Before we get into the top 25 2a boys teams lets highlight the teams that just missed the cut. You never know, you may see some of these teams creep into the rankings this season.
West Chicago (Wheaton Academy)
Head Coach/Coaches: Chris Felinski / Shelton Thompson
Last Year's Finish: 7th @ 2A Kaneland Regional
Key Returners: Luke Dorn (Sr.), Luke Osterholm (Jr.), Toby Morden (Jr.), Miguel Boney (So.), Michael Osielski (Sr.), Josh Chatfield (Sr.), Simeon Gabriel (Sr.), Jacob Erickson (So.)
New Additions: Luke Linstra (Fr.)
Coach Felinski's Outlook: This summer we have been really focused on putting in the miles as well as getting in a tempo run once a week. The boys have been very intent on our goals as the goal is that every athlete, even freshman, come in with 150 miles under their belt. Varsity would have significantly more. We look to have 16-20 athletes, and it looks like 6 new athletes. I am excited to see what the freshman class bring, as well as the motivation that the upperclassmen have after their success in track. Our first milestone meet is at Peoria for the First to the Finish race, and that is where we are looking to see how the team is coming together.
Oak Forest
Head Coach/Coaches: Gary Andruch / Rich Matula
Last Year's Finish: 26th @ IHSA 2A State
Key Returners: Nick Manso (Jr.), Pat Scurek (Sr.), Christian Padgett (Sr.), Hudson Neth (So.), Sam Coe (Jr.), Zach Kwiat (So.), Levi Berlein (So.)
Coach Andruch's Outlook: We would like to win the conference and qualify for state again this year. We lost our 2 top runners though and Lemont is up and coming so I would say they have the advantage over us in conference right now. For state we are definitely on the outside looking in. We would need some great performances along with a very favorable sectional to get there. We have faith in Junior Nick Manso. He has been working hard all summer. We will need leadership from senior Patrick Scurek to get there. Christian Padgett and Hudson Neth will be big role players in our top 7. The big issue we have is thats 4 runners. We will need one of our state alts from last year or a F/S runner to solidify the top 5 and have a chance if Jr Sam Coe doesn't return from his injury.
Urbana
Head Coach/Coaches: Zach Boehmke / Maggie Byrne, Justice Carter, Hawke Marlow
Last Year's Finish: 14th @ 2A Jacksonville Sectional
Key Returners: Mohammad Amrani (Sr.), Jevan Juday (So.), Titus Coady (So.), Vinny Benjamin (Jr.), Dereje Jahiel (Sr.)
New Additions: Austin Ogolsky (Fr.), Nathaniel Menanteau (Fr.)
Coach Boehmke's Outlook: The 2024 season will be about how quickly our team can coalesce with the departure of our graduating class and former top runner, Hudson Coady. We have new leaders emerging (Mo Amrani, Titus Coady). We have a young group of runners who are committed to running and are already showing loads of improvement through five weeks of summer. Mo and Jevan have state experience under their belt now from the 4x800 in the spring and have the potential to go stride-for-stride with each other. Titus and Vinny are two boys who I anticipate seeing massive jumps in performance from at the 3 mile distance with the work they are putting in. Dereje Jahiel is the healthiest I have seen in four years and has the potential to be a true wild card. After those boys, I see a healthy competition shaping up on the team for the last couple spots on varsity. I believe we have the potential to surprise ourselves in matching or surpassing our results from last season.
LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy)
Head Coach/Coaches: Michael Sliwinski / Bobby Lee
Last Year's Finish: 11th @ 2A Trinity Regional
Key Returners: Liam Smith (Sr.) Lucas Weber (So.) Aaron Martinez (Jr.) Tyler Aulinskis (Sr.) Anthony Lopez (Jr.), Owen Hogan (Jr.)
New Additions: Brendan Hyland (Fr.)
