Beacon-News girls cross-country preview

Updated: August 30, 2011 8:24PM

Aurora Central
Catholic

Coach: Troy Kerber

Top returners: Seniors Paulina Morales, Amanda Contreras. Juniors Jenna Koerner, Alex CeCraene.

Key newcomers: Freshmen Emily Ziegler, Cici Crown, Lisa Logan.

Outlook: Don’t expect the Class 2A Chargers to come out too fast too soon. “I think we’ll start the season slow and by the end of the year, we’ll be where we want to be,” Kerber said. Koerner is the top returnee after she qualified for state and finished 38th overall. Team captain Contreras, when at 100 percent, will also be near the top as soon as she recovers from an offseason surgery.

Aurora Christian

Coach: Pricilla Copple

Top returners: Senior Sarina Olsen. Junior Anna Pape.

Key newcomers: Juniors Teresa Murray, Caroline Henrichs. Freshmen Abbey Abbtacola, Becca Wert.

Outlook: The Eagles had one of their top runners last year, Teagan Terando, transfer to Oswego. Her departure, plus a limited turnout this year, leaves them a bit down this year. “We’ll be short without Teagan, but hopefully the others will step up,” Copple said. “The experience of our top two girls will help.” The top two are Olsen and Pape, who are both strong and ready for a great season.

Batavia

Coach: Chad Hillman

Top returners: Seniors Jackie Bellandini, Amanda Palmquist, Hailey Clabough, Abby Schulz. Juniors Rachel Spalding, Gracie Ball, C.J. Iwanicki, Sarah Ganster. Sophomores Jessica Roach, Lia Kruse, Aniata Wolff.

Key newcomers: Freshmen Alicia Grant, Lexi Slome, Jenny Muehlbauer, Amanda Rempert.

Outlook: Hillman, who has coached the Bulldogs since 2002, said this bunch may be one of the best since then. “This is a focused group who wants to get back to how we were a handful of years ago,” Hillman said. “We feel good about it. I’m excited to see what they can do.” The 11 back are the most Hillman has ever had return — no seniors were on last year’s team, but seven total are on this year, led by Bellandini, Palmquist, Schulz and Calbough. “We have good senior leadership,” said Hillman.

East Aurora

Coach: Shane Gillespie

Top returners: Juniors Vanessa Martinez, Alondra Santiago, Klaryssa Arch, Karina Garcia, Andrea Garcia.

Top newcomers: None listed.

Outlook: There are no seniors on the Class 3A Tomcats this year, but there is a great core group of five juniors back from last year’s team. Gillespie hopes to have at least one qualify for the sectional meet. The last one to do that was Martinez’ older sister, Ana, who did it three years ago. Regardless, he’s glad the program is expanding. Twenty-five girls are in the entire program. “The big thing with the ladies is they are growing,” Gillespie said. “The girls are talking about it and some are coming out and giving it a try.” Gillespie said Arch is the Tomcat to watch, despite spending half of last season out with an injury.

Geneva

Coach: Bob Thomson

Top returners: Seniors Cory McLauchlan, Kristi Shogren, Angie Crowe. Junior Mackenzie Williams. Sophomores Sydney Geils, Kathryn Adelman.

Key newcomers: Sophomores Katie Anderson, Ana Samples.

Outlook: The Kelly Whitley and Co. era ended last year when she and five other key seniors graduated from the team that finished fourth at the Class 3A state meet — a place the Vikings have been quite familiar with. They’ve made it to state four of the past six years. “We’ve had some good teams,” Thomson said. “Those (seniors from last year) had a solid four years. We’ll miss them, but we know more success is on the way.” Williams returns with the most experience, but the other returning runners experienced state, so they know what it’s like to be there.

IMSA

Coach: Will and Elizabeth Navis

Top returners: Senior Hannah Miller. Junior Lydia Auch, Christy Darabaris, Sandy Perez, Natalie Runkle, Caitlin Walczyk.

Key newcomers: Sophomores Eric Ferriter, Becky Kleina, Anna Kryczka, Xochitl Menchaca, Zoe Phillips.

Outlook: The Class 2A Titans’ goals are simple — repeat as Northeastern Athletic Conference champs, have five all-conference runners, improve on last year’s regional showing (they went seventh at Sycamore last year) and qualify at least two runners at the sectional meet. There was success last year, so there should be some again this year. “This is a team to watch,” said Will Navis. “It’s going to be a great season.” IMSA is deep with six returners, including Runkle and Auch, a pair of juniors who qualified for the sectional meet last year.

