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DeKalb Barbs
Coach: Mike Wolf (24th season)
2020 record: Third at regional meet, 12th at sectional meet
Top returners: Riley Newport, jr.; Alex Boyden, sr.
Key newcomers: Jacob Barraza, fr.; Nathan Tumminaro, fr.; Chris Thunder, fr.; Sam DeLa Cruz, fr.
Worth noting: Newport and Boyden will be the top two runners for the Barbs with a young team filling out the roster. They have a strong group of freshmen to go along with an improving sophomore group.
”Our depth has improved this year with a strong freshman class and noticeable improvement from our returning sophomores,” Wolf said. “We have many newcomers with a mix of strong veterans which will make for a great season.”
Genoa-Kingston Cogs
Coach: Michael Franckowiak (Second season)
2020 record: 11th in BNC
Top returners: Nathan Brening, jr.; Zac Neblock, jr.; Hawke Mitchell, so.
Key newcomers: AJ Seager, fr.
Worth noting: The Cogs are a young team with no seniors on the varsity roster. The majority of the team is made of sophomores and juniors who improved on their times from last year when they finished last in the conference. They have nowhere to go but up.
“The team is looking forward to a challenging year in improving times and placement in the conference meet,” Franckowiak said. “[We’re] also looking to place at the regional meet.”
Indian Creek Timberwolves
Coach: Jody Olive (fourth season)
Top returners: Max Sanchez, sr.
Key newcomers: Gage Gibson, jr
Worth noting: The Timberwolves will be a small team again this year with only two runners, Gibson and Sanchez. Gibson has been strong early in the season despite his lack of experience in the sport.
”The strength of the boys team will be consistency in training,” Olive said. “They are improving weekly.”
Kaneland Knights
Coach: Chad Clarey (27th season)
2020 record: First in I-8, first in regional, second at sectional
Top returners: Logan Cunz, sr.; Nolan Allen, sr.; Christian Phillips, sr.
Key newcomers: Evan Nosek, fr.; David Valkanov, so.
Worth noting: The Knights lost their top three runners from last year but return another three runners from that team that placed second at sectionals. Because of last year’s state meet cancellation the Knights finally will defend their 2019 state title. They still have three members of that team who were freshmen when they won.
“Things are starting to gel as runners are getting a glimpse of what they can do individually and as a unit,” Clarey said. “We are excited to see where our seniors take us.”
Sycamore Spartans
Coach: Mike Lambdin (23rd season)
2020 record: second in I-8, fourth in regional, 10th in sectional
Top returners: Nick Kocher, sr.; Ethan Solfisburg, jr.; Naif Al Harby, so.
Key newcomers: Phoenix Calabrese, fr.; Corey Goff, fr.; Landon Taylor,fr.; Kaiden Von Schnase, fr.
Worth noting: The top three runners of Kocher, Solfisburg and Al Harby will be a tough group to beat.
The Spartans have a strong senior class leading the team along with a group of freshmen coming in who won a middle school sectional. The Spartans will be strong from top to bottom this season.
”The success of the team is going to depend on the development of our four through seven runners,” Lambdin said. “We will need them to close the gap on our top 3 guys”