* Graduated runners have their previous state-qualifying events and, if applicable, college track program in parenthesis.
KANKAKEE
BOYS coach: Del Trowell
Notable returners: Deangelo Strickling (Sr.), Mike Wright (Sr.)
Outlook: Wright finished third in the 200-meter dash at the Class 2A IHSA state finals in Charleston last season while Strickling finished as the area’s top 100-meter dash sprinter. Senior Damonte Grant will lead the jumpers while Alex Griffin leads the throwers.
Quotable: “New comers Calvin Phillips and Tercel Barfield should help in the sprints and relays and Camarius Caffey should help us in middle distance,” Trowell said.
GIRLS coach: Benny Phillips
Graduated: Shavonne Sidney (400 relay, 800 relay), Jasmine Jefferson (shot put)
Notable returners: Dominique Kimpel (Jr.), Keyai Brooks (Jr.), Keyaira Hetherington (Sr.), Summer Allen (Jr.)
Outlook: The Kays look to Kimpel for leadership after her brilliant showing at the IHSA Class 2A state finals last season. She took first-place finishes in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes and anchored the eighth-place in the 400 and 800 relays. Brooks returns for both the 400 and 800 relays while Hetherington was part of the 400 relay and Allen contributed to the 800 relay.
Quotable: “We hope to win the All-City meet,” Phillips said.
BISHOP MCNAMARA
BOYS coach: Ken Klipp
Graduated: Matt Cyrier (Eastern Illinois — 800), Kamerin Mitchell (Indiana State, for football — long jump), Garrett Wasson (3,200), Steve Shomali
Notable returners: Aaron Trost (Sr.), Michael Simmons (Sr.), Theo Bradley (Jr.), Justin Crawford (Jr.)
Outlook: The Fightin’ Irish lost three state qualifiers (Cyrier, Mitchell and Wasson), but look to Trost for long-distance guidance. He placed fourth at sectionals in the 3,200 last season and took second at the cross-country All-City meet. Simmons and Bradley lead the sprinters and jumpers while Crawford shows off his throwing skills.
Quotable: “It will be a rebuilding year, with only two seniors and two juniors, we will count heavily on younger team members to build a competitive team,” coach Klipp said.
GIRLS coach: Sandy Zullo
Graduated: Libby Rogers (3,200 relay), Jaclyn Lowman (3,200 relay)
Notable returners: Aimee Sims (Jr.), Katie Ryan (Jr.), Alena Benoit (Jr.)
Outlook: The girls had two relays make it to state last year. Two critical runners were lost to graduation for the 3,200 relay, but the complete 1,600 relay returns. Sims earned a sixth-place medal in the 800-meter run at state last season and comes off a fifth-place finish at the cross-country state meet this past fall. Ryan finished seventh in the 100-meter hurdles at state last season as well.
Quotable: “The girls are excited and anxious for the season to get underway,” coach Zullo said. “We have set some new goals to add to the success we had last year, and we promise to be a team to watch.”
BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS
BOYS coach: Freddie Dudek
Graduated: Adrian Thornton, Blake Harsy (St. Francis for football), Dan Fager, Colin Riberdy (Washington, Mo. for football)
Notable returners: Burnell Gordon (Jr.), Phillip Caddell (Sr.), Marty Hinze (Sr.), Austin Ringo (Sr.), Tyler Pittman (Sr.)
Outlook: Gordon was the only Boilermaker at state last year, placing ninth in the long jump. Harsy and Fager will be missed as the Boilers’ top sprinters while Ringo and Gordon step up in their place. Hinze leads the long-distance pack after advancing to the Class 3A sectional meet in cross-country last fall. As a team, the boys are looking to win the SouthWest Suburban Conference Meet this season.
Quotable: “I feel that we have a very talented team,” Dudek said. “They have all been working hard this offseason, even without the availability of an indoor track facility.”
GIRLS coach: Mike Kohl
Graduated: Courtney Bonty, Alexis Caddell, Kirsten Frazier, Andrea Hanson, Jasmine Johnson, Porche Moore, Kary Notton, Kathleen Payne Dom Tucker
Notable returners: Sarah Higgins (Sr.), Amy Harvoth (Jr.)
