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2025 ILXCTF Cross Country Previews - IHSA Class 3A Boys TeamsPublished by
2025 ILXCTF Cross Country Previews - IHSA Class 3A Boys Teams
By Michael Newman
Plainfield North starts the 2025 IHSA Cross Country season as the top team in this classification. That is no surprise considering they have taken two second place trophies home from Detweiller Park. Someone said that the third time is a charge. This team is driven to make their dreams coming true. The top three teams in Class 3A are close together to start the season. Lake Zurich came on strong at the end of last season to finish fourth at Detweiller Park. Downers Grove North lost five seniors from their stet championship team. They do have top guns Philip Cupial and Will Surratt that will lead a talent group that will go after three state titles in a row. Prospect is coming on strong and will be in the state trophy discussion. Plainfield South the past three years have left state with a state championship and two third-place finishes. A fourth trophy could be in the cards this fa;;.
Here is a look at the top teams in Class 3A along with some teams to watch during this season.
1 Plainfield North Coach – Andy Derks 2024 Finish – 2nd, 3A State Southwest Prairie Conference
Runners – Thomas Czerwinski SR, Aidan Connors SR, James Maso SR, Logan Dodson JR, Gavin Hall SR, Sean Jansen SR, Dominic Frigo JR, Jake Schmauderer SR, Aidan Kyrychenko SR, Cal Anderson SR, Dominic LaMontagna JR, Liam Beavers JR, Biruk Melak SO, Karl Miller FR
Preview – 2025 could be the season that Plainfield North climbs to the top of the mountain in Illinois cross-country. They finished fourth in 2022 and second in both 2023 and 2024. This could be the time for North. “Our guys are on a mission, and that is palpable every day at practice and every time they get together on their own,” said Coach Andy Derks. “The elevation in leadership by our seniors has been the thing that has stood out the most. Nobody cares what the order is, they run strong and together, and they all care way more about how the team does over individual things.”
They will miss graduated Quinn Davis who was their top runner last season. They do have Thomas Czerwinski who finished tenth last year at Detweiller. He helped Plainfield North in the 4x8 finish fourth at state running a 1:55 split. He lowered his personal best down to 4:15 indoors and 9:12.7. Aidan Connors runs with his heart on his sleeves caring so much for his performance in races and his teammates. He ran 14:37 but finished 27th. “’ AC’ is the heart and soul of this team, and leaves no stone unturned in his prep,” said Derks. “He had a huge breakthrough track season under Coach Ricky Del Toro and has carried that momentum right through the summer.”
The rest of their top five will be interchangeable with any of seven runners to jump into the three spots. James Maso and Gavin Hall were part of the team’s top five at state. It could be Logan Dodson and Dominic Frigo that jump to the head of the class. “Logan had a breakout track season qualifying for state in the 3200 running 9:24 and has also stepped up this summer. He has really matured and has become a great vocal leader and mentor to many on the team,” added Derks. “Dominic is a junior and might be under the radar a bit but will be a huge piece in our top 6-7 this year. He trains like a beast, has been a part of that top 6-7 pack all summer, and you can see his confidence growing.
What makes this team tough is that they have the depth going ten runners deep. Their top five spread is projected to be from 45 to 50 seconds to start the season. “I'm proud of these guys,” said Derks. “They're on a mission and we're all-in as coaches to help them achieve everything they want to. Time to let it rip this season.”
2 – Lake Zurich Coach – JB Hanson 2024 – Finish – 4th, 3A State North Suburban Conference
Runners – Karanveer Patil SO, Cameron Libby SR, Luke Marshall JR, Sushant Kesavan SR, Nishanth Mandavilli SR, Carson Porter JR, Marc McCormac Merrick Barth SR, Jacob Hinojosa SO, Nicholas Smith JR, Owen Holzhauer SR.
Preview – Lake Zurich started out this season last fall ranked #20 in Class 3A. When all was said and done, the Bears finished fourth as a team. Lake Zurich likes to fly under the radar early in the year and then come on strong. That won’t be the case this season especially after finishing fourth in Peoria returning six runners. “Our summer training has been progressive and consistent,” Coach JB Hansen said. “We have a veteran group with a lot of experience, with a lot of athletes training at a high level.”
Evidence of that happened at the end of July when Cameron Libby and Karanveer Patil finished first and second at Detweiller at Dark. Patil in the spring ran 9:17 for 3200 meters last spring. Libby was all-state in the 800 Meter Run finishing eighth but running 1:55.47. Libby also ran 9:25.91 in the 3200 Meter Run. “Karanveer and Cameron have been training at an elite level, and will be competitive frontrunners this season,” added Hanson. “Both will be athletes to keep an eye on throughout the season.”
Luke Marshall will lead the group behind their top two after finishing 54th at state. Sushant Kesavan has showed improvement during the summer. He was 30 seconds behind Marshall at the end of last year but should close that gap. Carson Porter and Nishanth Mandavilli were also in the top seven and will again strengthen this top seven. The Bears should have two to three all-state runners by the time they get to November. The spread last year was 57 seconds at state. Closing their spread to under 45 seconds could get this team in a trophy contention.
3 – Downers Grove North Coach – John Sipple 2024 Finish – 1st, 3A State West Suburban Silver Conference
Runners – Philip Cupial SR, Will Surratt SR, Joshua Farrero SR, Ryan Morton JR, Steve Cox JR, Brennan Hardy SR, Matt Novak SR, Luke Figliomeni JR, Tyler Lynch-Goff SR, Isaak Stein JR, Mark Krishnan SR, John Newell JR, Brendan Lynch JR
Preview – What is next for the two-time defending Class 3A State title holders? The Trojans have rolled for the past two years dominating the rest of the state. It could be different this season especially with five of their top seven runners all graduated. “This summer we have had a number of guys filling in new leadership roles,” said Coach John Sipple. “We have a number of guys who are looking to make an impact on the team both performance wise and building community wise.”
It is nice when you get two of the top runners in the state one more time. Both Phillip Cupial and Will Surratt remain to race one more time at Detweiller Park. The two runners come off good track seasons which will have them ready for this fall. “Philip and Will both had solid track seasons that extended to NON and another 4x8 title (and state record!), so they started their training for cross country a little later than that of their teammates,” added Sipple. “However, both rolling very well and adapting to their training well. Both are hungry and excited about the team and the season ahead.”
Even though the Trojans did lose the core of their top seven, the program’s depth will be displayed this season. Downers Grove North had 17 runners last spring run at or under 10-minutes for 3200 Meter Run. 12 runners from that group are back challenging each other for top seven spots. Steve Cox, Ryan Morton, Joshua Ferrero, Isaak Stein, and Brennan Hardy look to be the runners to watch in the top seven to start the season. We will have a good idea how good this team is when we get to October. The spread on their top five might be 60 to 65 seconds to start. A spread under 35 seconds on their third through seventh is projected but might need to be tighter at state series time.
4 – Mt. Prospect - Prospect Coach – Jay Renaud 2024 Finish – 10th, Class 3A State Mid Suburban League
Runners – Collin Ryan SR, Luke Robinson SR, Bobby Wintermute SO. Quinn Davis SR, Landon Samp JR, Brody Cushing SR, Pierce Baker SO, James Hanna SR, Frank Cox SR, Ethan Yonan JR, Liam Weinberg SR, Nate Favia SO, Scott Fraser JR. Freshmen - Justin Macak, Conor Aldworth, Jimmy Small, Jack Hargadon, William Thanopoulos, Charles Zei.
Preview – You want might to call the Knights a surprise team but seeing how they raced at the end of last fall and then throughout track season would be mistaken. Prospect did make it to state last year finishing tenth in Peoria. Their depth, however, is scary good, perhaps going 10 runners deep to decide their top seven. “One thing that stood out about the team this summer was our energy,” said Coach Jay Renaud. “It felt different in a good way from any other team I've coached. Very inclusive and welcoming to our new runners. Incredible leadership by our experienced athletes.”
What was impressive with this team is that the Knights is that they had a 23 second top five spread in their sectional race and 19 seconds on the pack at state. Their places at stat on the top three was 61-70-91. Those first runners will need to move up. Luke Robinson and Collin Ryan were the top two runners last fall and should be anywhere in the team’s top five. Brody Cushing had a breakout track season running 9:25 and qualified for the 3200 Meter Run at state. Bobby Wintermute had a great freshman season and only improves with every race. Landon Samp was injured last summer which hurt that season. He was healthy this summer ready for a big fall. Sophomore Pierce Baker ran with the varsity group this summer and held his own according to Renaud. He could be a difference maker on the varsity level.
“This is the best team Prospect has ever had to start a season,” added Renaud. We will focus on ourselves and what we do and wherever we finish at the end is where we will finish. If we are happy with our process then we will be happy as a team. Looking forward to getting the season started.”
