Amboy Clippers
Coach: Bob Halberg (5th year)
Returning state qualifiers: Senior – Lorraine Stamberger (800); Juniors – Ashley McCoy (200, 400 relay), Rhonda Payne (400 relay), Whitney Schultz (400 relay)
She’s back: Senior – Laura Stouffer (sprints, mid-distance); Juniors – Rebecca Kaufman (sprints), Alex Trost (middle distance), Sierra Vaessen (sprints), Kayli Witzleb (distance); Sophomores – Heather Becker (distance), Amber Dannis (sprints), Stephanie Ridge (sprints), Autumn Smith (throws), Merideth Stamberger (middle distance).
She’s new: Senior – Hayli Schultz (sprints, jumps); Sophomores – Maranda Kilday (sprints), Kelsie Potochnay (sprints, hurdles); Freshmen – Alexis Blackburn (middle distance, hurdles), Dannelle Corcoran (sprints, jumps), Hannah McCoy (sprints, jumps), Macaela McCoy (middle distance), Laura Rieker (sprints, jumps), Ebony Velez (sprints, jumps)
She’s gone: Courtney Olson, Erin Fassig
Outlook: The Clippers will be strong in the sprints and should put together some solid relays. Numbers are a little down, which will hurt Amboy in bigger meets.
AFC Raiders
Coach: Shea Carpenter (1st year)
Returning state qualifiers: none
She's back: Senior – Grace Kennay (300 hurdles, 100, 200, 400 relay); Junior – Sarah Everson (800, 1,600, 400 relay); Sophomore – Devyn Absher (long jump, 100, 200)
She's new: Seniors – Amber King (100, 200, long jump, 400 relay), Stephanie Tulk (100, long jump, 400 relay)
She’s gone: none
Outlook: In the first year of an organized team, improvement is the name of the game for the Raiders. The three girls who competed last year are looking to qualify for state; the two newcomers, with very little if any track experience, will look to get better throughout the year and pick up a few wins along the way.
Bureau Valley Storm
Coach: Dale Donner (27th season)
Returning state qualifier: Junior – Kimi Sanden (800)
She’s back: Seniors – Amber Day (sprints), Jessie Jacobson (sprints, jumps), Jamie Jacobson (sprints, high jump)
She’s new: Senior – Paige Woolley (hurdles, high jumps, middle distance); Freshman – Katlin Johnson (sprints)
She’s gone: Meghan Mussche, Melanie Thompson (SQ - Shot, Discus)
Outlook: The Storm have an influx of underclassmen with 18 freshmen and sophomores filling out the lineup. Sanden will be shooting for a return trip to state.
Dixon Duchesses
Coach: Lindsy Stumpenhorst (4th season)
Returning state qualifiers: Senior – Chelsea Sondgeroth (3,200); Juniors – Liz Greenwalt (Pole vault); Brittany Schwarz (800); Tiara Sondgeroth (1,600); Haley Thorpe (3,200)
She’s back: Seniors – Marcella Flowers (jumps), Bethany Jordan (pole vault); Junior – Alicia Brown (long jump, sprints); Catie Cox (high jump, sprinter); Sophomore – Brittany Considine (sprints)
She’s new: Senior – Brittlyn Dillow (sprints, long jump); Junior – Karly Koch (throws); Freshmen – Brooke Bailey (middle distance); Lexy Duncan (long jump)
She’s gone: Liz Hillard
Outlook: The Duchesses strength will start with distance runners coming of a strong cross country season. The addition of some talented freshmen will make Dixon a challenger in the Northern Illinois Big 12.