Coach Sliwinski's Outlook: Four weeks of summer running camp. We are still going to be young with only one projected senior in the top 7. This development and maturity will only continue to push the excellence in our program to even greater heights. We have a new assistant coach as well in Bobby Lee. He is an alum of Naz and an alum of the xc program. He works in our recruitment and development office and is going to make an immediate impact on the program
Hinsdale South
Head Coach/Coaches: Jim Dickerson / Paul Faeh
Last Year's Finish: 9th @ 2A Trinity Sectional
Key Returners: Wojtek Gilarski (Jr.), Dziugas Meiliulis (Sr.), Ethan Frankel (Sr.), Andrew Petersen (Sr.), Ryan Murphy (So.), Julian Angel (Jr.), Alex Valle (Sr.), Noah Koehler (So.), Jacob Wroblewski (Jr.)
Unexpected Losses: Jose Ortiz (Jr.)
Coach Dickerson's Outlook: We don't lose any of our top 6 runners from last year, and that team was only 20 points away from state qualifying even with injuries to 2 of our top 4 runners. Junior Wojtek Gilarski continues to evolve into a very strong #1 runner and should continue to improve. He is a great leader, tough competitor, and works very hard. Seniors Dziugas Meiliulis, Ethan Frankel, and Andrew Petersen all had various levels of injuries last year which were very frustrating for them. They all have worked very hard and done the right things to recover and take care of themselves. The key with all of them is consistency, confidence, and using all of cross country season to improve all the way up to the end. I see us being much better at the end of the season than the beginning. With those runners healthy, having a 5th runner who is fairly close to those 3 will make this a team that could surprise people outside the program. Sophomore Ryan Murphy and senior Eric Fournier are both primed to do this, and the other runners mentioned all could help. Sophomore Javy Terrell had a great freshman track season but has always been a football player and is planning to play football again this season. These are great kids and this is a senior class that never had great numbers but has had high quality, both in talent and dedication. I would love for them to have a great season and believe it will happen
Lincoln
Head Coach: Andrew Hite
Last Year's Finish: 17th @ 2A Jacksonville Sectional
Key Returners: Preston Short (So.), Owen Cyrulik (So.), Colin Crombie (So.), Grant Eales (So.), Levi Allison (Jr.)
New Additions: Pierce King (Fr.)
Unexpected Losses: Jude Toft (Sr.)
Coach Hite's Outlook: We will have a young team this season. There is room for improvement from last year with our sophomores, and I am looking forward to seeing their progress. I could see a couple guys advancing to sectionals if the team does not, but a lot is unknown at this time.
Midlothian (Bremen)
Head Coach/Coaches: Bill Griffin / William Fuentes
Last Year's Finish: 8th @2A Thornridge Regional
Key Returners: David Santiago (Sr.), Robert Harris (Sr.), Jesus Cruz (Jr.), Kahmarri Counsell (So.), Jeremyah Townsend (Jr.), Ben Perez (Jr.), Oscar Gonzalez (Sr.), Jacob Dudek (Sr.)
Coach Griffin's Outlook: It looks to be a challenging year with our small team returning. We only had 12 runners last year and graduated 3 of them. 4 of our 5 runners that will be juniors are probably not returning to run. We hope to find a large Freshman group to join us and build this team back up. We are anticipating some runners from Track that expressed an interest in joining. One of them (Kahmarri Counsell) had a really good summer, so we hope that he can draw more young athletes into the fold. We lose a huge coaching knowledge base with ROb Swiech stepping down, but we have a young coach (WIlliam Fuentes) that has been having a great summer with his running. So, we hope to be competitive within our Conference and look to try to get a couple of individuals to qualify for State.
Wauconda
Head Coach/Coaches: Jacob O'Hara and Lisa Wajrowski / Austin Pequeno
Last Year's Finish: 10th @ 2A Lakes Regional
Key Returners: Levi Coburn (Jr.), Nic Ganek (Sr.), Brody Bendler (Sr.), Akhillez Sosa (So.), Parker Koch (So.)
