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FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE
Cary-Grove
Coach: Layne Holter (17th season)
Last season’s finish: Eighth in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Alex Ratkovich, sr.; Kyle Adams, sr.; Jack Adams, sr.; Tommy Williams, sr.; Derek Williams, so.; Alex Sepeczi, so.
Top new runners: Juan Camargo, so.; Nathan Kutok, fr.; Maxum Caesar, fr.; Adam Caesar, fr.
Worth noting: Ratkovich made a big jump last season and finished eighth in the FVC Meet. … The Trojans return their top five runners from last season, so they should be more competitive this fall.
Crystal Lake Central
Coach: Bill Eschman (23rd season)
Last season’s finish: Fifth in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Cole Barkocy, sr.; Weston Sterchi, sr.; Brandon Tomasello, sr.; Tyler Tomasello, sr.; Josh Johnson, jr.; Justin Jackson, sr.; Jack Flynn, so.
Top new runners: Adam Zentner, so.; Gio Macias, sr.
Worth noting: Seniors Barkocy and Sterchi have been the Tigers’ leaders the past two seasons and are back. They were in the top 11 at the FVC Meet and often flip-flopped week-to-week. Eschman sees a lot of potential, although many of the runners, other than Barkocy and Sterchi, were running their first full summer of workouts. … “If they learn to be a team, they could be pretty good,” Eschman said. “It’s still new to a lot of them, but they ran a lot of miles. It’s a change for them. They haven’t been relied on too much (at the varsity level).”
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Rich Eschman (24th season)
Last season’s finish: Seventh in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Jon Prus, sr.; Jack Becker, jr.; Ryan Foster, jr.; Alex Foydl, sr.; Miles Foydl, sr.; Matt Van Witzenburg, jr.; Eugene Felix, sr.
Top new runners: Joe Kovack, sr.; Clayton Pfeifer, so.
Worth noting: Becker suffered through injuries last season, but Prus flourished and finished 28th in the Class 3A state meet, missing all-state by three spots. … Becker, Prus and Foster return as the top three runners from last year and could make the Gators a team to deal with in the FVC Meet. … Eschman was impressed with Miles Foydl’s track season and expects him to be the No. 4 runner.
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Tyler Carlson (fourth season)
Last year’s finish: Ninth in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Anthony Hurgoi, jr.; Joey DeVita, jr.; Mark Jensen, so.; Danny Price, jr.
Top new runners: Jake Olsen, sr.
Worth noting: The Chargers graduated a strong senior group, but Carlson likes the way last year’s juniors have approached the season. He feels the summer was a positive one, and they should have a good front pack.
Hampshire
Coach: Dennis Wozniak (ninth season)
Last season’s finish: 10th in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Jake Oury, sr.; Will Matushek, sr.
Top new runner: Jeremy Horn, sr.
Worth noting: Oury (ninth) and Matushek (19th) were in the top 20 at last year’s FVC Meet. … Oury finished 31st in the Class 2A state meet, missing all-state honors by six places. He will finish his career as one of the Whip-Purs’ best boys distance runners.
Huntley
Coach: Matt Kaplan (ninth season)
Last season’s finish: Second in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Matt Kapolnek, sr.; Joey Ozzauto, jr.; Jadon Conroy, so.; Jeremy Roe, so.; Raf Rivera, sr.; Mitch Johnson, sr.
Top new runners: Ian Geisler, fr.; Hunter Dawson, fr.; Dylan Nicosia, so.
Worth noting: The Red Raiders took second in the FVC Meet to Grayslake Central, the eventual Class 2A state champion, but Keagan Smith, Seth Conroy and Mike Grocholski have graduated. Those three were in the top 17 at the FVC Meet, and Smith was a Class 3A all-stater for three seasons. All are running in college. … Matt Kapolnek, Joey Ozzauto and Jadon Conroy are the top returning runners for Huntley after running in the top seven last year. Kapolnek was 29th in the FVC, Ozzauto was 32nd. … Kaplan is looking forward to seeing some new runners take the challenge with their opportunities to run varsity.
Jacobs
Coach: Kevin Christian (10th season)
Last season’s finish: Fourth in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Garrett Brenizer, sr.; Zach Albrecht, so.; Jacob Melgosa, jr.; Lorenz Sapanhila, jr.; Jackson Gehr, jr.
Top new runners: Brett Bognar, so.; Brandon Cole, so.; Mark Lemke, so.; Zeke Valdez, fr.
Worth noting: Brenzier and Albrecht finished 22nd and 24th in the FVC Meet last season, and Christian likes their improvement through the spring track and field season. With Albrecht’s progress in the 1,600 meters, Christian thinks he can run with the top groups. … The key for the Golden Eagles will be the younger runners Bognar, Cole and Lemke, all of whom Christian said have “tremendous futures.”
McHenry
Coach: Kevin Horst (first season)
Last season’s finish: Third in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Jacob DeWitt, sr.; Maki Mohr, jr.; Cole Overbey, sr.; Andrew Pilat, jr.
Top new runner: Dylan Jensen, fr.
