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| Midwest Region
Regional Meet: November 15, 2008 at Terre Haute IN
Indiana - Illinois - Ohio - Michigan - Missouri
(Midwest trades Wisconsin for Missouri this year)
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Naperville North and Geneva lead IL hopefuls
Illinois preview for NXN Midwest
Preview by Tony Jones, DyeStat Illinois
The real post-season has arrived as the frost and cold fronts take hold of Midwest cross country courses and training sites abound. One thing for certain, there will be a record number of Illinois boys and girls competing for national respect, regional notoriety, or personal satisfaction outside of their state border in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Laverne-Gibson cross country course is the exclusive home of the Indiana State University cross country team. The course plays host to the annual Indiana State High School championship as well as the 2008 NCAA D1 championship.
For the first time in Midwest regional history, the land of Lincoln will have the top boys and girls ranked teams: Naperville North (boys) and Geneva (girls). These two great squads have dominated their in-state peers and will now seek to do it in the quest of reaching Portland, Oregon on December 6, for the national championship. Illinois will also boast several of the top individuals in Lindsay Flanagan (Roselle Lake Park) and Zach Dahleen (Orland Park Sandburg) that will vie for one of the five slots available for Portland advancement.
-Boys-
After beating on one another all season within the borders of Illinois, the quadrant (Naperville North, Elmhurst York, Geneva, and Naperville Neuqua Valley) will re-up their factions across the state line in Hoosier country. It will most definitely feel like home since the Illinoisans are ranked 1-4 regionally. For starters, North will rematch against York, who they beat by one point 84-85 at last weekend’s state championship. It was the Huskies first team state championship in they had to finally over the bridesmaid label. Of course, the teams here will compete as clubs “Naperville North XC” and “Kroy TC.”d
Legendary York coach Joe Newton was crushed to hear his team lose by a single point: “Devastated,” pronounced Newton. He added that it’s better to by 50-60 points than by one point. But at the same time he applauded Naperville North as being the better team on that “day.” Although the respective head coaches are not to have any contact, one can bet that Kroy is plotting an ambush on North courtesy of some Newtonesque training and wisdom from afar.
Could it possibly be an Illinois stampede over Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. It’s possible since Illinois holds the top four spots. In addition, LaGrange Lyons Twp, only 5th ranked in Illinois, went to Michigan for the Portage Invite and finished second to Ann Arbor Pioneer. Neuqua Valley defeated Indiana State champion Carmel, Indiana at the Culver Military Invite in September pretty handily.
-Top team capsules-
Naperville North XC (Naperville North HS)
State finish: state champion.
Previous NXN experience: none.
NXN/National ranking: #1/#3.
Defining season moment: winning the Locktoberfest in October that featured a surging Neuqua Valley team.
Probable starting line up: Kyle Gibson Sr., Tyler Jermann Jr., David McWilliams Sr., Bob Guthrie Jr., Mike Herbert Sr., Charlie McKeown So., Karsten Jurkiewicz Fr.
What we know about team: they grew into winners this season. They met every challenge and demand put before them.
What we don’t know about team: possible letdown after winning state?
Possible race scenario: at the very least the Huskies should be knocking on the door to nationals. They will either win the regional meet or place in top 2.
Kroy TC (Elmhurst York HS)
State finish: state runner-up.
Previous NXN experience: national champion in 2004; competed in all four NXN championships.
NXN/National ranking: #2/#4.
Defining season moment: 9/27- smoked three top ten teams at Palatine Invite in Palatine, LaGrange Lyons, and St. Charles North in their season invite opener. The 58 pt victory over Lyons (59-117) served notice to the rest of the state that York once again is an elite team in the nation.
Probable starting line up: Steve Sulkin Sr., Jordan Herbert Sr., Andrew Smith Jr., Jack Driggs So., Adam Cecil Jr., Pat Morgan Sr., Brian Pollistrini Sr.
What we know about team: they are the nation’s premier cross country program that is led by the legendary Joe Newton. Although coach Newton won’t be coaching the team in the physical form (federation rules), he will be in spirit. The Dukes will not be shaken by a loss at state because they have been in this position before and succeeded.
What we don’t know about team: the actual starting line up. The Dukesters are really deep. There was some speculation that if allowed to run their second unit at the state championship, they would have finished in the top 10.
Possible race scenario: placing in the top 2 is what is most important- it’s as good as winning a trip to Portland. York being York will go for the win and show everyone that they are still the crown jewel of high school cross country.
Geneva XC (Geneva HS)
State finish: 3rd place.
Previous NXN experience: none.
NXN/National ranking: #3/#10.
Defining season moment: won West Aurora Stampede in October and it solidified them as ready for the state series run.
Probable starting line up: Drew Hickey, Andrew Nelson, Greg Adelman, Kevin Sparks, Justin Rodriguez, Chris Higgins, Kevin McDowell.
What we know about team: they are fighters. The Vikings battled hard at state to over power Neuqua Valley late in the race and grab the last trophy spot.
