Geisler, Huntley. Overview – This race is wide-open. The slight edge goes to Thomas Shilgalis who ran 14:11 at Detweiller at the end of September. The senior has run just hard enough to win in his two state series races. That won’t be the case on Saturday. Josh Methner has used the same strategy in his races leading to Saturday. The course record that Methner ran at Palatine was convincing. He used two different strategies in winning at Richard Spring, then Peoria. Will he push the pace or wait this Saturday? Tommy Brady said in a post-race interview about pushing the pace from the start. Brady does have that strength and could change the strategies of this field. Ethan Kern waited until the final 200-meters to kick down Brady last week at Niles West. Kern will be in the front and will challenge for the state title. Jack Roberts held back in his first race back in almost a month last weekend. Roberts ran 14:26 behind the 14:24 time of Rory Cavan on this course at the beginning of the year. What about Cavan? He’s had a rough patch of racing over the past three weeks. Does he bounce back at Detweiller? If conditions are favorable, we could see a winning time of 14:05 or faster.
3A Boys Teams to Watch This could be one of the most wide-open team races in recent history. Wheaton-Warrenville South will be the team favorite like they have been over the past season. There are nine to ten teams that could have their hands on a trophy by the time that they are given out sometime after 3 PM on Saturday afternoon. A detailed list of each of the qualifying teams is listed below.
Wheaton-Warrenville South
Niles West Sectional Champions
Overview – In every race this season, the Tigers have been the team with the target on their back with every team toeing the line with then ready to give it their best shot. This team showed what they had in their second race of the season on this course when South only a 13 second split on their top five runners. Four of those runners were under 15-minutes in that race as the Tigers won easily. This group faced a little adversity in last Saturday’s sectional win when their usual second/third runner Sean Maison dropped back in the race suffering from a minor injury according to Chris Kuntz, his coach. Kuntz also said he expects Maison back at full strength heading into the Detweiller Park race Saturday afternoon. The Tigers have the big meet experience, power in the front, and depth that no other school in the state can match. Even with Maison back as the team’s sixth runner at Niles West, this team still ran a 37 second split on their top five runners. That type of split makes them a little more “gettable”. In the past three big meet races, that split was at 24 seconds on an average. It would not be a surprise for this team to have five all-state runners led by William Hauenstein and Scott Maison. If Sean Maison is healthy, he will be right along side his brother. Jacob Kluckhohn has been 16 to 17 seconds behind Hauenstein most of the season. He was the team’s second runner last week. He could still be in the top 25 with that kind of split. Jared Peaslee has been a consistent top five runner but was 20 seconds behind the pack instead of the six second average he had been running in the past two meets. If he is close to that pack, the junior could end up in the top 25. Even though they finish 28 points ahead of Glenbard West last week, a 37 to 40 second split on their top five runners could open a floodgate of teams that could surpass the Tigers. A split on five of under 26 seconds makes this team almost untouchable if their top two runners are in the first 15.
St. Charles East
Waubonsie Valley Sectional Champion Overview – The team that has come closest to Wheaton-Warrenville South has been this team. Seven points separated the two teams when they faced off at the St Charles North Invitational. Two weeks later at the DuKane Conference Meet, the Tigers had the edge by 18 points, but that margin developed in the final mile of the race. The Saints have had that type of mojo that has put them in the hunt for wins with a nice pack in the front. That packing needs to be alive when the Saints toe the line on Saturday afternoon. Their top four runners will need to be under 17 seconds for this team to capture a trophy. Bob Liking has been the team’s top runner all year with the exception of the regional race when he fell half way through the race. The junior could be among the top 15 individuals in this race. There have been three different runners in the second spot over the past three meets. Freshman Micah Wilson was nine seconds behind Liking last week. Aidan King and Bennett Melone were within 18 seconds of Liking. This pack could be closer together in this race. Two runners in the top 25 would be great for the Saints. Three runners finishing in the top 25 would be even better. The key to watch for this team is the gap between the pack and their fifth runner. Zach Loomis has been in that position for most of the season. The team’s top five split was 35 seconds last week with Loomis 17 seconds behind the pack. The last time that the Saints faced South in their conference Meet, they ran a split of 27 seconds with Loomis even with then fourth-runner Micah Wilson. That gap between four and five is something to keep an eye on. The smaller the gap, the better the chance is that St. Charles solidify a trophy.