Outlook: The Boilermakers lose quite a few seniors from last year but aren’t lacking in leadership. Higgins and Harvoth have been to the state meet two years straight and look to make the trip again this season. Higgins also made a showing at the cross-country state meet last fall and will be leading the distance runners. Harvoth has already made strides this season by breaking the 26-year-old school record in high jump on March 6 at Lincoln-Way Central’s indoor invite. Another senior, Kayla Guynn will take charge of the jumpers.
Quotable: “We are excited about the incoming freshman,” Kohl said. “Our numbers are always a positive.”
BEECHER
BOYS coach: Henry Nykaza
Graduated: Matt Paarlberg
Notable returners: Griffin Nykaza (Jr.), Josh Barelli (Sr.)
Outlook: Although the Bobcats are without a home track, Nykaza and his freshman brother Grant will lead the long-distance events. Beecher finished sixth at state in cross-country this past fall and Griffin qualified for state in the 800 last season while Grant won the 1,600 at the IESA state final meet as an eighth-grader. The Bobcats have plenty of experience; it’s just a matter of putting it together on the track.
GIRLS coach: Henry Nykaza
Graduated: Katie Stolzenbach (3,200 relay), Jeanie Horner (3,200 relay)
Notable returners: Katie Darabaris (Jr.), Liz Meyer (Jr.), Larissa Swanson (So.)
Outlook: Stolzenbach, Horner, Darabaris and Meyer made up the state qualifying 3,200 relay last season. Two of those girls graduated last spring, but the Bobcats have plenty of young talent that can fill their shoes. Swanson and Darabaris along with her sister, freshman Christy Darabaris, have the distance events covered.
CENTRAL/IROQUOIS WEST
BOYS coach: Dave Ladehoff
Graduated: Alex Hart
Notable returners: Jeremy Weber (Sr.), Michael Weber (Sr.), Jon Dandurand (Sr.)
Outlook: Nine sophomores and one freshman will be finding out which events they’ll be participating in while first-year high school coach Ladehoff figures out his new team. Also, the experienced Webers will be leading the Comets in the distance events and Dandurand takes charge of the throws.
Quotable: “We are setting goals for attempts at school records in the distance, throwing and jumping events,” Ladehoff said.
GIRLS coach: Rebecca Swigert
Graduated: Audra Fink, Morgan Essington
Notable returners: Abby Rosenboom (So.), Courtney Halas (Jr.)
Outlook: Numbers are up, but the Comets are young. Rosenboom, Central’s top shot put and discus thrower, will miss the first half of the season due to injury, but hopes to come back fully loaded in the second half. She advanced to the finals at sectionals in both events as a freshman. Halas will be making up for her absence in the shot put while freshman Rayanne Wright looks ahead to state. She was the IESA 400-meter dash champion as a seventh-grader.
Quotable: “Several girls are new to the sport but are willing to try any event,” Swigert said. “Through some trial and error, we hope to have some good times and marks by May.”
COAL CITY
BOYS coach: Mark Masters
Graduated: Scott McLuckie (400 relay, 1,600 relay), Jimmy Stahler (1,600 relay), Eric Grunauer (400 relay, 1,600 relay), Mike Kosik (400 relay)
Notable returners: Kevin Gear (Sr.), T.J. Castile-Washington (So.), Alex Leake (So.)
Outlook: Only one state qualifier from last season returns to the Coalers. Castile-Washington competed in the 400 and 1,600 relays as a freshman last year. Gear will lead the throwers while sophomore Alex Leake controls the middle distance runners.
Quotable: “The boys will struggle this year,” Masters said. “Gear, Castile-Washington and Leake will lead a youthful inexperienced team.”
GIRLS coach: Mark Masters
Notable returners: Corinne Benson (Sr.), Brittany Halliday (Jr.), Megan Petty (Sr.), Brea Lewis (Jr.)
Outlook: The Coalers don’t lose any significant contributors to graduation and return plenty of experience on the girls’ side. Benson, Lewis, Jill Youngquist and Halliday qualified for state in the 400 relay while Benson qualified in the long jump as well. Petty takes on the long distance events since she competed at state in the 800 run. The girls shoot for a top three finish at the conference meet and would like to see someone medal at state this season.
Quotable: “Everyone is back plus a few solid freshmen,” Masters said.
DONONVAN
BOYS coach: Robert Arvin
Graduated: Eric Ceci, Ben Hicks, Kyle Burton, Steven Storm
Notable returners: Jacob Taylor (Sr.), Dwight Shipley (Sr.), Ben Taylor (Jr.), Blaise Garatkiewicz (Jr.)