5 – Plainfield South Coach – Jason Crowe 2024 Finish – 3rd, 3A State Southwest Prairie Conference
Runners – Alex Batsala JR, Dylan Buturusis JR, Austin Cory SR, Kellen Hernandez JR, Phoenix Viger FR, Tyler Miller SR, Ethan Ensign JR, Ivan Schultz SR, Asim Saba JR, KC Coleman SR
Preview – Plainfield South has left Detweiller Park with trophies the past three years winning in 2022 and third the past two seasons. I would not rule against the Cougars bring home a trophy this fall. South will miss their leader Dylan Maloney who graduated and now at the University of New Mexico. South does have five runners back that have state meet experience. “The boys are taking ownership in their team,” said Crowe. “I am proud of them for setting their team and individual goals, then taking the ownership in their team to make their goals a reality.”
There are several runners that could step up into the top spot are Dylan Buturusis and Alex Batsala who had outstanding junior seasons. “Both Alex and Dylan make each other better,” added Crowe. “These two leaders have become great friends through running, and it shows in their commitment to our team. They both had a great summer, and it is just a continuation from their successful sophomore Track and Field seasons.” Ethan Ensign showed improvement last spring and should join Kellen Hernandez and Austin Corry in the top five.
A big addition to this top five is from freshman Phoenix Viger who will bolster the Cougars’ lineup. “Phoenix will already begin his career in our Top 15,” Crowe said. “He is the younger brother of Camyn Viger. Because of Camyn's success on our team, his younger brother Phoenix just began running a couple of years ago and fell in love with our sport! You can see Phoenix's love for distance running by his daily training and his passion when he competes! He is a fantastic young man that will contribute to our team's success immediately.”
6 – St. Charles North Coach – Kevin Harrington 2024 Finish – 8th, 3A Lake Park Sec DuKane Conference
Runners – Samuel Hill JR, Logan Hitchings JR, Christian Enger JR, Lucas Reed SR, Matthew Russell SR, Miles Dill SO, John Tanig SO, William Gallentine SO, Levi Ortiz SO, Jack Dalley SR.
Preview – Expectations of a final race of the season can change the expectations that some have about a team. The North Stars did not run their best race of the season at the Lake Park Sectional finishing eighth. Hopes are high with this team as their entire top five returning.
Samuel Hill ran 14:47 finishing 41st in last years state meet. He did run a personal best of 9:16.3 at Distance Night in Palatine last spring, then ran 9:17.48 in his sectional race qualifying for state. It’s the spread on their top five we should watch with North. Their top five spread in their conference race was close to 60 seconds. It sprouted to 71 seconds at Lake Park with their second through five runner spread at 53 seconds. That spread will need to come down between Logan Hutchings, Christian Enger, Lucas Reed, and Matthew Russell. Their top five needs to stay healthy in the next couple of months. There is a drop off from 20 to 25 seconds between the top five and the rest of the varsity.
7 – Arlington Heights Hersey Coach – Mike Glosson 2024 Finish – 8th, 3A Hoff Est Sec Mid Suburban League
Runners – Mateus Salomao SR, Nathan Marotta SR, Elliot Baik SR, Aidan Korb SR, Gabriel Gronski JR, Kass Kurzynski SO, Brandon Rugg SR, Luke Carlson SO, Matt Lammersfeld SO, Connor Rugg, Santiago Arroyo FR.
Preview – The Huskies went into their sectional race among the top 15 in the state. They did not have their best race at Busse Woods and finished eighth missing qualifying for the state meet. Hersey do have five runners back from that race. “I was most proud of their commitment to training over the summer,” their coach Mike Glosson said. “We have multiple guys that ran 100-150 miles more this summer than they did a year ago.”
I believe their top four runners are stronger than some think. Matteus Salomao was the top runner at sectionals seven seconds ahead of teammate Nathan Marotta. Both runners qualified for state individually. Marotta had a good state race running 15:05 and nine seconds ahead of Salomao. “Mateus has established himself as one of the top runners in Illinois,” said Glosson. “He was All-State in the 800 and followed that up with a 4:16 mile at Magis. He has stepped up in terms of leadership as well.”
Elliott Baik, Gabriel Goronski, and Aidan Korb are the nucleus of Hersey’s top five. They ran within six seconds of each other at sectionals but were 37 seconds behind Marotta. This team has good packing skills which were displayed during last season. Moving the pack closer to the top two this fall could make the Huskies are a top five team.
8 – Orland Park Sandburg Coach – John O’Malley 2024 Finish – 12th, 3A State Southwest Suburban Conference
Runners – Mateo Ramiro-Garcia SR, Brayden Gaffud JR, Matthew Miller SR, Jake Crotty SR, Gavin Smalarz SR, Jackson Canellis SR, Gavin Crotty JR, Gunner Hinger JR, Michael Krupa JR, Dorian Janik SO.
Preview – The Eagles had a strong finish to last fall finishing third at the Hinsdale Central Sectional and then 12th at state. Expectations should be high this year for Sandburg with five runners back.
Mateo Ramirez-Garcia has upped his level as just an 800 specialist to a runner that excels at all distances. He ran 14:55 last season at Detweiller. His improvement in track was dramatic. He helped Sandburg finish fifth in the 4x8 by running a 1:55.3 split. He came back to finish fourth and all state in the 800 (1:54.34). His strength has showed running 4:12 at the end of year at Magis Miles and 9:24 for 3200 Meters. He could be among the top 10 at state. Sandburg again will need a tight spread on their second through fifth runners. Brayde Gaffud, Matthew Miller, Jake Crotty, and Gavin Smalarz were separated by 27 seconds at state and 21 seconds after Ramiro-Gomez. The Eagles could be among the teams that find their way in the top five by state series time.
9 – Elmhurst York Coach – Charlie Kern 2024 Finish – 5th, 3A State West Suburban Silver Conference
Runners – Carter Olsen SR, Patrick Hill SO, Michael Gurgone SO, Harrison Manternach JR, Ryker Harges SR, Jacob McKilliop FR, Anders Dochoff JR, George Knott SO, Ben Popilek SR, Joseph Zbiegiel SR,
Preview – It did not seem that some would think that the Dukes would be a top 15 team last season. Tight pack running at the end of the year made them a top five team placing fifth at Detweiller Park. Two runners are back from a team decimated by graduation. Yet here they are. “Despite graduating 5 of the seven state meet runners, our late summer checkmarks were better than the 2024 team,” said Coach Charlie Kern. This is the result of an overly ambitious group working every day to get a little bit better.”
This group could have three runners together in the front by the time we get to October. Carter Olsen ran 14:45 at state last year finishing 37 and will be one of the leaders of this team. The improvement by Patrick Hill in track running under 4:20 for 1600 is showing this summer as his confidence keeps growing. “Patrick was enjoying a very successful Freshman year and was our first finisher at the Peoria High Invite,” said Kern. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in the regional meet that prevented him from racing in the state championship. He was incredibly mature about his situation and continued to support the rest of the team. During the track season, he experienced one of the most successful freshman track seasons in York history. In our rankings on the Freshman level, he is the number 4 on the 3200m list, #2 on the 800m list 1:56.99 behind Charlie Kern 1:55.34 and number 1 on the 1600m list 4:18.27 ahead of Don Sage 4:18.34.”
Harrison Manternach, Anders Dochoff, and Ryker Harges have showed improvement last spring and mainly during the summer along with another sophomore George Knott. One runner to keep an eye on is Jacob McKilliop. The freshman was the IESA 1A State championship and has adapted to high school training. He is a runner that you might see on the varsity level by the end of September. “This summer was very successful, and we have built a strong foundation,” added Kern. “Our group has been very supportive of each other and their training investment will continue to pay dividends individually and collectively.”
10 – Hinsdale Central Coach – Jim Westphal 2024 Finish – 8th, 3A Hins Cen Sec West Suburban Silver Conference
Runners – Michael Gamboa SR, Henry Miller JR, Logan Tarasi SR, Johnny Krueger JR, Elliot Kotleba JR, Mark Dillenburg JR, Cole Levin SR, Walter Tims JR, Noah Mokhtarian JR
Preview – The Red Devils missed making it to the state meet last year for the first time in 2009. They should start a new string this fall with this group. Hinsdale Central returns five runners that finished eighth in their own sectional. “This group is very determined to return to the state meet as a unit,” said Coach Jim Westphal. “The disappointment of not getting out of sectionals is still very raw to them. As a group they put the work in. Nothing spectacular, simply consistent.”
Henry Miller and Michael Gamboa will be a solid top two runners for this team. Miller ran 9:22.20 to qualify for the state meet in the 3200 Meter Run. Gamboa ran 9:24.72 during last season and then (:27.83 to qualify for the state meet. “We are hoping that Michael and Henry can use their success in the 3200-meter run from last spring,” added Westphal.” They both ran nice pr's so it would be nice if that translates into quality XC racing. We also had a few other sophomores have success at the F/S level and they will need to step up to contribute at the varsity level.”
Johnny Krueger is working off a good track season and expanding it in his training this summer according to Westphal. Elliot Kotleba and Logan Tarasi are expected to solidify the team’s top five that are projected to have a 45 second spread. “The WSC is loaded once again so if our group can mix it up a bit from that standpoint, we should be in pretty good shape,” added Westphal.