Kaneland

Coach: Doug Eckert

Top returners: Seniors Jen Howland, Carolina Tovar. Juniors Ashley Castellanos, Abby Dodis, Maggie Brundige. Sophomores Sydney Strang, Anna Piazza.

Key newcomers: Freshmen Victoria Clinton, Aislinn Ludwig.

Outlook: Longtime coach Eckert retired from teaching last year at Kaneland, but he’s back for his 25th season with the Class 2A Knights. Last year’s team was plagued with ailments — Strang, Dodis and Brundige all dealt with different injuries. If everyone stays in good shape this year, this squad will be competitive, especially with Howland back. She is a tri-athlete who placed 51st at state last year. “We are expecting a lot of big things from her,” Eckert said. The newcomer Clinton may challenge Howland at the top spot.

Metea Valley

Coach: Joy Gonzalez

Top returners: Seniors Lauren Lindholm, Amanda Levin. Junior Kathleen Adolf. Sophomore Kendall Cast.

Key newcomers: Freshman Alexis Galis.

Outlook: The Class 3A Mustangs did big things in the young program last year. They went fifth at the West Aurora Regional, which allowed them to qualify for the sectional meet. The team wants more this year. “Every day, we are getting stronger,” Gonzalez said. “It’s really refreshing. This is definitely a team who will work hard all season.” Runners like Lindholm and Levin, the top two seniors, have been with Gonzalez since the days at Waubonsie Valley. Lindholm is looking to be the No. 1 runner and Levin has made huge strides since last year. Adolf currently holds the fastest girls cross country time in school history (18:36).

Oswego

Coach: Eric Simon

Top returners: Seniors Caroline Skibinski, Riley Vann, Ytai Flores, Lauren Choi. Juniors Kelsey Hjorth, Allison Darby, Ashley Golembeski, Alex Choi.

Key newcomers: Sophomore Teagan Terando. Freshmen Allyson Simon, Kayla Perez, Carly McClernon.

Outlook: The Panthers have a best-ever 42 girls in the program this year. With that, Simon hopes to increase the success of the team. “The expectations are high,” he said. “We are hoping to make huge steps this year. We’ll wait and see how we evolve thoughtout the year.” Hjorth is the only state quailfier from last year, as she placed 35th overall in the Class 3A meet. “It’s nice to have someone whose been to state and can raise the standard and competition level,” Simon said of Hjorth.

Oswego East

Coach: Stephanie Scapino

Top returners: Seniors Ariel Michalek, Veronica Reyes. Juniors Andrea Holm, Hayley Zweig, Courtney Egofske, Yesenia Felix. Sophomores Michelle Borcycki, Colleen Hill.

Key newcomers: Senior Emily Engel. Freshmen Katie Warren, Rose Amoeda, Hannah Baur.

Outlook: The Wolves have a big advantage already with Michalek on their team. She won the Class 3A state meet last year with a time of 16:32. Scapino, however, refuses to put any pressure on one of the best runners around. “I don’t make predictions for any of my athletes, other than I expect their best effort in each race,” she said. Oswego East can be described as a large and young team still working on how to come together when it comes time to races. “I expect we will develop and grow as a team,” Scapino said. “Obviously winning is great, but it is more important we give our best (individual) performance and work to achieve new goals with each race.”

Plano

Coach: Matt Johnson

Top returners: Senior Lizy Urbina.

Key newcomers: Junior Danielle Buchannon. Sophomores Melissa Mota, Karina Ales. Freshman Adrianna Vargas.

Outlook: Class 1A Plano took a big hit even before the season started when Urbina found out she was out for the season with an injury. The lone senior, however, will stay with the team to provide leadership. The Reapers may need it, considering she was the only one back from last year. Only four other girls are on the team this year and they are all new. Regardless, Johnson is optimistic for the four healthy girls. “They are a young group, but they get along well and work together in practice,” he said. “They don’t complain about the workouts, they are fun to coach and they have shown a lot of potential.”

Rosary

Coach: Vic Mead

Top returners: Seniors Hanna Wulbert, Melissa Lifka, Helen Offerman. Juniors Kara Kalisz, Allie Bennett, Courtney Cox. Sophomores Elizabeth Nasharr, Abby Hammer, Abby Michael.

Key newcomers: Freshmen Marie Whitte, Mallory Rettenmeier, Gina Kilbride.