New Additions: Brogen Finley (Fr.)
Coach O'Hara's Outlook: WXC is entering its second season under Coaches Wajrowski and O'Hara, and are looking to continue a rise to prominence in the NLCC and IHSA 2A scene. With strong young runners entering the program on the girls side and a returning core of dedicated runners on the boys side, the team looks to improve its standings in both conference and regional competition and see some athletes competing late into the IHSA postseason racing calendar. With a focus on culture, consistency, and improvement, the Bulldogs are hoping to be a sleeper and a spoiler in the 2024 XC season.
Marengo
Head Coach/Coaches: Kimberly Hoffmeister / Aaron Moehrlin
Last Year's Finish: 10th @ 2A Woodstock North Regional
Key Returners: Gavin Prudlick (Sr.), Josh Woodcock (So.), Jackson Knake (So.)
New Additions: Oliver Stack (Fr.), Jaden Ortega (So.), Axel Bown (Fr.)
Coach Hoffmeister's Outlook: The Marengo boys cross country team is in a rebuilding year after losing Marcus Ray to graduation. With Gavin Prudlick as the only senior, unless there are surprise joiners, and no juniors, the Indians field a young if not talented team. Josh Woodcock has had a monumental summer, working hard day in day out. Jaden Ortega transferred from Antioch where he ran solidly as a freshmen. Incoming freshmen Oliver Stack and Axel Bown come from quality middle school programs, and they join their once teammate Jackson Knake at the high school level. Although we are rebuilding, I think these young boys will surprise some people.
Tinley Park
Head Coach/Coaches: Jack Mongan / Jeffrey Baud
Last Year's Finish: 18th @ 2A Geneseo Sectional
Key Returners: Nolan Landgrebe (Jr.), Aaron Benitez (Jr.), Benjamin Loxtercamp (So.), Roderick Shepherd (Sr.), Trey Carroll (Jr.), Alex Koleczek (Sr.), Angel Andrade (Sr.), Paul Schmeltzer (So.)
New Additions: Luis Suancatl (Sr.), Gavin Banahan (So.)
Coach Mongan's Outlook: This summer we really went back to the basics and wanted to focus on building a strong mileage base and getting faster with proper form. We have upped our mileage from previous years by about 20%, we have much more emphasis on running smooth and controlled while uncomfortable. We have been typically doing one long run per week, two/three medium runs, and one.two tempo workouts and speed workouts. We have incorporated strides into our long runs and have been lifting about three times a week. Our team consists of about 14 guys consistently showing up everyday ranging from sophomores to seniors. These guys have really been pushing themselves hard this summer. I see a lot of our athletes making big jumps this upcoming season, a few of those athletes include Nolan Landgrebe, Trey Carroll, Benjamin Loxtercamp, and Paul Schmeltzer. I think that this entire team is going to make a big jump from last year and I am really looking forward to seeing how this season pans out.
East Dubuque
Head Coach: Michael Eyres
Last Year's Finish: 7th @ 2A Woodstock North Regional
Key Returners: Andrew Richardson (So.), Devin Bradt (Jr.), Harrison Kloss (Sr.), Nick Cobine (So.), Liam Mead (So.), Hayden Gavin-Bailey (So.)
New Additions: Vincent Gullone (Fr.)
Coach Eyres' Outlook: Summer training is going well. We have the talent and the work is being done. We are in a good spot to win conference again and qualify out of regionals. Most importantly we are having fun and enjoying the process of getting faster.
Chicago (University)
Head Coach/Coaches: Austin Warner / Diane Jackson
Last Year's Finish: 28th @ IHSA 2A State
Key Returners: Simon Lane (Sr.), Ben O'Donnell (Sr.), Oliver Go (Sr.), Sean Niro (Jr.), Connor Lane (So.), Kabir Joshi (Jr.), Osvaldo Carretero (Jr.)
New Additions: Kai Long (So.)