11 – Naperville North Coach – Tim Brown 2024 Finish – 16th, 3A State DuPage Valley Conference
Runners – Jackson Truty SR, Simon Reckamp SR, Brian Hatlestad SR, Lukas Keane SR, Aidan Malana SR, Charlie Minott JR, Blake Pickering JR, Carston Harris SR, Ethan Toms JR
Preview – Naperville North is a veteran team with state meet experience after finishing in last year’s state meet. Five runners are back from last year, a;; of them seniors. What will work for this team is that they are projected to have a 40 45 second spread to start the season. Jackson Truty and Simon Reckamp were three seconds at state and will be the runners to lead up front. Brian Hatlestad, Lukas Keane, and Aidan Malana were separated by 15 seconds in the state race, but over 20 seconds behind Truty. Will be a good team this year looking to finish among the top 10 in November,
12 – Edwardsville Coach – George Patrylak 2024 Finish – 13th, 3A State Southwestern Conference
Runners – Colin Thomas SR, Colin Luitjohan JR, Taylor Davis SR, Cooper Wittek SR, Jackson Elliott SR, Jack Paty SR, Max Horton SR, Max Siejka JR, Will McGinness SO, Antonio DeAvilla SO, Conner Osbourne FR, Jake Burris FR, Jack Whiteaker FR, Kellen Mabry FR, Evan Davis FR.
Preview – Edwardsville did not have the finish they were anticipating after being among the top five last season. The Tigers finished third at the Normal Sectional and then followed by finishing 13th at state. Four runners are back from that team. A big loss is that their #1 runner from last year Gavin Rodgers left the school moving to Atlanta GA. “After a disappointing finish last season in cross country and the 4 x 800 in track, several of our seniors really had the mindset of working hard and having a better ending to this season,” said Coach George Patrylak. “They have done this while also doing a great job of mentoring our younger runners and helping them feel like part of the team. I do like the way the chemistry is developing on this team, and I have been pleasantly surprised by several of our seniors.”
Colin Thomas, who was the team’s third runner at state, should step in as the top runner after running 15:14 to end his season. Cooper Wittek had a great summer of training and could push Thomas. Taylor Davis and Colin Luitjohan have that state experience which will help this team this fall. Jackson Elliott and Anthony DeAvilla will fight for top seven spots. Will McGinness had a good summer of training and could be in the top five along with Conner Osborne who was all state last fall in the IESA State Meet. “I don't know if we will show it right away, but I do feel this team has the ability to finish ahead of their finish at State last year,” added Patrylak.
13 – Chicago Lane Coach – Kris Roof 2024 Finish – 27th, 3A State Chicago Public League
Runners – Cole Magac JR, Samuel Assefa JR, Tristan Wong SR, Quinn Anderson JR, Alexander Fitzpatrick SR, Pete Georgopoulos SR, Miles Trost SO, Hugo Ayala SR, Dimitar Bratovanov SO.
Preview – Could the Champions finish among the top 10 teams in November? Chances are good that it could happen for this Chicago team. Their state race was not their best finishing 27th at state preceded by finishing second in the Elk Grove Regional and fourth at the Lake Park Sectional. Their top five runners in their final four races were interchangeable with Samuel Assafa the top runner at CPL Championships, Cole Magac in the regional and sectional races, and Tristan Wong at state. Magac did not run in the state meet changing their top five spreads. The sectional spread at Lake Park was 35 seconds, at state it was 40 seconds.
14 – Libertyville Coach – Stuart Mendelsohn 2024 Finish – 22nd, 3A State North Suburban Conference
Runners – Filip Vojvodic JR, Taylor Rihm SO, Thomas Chudy JR, Jack Steffe JR, Peter Rappa SR, Trace Whildin JR, Bennett Fogle SR, Marcello Prinz JR, Emerson Reed SO.
Preview – Libertyville started last year ranked 23rd in Class 3A. They surprised some finishing seventh and qualifying for the state meet where they finished 22nd. It was that they qualified for state in 1992. Five runners are back from the state team. Filip Vojvodic led the team last year running 15:12 to place 91st. Taylor Rihm finished three seconds behind his teammate Thomas Chudy, Jack Steffe, and Peter Rappa were part of the state team. The team’s top five split at state was just 27 seconds but the pack will need to be moved up as the season progresses. “This group has brought not only tremendous talent, but also fierce dedication to taking the Libertyville distance running program to the next level, with goals and expectations to compete at an All-State level consistently,” said assistant coach Nick Korhumel.
15 – Naperville Central Coach – Grant Baganz 2024 Finish – 20th, 3A State DuPage Valley Conference
Runners – Manny Najera JR, Toby Slider SO, Vaughn Scherer SR, Gavin George SR, Derek Williamson JR, Nicholas Norberg SO, Nathan Kao SO, Jack Anderson SO, Connor Baganz FR, John Casey FR, Eli Dickerson FR, Owen Nash FR, Louis Wojtal FR.
Preview = Naperville Central is a team to keep an eye on once again after finishing 20th in last year’s state meet. Five runners are back from that state team. “An overriding goal is to have a mindset of being healthy, hungry, humble and motivated while aiming to be a standard-setting program,” said their coach, Grant Baganz. “In addition, at our overnight retreat, the guys produced goals, related to accountability, process, performance, hard work, and overall culture. There are specific and measurable goal targets within those major areas. We know we are a very good team and will contend at DVC and significantly improve upon our 20th place finish at the State meet last fall. We also know we need to take one step at a time and embrace and enjoy each part of the process. Ultimately we are aiming to continue ascending toward a championship-level program in terms of both character and performance.”
Manny Najera was a consistent second runner last fall and will step up to the top runner with the graduation of Patrick Clune. Najera is a good bet to finish all-state in November, The trio of Toby Slider, Vaughn Scgerer, and Gavin George were separated by 23 seconds in their state race, 22 seconds in their sectional race. Closing the gap on Najera to that group from 45 seconds to under 30 seconds will be something to watch for. Ryan Hendricks could step into the top seven after a good track season. Derek Williamson will concentrate on running after playing soccer. Williamson was part of the team’s 4x8 last spring and could be a difference maker in the team’s top seven. “We have a strong nucleus returning and should be able to build on our 20th place finish at the state meet last year,” said Baganz. “It looks like we are poised to take that next step, but nothing is to be taken for granted. If we have a mindset of being healthy, hungry, humble, and motivated, along with being mentally strong and confident, we will indeed take that next step.”
16 – Batavia Coach – Bronco Meeks 2024 Finish – 14th, 3A State DuKane Conference
Runners – Edward Polaski JR, Will Polaski JR, Gavin Warpinski SR, Luke Gianfrancesco SR, Ryan Widmer SR, Matt Guiry JR, Peter Day JR, Aaron Kernler JR, Seamus Samsami SR, Brayden Korn SO, Lucca Tucci FR, Will Conklin FR.
Preview – Batavia ended last fall finishing 14th at state. They will miss graduated Francesco Benelli. The Bulldogs still return five runners from the state team. “We have several guys that have been stepping up and putting themselves in position to compete for varsity spots,” said coach Bronco Meeks. “We have around 12 guys that are in the mix on any given workout. This group has provided a tremendous example for our group of freshmen. We should have a very solid team at all levels this year.”
Edward and Will Polaski will be the top two runners on this team. Edward ran 14:41 at last year’s state meet while William ran 15:07 to finish 85th. “Eddie and Will have really stepped into leadership roles on the team,” mentioned Meeks. “They are great teammates and have really helped to elevate the performance of the entire team. They have great work ethic and are always willing to step up and put in extra time for the team.” Luke Gianfrancesco showed big improvement during track and over the summer and will be a big part of the team’s top five. Matt Guiry and Gavin Warpanski also have state experience and will again contribute to the team. “Our most surprising athlete has been Cody Rummel,” said Meeks. “Cody has struggled with health issues for the past couple years during the cross-country season. This year he has not only stayed healthy, but he has also improved dramatically as an athlete. Cody should be a major contributor at the varsity level this year.”
17 – Yorkville Coach – Chris Muth 2024 Finish – 26th, 3A State Southwest Prairie Conference
Runners – Owen Horeni SR, James Cherney JR, Nicholas Sancez SO, Carter Reichert SO, Ayden Nydegger JR, Marcus Hosu JR, Declan Schou JR, Michael Reid FR
Preview - Yorkville came into this season being ranked anywhere from 15th to 25th. They fell in this spot. The Foxes finished 26th in last year’s state meet. It could be a reloading season for Yorkville with just three runners back from last year. “We lost a large senior class so I was interested to see what leadership would emerge and develop as the summer progressed and I was pleasantly surprised,” said Chris Muth/ “Also, what stood out was the progress made by a couple of athletes that didn't make varsity last year with their focus and desire to make a difference on a daily basis.”