Elmhurst York
3rd – Niles West Sectional Champion Overview – Some people accepted the fact at the beginning of the season that York would be in a rebuilding year with basically no seniors among their top seven with one runner back with state meet experience. The Dukes proved the skeptics wrong once they came together as a team a month ago on this course. It was the first time that Coach Charlie Kern would move a talented group of four sophomores up on the varsity level. The team has taken off from there. Despite the fact that this team has finished third in their regional and sectional races, this team should contend for a trophy in Saturday’s race. Ethan Kern, the only runner back at the start of the start of the year with state experience, has been their go to guy challenging for race wins in most of the races he has been in. Kern will be one of the favorites in Saturday’s race. Colin Hill, a sophomore, has come on strong once moved to Varsity and should be in an all-state position on Saturday. One of the runners to watch is Daniel Klysh. The junior has put some great races during the year running on an average of 15 seconds of Kern. He did not have his best race last week running as the team’s fifth runner 63 seconds behind his teammate. His workouts indicate he should be ready for. If he runs the race he is capable of, Klysh could finish in the top 15 making this York team even more dangerous. The pack behind their front three will be a key and will need to be within 10 seconds of each other in that group of three. Having that pack of Michael Moriarty, Sam Ayers, and Brian Pratt within 40 seconds of Kern and staying close to each other makes York a trophy contender. Nobody expected York to be in this position at this time of the year. 2019 was when this squad was to hit it big. However, nobody told those seven runners that. The Dukes have the tradition behind them and a belief in each other. It would not be a surprise if they finish with a trophy if they just run a normal race. Better than that might put this team in position for a 29th state championship in the program’s storied history.
Glen Ellyn Glenbard West
2nd – Niles West Sectional Overview – The Hilltoppers are even with York finishing ahead of the Dukes the past two races after finishing second behind York at the WSC-Silver Championships. West is running with momentum heading into this race. They would like to bring back a trophy back to Glen Ellyn. It has been 45 years since that has happened when this school finished third in 1973 state meet. Rory Cavan was the team’s top runner for their first four meets of the season going undefeated in each. An undisclosed injury/illness has slowed down the senior over the past three meets. In the regional and sectional races, Cavan has stayed five and ten seconds behind teammate Stephen Moody. The two runners were all state-last fall. Both could finish in the top 10 on Saturday. The team’s barometer is Will O’Brien. When this team is running great, the senior is within 30 seconds of who ever is the top runner is. When they finished second behind Neuqua Valley at the Naperville Twilight Invitational, O’Brien was 40 seconds behind Moody, 53 seconds behind Cavan. In last week’s race, O’Brien was 30 seconds behind Moody. As goes O’Brien, so goes the rest of this team. Keep an eye on their pack behind O’Brien. Keeping the pack of Ian Repking, William Hohe and William Cousins within 15 seconds of O’Brien would be great. Having them within 10 seconds would be better. Glenbard West will need a top five split under 45 seconds to be among the top teams. With Moody and Cavan finishing among the front runners make this team tough to beat in this race. A trophy could be heading back to Glen Ellyn with that happening only if they run like they have been the past two weeks.
