Beecher's Joaquin seeking redemption

If life is all about having good timing, then Beecher senior cross country runner Jordan Joaquin is ready to corner the market.

After all, he does deserve a break.

A year ago, Joaquin was the No. 3 runner on the state's top-ranked team in Class 1A. Halfway through the three-mile race at Peoria's Detweiller Park, Joaquin stumbled, pulling on the back of the runner in front of him. Stunningly, he was disqualified and Beecher ended up sixth in the team standings.

Fast forward to 2010. The Bobcats are again ranked No. 1 in 1A entering Saturday's state finals. And while most casual observers will be checking in on Sandburg phenom Lukas Verzbicas' run at Craig Virgin's state record in Class 3A, Joaquin's luck - or the lack of it - again is prominently figuring in the 1A story line.

When playing soccer in gym class on Oct. 28, Joaquin was kicked in the face and suffered a cut that took four stitches to close. Nonetheless, he finished 16th overall at the St. Teresa Sectional, covering 3 miles in 16 minutes, 19 seconds.

It's safe to say he thinks he could have done better.

"I wasn't able to eat and lost some pounds before the sectional race," he said. "But I'm eating again and feeling a lot better. I'm ready to go."

So is the entire Beecher team, which despite not running its best team race still prevailed by 38 points over Monticello at the sectional.

"We didn't do the job last year, but now we're a better and smarter team," said senior Griffin Nykaza, whose 15:20 sectional effort was second to sophomore brother Grant's winning 15:13. "We're taking nothing for granted.

"Anything can happen at state, which we found out last year. It's our job to go out and run our race and not let anything bother us."

Griffin and senior classmates Joaquin, Matt Hensen and Tim Johnson are ready to go out on a high note. Juniors Aaron Borgman and Mike Polzin complete the Bobcats lineup.

"Matt really stepped up for us at the sectional," Griffin said of Hensen, who went from being the Bobcats' No. 7 to No. 5.

Beecher is looking to win its first state title and the school's first hardware since getting back-to-back trophies in 1978 (second place) and '79 (third).

"Our father (Henry, Beecher's assistant coach) was on the '78 team," Griffin said. "He's told us the stories about that meet and how bad they wanted to win state.

"All we can do is put last year behind us, learn from the experience and do what we're supposed to. We don't need anyone to go there and try to be a hero."

While Beecher hunts for gold, the Lockport girls are on a high in 3A after taking second to powerful Downers Grove North at the Lockport Sectional.

"I will personally be happy with any finish in the top 10, but our kids will have to run a good race to be there," Porters coach Evon Schlotter said. "We'll need to be at our best. If any team falls short of its expected mark we need to be the first ones there to take their place.

"My hope for the girls is that they end with their best times. Anything beyond that goal is an extra."

Leading the Porters will be junior Megan O'Brien, who took fifth at state in 2009 and was third at the recent sectional.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.