Erie-Prophetstown
Panthers
Coach: Don Robinson (34th season)
Returning state qualifiers: Junior – Tess Burns (1,600 relay); Sophomore – Riley Walters (1,600 relay)
She’s back: Seniors – Annie Bauer (sprints), Ellie Francis (middle distance), Kelsey LaBar (pole vault), Kara Snowden (sprints), Rebecca Steffes (triple jump, hurdles), Katie Wetzell (discus); Juniors – Desiree Adams (jumps, sprints), Danielle Cooney (relays, 800), Paige Deyo (sprints), Sheena Arnolts (hurdles); Sophomores – Erin Bowling (distance), Emily Howard (200), Cassie Reiley (middle distance), Kylie Rogers (distance), Paige Rus (jumps), Emma Wilson (high jump), Katelyn Wright (sprints)
She’s new: Junior – Kali Unruh (pole vault, long jump, sprints); Sophomore – Tori Young (hurdles); Freshmen – Peyton Achs (sprints, discus), Courtney Cobert (sprints), Marisela Herrera (hurdles), Karli Redell (high jump, sprints), Brooke Remley (distance), Karlie Stafford (sprints), Cydney Westen (400)
She’s gone: Kari Anderson, Katelynn Blasdell (SQ-Discus); Caly Dessing, Barbara Duffy (SQ- 1,600 relay); Katelyn Garrison (SQ - Pole Vault); Megan McCullough, Stephanie Patton (SQ - 1,600 relay), Jessica Unruh
Outlook: Depth is the key for the Panthers, as 47 girls fill out the roster. By filling every event, E-P’s goal will be to place in them all by the time the conference meet rolls around to amass enough points to win a Three Rivers title.
Fulton Steamers
Coach: Jason Snyder
Returning state qualifiers: none
She’s back: Senior – Elaina Raab (throws)
She’s new: Amy Barzgari (middle distance)
She’s gone: Allison DeWeerdt
Outlook: Low numbers will make team success impossible, but there may be individual glory. If Raab can return fully from injury, she should compete for a spot at state in the shot.
Milledgeville-Eastland
Missiles
Coach: Jason Wroble (1st season)
Returning state qualifiers: Senior – Brittny Olson (Long jump)
She’s back: Seniors – Kaitlyn Bissell (middle distance, sprints, jumps); Katie Hutchinson (middle distance, sprints, jumps); Juniors – Kayla Barnes (distance); Sophomores – Darien Coverdill (hurdles, sprints); Kimberly Johnson (sprints, hurdles), Sarah Leif (sprints), Peyton Sturtevant (sprints)
She’s gone: None
Outlook: The Missiles are young, but have strong senior leadership in Bissel, Olson and Hutchinson. The team should be strong in the sprint relays and jumps.
Newman Comets
Coach: Val Gassman (11th season)
Returning state qualifiers: Senior – Sarah Kapp (long jump, 100)
She’s back: Seniors – Hannah Papoccia (hurdles, sprints); Juniors – Alyssa Gallentine (sprints), Sophomores – Jessie Ackert (sprints), Sydney Klein (shot put, distance), Rachel Hageman (sprints, high jump), Kenzie Sterk (long jump, sprints)
She’s new: Junior – Anna Grove (sprints, triple jump); Sophomore – Hannah Erickson (high jump, sprints); Freshmen – Bree deLong (sprinter, triple jump); Katie Gray (sprints); Rachel Grennan (sprints); Kayci Howell (sprints); Sarah Nysather (400, 800); Megan Rosengren (mid-distance); Allison Shipman (sprints); Katie Sztochmal (sprints)
She’s gone: Breanne Brousil, Nikki Nash
Outlook: The Comets have more depth in the field event, which should make them more competitive in meets. Kapp is eyeing a top-3 state finish in the long jump.
Oregon Hawks
Coach: Lynn Ahlgrim (1st season)
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors – Kim Briggs (3,200 relay), Krista Greene (Pole vault), Sara Jordan (High jump); Junior – Kate Groenhagen (1,600 relay, 3,200 relay), Maisie Mahoney (400, 1,600 relay); Sophomore – Taylor Freed (3,200 relay), Samantha Judge (1,600 relay), Jenn Rogers (3,200 relay)
She’s back: Senior – Abigail Peterson (3,200); Junior – Briana Ahlgrim (pole vault, triple jump); Sophomore – Ryan Starkey (pole vault, sprints)
She’s new: Freshmen – Kelci Foss (3,200); Sam Lambrigtsen (800 relay, long jump, sprints); Cydney Long (hurldes, 200, 800 relay); McCahl Sanders (3,200 relay).
She’s gone: Lynea Axelson (SQ - 800, 1, 600 relay), Kelsy Janssen, Jennifer White, Karly Koch
Outlook: The Hawks have a good mix of veterans with state experience and young talented runners. If health problems stay away, Oregon should send a solid number of girls back to Charleston.