There is no question who the team’s top runner this fall will be. Owen Horeni finished second in the Class 3A State Meet and was all-state. “Owen Horeni will start the season a little slower this season, because of two factors,” said Muth. “Factor one was his extended track season, which went into the end of June, followed by a random pool toe injury, which limited him until late into July. I have full confidence he will be running at full strength, by the middle of September setting up for a big state series.”
The question is who will step into the other six top seven spots. Nicholas Sanchez and James Cheney ran in state and ran within a second of each other. Ayden Nydegger has shown great improvement over the summer and could be ready for the next step up. Carter Reichart will be the leader of at least five runners that will challenge for a position in their top five. Forget about the top five for this team especially with Horeni leading. The second through five spread could be between 30 to 35 seconds. A key will be moving that group of four runners at least 30 seconds closer to Horeni.
18 – Minooka Coach – Kevin Gummerson 2024 Finish – 9th, 3A Norm Sec Southwest Prairie Conference
Runners – Nico Cimino SR, Nate Schalk SR, Alex Null SR, Ryan Resar SO, Jase Cook SR, Vaughn Van Eck JR, Samuel Kies SO, Nathan Janulis JR, Cayson Traxler, Bryce Fuhrman SR.
Preview – Minooka missed out on making it to the state meet last fall finishing ninth at the Normal Sectional. This team is a veteran group with possibly four seniors among their top five. “The level of participation, the total miles run, and the intensity during workouts stood out the most,” said Coach Kevin Gummerson. “This group is highly motivated and determined to become the best team possible. The commitment they displayed over the summer sets a strong foundation for the season ahead.”
Nico Ciminoo again will be the top runner for the Indians. He qualified for state where he ran 14:45 to finish 36th. A good senior season puts him in the top 25. “Nico is entering the season with excitement after a strong junior year,” said Gummerson. “He qualified for state and placed 36th, finishing his track season with an impressive performance at the Magis Miles. He has carried that confidence into his summer training and is prepared to take another step forward.” Nate Schalk is one of three other seniors to be in the top five along with Jase Cook and Alex Null. Ryan Resar had a great freshman season and could be among the top three runners. Their pack behind Cimino has a projected spread of 45 seconds and hope to be within 35 to 40 seconds of Cimino. “This is the largest group of freshmen we have had sign up and consistently show up for summer training,” said Gummerson. “That is a very positive sign, and there is talent within this group. Their early commitment and work ethic give them the potential to develop into key contributors in the coming seasons.”
19 – New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central Coach – John Taylor 2024 Finish – 15th, 3A State Southwest Suburban Conference
Runners – Bryce Counihan SR, Ronin Borgeson SR, Cian Scanlon JR, Andrew Nilson JR, James Gertuga JR, Mekhai Wright SR, Gavin Hoff JR, Ryan Zartler SO, Russell Welch SO, Colin White SO
Preview – The Knights ended their track season earning all-state honors in the 4x8 placing second at state. Several seniors graduated leaving four runners back from the state team that finished 15th at Detweiller Park. “The team carried their momentum from a stellar track season into the summer, with one clear focus—consistency,” said Coach John Taylor. “Day in and day out, the team put in the work, showing the same discipline and determination at every practice. That steady commitment has built both fitness and team unity, setting the stage for a strong and competitive cross-country season.”
Bryce Counihan’s track season where he was part of the 4x8 should springboard him to big things this fall. “Bryce has stepped confidently into his leadership role, following in the footsteps of strong role models before him,” Taylor said. “A key member of last spring’s 2nd-place State Track 4x800m relay that set a school record, Bryce logged serious miles this summer to prepare for the season ahead.” Ryan Borgeson, Cian Scanlon, Andrew Nilson, and Makhai Wright could be 25 to 30 seconds within this season behind Counihan. The spread of one minute after Counihan will need to come down.
20 – Naperville Neuqua Valley Coach – Jaime Janota 2024 Finish – 21st, 3A State DuPage Valley Conference
Runners – Jessie Gudauskas JR, Grayson Neek SO, Garrett Anderson SR, Anish Bhagwad SR, Reyaansh Bhagat JR, Ryan Lee SR, Sam Parker JR, Miles Barrett SO, Isaac Brambilla SO, Visesh Badaji SO, Jake Finke FR.
Preview – The Wildcats have four runners coming back after their state experience finishing 21st. This could be a top 15 team by the end of the year, “I believe the top tier of guys has really committed to our plan,” said Coach Jaimie Janota. “We also had a great trip to Oregon, IL this summer. We had to find a new camp location after the closing of Lorado Taft in Oregon, but we found The Stronghold, and it was great.”
The Wildcats will become stronger upfront this fall after the improvement of Jesse Gudauskas. The junior dropped his 3200 Meter Run from 10:21 at the end of the 2024 season to 9:22.62 to qualify him for the state meet. “Jesse has had a tremendous summer,” added Janota. “He has grown into the leader of this team with his positive energy.” Grayson Meek had a great fall that turned into a spring track season he did not want to see. He was the team’s #1 runner during the state series which ended running 15:07. His time will drop this fall. An injury during the track season wiped most of his year. “Grayson had a partially torn quad early in the Track season that held him out until outdoors,” commented Janota. “With the limited season left, we made the decision to have him concentrate solely on the 800. He ran 1:58 and just missed qualifying for State. He'll be just behind Jesse when we get rolling in August / September for racing.”
Finding the rest of the top seven could take a little time with races during September sorting that out Garrett Anderson and Anish Bhagwat. Have state experience and will strengthen their top five. Reyaansh Bhagat had a great training summer according to Janota and might join that group. Neuqua Valley gas a good tradition of pack running. We should see that in action with this year’s group.
21 – Palatine Fremd Coach – Matt Zaluckyi 2024 Finish – 11th, 3A State Mid Suburban League
Runners – Jack Jennings JR, David Moore JR, Trent Odachowski SR, Bryden Li JR, Jackson Kelly SR, Nihal Kalsi JR, Bowie Hewson SR, Daniel Bounpaseuth SR, William Gaan FR, Janik Potuznik FR, Hugh, and Derek Gebhardt FR.
Preview – It could be a reloading year for the Vikings after losing a strong group of seniors to graduation including all-state runner Rory Gaan. There is a group of three good runners back that will lead the program that finished 11th at state last November. “We had to show discipline this summer,” said Coach Matt Zaluckyi. “We only held camp for 4 weeks this summer, but the boys meet every day on their own when not in camp.”
Jack Jennings steps into the top spot and is ready for the moment after running 15:02 last fall and on the track earned all-state honors in the 3200 Meter Run when he finished seventh. “Jack is ready to make his jump this fall,” said Zaluckyi. “Things really clicked at the end of track season, and he has taken that momentum into his best summer of training by far.” When David Moore raced during track, he put some good times in his sophomore season dropping his 3200 time down to 9:21.14. He is primed to have a breakout junior year. Trent Odachowski ran close to Moore last fall giving Fremd a solid nucleus to their pack. “David made significant improvement dropping his 3200 time down to 9:21 during track and Trent Odachowski put in his most consistent summer training in his 4 years,” added Zaluckyi. “Bryden Li will look to be a solid top 5 guy for us. He ran low 16s last season but improved to 10:03, 4:38, 2:00 in track.”
Li will be part of a top seven that might include Bryan Sydor and Nihal Kalsi. The team to start the season is projected to have an 86 second top five spread. We will have to see how their top seven develops in September.
22 – Buffalo Grove Coach – Miguel Parra-Garcia 2024 Finish – 12th, 3A Hof Est Sec Mid Suburban League
Runners – Riley Wold SR, Will Capito SR, Spencer Flershem JR, Luke Hilgeman SO, Nathe Lipani SR, Grant Preusker SR, Alex Hernandez SR, Patrick Romanski SO, Emanuel Esquina JR, Caleb Gleason JR, Arcangel Trujillo FR.
Preview – Buffalo Grove could be the “Libertyville” team that comes out of the Hoffman Estates Sectional in 2025. The Bison did finish 12th in that sectional. Their depth is good return their top 15 runners from last year. They also have a freshman Archangel Trujillo who finished third in last year’s IESA State Meet that their Coach Miguel Parra-Garcia feels could contribute immediately. “One thing that stood out this summer was the team keeping each other accountable and pushing and supporting each other in practice,” said Parra-Garcia. “Our 1-7 split should be better this year.”
Riley Wold has qualified for the state meet individually the past two years finishing 52nd last year and could improve up to the top 25 in the state. Will Capito, Alex Hernandez, Grant Preusker, and Patrick Romanski had strong summers of training and will be the nucleus of the team keeping a tight spread. Wold and the rest of the pack were separated by 60 seconds in the sectional race. Their pack spread was only 22 seconds. The development of the freshman will be something to watch in September and how it effects the pack running that the Bison displayed at the end of last fall. “Last year we qualified to Sectionals as a team for the first time since the 2015 season and are looking to continue to build on that success,” Parra Garcia said. “This senior led group has been training hard all summer and is looking to improve from last year's 12th place finish at sectionals. The boys are putting in a lot of quality miles and have been pushing each other all summer. Our goal is to qualify to state as a team.”
