2011 Preview: Wheaton Prep Cross Country

The rankings are great, and so are the expectations.

But Wheaton Warrenville South girls cross country coach Rob Harvey is trying to keep things in perspective regarding his Tigers—the state’s top 3A team which is the odds-on favorite to win this season’s championship in Peoria.

“It’s nice to get the recognition,” Harvey told the Daily Herald. “I don’t want to downplay the No. 1 (state) ranking. It’s other people’s perception of your ability. The only expectations we have to live up to are the ones we place on ourselves.”

The perception of WWS’ ability crosses state lines this season. The Tigers are ranked 10^th in Marc Bloom’s ESPN High School Boys and Girls Super 25 U.S. High School Cross Country preseason poll.

WWS returns its entire stock of runners from last November’s club that roared to its second consecutive . And it appears that the Tigers won’t be knocked off their perch anytime soon.

Three of their best runners are juniors, including McKenna Kiple, who topped the Tigers at state last November with an 11^th-place finish. Mikayla Kightlinger and Hope Schmelzle also placed among the state’s top 50 at the meet.

Senior Lauren Mordini earned all-state honors with her 18^th-place finish in 2010. Classmates Clare Kelly and Hana Lobsinger also were part of the third-place squad. Another senior, Amy Yong, and sophomore Melinda Franke are among the Tigers’ core runners, as well.

The Tigers took part in last Saturday’s Hornet-Red Devil Invitational, and were edged out for first place by New Trier (60-77). However, Kelly, Yong and Franke didn’t compete in the meet. Karin Gorski and Lydia Rudd ran with the Tigers that day.

Wheaton Warrenville South boys

The Tigers didn’t send anyone downstate last year after qualifying the entire team in 2009. Of course, coach Greta Havey wants to end that drought, but her immediate objective is to get the Tigers back to being a top-tier DVC team.

“My main goal is to be back up to the top two or three in the conference,” she said. “Anything past that is icing on the cake.”

WWS was fifth at the DVC meet, yet rebounded to take third at the Naperville North regional and advance to sectionals.

“For the team to have done what they did after they had a difficult conference meet, I’m very proud of that,” Havey said.

Seniors Dan Krob and Russell Valentin return from the Tigers’ sectional qualifying team. They’ll be joined by seniors Quinn Farley, Nick Ives and Rob Piombino, who is out for the team for the first time. Piombino ran track for the Tigers last spring.

Senior Derek Andersen and junior Daryle Worley, each of whom also competed for the Tigers’ track team in the 3,200 meters, were WWS’ top two finishers at last weekend’s Hornet-Red Devil Invitational. They crossed the finish line 30^th and 31^st, respectively, while Farley was 33^rd. The Tigers placed a respectable seventh in the 17-team field.

“We’re trying to stay confident, especially early on,” Havey said. “We have to focus on staying together and pushing ourselves through a pack. We don’t have a front-runner; we just have to learn to move the pack up higher.”

Wheaton North boys

A handful of Falcon harriers gained valuable experience at last year’s Class 3A state meet, and coach is looking for this group to continue to improve, as well as to provide leadership.

“We have a strong core group back, and they are healthy and excited for the season,” said Roe, whose entire team qualified for state in 2010. “They have established high goals for the end of the season, and are working towards those goals. They enjoy running together and getting together outside of practice.”

Seniors Aiden Askin and Sam Hoffman both ran personal bests at the state meet. The Falcons’ leading runners earned all-DVC honors in 2010, and Askin also was an all-regional pick. Sammy Spivey is another experienced senior.

“I’ve been very pleased with the leadership development of our senior class,” Roe said. “They are helping the younger runners transition into the program and develop into leaders themselves.”

Wyatt Didier and Paul Steeno move into their junior years after taking part in the state meet. Alex Ryan, also a junior, gives the Falcons added depth.

“The DVC and state will again be loaded,” said Roe, in his seventh season. “But we welcome the opportunity to test ourselves against the best. It should be an exciting season for us.”

Wheaton North girls

Success is no stranger to the Falcon girls team. Veteran coach Ron Piro, starting his 31^st year, sits on top the all-time IHSA list for most dual meet victories in a career, and at one school.

But success as it pertains to qualifying for the state meet has eluded the Falcons the past few years. Wheaton North last qualified an entire team for state in 2006, and 2008 was the last time an individual Falcon advanced to Detweiller Park.

In 2010, the Falcons placed fourth at the DVC meet, fifth at regionals and seventh at sectionals.

“All of these places we intend to improve upon greatly this season,” Piro said.

Laura Gann, Jacky Rowe and Sammy Ruggiero are the seniors on this season’s team. (Wheaton North lost just one runner from last season’s lineup to graduation.) Piro does have a nucleus of juniors and sophomores with varsity experience—among them Alyssa Berry, Anne Denz and Mary Rosenwinkle, and sophomore Katie Blume.

Juniors Mikayla Hartel and Grace Onesti, along with sophomores Allison Farnsworth, Lindsey Johnson and Kate Shikany, round out the Falcons’ lineup.

St. Francis girls

Kelly McShea—a two-time state qualifier who is one of the program’s most decorated runners—has since graduated, but the Spartans welcome back a contingent of runners who possess state experience.

Juniors Kate Roback and Janne DeValerio, along with senior Ann Kolker, helped lift the Spartans to a seventh-place finish in the Class 2A race.

Complementing this trio in 2011 is Meghan McShea, Kelly’s sister who’s a sophomore. Senior Maggie O’Hare, juniors Amanda Schmitt and Lauren Callahan, and sophomore Tessa McKenna round out coach Scott Nelson’s team. All of the above were part of last season’s state-qualifying club.