Outlook: The Wildcats will miss their leaders from last season, but that doesn’t mean they’re giving up. Freshman Noah Emerson finished in the top 10 at the IESA state meet last season in the 400.
GIRLS coach: Robert Arvin
Graduated: Kelly Brown
Notable returners: Paris Hicks (Sr.), Jenna Taylor (So.)
Outlook: After missing from track last season, Hicks returns. She qualified for state two seasons ago in the 400. Taylor was one of the area’s top high jumpers last year for the Wildcats. New additions Kabrina Davidson and Megan Anderson both qualified for state at the grade school level.
Quotable: “For both teams, their goals are to be competitive in every meet, score as many points as we can and continuously improve throughout the season,” Arvin said.
DWIGHT/GARDNER-S.WILMINGTON
BOYS coach: Larry Lane
Graduated: Mitch Papiese
Notable returners: Remington Riccolo (Sr.), Jordan Kohrt (Jr.), Brian Scoggin (Jr.), Christian Kulla (Jr.), Jon Paul Gallois (Sr.)
Outlook: It looks as though the Trojans won’t have any problems scoring in several events at meets. All the bases are covered. Riccolo will be working the hurdles and pole vault, Kohrt has the sprints, Scoggin has the middle distance events, Kulla will do the throwing and Gallois has the distance events covered.
Quotable: “The team lacks depth in the sprints but is loaded with a group of excellent freshmen and sophomore distance runners, Lane said.”
GIRLS coach: Larry Lane
Graduated: Brianna Vigna (Illinois State, for swimming — 400), Chloe Trewartha (Illinois Wesleyan — triple jump)
Notable returners: Anna Oelschlager (Jr.), Lindie McCarthy (Jr.), Nicole Glab (Jr.)
Outlook: Although the girls’ numbers are fewer than past years, a large junior class will lead a determined freshmen class. Oelschlager and McCarthy will take keep the sprinters in line with help from sophomore Haley Residori. Glab controls the distance runners after she qualified for sectionals in cross-country last fall.
Quotable: “The (girls) have bonded well together and is training hard to reach their full potential,” Lane said.
HERSCHER
BOYS coach: Steve Hartke
Graduated: Skylar Mills, Mike Suess, Erik Tobey, Jim Ulrich
Notable returners: Josh Jones (Jr.), Jared Devine (So.), Nick Hinrichs (Jr.)
Outlook: The Tigers lose big points from Mills, Suess and Tobey, but three runners from their 1,600 relay return. Jones, Devine and Hinrichs were four seconds under the state qualifying time a week before the postseason, but didn’t show the same performance at sectionals.
Quotable: “We’ll have some solid improvements from our sophomores this year and hopefully put together some relays by sectionals,” Hartke said.
GIRLS coach: Brian Noffke
Graduated: Kelly Damptz, Jordan Orr (800 relay)
Notable returners: Kaley Wakey (Jr.), Megan Kates (So.), Kayla Wetzel (Sr.), Deanna Perkins (So.)
Outlook: Two-time state qualifier Kaley Wakey finished eighth in the pole vault as a sophomore last spring while Kates, Wetzel, Perkins and Orr made up the 800 relay. Orr will be missed, but the Tigers have plenty of sophomores to step up to any task at hand.
Quotable: “We’re just mainly working on improvement throughout the season,” Noffke said. “(We use) Al Carius’ philosophy of ‘run for fun and personal bests.’”
MANTENO
BOYS coach: Lee Pennington
Graduated: Shane Johnson (110 hurdles)
Notable returners: Brandon Ringler (Sr.)
Outlook: The Panthers lose a state qualifier to graduation, but Ringler returns after finishing ninth in the high jump at the state meet last season.
GIRLS coach: Laura Schade
Notable returners: Kristi Demonbreun (Jr.), Anouk Breuker (Sr.)
Outlook: Demonbreun returns after competing in the 1,600 and 3,200 events at state last season. Breuker will be working on the middle distances while her sister, freshman Fleur Breuker, joins the team as a great middle distance runner as well.
Quotable: “The girls’ goals for the season are to take a relay team to state and to have as many individual qualifiers as possible,” Schade said.