Polo-Forreston Marcos
Coach: Terry Jenkins
Returning state qualifiers: none
She’s back: Seniors – Sara Bartnick (triple jump), Krysten Maavich (hurdles), Makenzi Wolf (triple jump, long jump); Juniors – Morgan Donaldson (sprints), Ashley Haye (middle distance), Stephanie Massey (sprints), Holly Scholl (high jump, hurdles); Sophomores – Brecken Albrecht (sprints), Ellen Cavanaugh (hurdles), Kelsey Taylor (hurdles)
She’s new: Seniors – Abby Cavazos, Carrie Deets, Pam Plachno, Kendra Rinehart, Dakota Sorn, Cassidy Terry, Kortney Wittmer; Juniors – Ashley Beggs, Lydia Bendorf, Erica Boren, Sabrina Huisheere, Taylor Kessinger, Nolena Rissman, Jenny Pausch; Sophomores – Mykil Baker, Brianna Bendorf, Rita Prendice; Freshmen – Briget Barry, Sydney Brown, Baylee Hammond, Casi Kurschner, Allie Reeder, Sammy Rhodes, Petyon Taylor, Vanessa Vock, Taylor Woodin
She’s gone: Kristi Naylon (SQ-Discus)
Outlook: Numbers are good for the new co-op of Polo-Forreston. A little work and the Marcos should be competitive in the NUIC and at the sectional.
Rock Falls Rockets
Coach: Chris Lacy (7th season)
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors – Maryssa Nusbaum (800 relay, 1,600 relay), Bre Richardson (400 relay, 800 relay, 1,600 relay); Junior – Savanah Davis (400 relay, 1,600 relay); Sophomores – Lindsey Crow (3,200 relay); Paige Davis (1,600, 3,200 relay), Shasta Day (100, 400 relay, 800 relay), Aubree Johnson (3,200 relay); Morgan Mammosser (1,600 relay)
She’s back: Junior – Lauren Haas (throws); Sophomores – Cierra Wilder (jumps), Jessica Wind (middle distance)
She’s new: Junior – Paige Wade (long sprints); Freshman – Katie Anderson (distance)
She’s gone: Kimarri Campbell (SQ - 100, 200, 400 relay, 800 relay); Aubrey Dahler, Nicole Ellis, Lindy Holcomb, Cynthia Vasquez (SQ-800, 3,200 relay)
Outlook: The Rockets will be looking to achieve three goals: win conference, qualify as many kids as possible for state, then have as many of those qualifiers as they can competing on Saturday at the state meet. A lot of state experience forms a strong core, and Rock Falls looks to keep building on the foundation of recent success.
Sterling Golden Warriors
Coach: Tyler Gaumer (4th season)
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors – Kaylen Palmer (3,200 relay): Nicole Renner (400 relay, 800 relay), Carly Willman (400 relay, 800 relay); Juniors – Mariza Trancoso (400 relay), Sarah Wolber (3,200 relay); Sophomore – Emily Crossley (3,200 relay); Lauren Zuidema (Pole vault)
She’s back: Seniors – Emily Porter (pole vault), Sarah Schneiderbauer (sprints), Alisha Weir (high jump, sprints); Juniors – Thalia Arrellano (throws), Lauren Vos (high jump, hurdles); Sophomores – Krista Loos (hurdles, high jump, sprints), Peyton Cater (sprints, jumps)
She’s gone: Kairee Brown (800 relay); Mary Rose Dukelow (3,200 relay); Jackie Koster (SQ - 400 relay, 800 relay)
Outlook: The Warriors are ready to answer the call of the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference. While Sterling may not have individual stars, they have a solid nucleus of consistent scorers, which should make them competitive in most meets. Look for the Sterling relay teams to round into shape right in time for sectionals.
West Carroll Thunder
Coach: Dave Baisden (4th season)
Returning state qualifiers: none
She’s back: Senior – Sarah Boyer (800, 1,600); Aliesha Handel (sprints, long jumps); Maria Timm (800, 1,600); Sophomores – Samantha Boyer (hurdles, sprint relays); Liz Conroy (sprints), Ciara Rodriguez (3,200); Kaylee Vos (hurdles, triple jump); Megan Wilkinson (sprint relays)
She’s new: Junior – Monika Raymond (middle distance); Freshmen – Trelawney Baisden (distance), Lindsay Dauphin (800, 1,600)
She’s gone: Kara Durward, Becca Fritz
Outlook: The Thunder have increased from 14 to 20, allowing them to fill every event, with two athletes in some. West Carroll’s strength should be in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relays. Sarah Boyer may be the best bet to qualify for state from the Thunder.