23 – Oak Park-River Forest Coach – Chris Baldwin 2024 Finish – 18th, 3A State West Suburban Silver Conference
Runners – Yonny Rafter SR, David Schiff SR, Julian St. Pierre SR, Brady Creel SR. Connor Harmon JR, Nick Houghton JR, Bennett King SR, Ryan Wangerow JR, Charles Molony JR, Ryan Solberg JR, Gabe Lynch FR, Mason Burke FR, Santos Martinez FR, Matias Hernandez FR
Preview – The Huskies are a team that might start out slowly at the beginning of the season, but they know how to run their best at state series time. Oak Park loses their top three runners to graduation. They do have four runners back from the 18th place state team that are ready to step in. “We lost our top 3 runners from the state XC team. All 3 of them ran in multiple xc state meets and were leaders in the program,” said coach Chris Baldwin. “Our rising seniors stepped up to the plate and made sure we had a large group of guys working together. Our Juniors followed and put in some strong work. Many of our top group ran the most miles they have ever run in their lives and loved doing it with each other.”
The team will rely on some good pack running to succeed with Yonny Rafter leading them. Davis Schiff, Connor Harmon, Julian St. Pierre, and Brady Creel give the Huskies a strong top five. “Yonny made huge leaps last xc and track season,” Baldwin stated. “He doesn't have the quarter speed that a lot of other guys on the team have (he was 3 from last at 400 meters in state finals last year) but he has racing instincts and can move up very well during xc. In track he continued to have some great runs and has improved his turnover especially later in workouts.”
The top five runners are projected to have a top five spread of 45 to start the season. Watching this pack moving closer to the front in races will be something to keep an eye on. “This was our best summer as a team to put mileage in,” Baldwin said. “We had a lot of JV guys buy in and I'm looking forward to their falls. We pride ourselves on everyone working hard together.”
24 – Palatine Coach – Joe Parks 2024 Finish – 8th, 3A State Mid Suburban League
Runners – Alexander Hrieg SR, James O’Sullivan SR, Christopher Quick SR, Evan Salgado SO, Andrew Schellenbach SO, Sohum Gorladku SO. Jayden Reedy SO, Patrick Garrett FR, Diego Machuca FR, Benjamin Wagner FR, Henry Edwards FR
Preview – It could be a rebuilding year for the Pirates losing seven of their top twelve runners to graduation. Four runners that have state experience are back from that eighth-place state team. Their top three runners are good led by Alex Krieg, He has developed into one of the top runners heading into his senior season and we will see why over the next couple of months. Krieg finished eighth last fall at Detweiller and will be one of the race favorites when we get to November. Krieg ran 9:02 at Arcadia last April. He followed that up finishing fourth in the state meet.
James O’Sullivan had an injury that slowed him down during track. He came back at the end of the season to run 4:19.56 to qualify for the state meet. O’Sullivan ran 14:49 at the end of the season to finish 51st at state. An all-state performance is within his grasp. Christopher Quick showed improvement last spring dropping his personal bests to 9:35.23 and 4:23.82. His improvement should translate well heading into this fall. Sophomores Evan Salgado and Andrew Schellenbach were separated by almost a minute at their conference meet. Salgado will be closer to Quick by mid-season which will give Palatine a boost. Patrick Garrett could be the team’s top freshman this fall and could contribute in the top seven come state series time. Palatine may start the year at this spot, but they will finish higher than this.
25 – New Lenox Lincoln-Way West Coach – Jason Van Swol 2024 Finish – 11th, 3A Norm Sec Southwest Suburban Conference
Runners – Nicholas Dul SR, Hunter Spree JR, Anthony Lusciatti SR, Parker Ethridge SO, Colin Stack SO, Adrian Acosta SR, Jonah Gentry SO, Brian Rys JR, Quinn Cecich JR, Cooper Molitor JR.
Preview – The Warriors could be one of those team surprises during the season returning 10 of their top 12 runners. Lincoln-Way West finished 11th in last year’s sectional race and should finish higher this fall. Nicholas Dui make it to state as an individual qualifier finishing 67th. Dul will look to move this fall into all-state contention. Hunter Spee, Anthony Lusciatti, and Parker Ethridge should all be within 60 seconds of Dul. Sophomores Jonah Gentry and Colin Stack will need to be within 20 to 30 seconds of the pack
26 – Winnetka New Trier Coach – Matt Sloan 2024 Finish – 6th, 3A State Central Suburban League
Runners – Jordan Kreiner SR, Nico Hampton SO, Alexander Strano JR, Anders Giese SR, Ryan Pack SR, Declan O’Neill JR, Tristan Daley JR, Carrick Gill SR, Carter Hollis FR, Maxwell Overstree FR.
Preview – This will be a rebuilding year for the Trevians especially losing a ton of seniors to graduation including multi state champion Ben Crane who led New Trier to a sixth-place finish. Jordan Kreiner from that top seven is the only runner back. “The Trevians are a young, but talented team,” said their coach, Matt Sloan. “The athletes have demonstrated marked growth during their summer training. Nice packs have started to evolve out of the larger group and there is positive energy and camaraderie on display each day.”
Their front presence belongs to Kreiner this year. He ran 15:06 at state last year and is ready to drop that time down even further. “Jordan, along with his fellow captains, have been doing a great job leading our talented group of sophomores which includes five athletes (Will Chiang, Nico Hampton, Martin Issa, Lucas Rincon, and Sebestian Vining.) who ran sub 10:14 in the 3200 meters during Track,” said Sloan. “They are gaining confidence and looking strong! I expect them to play a major role for our team this fall.”
This will be a work in progress for Sloan and his team. A pair of freshman could make impact at some point this season. “Carter Hollis and Maxwell Overstreet qualified for the IESA state meet in both XC and in the 1600m last year have been progressing nicely this summer! They are the best 1-2 punch we have entering New Trier since Nick Falk & Patrick Jamieson back in 2018,” added Sloan. “The 2025 Trevians will look a little different compared to my first five years as steward of the program. The coaching staff and I are excited to see what we can become this season. Our goal, as always, is to trust the process, and run our best when it counts. We are excited to test ourselves against the great competition that Illinois always produces.”
27 – LaGrange Lyons Township Coach – Mike Danner 2024 Finish – 7th, 3A State West Suburban Silver Conference
Runners – Tyler Gantt SR, Patrick Collins SR, Brennan Monohan SO, Parker Robinson SR, Colin Shea JR, Lucien Sullivan JR, Joaquin Duarte JR, Evan Buse SO, Mykola Waschuk SR, Sean Tilles SR, Luke Borling FR
Preview – The Lions will be reloading after losing the core of their group to graduation. They still have quality talent in the runners coming up. From the team that finished seventh at the state meet. “We had a usual training again this summer,” said Coach Mike Danner. “We had consistent work being done within the team.”
Lyons has three runners back from the state meet, all ran as part of a group this summer. “Patrick Collins, Tyler Gantt, and Brennan Monohan had big personal bests during the track season, and all have trained together. That work should pay off this season.” Something to watch is how this group molds together. Evan Buse had a good freshman season and is ready to make a step up. Henry James, Parker Robinson, and Sean Tilles have put in their work this summer and ready to move up. We should see how close their spread is from four to seven by the end of September to find out how good this team is.
28 – Barrington Coach – Thomas Root 2024 Finish – 11th, 3A State Mid Suburban League
Runners – William Schneider JR, Ryan Scott JR, Caden Carver SO, Mathias Carajal JR, Varun Dhanasekaran JR, Benny Sulikowski JR, Charlie Sukel SR, Connor Raia SR, Dominic Voth FR, Barrett Stern FR.
Preview – Barrington returns two runners from their team that finished 11th last fall at the state meet. “This group found their “groove” after a big senior class graduated ahead of them.” Said their coach Thomas Root. “They’ve been forced to learn fast, and it will be very fun to see how they continue to fill those “big shoes” through this fall.”
Juniors Ryan Scott and William Schneider are the returning runners from last year. Schneider was the team’s fifth runner. “They are very different types of runners, Ryan being more of a distance/mileage athlete with Will being that “800/track” guy,” said Root. “The two of them tend to come at the training from those “opposite” viewpoints but end up stride for stride in our big workouts.” Mathias Carajal has taken his training a step up according to Root and will be part of this team’s nucleus. Caden Carver and Varun Dhanasekaran will lead a young group challenging for top seven spots. Root feels that freshmen Dominic Voth and Barrett Stern could be among the top seven by state series time. They have been close to the varsity group during training.
29 Chicago Payton Coach – Dan Dziubski, Adam Palumbo 2024 Finish – 1st, 2A State Chicago Public League
Runners – Tra’Monti Williams SR, Declan Slavin SR, Obree Fischer JR, John Falciglia SO, Knox Winn SO, Gus Berlinghof SR, Zachary Wong SR, James Barrios JR.