MOMENCE/GRANT PARK
BOYS coach: John Cherry
Graduated: Nate Gibbs (400 relay, 800 relay), Demar Brown (Illinois, for football — 400 relay, 800 relay), Eric Carroll, Eric Newberry (transferred schools)
Notable returners: Anthony Works (Jr.), Jim Schopf (Sr.), David Clayton (Sr.)
Outlook: The Redskins lose two major contributors from their state berth last season and hope to see an underclassmen step up. Works should anchor the Momence sprints and long jump while Clayton comes back after a year hiatus. He’ll work on the high jump. Schopf returns after he missed a state berth in the discus by 1 foot last year.
Quotable: “We’ll also have a lot of underclassmen running in relays and open events this year,” Cherry said. “As the season progresses we should get a lot better as those guys get more experience.”
GIRLS coach: Mike Bleyle
Notable returners: Krystal Meyer (Sr.), Kathryn Graf (So.), Londyn McNeal (Sr.)
Outlook: Meyer, Graf and McNeal will be leading a very young squad. Meyer went to state two seasons ago in the 100 and 200 dashes and the long jump.
Quotable: “We have a young team,” coach Bleyle said, “but we have a group of girls that work hard and want to compete.”
PEOTONE
BOYS coach: Lee Coakley
Graduated: Ryan Lindemulder (Trinity Christian, for cross-country — 1,600), Tucker Collins (discus), Matt Kmet (Illinois)
Notable returners: Tyler Clott (Jr.), Trevor Stetzel (Jr.), John Osborne (So.), Kyle Hopkins (Sr.), Carter Mulvihill (Sr.)
Outlook: Although the boys lose three important leaders to graduation, the Blue Devils have one state title to defend. Clott broke the school record in shot put and was the state champion as a sophomore last season. He has two more years to improve on that record. Stetzel, Hopkins and Mulvihill will have the distance events covered while Osborne runs sprints and helps out Clott in the throws.
Quotable: “We have a lot of rookies this year,” Coakley said, “but we are looking forward to some good competition.”
GIRLS coach: Drew Tyler
Graduated: Becca Garst (Olivet Nazarene)
Notable returners: Kayce Nagel (So.), Bethany Kulacz (So.)
Outlook: The girls lose their top distance runner and return a young squad. No seniors and only one junior represent the upperclassmen. Nagel was the only state qualifier last season. She’s been their top discus thrower for the Blue Devils while Kulacz broke the school high jump record as a freshman as well.
Quotable: “We have a new coach this year, Drew Tyler,” Coakley said. “He works with runners and jumpers.”
REED-CUSTER
BOYS coach: Tim Crawford
Graduated: Gabe Cadarette (800 relay), Mike Lovino
Notable returners: Jason Baker (Sr.), Steven Davis (Sr.), Troy Ehringer (Jr.)
Outlook: Tim Schad, Shaun Sennett and Davis hope to find someone to make up for Cadarette in the 800 relay. Meanwhile Davis keeps the sprinters in check since he qualified for state in the 100 and 200 dashes last spring. Baker qualified for state in the shot put and defeated Peotone’s state champion Tyler Clott at sectionals, but had disappointment at state and hopes to return for his final year.
Quotable: “I believe there are about four teams who are capable of winning conference and sectionals,” coach Crawford said, “and we are one of them.”
GIRLS coach: Tim Crawford
Graduated: Kelsi McMahan (Aurora, for basketball — shot put, discus), Stefanie James (110 hurdles)
Notable returners: Emily Christian (So.), Stacie Hall (So.)
Outlook: With major contributors James and McMahan graduated, no seniors return on the girls’ side, but two young state qualifiers are back with more experience under their belts. Christian made it to the finals in high jump with a personal best while Hall qualified in the 800 run.
Quotable: “We have a staff that all have had personal success as athletes at the college level and beyond,” Crawford said, “and we believe we can teach that same attitude to the kids.”
ST. ANNE
BOYS coach: Charles Barwegan
Graduated: Clayton Mason (high jump), Dimitri Morgan (400 relay), Greg Turner (400 relay), Brandon Brewer (transferred, 400 relay), Javonta Davis (not participating, 400 relay)
Notable returners: Dionte Nathaniel (Sr.), Maurice Graham (Jr.)
