The Class A Boys division promises to be very competitive across the board this season. There are great teams listed below. Take a glance below.
Savanna (West Carroll)
Head Coach: Chris McDermott
Last Year's Finish: DNS at 1A Bureau Valley Regional
Key Returners: Roscoe Davies (Jr.), Brody Leitzen (So.), Joey Blasen (Jr.), Ben Feick (So.)
New Additions: Jacen Anderson (Fr.) and Kyle Longnecker (Fr.)
Coach McDermott's Outlook: We are returning a stronger team that we did last year. Roscoe Davies, junior, who qualified for State and Brody Leitzen who missed qualifying for Sectionals by the narrowest of margins look to lead the boys squad. Joey Blasen took a big leap in Track last season and if we can keep that momentum going I think he alone could threaten to qualify for Sectionals as a individual. Ben Feick consistently got better last CC season and I hope that we can pick up where he left off. Jacen Anderson was having a very solid 8th grade campaign when he got injured, he was unable to run this past season, but I believe with his competitive spirit and coupled with the fact he will have to chase the leaders I think that will help pull him along. Kyle Longnecker is sort of my unknown, he has good 400 meter speed, but he really hasn't run the longer distances that will be expected of him at the high school level, he has been running and working out so if he comes into the season with the capabilities to run well from the get go I think we can have something special. I believe how this team is coming together, I think that it will really start to gain steam as the season progresses. There will be a lot of learning and I imagine some tired legs. I think the front runners will be pick up generally where they left off last season and I forsee the midpack runners will start to narrow the split as they get back into the swing of things, but I don't imagine that will take more that a couple meets to start really seeing that develop.
Newton
Head Coach: Tim Bower
Last Year's Finish: 10th @ IHSA 1A Decatur St. Teresa Sectional
Key Returners: Isaac Street (Sr.), Jackson Sornberger (Sr.), Hayden Borgic (Jr.), Tanner Whitaker (Jr.), Wade Ochs (Jr.), Holden Barthlemy (So.), Caleb Flasch (Jr.)
Coach Bower's Outlook: The Boys want to repeat as Conference Champs. We want to at least challenge for Regional Champions but realize that we probably aren't the favorite currently. We have great leadership in the 2 seniors, Jackson and Isaac who make it a lot easier on me because they lead the workouts and know what we do. They are great communicators and explain our process. The boys team is very motivated to continue the tradition we've had for the past 3 seasons of being one of the better 1A teams in the area.
Petersburg (PORTA)
Head Coach/Coaches: Jacob Woodbridge / Rachel Chalmers
Last Year's Finish: 7th @ 1A Elmwood Sectional
Key Returners: Kade Parker (Jr.), Justin Zimmerman (Jr.), DJ French (Jr.), Bryce Sonnemaker (Sr.), Billy Thornton (Sr.)
Key Additions: Noah Hardy (So.), Sawyer Arbogast (Fr.)
Unexpected Losses: Marque George (So.)
Coach Woodbridge's Outlook: the 2024 PORTA Bluejays are going to look very different from the team we’ve fielded the last couple seasons. There are no super-stud Haven Gronewold types on the roster. Instead we have some Juniors who are going to do everything they can to fill the large voids left by last year's Seniors, as well as half a dozen new runners who have a lot of raw athletic ability that needs to be properly trained and shaped into good distance runners. That being said, myself and the returners we do have on the team, have all said we want this year to be a reload, not a full on rebuild. If we work on team building, get all the new people properly conditioned and able to figure out how to run Cross Country races from a mental and strategic standpoint, and again just focus on getting faster and staying healthy, that hopefully puts us in a good spot at the end of the season.
Amboy
Head Coach: Michael Robinson
Last Year's Finish: >5 @ 1A Seneca Regional
Key Returners: Jhett Cowser (So.), Brysen Full (Sr.)
New Additions: Atticus Horner (Sr.), Henry Nichols (So.), Jace Hermeyer (Fr.), Channing Bellows (Fr.)
Coach Robinson's Outlook: Everyone is involved in multiple things so getting everyone together has been rough. Our goals are Winning Conference and looking for a state birth
Byron
Head Coach/Coaches: Michael McHale / Josh Helms
Last Year's Finish: 10th @ 1A Oregon Sectional
Key Returners: Tim Starwalt (Jr.), Braden Dietrich (So.), Conner Welt (So.), Micah Hilliker (Jr.), Jace Jackson (So.), Cael O’Horo (So.), River Wygant (So.)
New Additions: Michael Muzzarelli (Fr.)
Coach McHale's Outook: Still a pretty young team (no seniors). Tim and Micah are juniors, but the rest of the squad is still freshmen and sophomores. We are hoping to make a run at state.
Effingham (St. Anthony)
Head Coach/Coaches: Art Geen / Chuck Keller
Last Year's Finish: DNR at Regionals
Key Returners: Julius Ramos (Jr.), Noah Flaig (Sr.), Danial Ramos (So.), Oliver Kreke (Jr.), Calvin Sudkamp (Sr.)
New Additions: Camden Bloemer (Fr.), Michael Fearday (Fr.), Issa Fallert (Fr.)