Coach Warner's Outlook: This is the most cumulative miles ran by our team in my recent memory. We had a shaky start to our 2023 year but with a strong spring from a lot of our returning varsity guys and some summer miles, I think we will be a much more competitive team than we were last year. I think we have a strong top 3 (all seniors) will help our team scores at larger meets in 2024.
Simon Lane ran a 9:35/4:24 last Spring in the 3200/1600, earning all-state honors in the 2A 3200. He is hungry for a very strong senior year and think he can be all-state this fall
Sterling
Head Coach/Coaches: Mark Johnson / Jenna Truesdell
Last Year's Finish: 23rd @ IHSA 2A State
Key Returners: Aalin Schmidt (Sr.), Parker Blakeslee (Jr.), Charles Johnson (Jr.), Gavin Staats (Jr.), Denver Sandrock (So.) Isaiah Rojop (So.)
New Additions: Micah Peterson (Fr.)
Coach Johnson's Outlook: We literally have 4 upper classman on our roster (junior/seniors). Our team will have 15-20 kids that are freshman and sophomores. We will be a very young team that will hopefully show a lot of growth. Our rivals will find any success we have surprising. The only thing for certain for our team is that we will finish the season much stronger than we start it.
Dunlap
Head Coach/Coaches: Chris Friedman, Assistant Coaches Steve Carter, Muriel Unseth, Josh Piper, Zach Plank
Last Year's Finish: 24th @ IHSA 2A State
Key Returners: Jacob Gladstone (Sr.), Jack Nester (Jr.), Max Draksler (So.), Alex Colvin (So.)
New Additions: Tyson Horn (Fr.), Tyler Owen (Fr.), Ben Bobchik (Fr.), Ben Paustian (Fr.)
Coach Friedman's Outlook: The 2023 season saw a great group of seniors graduate having reestablished the boys program as a perennial state qualifier. This year feels like a transition year. We will be pretty young, so one of the goals will be learning throughout the season as we enjoy the process. Jacob Gladstone should be our leader on the course, and he should be helped by having a full track season under his belt last year. Helping him lead the pack should be Jack Nester after a strong track season and summer. After them we have a number of sophomores and freshmen along with senior Nate Acklie, who had a strong track season and summer, to complete the pack. The competition in our area is strong. Morton, Washington, and Metamora just in our conference are state qualifying teams and could be top ten contenders. Add to those three Geneseo and Morris and qualifying for state will be a challenge. If this young team can buy into and trust the process, they can good this year and great over the next few years.
Chicago (Brother Rice)
Head Coach/Coaches: Tom Wazio / Kyle Swynenburg
Last Year's Finish: 10th @ 2A Geneseo Sectional
Key Returners: Gavin O’Connor (Sr.), Andrew Straley (Jr.), Brian Biondo (Sr.), Brian Sheehan (Sr.), Eamon Roache (Sr.), Aidan Leary (Jr.), Oliver Davis (Jr.), Dylan Cody (So.), Declan Nieto (So.)
New Additions: Oliver Davis (Jr.)
Coach Wazio's Outlook: I anticipate having an exciting year. We have the most seniors on the team in a number of years, which will hopefully provide some experience and dependability. I believe we can have 2 All-State athletes, but the success of our team will be how our 2nd group of runners develop. We potentially have 8 guys that should be training together everyday. If they can be within a minute of our #1, then I like our chances. Gavin O’Connor's summer training has been excellent & will be our leader this season.
Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)
Head Coach: Judd Shutt / Rachel Kautz
Last Year's Finish: 11th @ IHSA 2A State
Key Returners: Steven Randles (So.), Kieran Gilleland (Jr.), Thomas Henry (So.), Liam Bailey (Sr.), Trevor Dam (Jr.), Bodhi Lee (Jr.), Jameson Torgerson (Jr.), Troy Laukert (So.)
Key Additions: Kye Gunter (Fr.), Tymen Robinson (Fr.), Max Firak (Fr.)