Outlook: Graham is the only returning state qualifier for the Cardinals after losing three important players to graduation, another deciding to not come out and another transferring out of state. Graham represented at state in the long jump and is a major contender in the sprints. Nathaniel will take control of the distance. He went to sectionals last fall in cross-country.
Quotable: “These runners along, with guys like Sha Broder, Devonta Wilson, Tremayne Davis and possibly Devante Bender, will bring the speed that St. Anne needs to be on the leaderboard at sectionals,” Barwegan said.”
GIRLS coach: Kendra Hill
Graduated: Jasmine Harris, Danielle Strange
Notable returners: Jaelyn French (Sr.)
Outlook: First-year coach Kendra Hill doesn’t know much about her new squad, but wants to see results. French returns with more experience under her belt after competing during cross-country last fall. She has been injured in the past and hopes to stay healthy throughout the track season.
Quotable: “The outlook for the season is very positive,” Hill said. “We’ve been training hard and look forward to the competitions ahead.”
TRI-POINT
BOYS coach: Gary McDaniel
Graduated: Jake Froelich
Notable returners: Josh Nichols (Jr.), Jordan Willis (Jr.), Samuel Sievert (So.)
Outlook: The Chargers lose one runner from last season’s team but gain freshman Chase Fontinel who will participate in numerous events.
GIRLS coach: Gary McDaniel
Graduated: Taylor English, Whitney English
Notable returners: Katie Kurtenbach (Sr.), Lauren Betrand (Jr.)
Outlook: Freshman Rachael Kerrins, a state qualifier in the 800 last season as an eighth grader, had the best showing for the Chargers at the Eastern Illinois University Indoor Meet last Saturday by finishing 23rd overall in the 800.
Quotable: “Our boys’ 800 and 400 relays are showing some promise and have the potential to do well this season,” McDaniel said. “The high school squad has two freshman this year who qualified for state last year as eighth-graders and are looking to try and do the same this year at the high school level.”
WATSEKA/MILFORD
BOYS coach: Rich Dickte
Graduated: Chris Florido (400 relay), Andy Wagner, Danny Thompson (discus, 800 relay), Logan Newkirk (Jr. — injured)
Notable returners: Marcel Maiden (Sr.), Caleb Parsons (So.), John Kidwell (Sr.)
Outlook: Although the Warriors lose a few state qualifiers to graduation, the return of their leader, Maiden, qualified for state last spring in four events, excelling in sprints and jumps. As a team, Watseka earned three first-place trophies and finished third at sectionals last season, only four points out of first. Kidwell will represent the Warriors at the Illinois Top Times Meet in the long jump on March 26.
Quotable: “The good news is that we have a very talented group of underclassmen,” coach Dickte said.
GIRLS coach: Troy Simpson
Graduated: Hannah Thomas (shot put), Sara Conley (400 relay), Brandy Peterson (400 relay)
Notable returners: Shelby Sumner (Sr.), Shana Conley (So.), Naomi Rodriguez (Sr.)
Outlook: Sumner and Shana Conley are the only state qualifying returners from last season but will be leading a large number of girls. Both were part of the 400 relay at state while Conley participated in the 100 as well. Rodriguez will take care of middle distances while sophomores Courtney Bossong and Marianne Florido help with the relays.
Quotable: “Every year we look to finish in the top three in conference and put people in position to qualify for state berths,” Simpson said. “The ladies have some lofty goals as a team and though we have lost some key players to graduation, we have several returning athletes that have experience to help lead this team.”
WILMINGTON
BOYS coach: Kip Barnes
Graduated: Trevor Howard (St. Francis)
Notable returners: Dustin Sukle, Max Lyday
Outlook: The Wildcats increased numbers from last season and hope to see results. Sukle will be seen in the distance events while Lyday leads the throwers.
Quotable: “We have a lot of fresh faces that have never run track before, but are doing very well,” Barnes said. “We are looking forward to seeing all our members compete this year and to continue working to get better.”
GIRLS coach: Kip Barnes
Notable returners: Sarah Gans (Sr.)
Outlook: Shot put and discus thrower Gans has already shown results in for Wilmington. She took first and threw 35 feet 4 3/4 at the Reed-Custer indoor invitational last Tuesday. Angel Formenti controls the sprints.
Quotable: “We have a lot of young girls on the team and we are still working to figure out who fits in what events,” Barnes said. “The girls are working very hard and have shown a lot of improvement.”
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