Preview – The reward that Payton Prep gets with their dominating win in the Class 2A State Meet is that they are moved up to Class 3A. The Grizzlies accept it as a challenge. “While we lost five of the top seven runners from last year’s state championship team, workouts indicate that we’ve gotten faster across the board from spots 1-7,” said Adam Palumbo. “The team has been relatively healthy, and John Falciglia, Saatvik Viniak, Knox Winn and Gus Berlinghof have stepped up nicely with the loss of several heavy hitters.”
The heavy hitters that Palumbo mentioned are Tra’Monti Williams and Declan Slavin who were part of their state championship and All-American quartets in the 4x8 last spring. Williams was a state champion in the 800. Bothe runners dropped 1600 times at Magis Miles with Slavin running 4:14.83 and Williams running 4:15.60. “After their All-State seasons last fall, Declan and Tra’Monti have hit the ground running this summer,” Palumbo added. Both have shown significant gains in fitness, pushing each other and the rest of the team to new levels each workout. With the move to 3A, they’ve set their sights on some lofty goals both individually and for the team.”
Payton will miss third runner Steven Jiang who will not run this fall instead participating in the Page Program in the US Senate. Obree Fischer stepped up at the end of track and should be among the top runners. This team will be set up in September and be ready to go by October. Don’t count out this group.
30 – O’Fallon Coach – Jon Burnett 2024 Finish – 24th, 3A State Southwestern Conference
Runners – Brayden Kloeppel SR, Jackson Gherardini SR, Jamison Gherardini JR, Benjamin Lown JR, Miles Cintron JR, Cole Deering SO, Lucas Donohue SR, Will Thoman SO, Brady Donohue SR.
Preview – O’Fallon has a good nucleus back that will try to improve on last year’s state program. Five runners are back from that state squad. “The team has great leadership from its seniors,” said Coach Jon Burnett. “They inspired their teammates to do what needs to be done in an offseason. They set up this program for success over the next several seasons.”
Brayden Kloeppel stepped up his junior year and is ready for a great final year of high school running 14:55 at last year’s state meet. “He was sub 15 last fall and placed 8th in the 3200m run last spring,” added Burnett. “He has upped his training and is looking to make his presence known in the state.” Jackson Gherardin and his brother Jamison had good summer of training and are also ready for this fall. Miles Cintron and Benjamin Lown are also ready to keep this second through five spread tight. The spread is projected to be 20-25 seconds on that group. It was 24 seconds at state. Kloeppel has improved. Keeping the pack to within 45 to 50 seconds of the front would be a huge plus. “This squad is made up of so many dedicated young men,” said Burnett. “They came out all summer long and did what we asked them to do. They adjusted to all the changes that we had to make due to weather and the unexpected. It is a privilege to work with them.”
Other Class 3A Schools to watch this fall; schools listed in Alphabetical order
Aurora-West Aurora Coach – Tony Rizzo 2024 Finish – 10th, 3A Hins Cen Sec Upstate Eight Conference
Runners – Nathan Gehrmann SR, Lachlan Mahoney JR, KJ Rogers SR, Nate McGinnis JR, Yoshua Paredes SR, Julian Flores JR, Sebastian Merlo JR, Kaden Neuhaus SR, Richard Bendeich JR
Preview – The Blackhawks will return four runners from the team that finished tenth at the Hinsdale Central Sectional. West Aurora has a great #1 runner with Nathan Gehrmann. The senior has run in the state meet all three years of his high school career with his 14:59 time finishing 65th his best. KJ Powers will be one of the runners that will lead the support pack behind Gehrmann which will include Lachlan Maloney and Nate McGinnis. Yoshua Paredes and Julian Flores should both be close to the pack. The spread on the pack is projected to be between 35 to 40 seconds. That might be the spread to be concerned with especially with Gehrmann projected to be between 50 to 60 seconds ahead of the group.
Berwyn-Cicero Morton Coach – Bill Bloom 2024 Finish – 19th, 3A State West Suburban Gold Conference
Runners – Alex Rodriguez SR, Orlando Sandoval SR, Miguel Flores JR, Gianni Calderon SR, Gavin Quinn JR, Carlo Aviles SR, David Ocampo SR, Perfecto Lopez SO, David Hernandez JR.
Preview – It was quite a cross-country season for the Mustangs last fall making it to the state meet for the first time since 1997. Morton finished 19th at their state meet experience with their top three runners all back. How fast was the race last year? Alex Rodriguez, Orlando Sandoval, and Miguel Flores were all under 15 minutes in that race separated by 13 seconds. Rodriguez led the way running at 14:40 placing 30th. I don’t know if we will see a race as fast as we did last November. I do think all three of these runners could finish in all state spots.
What will be watched for is who will step into this team’s fourth and fifth runners. Gianni Calderon had a good summer of training according to Coach Bill Bloom. He should step in. Gavin Quinn, David O’Campo, and Carlos Aviles are all runners that could step in. The thing to watch is the spread between the top three and the rest of the pack. The spread between the ‘Big Three’ and the rest of the pack is close to two and a half minutes. That will need to narrow down this season to get the Mustangs back to the state meet.
Bolingbrook Coach – Jeff Lester 2024 Finish – 7th, 3A Waub Val Reg Southwest Prairie Conference
Runners – Isaac Stowers SR, Michael Delgado SR, Jason Vervack SR Nikolas Maldonado SR, Azy Estefania JR, Andres Lopez JR, Tyshawn Harris JR, Caedmon Vaske JR, Owen Jones JR, Jacob Karwowski SR, Justin Wilson JR, Alex Manas FR.
Preview – Last year’s promise could be this fall’s reality for this team. The Raiders just missed making it to sectionals last year finishing seventh at the Waubonsie Valley Sectional. Six runners are back from that regional team that should extend their season by at least an extra week. “At each check point over the summer we had numerous guys far ahead of where we were last year,” said their coach, Jeff Lester. “The Team has been consistent and ready to prove something.”
Isaac Stowers made it to state last year running 15:11 to finish 92nd. Stowers was also a part of the Bolingbrook 4x8 team at Charleston helping their team to the finals. Isaac Stowers, our individual State Qualifier last year, has been a tremendous leader in and out of his training,” said Lester. “He has done and will continue to do anything to make the team and himself better.” Michael Delgado and Nikolas Maldonado both qualified for the Hinsdale Central Sectional and will lead the returning pack. Jason Vervack and Tyshawn Harris were also in the top five last season and will give strength to that group. Incoming freshman Alex Manas had a good summer of training adapting to the program and could contribute at some point this season. Their pack should be within 60 seconds of each other. A 75 to 80 spread on their first five gets them to sectionals and perhaps further.
Burbank Reavis Coach – Ciara Nelligan 2024 Finish – 14th, 3A Hins Cen Sec South Suburban Conference
Runners – Santiago Chavez JR, Leandro Barajas SR, Luis Ramirez SO, Moises Loeza SR, Angel Chavez SO, Nicholas Wijas SO, Jonathan Villa SR.
Preview – Reavis will look to improve on their 14th place finish from last year at the Hinsdale Central Sectional. Six runners are back from that team. Santiago Chavez had a breakout sophomore season after he ran 14:51 to finish 47th at the state meet which could boost him to a top 20 all-state spot. Chavez did run 9:18.04 for the 3200 last spring as he finished 11th at state. He did win the 3200 indoors at Illinois Top Times. Leandro Barajas again will be a solid second runner leading the pack behind Chavez. The gap between those two runners was 45 seconds last year. The spread between the second to fifth runners is projected to be two minutes.
Chicago DePaul College Prep Coach – Mitchell Baum 2024 Finish - 22nd, 2A State Chicago Catholic League
Runners – Liam Donehoo SR, Jack Barnes JR, Sebastian Macias SR, Ian Cromwell JR, Owen Lea SO, Vincent Kelly SO, Miles Arseneau JR, Crosby Taylor-Roberts SO, Sean Collins SO
Preview – DePaul College Prep move to Class 3A for at least the next year after finishing 22nd last November in the 2A State race. Four runners are back led by Liam Donehoo 15:29 to finish 63rd. Jack Barnes, Sebastian Macias, and Ian Cromwall are other state returning runners looking to strengthen their top five. The spread is expected to be close to 100 seconds to start the season. The Rams most likely will be in the Lake Park Sectional which could be difficult as always. Their experience could push them into state qualifying spots.
Chicago St. Ignatius College Prep Coach – Chris Korabik 2024 Finish – 8th, 2A State Chicago Catholic League
Runners – Ethan Petrillo SR, Zachary Tan SR, Brendan Houlihan JR, Connor Birkett SO, Charlie Maida JR, Michael Gaffey JR, Alexander Kepler SR, Arik Swan FR, Joseph Horos FR
Preview – St. Ignatius College Prep is another Class 2A state team to move up to Class 3A. The Wolfpack return four runners that have state experience plus a good freshman group that will give their team a boost. “We did our annual trip to Colorado and had a great showing from our varsity team members,” said their coach, Chris Korabik. “All of our guys have put in good summers of training, and there is a lot of excitement around our talented incoming freshmen class.”