What we don’t know about team: how much heart do they really have. Can they overcome some unlikely odds and get into the top 2.
Possible race scenario: race similar overall to state with late surge that could net them a top three spot and an at-large berth.
Naperville South XC (Neuqua Valley HS)
State finish: 4th
Previous NXN experience: 2007: 1st- Defending National Champion.
NXN/National ranking: #4/#14.
Defining season moment: winning the Culver Military Academy over higher ranked Carmel, Indiana at the time. Carmel went on to win state.
Probable starting line up: Danny Pawola Sr., Aaron Beattie Jr., Brian Morenius Sr., Luke Verbus Jr., Conner Shields Sr., Bryan Winek Sr., Harsa Torke So.
What we know about team: winners. They are reining champions and extreme fighters.
What we don’t know about team: X factor- Aaron Beattie. He has suffered IT issue for much of the year. Will he be healthy enough to advance his team?
Possible race scenario: could place anywhere from 2-4. It will depend on what top pack led by Pawola does. The Wildcats will be shooting for an at-large berth in reality.
OTHER TEAMS:
Lyons Twp RC (LaGrange Lyons Twp HS) - the Lions have been Illinois’ 5th best team all season and placing 5th in a team dominant year is not a bad season. In fact, Lyons probably would be victorious in several states. They will be tough staying out of the top 6 or 7 teams. Loyola XC Club (Wilmette Loyola Academy) will have a strong unit that consist of the trio Nico Composto, Mark Donohue, and Jack Seeberg. Composto has a chance to advance individually, but he is the ultimate team player. St. Charles East is also in the field to take a stab at top 10 finish.
-Individuals-
Illinois will not be short of talent in the field include Zach Dahleen (Orland Park Sandburg), Andrew Larson (Aurora Marmion Academy), Karsen Green (Gurnee Warren), and Cameron Rieger (Mundelein Carmel). Dahleen and Larson have a shot at top 5 finishes and a trip to Portland. Rieger will look to bounce back after a bad second half race at state last weekend.
-Girls-
The girls’ plot should be interesting with Geneva entering the national sweepstakes for the first time. Hinsdale XC (Hinsdale Central HS) has been here before - they were in the 2006 NXN championship. Kroy Girls (Elmhurst York HS) and Downers Grove South XC (Downers Grove South HS) are two other quality ranked statewide teams that will add depth and respect for the land of Lincoln. Expect a fierce fight with Carmel XC, Indiana in the mix. They are as lethal as Geneva - they blitzed their state competition quite the same at state: the Greyhounds over Lake Central, 55-160. It shall be interesting to say the least with other out-of-staters Blue Streaks XC (Magnificat, Ohio) and Titans XC (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) in the mix.
-Top team capsules-
Geneva XC (Geneva HS)
State finish: state champion
Previous NXN experience: none
NXN/National ranking: #1/#4
Defining season moment: first race of year when blew out competition and let the entire state know they were for real.
Possible starting line up: Kelly Whitley So., Meghan Heuer Jr., Sarah Heuer Sr., Liza Tauscher So., Megan Brady So., Tess Ehrhardt So., Kelly Shogren Jr.
What we know about team: they are fierce like piranha fish. When the starting guns sounds, the Vikings are deadly in their attack on their opponents.
What we don’t know about team: they have yet to face equally talented team.
Possible race scenario: they should place first or second in the field with ease.
Hinsdale XC (Hinsdale Central HS)
State finish: state champion
NXN Ranking/National Ranking: #6/---
Previous NXN experience: 17th in 2006 national championship.
Defining season moment: won season opener Red Devil Invite over a tough Palatine team that signaled the run for a state plaque was real.
Possible starting line up: Elaine Kuckertz Sr., Roey Hines Sr., Heather Stevens Sr., Katie Kummerer Jr., Graylin Harrison Jr., Niamh McCarthy Sr., Lauren Zumbach Sr.
What we know about team: tremendously experienced, great race finishers.
What we don’t know about the team: are some of the seniors satisfied now that they achieved state meet objective?
Possible race scenario: the Red Devils could finish as high as second but they realistically should be in the 3-4 range.
Other teams: York Girls (Elmhurst York) will enter the fray to add depth to the Illinois corps. Meghan Frigo will be in the mix for the Lady Dukes.
-Individuals-
Great talent abounds in the field, but a lot of eyes will be on Roselle Park’s Lindsay Flanagan. Flanagan is undefeated thus far, the only so-called challenge was the weather at last week’s state meet that lent a 13 second victory- but it was much more dominating than that. Now, as Flanagan enters the pre-national stage for the second time in as many years, she will be looking for redemption after not actually being able to compete at FLMW last year because of an illness. Hopefully, that untimely circumstance won’t occur this time around.
Other top Illinois runners will be McKinzie Schulz of Lisle Benet Academy, Katherin Rehn (LaGrange Lyons), Elise Beattie (Woodstock), Michelle Stratton (Naperville North), and Janna Mitsos (Lockport, IL).
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