LaGrange Lyons Township
3rd – Marist Sectional Overview – Just when you expect this team to be down and out, Lyons Township comes back to surprise you. This team always runs their best race of the year in this meet. Despite the fact that the Lions finished third in last week’s sectional race, it would not surprise me if this squad finishes in the top five. Jack Ehlert was not in their lineup last week. He has been the team’s first or second runner in the five other races. The team still ran an 11 second split on their top four runners with five within 33 seconds in the Marist Sectional race. In the three races heading into the state series, the Lions averaged a 19 second split on their top five. They will need that kind of race on Saturday. One other thing to watch is where Ryan Bonfiglio finishes. In the first three races the team ran this fall, Bonfiglio was in the top three. In two of the last three races, he was the team’s sixth runner. Bonfiglio close to Ehlert makes this team that much tougher. Owen Hays, Joaquel Thorpe, Drew Dilcher and Sawyer Madell were within 11 seconds of each other last week. Add Bonfiglio and Ehlert to that group puts this team in the trophy hunt. Whoever the top runner is, that runner will need to finish in the top 25. Having a split under 25 seconds gets this team near the front.
Downers Grove South
Marist Sectional Champion Overview – The Mustangs have been on a mythical rollercoaster during this season. They had a down in their first time at Detweiller Park when they finished 15th at the First to the Finish Invitational in September. The second time at the park gave them a complete team race at the Peoria Invitational in winning that meet. For the third time racing on this park, what team will we see on the starting line? South is on the momentum train after a strong race win last week at Marist. Eddie Siuda has been the constant for this team throughout the season. A top ten finish on Saturday by the senior sets this squad up nicely. The team ran a 19 second split on their first four runners last week. Having either John Heneghan or John Norris in the top 25 would be a bonus for this squad. James Weigel within 20 seconds of the front helps this team immensely. Canyon Stage has been the team’s fifth runner but was 30 and 35 seconds behind Siuda in the last two races. The Mustangs could leave Detweiller Park with a trophy. Two runners in the top 25 is a good start. Having their scorers in within 28 seconds or less of each other is a better finish for this team.
Naperville Neuqua Valley
2nd – Waubonsie Valley Sectional Overview – After their top runner Zach Kinne moved to Pennsylvania during the summer, how would this team survive? The Wildcats survived this season like they have in the past with strong pack running. This team has been termed “no-names” by Hall of Fame Coach Paul Vandersteen. This team of no-names have succeeded finishing no worse than third with Wheaton-Warrenville South, St. Charles East, and Lyons Township finishing ahead of them. Stars or nor stars, this team has the talent to challenge for a state trophy. Michael Madiol and Chris Keeley have been the team’s leaders most of the season. The two finished together in last week’s sectional race. The team has run top five splits in the mid 30’s for most of the season. Last week’s 58 second split was without sophomore Nicholas Dovalovsky who has been in the top five this season. The return of Dovalovsky should have their team’s split close to the norm along with Michael O’Connor and Matt Jett close to him. Neuqua Valley has that tradition of great state races. This could be one of those times. Keeley and Madiol finishing in the top 20 would help along with a split near 30 seconds. Getting that pack closer to the front could mean big things for this team.
Downers Grove North
2nd – Marist Sectional Overview – The return of Jack Roberts to their lineup makes defending 3A state champion Downers Grove North another team to keep an eye on in this meet. Roberts and Matt Moravec ran within two seconds of each other last week at Marist in Roberts first race back. Roberts ran 14:26 on this course the first race of the season. He should be among the top ten in this race. Moravec could finish in the top 15. The split on the top five for the Trojans was 57 seconds last week. The split on the pack led by Trevor Murphy was 21 seconds. We could see Murphy within 15 seconds of Moravec on Saturday. A split under 50 seconds with two all-state runners make this team a possibility near the front.
Arlington Heights Hersey
Hoffman Estates Sectional Champion Overview – Discard the fact that Hersey is down in the list in this preview. With the top 10 teams so closely matched, the Huskies are dangerous and could contend for a spot in the top three. Josh Methner is their top runner and will contend for the individual state championship on Saturday. The key is their next two runners. Ryan Buch and Max Svienty finished within eight seconds of each other in last week’s sectional race. That happened one other time at Palatine when the two were within 39 seconds of Methner. It is hard to think that the two will be within eight seconds of Methner as state considering Methner was holding back for this race. The two could be within 30 seconds of their teammate. The key is the two runners staying close together. Buch and Svienty were separated by 19 seconds in their conference race. That gap could push Hersey from a trophy contender to a top 10 team. Their pack split on five was 42 seconds last week. It was 86 seconds in their conference race. Keeping their split at 50 seconds or under could make Hersey a team to keep an eye on in the front.
