Notre Dame wins State Cross-Country Championship and Engels Wins Individual State Title

Notre Dame grade school in Clarendon Hills won the 2014 IESA Class A Boys Cross-Country State Championship in dramatic fashion, with the team title decided by the sixth-man tie-breaker. Notre Dame was led by William Engels of Clarendon Hills. Engels placed first in the State Championship meet to claim the IESA 2014 individual state title.

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Championship meet was held in Normal, Illinois on October 18, 2014. Defending state champion Elmwood Junior High School was favored to win the meet, having recorded the top team times in IESA Sectional competition. However, the boys from Notre Dame were determined to reclaim the championship trophy. Notre Dame won the IESA State Championship in 2012, and finished fourth in 2013.

What resulted was the closest race in IESA State Championship history. Scoring in cross-country is based on the finish places of the top five runners on each team. At the conclusion of the meet, Notre Dame and Elmwood were deadlocked in a scoring tie. As a result, the IESA turned to the sixth-man tie-breaker. The team whose sixth man finished first in the race would win the State title. Notre Dame’s sixth man, Zach Gooding, finished one place, and one step, ahead of Elmwood’s sixth man to clinch the State Championship for Notre Dame.

The Notre Dame squad was led by three All-State runners: Engels, Colin Costello and Donovan Lahmann. The IESA awards All-State honors to the top 25 finishers at the State Championship meet. Engels, the individual champion who was undefeated in 2014, covered the 3200 meter course in a time of 10:45. Costello was exceptional with his fourth place finish. Lahmann capped off a tremendous season with a 17th place finish.

The Notre Dame victory was secured by strong races from Joey Schultz (45th), Michael Moran (47th), Gooding (49th), and Bradley Domke (72nd) . Each of the Notre Dame runners placed in the top tier of the elite field of 206 runners. Chris Brady, Zach Jensen and Sean Walsh were alternates for the championship team.

The Notre Dame team is coached by John Darrow, Nena Lavoie, Tara Hanus, and Jennifer Surowiec.

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