Outlook: Mead thinks this year’s Class 2A Royals resemble last year’s Royals, despite them losing their top runner (Kelly Kieffer) to graduation and having a promising returning sophomore, Emma Knudtson, out for the season with an injury. “We have girls who will fill those spots,” said Mead. Kalisz will most likely take the top spot with Nasharr in at No. 2. After that, Mead said, is a pretty tight pack of runners, including Bennett, Cox and the three new freshmen. “It’s been pretty good so far,” Mead said.

Sandwich

Coach: Jeff Smith

Top returners: Seniors Gail Rogers, Kassie Knur, Taylor Ciceraro, Megan Olson, Bri Miller. Juniors Delaney McGuire, Shelby Lauzon. Sophomore Santana Clark.

Key newcomers: Seniors Mel Emma, Becca Latham. Junior Tor DeFily. Sophomores Bre Dallen, Nic Frasier, Skye Jones. Freshmen Rose DiFily, Bris Velasco, Emma Belmore, Aubrey Kelson.

Outlook: The Class 2A Indians are poised to have one of the strongest teams they’ve ever had, thanks to the number of girls in the program (18) and a nice mix of returning and new girls. “We have some nice talent and a lot more depth than we are used to,” Smith said. “We are very excited to see what this girls team can develop into. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of experience, and we are hoping that combination will come together nicely throughout the season.”

Somonauk

Coach: Elizabeth Ness

Top returners: Seniors Megan Costanzo, Jaime Towle. Juniors Emily Clark, Alyssa Nielsen.

Key newcomers: Sophomore Lauren Zaeske. Freshman Amanda Bentley.

Outlook: There’s only six Bobcats total, and Ness appreciates each and every one of them. “I couldn’t be more proud of them,” she said. “They have tons of potential.” Ness has at least one from each grade and already, Class 1A Somonauk has had success in meets this year, despite battling injuries. Ness is well-aware of that and has taken that in consideration of the teams’ workouts for now. “We have a nice delicate balance of training, but not training too hard,” she said.

Waubonsie Valley

Coach: Liz Kolkay

Top returners: Juniors Ashley Brunder, Kristina Chapman, Lauren Newmyer, Elizabeth Poznik, Oksana Tupikov. Sophomore Allison Wilson.

Key newcomers: Freshmen Schuyler Staub, Julianna Dantzer.

Outlook: The Class 3A Warriors will start the season building off their top three juniors — Brunder, Chapman and Newmyer — who all qualified for the sectional meet last season. The team may be young, but the energy is positive. “Our philosophy is that all the runners on the team have a purpose,” Kolkay said. “They all help each other reach the goals we want this season. We really haven’t had to stress (the philosophy) so far this season because they already know it. They are having fun.” Kolkay said the Warriors have a strong work ethic, and one of the team goals is to make it to the sectional as a whole squad.

West Aurora

Coach: Angela Cassetto

Top returners: Juniors Rachel Cavender, Nicky Bartell, Claire Loran.

Key newcomers: Senior Jessica Nagel. Junior Dezirae Maffit. Freshman Miranda Gollwitzer.

Outlook: Before the season started, Cassetto said she was optimistic and had high expectations for this year’s Class 3A Blackhawks. Now that the season has started and West Aurora won the big Aurora City Meet, it looks like the team is on the right path. “They seem to be coming together as a group already,” Cassetto said. “We aren’t focused on a No. 1. We are going to be more grouped this year. We are OK with that. It’s more realistic.” The bulk of the team are juniors, but still Cassetto said West Aurora is deeper than it has been in the past.

Yorkville

Coach: Chris Muth

Top returners: Seniors Ali Hester, Ester Bell, Leena Palmer, Ashley Leonetti. Juniors Casey Kramer, Bree Steupfert, America Guerra, Lindsay Foster, Alex Woodhouse. Sophomores Kaelyn Scull, Kylie Kreischer.

Key newcomers: Sophomore Kelsey Leedy.

Outlook: Once again, the Foxes are stacked after placing second at the Class 2A state tournament behind Peoria’s Notre Dame. “The girls trained all year long and are very dedicated,” Muth said. “They had a strong track season and a really strong summer. They are looking good.” It’s safe to say a return to state is on the radar for Yorkville. “We are in a good position to be a top five team,” said Muth, whose squad won its first meet of the year at Sandwich. “We’d love to be a state championship team.”

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