Oswego East
3rd – Waubonsie Valley Sectional Overview – Tight pack running for the Wolves has been expected form this team all season. This team is young with six of the top seven underclassmen. East will be a state power in 2019. Perhaps 2019 comes a year early in this meet? Luke Wentz is the top runner on this team and could be among the top 25 individuals. Their top five split was at 20 seconds in their conference meet, 26 seconds at regionals, and 31 seconds last week at sectionals. The pack led by Brad Wiggins and Nick Bozarth needs to keep their group within 10 seconds or less in this race behind Wentz. A key for this team is having their pack closer to the front. Wentz finishing in an all-state position is great for this team. The pack starting near 40th place makes it tough for the Wolves to finish in the top 10.
Park Ridge Maine South
5th – Niles West Sectional Overview – Great front running by their top three runners could put Maine South in position to be among the top 10 teams in Peoria. Tommy Brady will be one of the individual runners in this race. There is a possibility that Joey Kasch, who was 30 seconds of Brady, and Ian Spears, who was 43 seconds back, could finish in the top 25 if both are 25 seconds behind their teammate. That pack in the front could offset the 92 to 93 second split the team has achieved in the past two meets. Under 70 seconds could have this team among the top 10 when all is said and done.
Winnetka New Trier
4th – Niles West Sectional Overview – Good pack running pushed the Trevians back to the state meet finishing fourth in a tough Niles West Sectional. Moving that pack closer to the front puts this team among the top 10. New Trier is deep in talent and so closely matched. The slowest split that this team has achieved was 19 seconds at the beginning of the season. The top-five split, led by the 20th place finish from Andrew Flynn, was only 13 seconds with Charlie Forbes another second behind Flynn. Moving that pack closer to the front makes this team dangerous especially if that pack starts with a runner in the first 35.
Orland Park Sandburg
4th – Marist Sectional Overview – I would not count out the Eagles in this meet especially with their tradition and past experiences in this race. It helps that they have Ben and Will Giblin leading in the front. The two brothers were separated by one second in last week’s race. Both finishing in the top 25 would be a plus. The team ran a season’s best of 31 seconds in their sectional race with only 12 seconds separating their third through fifth runners. The positioning of that pack starting in the top 25 could have this team in the top ten mix, perhaps close to the top five teams.
Huntley
5th – Waubonsie Valley Sectional Overview - The Red Raiders could finish in the top 10 in this meet. They could be lower than 15th with an off race. They are in a better situation than they were a year ago when Huntley did not qualify for the state meet. They are on the line on Saturday led by Ian Geisler who will be one of the top 10 runners in this race. Jadon Conroy finished 32 seconds behind Geisler and could find his way into the top 25. A split of 38 seconds or less with Chris Simek and Jeremy Roe close could get this team higher in the standings. Their top five split last week was 86 seconds with a 58 second form their first through fourth runners.
Hinsdale Central
5th – Marist Sectional Overview – A slew of early season injuries slowed the Red Devils early in the season. With injured Alec Hill rounding into shape, Central made it to state as the fifth-place sectional finishing ahead of Plainfield South by only three points. Matt Kusak stepped up as the team’s runner this season. He could be in the top 25. Their sectional split on the top five was 46 seconds. A drop under 40 seconds moves this team closer to a top 10 team finish.
Naperville North
4th – Waubonsie Valley Sectional Overview – One of the surprise teams to make it out of the Waubonsie Valley Sectional. It was not a surprise especially the way the Huskies have run in their past few meets. Nicholas Trattner and Jake Allen ran side-by-side in their sectional finish. One or both of those runners could finish in the top 25 on Saturday. The team ran a season best 50 second split on their top five in their sectional qualifying race. North duplicating that effort could find them finishing in the top 15 teams.