Coach Geen's Outook: Julius Ramos and Noah Flaig would be my bet for our top two boys. Noah this year has been coming to the summer runs and really putting forth the effort this year. We should have a pretty tough top 6 this year as long as we stay healthy, I definitely believe they have a shot to make it to State as well. With a few of the new additions to the teams we are looking to end the season on a high note.
Robinson
Head Coach/Coaches: Lauren Clark / Jessica Anderson, Lukas Baird, Tony Cork
Last Year's Finish: 9th @ 1A Decatur St. Teresa Sectional
Key Returners: Wyatt Herrington (So.), Austin Carter (So.), Ben Coonce (So.), Braxton Pethtel (Jr.)
New Additions: Jason Tingley (Fr.), Kaden Pasero (Fr.), Nikolas Antes (Fr.)
Coach Clark's Outlook: Our attendance for summer training has been awesome. Up until this point, we have been focused on building a strong base and we are slowly adding in workouts at this point. We will run 5 days a week including Saturdays, have 1 cross training day, and utilize the weight room twice a week post run.
DuQuoin
Head Coach/Coaches: Branden Morris / Richard Swiney
Last Year's Finish: 28th @ IHSA 1A State
Key Returners: Hayden Swiney (So.), Caiden Cook (So.), Zach Tilley (Jr.), Reid Tilley (Sr.), Parker Ridgeway (Sr.), Bo Knapp (Sr.)
New Additions: Logan Numi (Fr.), Lucian Howard (Fr.)
Coach Morris' Outlook: We have a lot of guys returning from last year's state qualifying team and we have our sights set on returning to Peoria in November. We have 3 returning seniors who are motivated to finish their careers with their best seasons. We have 1 junior who made big improvements last year and is looking to do more of the same this year. We have 2 sophomores who finished last season as our top 2 runners and are ready to lead us again this year. And we have 2 more sophomores who did not run last year, but have a lot of potential to be very good runners for us. We've put in a lot of hard work this summer and I'm really looking forward to see what our guys can do this year. I think we'll be very competitive as a team and have a good shot at qualifying for state again. We have some individuals that could be some of the top runners in our class.
Sullivan
Head Coach: Isaiah Plank
Last Year's Finish: 11th @ 1A Sullivan Regional
Key Returners: Johnathon Iacobazzi (Jr.), Grant Martin (So.), Landon Jesse (Jr.), Carson Swinford (Jr.)
New Additions: David Eaton (Fr.), James Feldcamp (Jr.), Charlie Conlin (Fr.), Bryson Wilson (Fr.)
Coach Plank's Outlook: Sullivan Okaw Valley is looking to make a much larger impact in competition this season than last season. Last year saw the first state qualifier for the program in over a decade, and he is returning for his junior year. This summer has primarily focused on building consistency and preparing runners for the stress of the beginning of the season. Last year saw three seniors for both guys and girls, for a team of 14 combined runners that is a large portion of the team leaving. However a good class of freshman guys has filled the spots left. Our primary goal this year will be to compete for a conference championship in the LPC as well as look to qualify for the sectional meet as a team.
Bluford (Webber)
Head Coach: Jackson Pierce
Last Year's Finish: 16th @ 1A Decatur St. Teresa Sectional
Key Returners: Jaxon Dalby (Sr.), Nathaniel Marlow (Jr.), Brennan Tate (Jr.), Colter Stone (So.)
New Additions: Bryden Dalby (Fr.), Jacob Marlow (Fr.), Gavin Hardy (Jr.)
Coach Pierce's Outlook: I’m excited about the season. We are a very very young program, and we have been building to this point over the years. We have a deep, experienced group that is committed to success, and I’m excited to see what they can do this season. This is the first year I think we have a real shot at being a state qualifying squad. We are somewhat deep, and finally have the missing pieces to go with our 1-2 punch of Jaxon and Nathaniel.
Aledo (Mercer County)
Head Coach: Peter Nelson
Last Year's Finish: 8th @ 1A Oregon Sectional
Key Returners: Jack McKnight (Sr.), Mason Coulter (Sr.), Brody Clark (Jr.), Payton Thirtyacre (So.), Brady McPeek (So.), Josh Struble (So.)
New Additions: Mason Nickerson (Fr.), Tanner Dale (Fr.), Jewlious Wisely (Fr.), Julian Hedger (Fr.)
Coach Nelson's Outlook: The team won't be as top heavy as some years but has potential to have one of the quicker top 5's in school history. We will pack up and keep our 1-5 split small.
Quincy Notre Dame
Head Coach/Coaches: Leah Waters / Tom Hellhake
Last Year's Finish: 15th @ 1A Elmwood Sectional
Key Returners: Joseph Warning (Sr.), Oliver Moore (Sr.), Nathan Oliver (Sr.), Roan Van Cleave (So.), Logan Meyer (Sr.), Austin Shull (Jr.), Lucas Ohnemus (So.)