Worth noting: The Warriors finished third in last year’s FVC Meet without Mohr, who had been one of their top runners, but was injured. DeWitt took 13th in the FVC Meet and returns with Mohr to lead the team. … The Warriors are trying to make it to the Class 3A state meet for the third consecutive year.
Prairie Ridge
Coach: Judd Shutt (12th season)
Last season’s finish: Sixth in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Filip Pajak, sr.; Mike Ostrow, sr.; James Lasak, jr; David Tulke, sr.; Jacob Hanacek, sr.
Worth noting: The Wolves will have Pajak, who finished fourth in the Class 2A state meet, to lead the way for a strong returning core. Ostrow was the No. 2 runner last year. … Shutt wants his runners to race more aggressively than a year ago, and with the experience, that should happen. … “Our success will hinge on their ability to drive this team and make every practice important,” Shutt said. The Wolves look like they can contend for the FVC title.
KISHWAUKEE RIVER CONFERENCE
Harvard
Coach: Morgan Hamilton (first season)
Last season’s finish: 10th in Big Northern Conference Meet
Top returning runners: Jacob Cobb, sr.; Saul Esquivel, sr.; Miguel Mercado, sr.; Reid Stricker, so.
Top new runners: J.J. Lich, fr.; Levi Austin, fr.
Worth noting: Cobb led the Hornets last season, taking 36th in the BNC Meet. Stricker was 54th as a freshman. … Hamilton sees a lot of progress after the summer training.
Johnsburg
Coach: Chris Setzler (21st season)
Last season’s finish: Third in BNC Meet
Top returning runners: Tim Bertulis, jr.; A.J. Betancourt, sr.
Top new runners: Ben Guzick, fr.
Worth noting: Johnsburg was ninth in the Class 1A state meet last season after taking seventh a year earlier. No. 1 runner Matt Stelmasek took fifth at state and was runner-up at the BNC Meet but has graduated. … Bertulis was 11th at the BNC Meet and should be the Skyhawks’ top runner. … The numbers are small, but Setzler wants to keep the streak of state qualifying alive and thinks Bertulis has a chance at all-state honors.
Marengo
Coach: Brian Tveter (first season)
Last season’s finish: Fifth in BNC Meet
Top returning runners: Jadon Kozin, jr.; Alex Leonard jr., Cameron VanDerLinden sr.
Top new runners: Andrew Millard, fr.
Worth noting: Roster size could be a problem, as the Indians added only Millard this season. … Leonard was 26th in the BNC Meet last season and is Marengo’s top returning runner.
Richmond-Burton
Coach: Ryan Carlson (third season)
Last season’s finish: Fourth in the BNC Meet
Top returning runners: John Kellum, sr.; Ryan Hommowun, sr.; Chris Williams, sr.; Nick Koschak, sr.; Nick DeGroot, jr.
Top new runners: Thomas Koschak, so.; Chase Duncan, so.
Worth noting: Carlson hopes the Rockets can build on their success from last season, led by a strong group of seniors – Hommowun, Kellum, Williams and Nick Koschak. … “We need to stay healthy, as we lost a couple key pieces toward the end of last season,” Carlson said.
Woodstock
Coach: Jay Fuller (third season)
Last season’s finish: 11th in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Julio Arellano, sr.; Anthony Thomas, jr.; Jarod Baker, sr.; Justin Kucharski, sr.; Carter Hanse, jr.; Cameron Brand, sr.
Top new runners: Adam Thomas, fr.; Andy Princer, so.; Diego Cruz, so.; Paul Ferguson, so.
Worth noting: The Blue Streaks are on the younger side this year after graduating a large group of seniors, most notably Luke Beattie, who is running at Utah State. … “They are excited to compete for the title in our new conference,” Fuller said.
Woodstock North
Coach: Cas Creighton (third season)
Last season’s finish: 13th in FVC Meet
Top returning runners: Brandan Amann, sr; Braeden Given, jr.; Ryan Hanson, sr.; Luke Duenas, so.
Top new runners: Aidan Filetti, fr.; Jameson Teuber, fr.
Worth noting: Filetti will help the Thunder right away as a freshman. “We look forward to seeing Aidan race,: Creighton said. “He had a successful middle school career and we are excited to have him.”
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Marian Central
Coach: Amy Beattie (third season)
Last season’s finish: Eighth in ESCC Meet
Top returning runners: Clay Gulbrandsen, sr.; Tyler Gillum, jr.; Eli Jankowski, jr.; Michael Morehead, jr.; Jack Bubala, so.; Spencer Hines, so.; Derek Lee, so.
Top new runners: Nicholas Shepard, so.; Gilbert Duran, fr.; Ryan Jones, fr.; Andrew Pascente, fr.
Worth noting: The Hurricanes graduated their four top runners and have nine new runners, eight of whom are freshmen. … Beattie sees some talent in the young runners and is looking for a strong top seven. … Marian drops to compete in Class 1A this season, which will help come the postseason.
– Joe Stevenson
joestevenson@shawmedia.com