Mundelein
2nd – Hoffman Estates Sectional Overview – The Mustangs make it to state in back to back years. A good race by this team could move them into the top 10 where anything could happen on Saturday. Dillon Blake and Robert St. Clair were within four seconds of each other in their sectional race. A similar race could find either of them in the top 15. The team ran a 54 second top five split the last time they raced on this course in September. Their split on five last week was 52 seconds. Moving their split down to under 40 seconds could move this team into the top 10.
Barrington
3rd – Hoffman Estates Sectional Overview – The Broncos have been consistent with their split on the top five runners this fall staying in the mid-40’s. That split was 43 seconds in last week’s sectional race. Patrick Furlong and Greg Van Hollen have been strong front runners for this team. The two finished within seven seconds of each other at Busse Woods. Their pack could start between 35th and 40th place on Saturday. A split under 37 seconds on the scorers could place this team into the top 15.
Lake Zurich
5th – Hoffman Estates Sectional Overview – This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Lake Zurich with six of their top seven runners underclassmen. The Bears instead reloaded and are back in the state meet for the 11th year in a row. Sophomores Jack Myers and Jack Gilboy were within a second of each other and could finish in the top 50 in this race. The team ran a 61 second split on their top five. A top 20 finish most likely will happen for this group. The experience will be a big help as they will be one of the top five teams in 2019.
Edwardsville
2nd – Quincy Sectional Overview – The Tigers will have their presence in the front in Saturday’s race with Roland Prenzler possibly in the top 15 and Max Hartmann a possibility in the top 25. Edwardsville could finish between 16th and 23rd on Saturday. Part of that is due to the 96 second split on their top five that they ran in last week’s sectional. The team has run splits under 85 seconds in four meets this season. Getting the team within 74 seconds of each other with Prenzler in the top 15 moves this team near the top 15 or even better.
O’Fallon
Quincy Sectional Champion Overview – The Panthers are peaking at the right time winning the Southwest Conference Meet and the Quincy Sectional in the last three meets. Another sectional like race could move this team into the top 15. Will Van Alstine has been a solid top runner for O’Fallon and could finish among the top 40 runners. The team’s split dropped to 31 seconds last week led by Will Ryan. The second through fifth split in the sectional race was only nine seconds.
Rolling Meadows
5th – Hoffman Estates Sectional Overview – It was a great weekend for Rolling Meadows as they made it to the state meet for the first time in the program’s history. Eddie Lennon is the team’s top runner and could be among the top 10 runners in this race. The team’s top five split was 58 seconds in the Mid Suburban League Championship. It went up to 74 seconds in last week’s sectional race. Finding a split under 62 seconds could move this team into the top 20 in this meet.
Minooka
3rd – Quincy Sectional Overview – The Indians will be searching for a top 20 finish in Saturday’s race after finishing third last week at Quincy. Vincent Van Eck has been the team’s top runner in the last three meets. Jason Hoffman and Jordan Freese lead the pack behind Van Eck. The team’s split on five was at 45 seconds last week. Starting their pack in the 50’s moves this team up in the standings.
Normal University
4th – Quincy Sectional Overview – The Pioneers to the step up to 3A this fall due to the IHSA “Success Factor”. U-High overcame those odds qualifying for the state race. Jackson McClure, Dane Alexander, and Cooper Wilken were within 20 seconds of each other last week at Quincy. One of these runners could be among the top 50 at Detweiller. The team split was at 49 seconds and could go lower in this state meet race.
Lockport Township
5th – Quincy Sectional Overview – The Porters made it back to the state meet for the second year in a row. The team’s split on five jumped up to 51 seconds in sectionals led by the front running of Donovan Paske. Their split had averaged near 40 seconds heading into the Quincy race. Watch for the split to lower in this race with the possibilities of Lockport making it close to the top 20. More news |
