Fry, Effrein Look to Cap DGN Careers in Style

No longer able to sneak up on opponents, Downers Grove North knows it won't be easy to match last year's eight-place finish at the Class 3A girls cross country state finals.

But no need to fret, as senior leaders Sami Fry and Gabby Effrein have been hard at work the last few years and fully expect another big showing this fall from the Trojans program.

The two co-captains qualified for state individually as sophomores and then helped the Trojans qualify the entire team downstate last fall. With all five of the school's top runners back, this season could prove to be a special one.

"Our top five from last year is the same, so that's awesome," said Effrein, who was 59^th overall at state in cross country and then helped the Trojans 4x800 relay squad to a third-place finish in the state track meet. "First of all, we've become more familiar with each other's running styles, and second of all we'll have more depth this year than most teams."

Downers Grove North doesn't just have a record 104 girls out for the team, but it has a talented, experienced group ready to join Fry at the top of the pack. Fry was 11^th in 3A with a time of 17:41 on the state course in Peoria, then added a 16^th-place showing in the 3,200 at the track finals.

She's gunning for a top-10 finish this fall but expects to see the likes of Effrein, Jillian Kothanek, Gabby Hesslau and Allison Profitt push her hard. Fry also plans to team with another talented crop of freshmen as the Trojans look to build the program into a consistent power.

"We really want to do well at the state meet," said Fry, who plans to run in college. "It really takes the pressure off to have that team goal. It helps to look at the team, help each other and really focus on the team."

Trojans coach Tim McDonald said Effrein and Fry grew as leaders last year and he expects more of the same from them in their senior seasons.

"Last year, we were kind of under the radar, but once the postseason came they just ran real well," he said of the Trojans' emergence. "This year, there's a lot more expectation and we're not under the radar, but the girls have responded well.

"Sami and Gabby went (to state) as individuals as sophomores, but they really enjoyed last year going as a team."

They've enjoyed working with their teammates in the early going this season.

"Gabby and I have always been more experienced and now we're the oldest ones," Fry said. "We're kind of used to being the calm ones on the line who have to settle everyone else down. It helps us to have that role. If you're telling people it'll be fine and we'll do great, you soak it in yourself."

So don't be surprised to see these two Trojans settling the team down again at the starting line at the state country finals in November.