Coach Shutt's Outlook: I have hit on several ideas already, but here is a synopsis. We lost a very successful senior class. We won't have the front runner, or the depth, but this group has learned work ethic from last year's seniors. I think we will still be competitive among 2A teams by running a tight pack race. Steven Randles, Kieran Gilleland, Thomas Henry, and Kye Gunter have worked closely this summer and I look for them to race closely. We need a 5th man to make a jump into this group. I still expect us to develop into a state qualifying team. It will most likely take until October for this team to demonstrate what they are capable of.
Burlington Central
Head Coach/Coaches: Vince Neil / Dan Morgan
Last Year's Finish: 10th @ 2A Woodstock Sectional
Key Returners: Jayden Beecroft (Sr.), Andres Quesada (Sr.), Danny Burke (So.), Brandon Pflug (So.), Gio Episcopo (Sr.), Connor Polz (Jr.), Jason Davis (So.)
Venkata Anantha
New Additions: Dane Walikonis (Fr.), Aadi Sheth (Fr.), Rahil Patel (Fr.), Julian Onayemi (Sr.)
Coach Neil's Outlook: The pack is going to be key for our success. Jayden will be our lead runner but if the team can keep it close with him, this team can be very competitive. Brandon Pflug and Danny Burke will be hugely impactful to the team scoring and the progression of Andres Quesada has been fun to watch. If we can continue to progress our younger boys this team will get stronger as the season lengthens.
Grayslake Central
Head Coach/Coaches: Jimmy Centella / Chris Palmer, Colleen Wire, Danielle Hegerty, Greg Lannoye
Last Year's Finish: 13th @ IHSA 2A State
Key Returners: Adan Cordova (Jr.), Daniel Varblow (Sr.), Justin Mottola (So.), Reid Donisch (So.), Nolan Lara (So.), Aaron O’Neill (Sr.), Kurt Storckman (Sr.), Donald Fernstrom (Jr.), Alex Wolff (So.)
Coach Centella's Outlook: Like our girls team, there is a big changing of the guard in our boys program. 4 year varsity contributors like Trey Sato, Will Welty, and John Vagnoni are now graduated. We only bring back our #2 and #7 from last year's 13th place team. We are in a rebuilding phase, but we hope to rebuild quickly. Adan Cordova and Daniel Varblow have state meet experience and will need to lead a group of guys that lack varsity experience but are quickly developing a varsity work ethic and mindset. It will be hard for any team in our conference to touch Lakes this fall, but we hope to finish as high as we can at the conference, regional, and sectional levels. If things go well and some of our less experienced can make some significant improvements as the season goes on, we hope to challenge for one of the final team qualifying spots in our sectional. If Cordova can challenge the 15:00 mark and Dan Varblow the 16:00 mark, we will then need a strong pack behind them pushing from the high 16s to the low 16s over the course of the season. If we do that, then I think there might be a path to Detweiller in November.
Champaign Central
Head Coach: Steven Kesler
Last Year's Outlook: 10th @ 2A Jacksonville Sectional
Key Returners: Caleb Mathias (Jr.), Jakob Riley (Sr.), Noah Green (Jr.), Simon Campbell (So.), Enrique Beuschlein (Sr.), Austin Ritter (Jr.), Ty Yoder (So.), Nate Davis (Jr.), Landon Natschke (So.), Kason Price (Jr.)
New Additions: Nolan Bossert (Fr.), Jacob Lu (Fr.), Parker Kesler (Fr.), Nathan Goulet (Fr.), Noah Gwinn (Fr.), Vince Billsbury (Fr.), Bo Weidmann (Fr.)
Coach Kesler's Outlook: We would love to get back to where we were in the '21 and '22 seasons, competing as a team at Detweiller at the end of the season. We feel like we should be able to compete with the best in our conference (Big 12) and regional as well. Mathias is poised for an outstanding year and has truly blossomed into a leader, I expect him to he among the top runners in 2A, and we hope Riley won't be too far behind.