Their top two runners have graduated, which means finding a new #1 runner. It could be Charlie Maida who has gone through a series of injuries but took his running to another level. “Charlie had an injury-riddled freshman year, and he was only able to get into two cross country races last season,” said Korabik. “He’s an incredibly hard worker and cross trained every day through that whole time, so his breakout track season was not too surprising for us. He ran 9:42 and 4:28 in his sophomore season, which is a good sign for things to come as he continues to build endurance.:
Ethan Petrillo was the team’s third runner last year. Zachary Tan was two seconds behind Petrillo at state could trade off the top spot. “He focused primarily on the 800 in track season, but he is the kind of guy who can succeed at any distance,” added Korabik. Brendan Houlihan and Connor Birkett also ran last year and will challenge for top five spots. Freshman Arik Swan should be watched as one of the top runners for the Wolfpack. Swan ran 4:33 in middle school and could contribute immediately in the top five for his team.
Chicago Whitney Young Coach – Eric Wiegmann 2024 Finish – 17th, 3A Hins Cen Sec Chicago Public League
Runners – Amilio Rajandram JR, Langston Ellis JR, Milo Flores SR, Cael Rodriguez JR, Gabriel Pomian SR, Jonathan Ophus JR, Carter Hennessy JR, Beckett Smith SR, Arlo Reddy JR
Preview – The Dolphins will finish higher than they did last year when they finished 17th at the Hinsdale Central Sectional. They did it last year running five sophomores in their top seven. All seven sectional runners are back. “What stood out to me this summer was the commitment and mileage the returning runners put in the summer,” said their Coach Eric Wiegmann. “They really made a commitment to not only put in the mileage but to train together.”
What was impressive for Whitney Young was their pack running. They had a 47 second spread on their top five. The team has that big meet experience now that could drive them closer to the front in races. Amilio Rajandram was the top runner during the state series and should lead this team. Langston Ellis after basketball season had a good track season. The now junior’s older brother is all state and state champion Preston Ellis who ran at Payton. Cael Rodriguez, Milo Flores, and Gabriel Pomian were all in the top five last year and again will form a strong core to the team’s top seven.
Downers Grove South Coach Brian Caldwell 2024 Finish – 9th. 3A Hins Cen Sec West Suburban Gold Conference
Runners – Conrad Saner JR, John Clinton SR, Will Miller SR. Aditya Kota JR, Charlie Delapaz JR, Andrew Erdal SR, Harris Kelliher SR, Jakub Kranz SO, Greg Gumban FR, Henry Baker SO (soccer, track)
Preview – The Mustangs had qualified for the state meet five straight years before missing it to state the last two meets. This could be the season that they make it back to Peoria. They return five runners from their team that finished ninth at the Hinsdale Central Sectional. “We had a renewed commitment by the majority of our returners to put in the consistent work this sport demands,” said South Coach Brian Caldwell. “The team seems bought in and athletes have held themselves accountable to do the work even when on vacation. Most importantly, the team culture seems to be as strong as it's been in years and there is some great energy among the group.”
Conrad Saner made it to state last fall. He upped his racing in the spring dropping his 1600 personal best down to 4:15. John Clinton should again be the team’s second runner after running 4:20 at the end of the season. “Both have upped their mileage and should provide us with some firepower in the front of races,” added Caldwell. “Both athletes looked really strong in our annual first day time trial running times comparable to some of the best runners we've had at DGS.”
Will Miller and Aditya Kota will give the Mustangs strength in their top five. Jakub Kranz could be the surprise on this team. The sophomore was in Poland with his family and had a great summer of training. Caldwell believes he could have a breakout season and might be in the top five.
Glen Ellyn Glenbard West Coach – Kyle Nugent 2024 Finish – 25th, 3A State West Suburban Silver Conference
Runners – Matt King SR, Sam Roser JR, Judah Cabral JR, Nathan Ho JR, Luke DuPuy SR, Jack Jenks SR, Keaton Peter SR, Nathan Gissing SR, Dean Plahetka FR, Austin Check FR, Cole Mocko SO (transfer St. Francis)
Preview – It could be a rebuilding year for the Hilltoppers after losing five of their top seven runners to graduation. Glenbard West did make it to state last year finishing 25th. Matt King was the #1 runner last year and showed greater improvement on the track running 4:19 and 9:15. “Matt had a great track season and then spent most of his summer training in Colorado,” said Coach Kyle Nugent. “He had his toughest summer yet but seems to be in great shape now and staying healthy. He is a self-motivator who is hungry to reach his goals this year.”
Sam Roser is the other runner back from last year and has showed improvement according to Nugent. He should be a solid #2 runner on this team. The team should have a 50 second spread on their next four runners after King with runners like Nathan Ho, Judah Cabral, and Jack Jenks filling in those top five spots. “Numbers wise, we are a bit smaller than normal,” said Nugent. “However, it feels like a very high percentage of the team has really bought into each other and the program. We have a really committed group across the board - varsity, JV and Fr/So.”
Highland Park Coach – Steve Buti 2024 Finish – 9th, 3A Hof Est Sec Central Suburban League
Runners – Lucas Hoobler SR, Henry Gamson SR, Josh Brown SR, Truman Evans SR, Logan Liu SR, Daniel Doyle SR, Spencer Pedraza SR, Makenz Duggan JR, Theo Soifer SO.
Preview – Highland Park returns four runners from the team that finished ninth at the Hoffman Estates Sectional. Lucas Hoobler and Henry Gamson should be the team’s top runners. The two were separated by just a second at the CSL race. They were separated by four seconds in their sectional race. What might hurt is the gap after these two runners to the last group. It was 83 seconds after sectionals. Truman Evans, Josh Brown, and Logan Lui are the runners to watch to help in the top five.
Hoffman Estates Conant Coach – John Powers 2024 Finish – 16th, 3A Hoff Est Sec Mid Suburban League
Runners – Charlie Calderone SR, Henry Dombrowski SR, James Czepiel SR, Joseph Basile SO, Johnny Basile SO, David Shu SR, Milo Pineda SR, Evan Cisneros JR, Peter Bilos SR
Preview – Conant returns all seven runners that gained experience from last year’s 16th place Hoffman Estates Sectional. This is Coach Jon Powers 26th and final year at Conant Powers will retire at the end of the school year. “We had a solid summer of training that got off to a slow start because of the late State Track meet,” said Powers. “I expect our fitness to just get better and better as the season goes on.”
Charlie Calderone qualified individually for last year’s state meet running 15:13. Henry Dombrowski will be a solid second runner behind Calderone but finished 30 seconds back in the sectional race. The gap will need to diminish after the top two. Joe and Johnny Basile along with Justin Czepiel were 56 seconds behind Dombrowski and within 28 seconds of each other.
Mundelein Coach – Kurt Rutz 2024 Finish – 7th, 3A Warren Reg North Suburban League
Runners – Elijah Mendoza SR, Izic Miller JR, Aidan Sweet SO, Erick Cordovia SO, Nathan McCreight SR, Andrew Weaver SR, Brandon Newell SO, Mason McMurray, Advik Sharma SO, Nicholas Moberg FR.
Preview – It could be a big year for Mundelein after finishing seventh in the Warren Regional. The Mustangs return all seven runners from that race. Elijah Mendoza ran in the sectional missing making to state while finishing 26th. “Despite getting sick and having a lingering minor injury, Elijah managed to PR in the 3200 in track, running 9:38,” said Coach Kurt Rutz. Has had a healthy summer and is entering in great shape.” Izic Miller also made it to sectionals and should be the second runner on this team. Senior Nathan McCreight and sophomores Erick Cordova and Aidan Sweet will be among the runners challenging for the top five. Also watch for freshman Nicholas Moberg to contribute in the top seven according to Rutz. “This will be the first year in a while we will have multiple seniors in the top 7, meaning this will be the most experienced team we have had in a while,” added Rutz. Our two top sophomores, Aidan Sweet and Erick Cordova, will be good. Erick was an important part of our State qualifying 4 x 800 relay, running under 2:00 as a freshman.”
Park Ridge Maine South Coach – Dave Fermanich 2024 Finish – 9th, 3A Lake Park Sec Central Suburban League
Runners – Gavin Cook JR, Alex Czerwionka JR, Colin Frye JR, Gabriel Szfranko JR, Lucas Runtz JR, Brendan Tremblay JR, Tony Murphy SR
Preview – The Hawks welcome in Dave Fermanich as the new coach replacing Greg Nordahl who retired. Maine South finished ninth at the Lake Park Sectional. Four runners are back from that sectional team that have high hopes this fall. “One thing that stood out above all else this summer was the complete buy-in from the team, top to bottom. As we transitioned from a traditional Jack Daniels VDOT-based training model to a hybrid system inspired by Timo Mostert’s American Fork program (Utah), there was an understandable level of uncertainty,: said Fermanich. “But instead of resistance, what we saw was an entire group of athletes embracing the challenge, trusting the process, and showing up every day ready to work. The commitment to aerobic threshold training, long steady efforts, and gradual strength-building runs has created a culture of focus and growth. This summer wasn’t just about mileage; it was about identity, and this group is beginning to take on a collective toughness that mirrors our training philosophy.”