Coach Waters' Outlook: The boys have a very positive outlook with many returning runners. We have several upperclassman who have experience in many different types of races and several underclassman who enjoy running and are excited to try to make their mark in our team rankings. As we begin to come together as a team this year, it will be fun to watch how they balance coming together as a team, and challenging each other for those top 7 spots.
Dupo
Head Coach/Coaches: Kris Mendoza / Zach Huelskamp
Last Year’s Finish: 13th @ 1A Trenton Wesclin Regional
Key Returners: Keith West (Jr.), Mason Reyes (Sr.), Wyatt Brown (Sr.), Jastek Ross (So.)
New Additions: Carter Lumpkins (Fr.), Aidan Finley (Fr.), Tanner Francis (Fr.), Gavin Bitter (Fr.)
Coach Mendoza’s Outlook: Pretty positive outlook this year. We actually have some real depth and we picked up some new runners that are engaged and hungry. I think the way our top 7 looks at the beginning of the season will be very different from how it will look at the end. I expect to see a lot of movement in the order.
Carthage (Illini West)
Head Coach: Ryan Bliss
Last Year's Finish: 21st @ 1A Elmwood Sectional
Key Returners: Wyatt Jones (Jr.), Chase Mudd (Jr.), Paxton Morehouse (Jr.), Kayden Swisher (Jr.)
New Additions: Bryar Rodeffer (Fr.), Ian Carroll (Fr.), Parker Walker (Fr.), Declan Hartley (Fr.)
Coach Bliss' Outlook: Our goal is to be more competitive than the last couple of years. We have a group of Juniors who have been our core. We have essentially been a JV team for the past two years. Those juniors are ready to compete and our group of freshmen will step right in and elevate the team standing.
Gillespie
Head Coach/Coaches: Jay Weber / Laura Petersen and Jack Burns
Last Year's Finish: 9th @ 1A Sullivan Regional
Key Returners: Chaz Oberkfell (Jr.) Marshall Garwood (Jr.), Hank Fletcher (Jr.), Carter Sies (Jr.), Matthew Plovich (So.), Lucca Kapp (So.), A.J. Reisinger (Jr.)
New Additions: Nolan Ruyle (Fr.), Nolan Hostettler (Fr.), Rafe Stangle (Fr.)
Coach Weber's Outlook: After narrowly taking the SCC Conference title last season, the Gillespie High School Boys Cross Country team looks to come back even stronger this season! Led by All-Stater Chaz Oberkfell, the top six returnees, featuring Marshall Garwood, Hank Fletcher, Carter Sies, Matthew Plovich, and Lucca Kapp look to improve dramatically from their solid seasons of a year ago and accomplish some major goals. With no Seniors on the team, and with a close-knit group that is totally invested, the Gillespie Miners have their sights set on some successful years ahead.
Edwardsville (Metro East Lutheran)
Head Coach: Kevin Reiseck
Last Year's Finish: 11th @ 1A Benton Sectional
Key Returners: Lucas Abbott (So.), Jack Shank (Jr.), Wyatt Goeckner (Jr.), Dean Hemmer (So.), Lucas Getta (Jr.)
New Additions: Henry Reiseck (Fr.), Luke Bright (Fr.), Elijah Ball (Fr.), Mathias Askins (Fr.)
Coach Reiseck's Outlook: Our summer training has gone very well with great turn out and consistent effort each day. The team has been active with pre practice injury prevention work and post practice strength development work. If our team continues to put the work in and become great teammates we will have success and surprise some teams along the way.
Rock Island (Alleman)
Head Coach/Coaches: Shane Shemek / Josh Sherrord and Emma Beardsley
Last Year's Finish: 7th @ 1A Oregon Sectional
Key Returners: Noah Kronfeld (Sr.), Caden Jenulis (Jr.), Romeo Rosas (Sr.), Noah Verscha (Jr.), Michael Noack (Jr.), Caleb DeBruine (So.), Garret Myer (Jr.)
New Additions: Christian Saucedo (Fr.), Owen Matthews (Fr.), Manuel Graf (Fr.), Audey Herbert (Fr.), Julien Punkiewicz (Fr.)
Coach Shemek's Outlook: The team has been trying to find new ways to be motivated after losing the key parts of the team last year. The seniors on the team realize it's their senior year and they are wanting to put it on the line.
Fairfield
Head Coach: Justin Sanders
Last Year's Finish: 13th @ 1A Decatur St. Teresa Sectional
Key Returners: Grant Jennette (Jr.), Nathan Legg (Sr.), Treyton Lewis (So.), Skylar Bladel (So.), Jarrett Vaughan (So.), Ashton King (So.), Kanyen Lingafelter (So.), Justin Johnson (So.), Holt Gilbert (Sr.), Vance Vanway (So.)
Coach Sanders' Outlook: This team is very young outside of Grant, Nathan and Holt. We have 7 sophomores who will all be competing for a top 7 spot. As freshmen last year, many of them were fighting for the final top 7 roster last season, and it should be more competitive this year. This group is very hungry to take big step this year, and with Grant leading the way I believe it's possible. We had a great summer training, mainly working on building base mileage. Turnout was great all summer. I am looking forward to seeing what this team can do this fall.
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