This team has the potential to exhibit tight pack running. Their top five spread to start the season is projected to be from 36 to 42 seconds. The top five on this team could all be juniors led by Collin Frye followed by Alex Czerwionka, Gavin Cook, Gabriel Szfranko, and Lucas Runtz. “With the team’s buy-in, a strong training identity, standout performances from our leaders, and the development of a deeper supporting cast, the 2025 squad is well-positioned for a return to the IHSA State Meet, with the potential to crack the Top 15 in Class 3A. There’s still work to be done, but the foundation laid this summer is one of the strongest I’ve seen in years,” concluded Fermanich.
Quincy Coach – Laura McClelland 2024 Finish – 28th, 3A State Western Big Six Conference
Runners – Charles Ray SO, Eli Poe SO, Gavin Slee SR, Owen Triplett SO, Jude Steiner JR, Blake Anders SO, Peyton Anders SR, Lane Steinkamp SR, Clayton McClelland SO.
Preview – The Blue Devils surprised most of the cross-country followers at the end of last season making it to the state meet for the first time since 2003. Quincy returns four runners from the team that finished 28th in the 3A State Meet. Keys for this team is finding a fifth runner and moving the pack closer to the front. Charles Ray was the team’s second runner and top returnee this year as he finished 164th, Eli Poe Gavin Slee, and Owen Triplett were just separated by 21 seconds. Jude Steiner, Blake Anders will challenge for top five spots. They are 51 to 55 seconds behind the top four.
Rock Island Coach – Jarrin Williams 2024 Finish – 7th, 3A Minooka Reg Western Big Six Conference
Runners – Elliot Batz JR, Gabe Mahn SR, Nolan Jared SO, Lucas McCall SR, Cylar Smith SO, Steveb Hernandez SO, Henry Mass SR, Jeremiah Evans SO.
Preview – The Rocks will look for an extra week of racing this fall after finishing seventh at the Minooka Regional. Their top six runners return. Elliott Batz and Gabe Mahn finished last fall on a high note with both qualifying for the state meet. Batz ran 15:03 at Detweiller Park. Batz made it to the state meet last spring in the 1600 having a seasonal best time of 4:22.93 Mahn finished 15 seconds behind running 15:18. The top five spread in their regional meet was 145 seconds. The pack, led by Nolan Jared, was 70 seconds behind Matz.
Rockton Hononegah Coach – Mark McLarty 2024 Finish – 16th, 3A Lake Park Sec Northern Illinois Ten Conference
Runners – Landon Samuelson SR, Jack McLarty SO, Caleb Greving JR, Oliver Filimonov JR, Sam Castelli SR, Isaiah Mohnacky SR, Spencer Paterson SR, Derek Paterson SR, Tyler Simpson FR.
Preview – Hononegah will look to improve on last year’s 16th place finish at the Lake Park Sectional. Things are on a positive note for the Indians with all seven runners back from that race. Landon Samuelson is the one runner to watch after a great junior season. “Landon ran 14:51 at state last year. He also qualified for state in the 3200 in track,” said his coach, Mark McLarty. “He has a great work ethic and does well with staying calm in all high-pressure situations. He is always ready to compete against anyone.” Their top five spread will be big especially with Samuelson taking the next step up. Their spread from the second to fifth runners could be between 50 to 55 seconds. Jack McLarty and Oliver Filimonov will lead this group hoping to stay within 10 seconds of each other. Sam Castelli and Caleb Greving were part of the top five team and should be at those positions again this fall. “The summer months were fine,” said Coach McLarty. “We had a group of boys that put in a good amount of time. Our top 7 is back from last year, so we should see this team improve and compete throughout this season.”
St. Charles East Coach – Chris Bosworth 2024 Finish – 10th, 3A Lake Park Sec DuKane Conference
Runners – Michael Wilson SR, Samuel Wollak JR, Dominic Strada SO, Alex Asimor SR. John Rigali SO, Will Komerska JR, Conner Stall SO, Daniel Finn FR
Preview – The Saints could experience some growing pains in the first month of the season. East will be ready to go by state series time. Three runners are back from the squad that finished ninth at the Lake Park Sectional. “The returning kids had strong track seasons for themselves and were excited to begin training for XC,” said Coach Chris Bosworth. We are focusing on pack running which is something we missed on last year. One of the biggest aspects of the summer was our trip to Devil’s Lake. The year before, our trip was rained out as our campsite flooded. It might sound like not a big deal, but this is something that my kids look forward to and has been a tradition since 1983.”
St. Charles East will rely on two runners with big race experience Nichael Wilson and Dominic Strassa who should lead this team according to Bosworth. Wilson qualified for state in the 800 Meter Run last spring and has also lowered his personal bests in three distances and xc. We will see how his improvement translates this fall. Strada showed improvement first last spring and then during the summer. He was nearly 40 seconds behind Wilson and will lead the pack along with Samuel Wollack. Daniel Finn is new to the program as a freshman and could at some point this fall climb into the team’s top seven. “We will be young and inexperienced, but I was happy with the summer the team put in,” said Bosworth. “As always, we want to be at our best when it matters the most. We will be relying on our pack to keep us together in meets. Continuing with our motto of For Each Other.”
Tinley Park Andrew Coach – Bobby Matz 2024 Finish – 13th, 3A Norm Sec Southwest Suburban Conference
Runners – Caden Wolfe SR, Gabe Govea JR, Evan Misura SR, Jack Radtke SR, AJ Steele SO, Zach Orbon JR, Carson Solomon SR, Allen Jose JR, Cooper Fahey FR.
Preview – Andrew should be on the verge of moving up in the Normal Sectional where they finished 13th overall. Their top four runners are back led by Cadem Wolfe who ran 15:30 at Maxwell Park to end his season. Jack Radke, Gabe Covea, and Evan Misura could be separated by 45 to 50 seconds on that group. AJ Steele was the team’s sixth runner and will lead a pack of runners looking to get in the team’s top five. “We will be looking for a solid 5th man to step forward from our pack in the early part of the season,” said Coach Bobby Matz. “If we can find that we have high hopes of qualifying for state as a team for the first time in many years.”
Wheaton North Coach – Nate Roe 2024 Finish – 23rd, 3A State DuKane Conference
Runners – Daniel Xochitecatl SR, Jack Sanders SR, Nathan Carroll SO, Matthew Joyce SR, Levi Turner JR, Judah Clark JR, Owen O’Mara SR, Reid Goerzen SO.
Preview – The Falcons finished 23rd in last year’s state meet. It could be a rebuilding year for Wheaton North with last year’s top three runners graduating and losing two more runners that would have been in the top seven deciding to go out for other sports. “Given the loss of our top 3 key guys, plus other important senior leaders, this group really stepped up in leadership and consistency.” Said Coach Nate Roe. “We had to change our usual schedule due to the IHSA reduction of days, and our upperclassmen did a great job of organizing everyone. We hope to see this translate to a strong season.”
Jack Sanders, Matthew Joyce, and Daniel Xochitecatl all showed improvement during track and during the summer and will be the three runners looked to lead this team. Nathan Carroll ran state last year as a freshman and should be a presence on the team’s top five. “This will be a team in progress.” said Roe. “It's also one of my smallest teams ever. But they're like a "Band of Brothers" in many ways. I think we'll endure some growing pains at the start as we figure out key roles and get more experience. They remind me of our 2019 team that has about a 15 second split 1-5 and about 25 1-7. We may not have a front runner as we've had the last few years, but I'll be happy to be surprised! They have lots of potential and are working hard. Some of our juniors like Levi Turner and Judah Clark have huge upsides if they can readjust from 800 mentality to XC mentality. That's what we'll work on.”
Wheaton-Warrenville South Coach – Christopher Kuntz, Craig Lawrence 2024 Finish – 17th, 3A State DuKane Conference
Runners – Sam Walker SR, Jack Barbieri JR, Troy Thalmann SR, Ethan Farrell SR, Joey Mowrer JR, Daithan Narayanan JR, Everett Zou SR, Liam Meyer SO, Kogan Noel SO, Caleb Woods SR.
Preview – The Tigers will need to do some work to rebuild their top seven after losing five runners to graduation. South finished 17th in last year’s state meet. “Despite losing talented senior leaders and All State runners, our young team stepped up this summer,” said Coach Craig Lawrence. “New leaders emerged, and the team embraced our program's tradition of pack running. This dedication led to huge gains, and we're excited to see them continue to improve throughout the season.”
Sam Walker and Jack Barbeiri have the only state experience back and should lead this team. Joey Mowrer did run in their sectional race and will be counted to be in the top five. Ethan Farrell and Daithan Narayanan will lead a pack of eight runners that will challenge for top five spots. More news |
