2020 IHSA Class 1A Sectional Highlights

By Michael Newman

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Instead of ending this season at Detweiller Park, four sectional meets closed down October and this crazy 2020 cross country season. When you look back at what Saturday had to offer, we were blessed. Great races at all five locations.

Here is a look at each of the fours sectionals and the highlights from those races.

Winnebago sweeps individual and team titles at Seneca

The times were slow, and the winds were hard gusting at over 20 mph at some stages of Saturday’s Girls Sectional meet. It did not affect powerhouse Winnebago one bit. The Indians swept the first five team places to score a perfect 15 points. Bago had a 43 second split on their first four, 68 seconds on their top five. It did not matter in reality the way Winnebago was running. Natalia Martino was the individual winner running 19:01. Hailey Heair of East Dubuque has been under the radar until the state series. She ran 19:15 to finish second. Grace Erb (19:33), Kaylee Woolery (19:43), Marissa Roggensack (19:44), and Katie Erb (20:09) were next for Winnebago. Renee Rittmeyer finished 10th (20:37) as the team’s sixth runner.

Rock Falls was a distant, distant second (109 points) led by the 17th place finish from Calin Gaulrapp. The Rockets had a 57 second split on their top five runners. Host Seneca was third (141 points) paced by a 11-12 finish from Amber Vroman and Ashley Alsvig. Rockford Christian was next (150 points) powered by Kelly Giardina’s eighth-place finish. Rock Island Alleman had freshman Tess Hendrickson finished ninth to help them finish fifth (164 points). Orion (176 points) and Mercer County (188 points) finished sixth and seventh.

Rockford Christian has the mojo in winning Boys Sectional title; Jacob Belha crowned individual sectional title

Rockford Christian has been on a roll all season going undefeated heading into this sectional meet. This was not the normal pack that the Royal Lions have experienced during the regular season, but it was enough to win the sectional team title with 63 points. Rockford Christian did have five runners in the top 24 with a 69 split on that group. D’Artagnon Beaver led his team finishing 2nd followed by Stephen Thomas (8th), Adison Elliott (19th), Ethan Walsh (23rd), and Weston Forward (24th).

Jacob Behla helped Sherrard to a second-place finish by claiming the sectional individual title. Belha ran 16:44 for the win finishing six seconds ahead of Rockford Christian’s Beaver (16:50) and another four seconds ahead of Tommy Murray of Riverdale (16:54). Amboy ended a strong season in finishing third (109 points) led by the sixth-place finish from Brock Loftus and Kyler McNich finishing 11th. Riverdale (136 points) and Seneca (151 points) finished fourth and fifth. Pontiac finished sixth (182 points) ahead of Mercer County (187 points).

Monticello rebounds in St. Teresa sectional win; Ahmari kicks to win ahead of Bruhn

Mabry Bruhn of Monticello entered this meet undefeated. Her closest race was a three second win ahead of Urbana University’s Kate Ahmari on this course the week before. The U-High sophomore must have learned a lot form that race that she apparently used on Saturday on the Hickory Point Golf Course. Ahmari had the edge at the end of the race running 18:29 for the win. Bruhn finished second (18:32) ahead of Gabriella Moreman of Bismarck-Henning (18:37). Grace Talbert of Monticello (18:51) and Gabrielle Spain of Shelbyville (18:57) finished fourth and fifth.

Monticello looked tough to beat heading into the regional meet but finished second last week. The Lady Sages were back at full strength as they scored 51 points for the win ahead of Tolono Unity (69 points). Monticello had their strength in the front with four runners in the top 10 and their fifth runner (Rose Talbert) placing 34th. Bruhn and Talbert led in the top five followed by Rachel Koon (8th) and Estella Miller (10th). The top four split was 43 seconds while their top five split bounced to 112 seconds.

Tolono Unity did not have the strength up front to counter what Monticello had. The Rockets still had five runners in the top 27 with a 67 second split. Erica Woodard led the way for Unity finishing sixth. Taylor Joop (11th), Caelyn Kleparski (13th), Olivia Shike (21st), and Elizabeth Hulick (27th) were the other runners in their top five.

Marshall finished third (107 points) led by Brooklyn Bender finishing 9th. Urbana University was next (130 points) behind Ahmari’s win and Mikayla Blanke finishing seventh. St. Joseph-Ogden finished fifth (150 points) followed by Roxana (161 points) and Shelbyville (179 points).

Hall, Arthur-Lovington sweep sectional titles at St. Teresa

Forget about what happened in 2019 to this Arthur-Lovington team failing to make it to the state meet. This team has been on a mission all season with them taking a huge step in winning this sectional title Saturday in Decatur. Led by the individual win from Layton Hall, the Knights put three runners in the first ten to win with 62 points. St. Joseph-Ogden scored 76 points to finish second. It was supposed to be close between Hall and Tyler Guthrie of Father McGivney. Hall would have nothing of it as he ran 15:27 for the win 16 seconds ahead of Guthrie. Eli Mojonnier of Bismarck-Henning ran 15:49 to finish third just one second ahead of fourth-place Jason Grambart of Monticello. Arthur-Lovington was paced by Hall’s win and then Logan Beckmier (5th) and Lyle Adcock (10th). Jacob Adcock (18th) and Jace Green (38th) were the team’s fourth and fifth runners. St. Joseph-Ogden had a six second split between Carson Maroon (12th), Charlie Mabry (14th), and Brandon Mattsey (15th). The Spartans had five runners in the top 25 with only a 25 second split.

Monticello finished third (82 points) paced by the 4-6 finish of Grambart and Josh Baysore. Tolono Unity finished fourth (120 points) led by the 11th place finish from Connor O’Donnell. Robinson (191 points) finished fifth followed by Effingham St. Anthony (199 points) and Bismarck-Henning (208 points).

Perry under 17-minutes at Elmwood; Normal University wins by 10 over Stanford Olympia

We have seen Anna Perry run some extremely fast times during this season. Her race on Saturday at Elmwood’s Maple Lane Country Club. The Eureka junior decimated the rest of the field running 16:59 and winning by 75 seconds ahead of Savannah Beavers of Stanford Olympia. Normal University’s Lizzy Zacharias (18:39) and Adriana Crabtree (18:43) finished third and fourth. Nora Brady of Bloomington Central Catholic and Addie Symonds of Elmwood were both timed at 18:47 finishing fifth and sixth.

Eureka was expected to be one of the team favorites entering this meet. They were without top five runners Alexi Fogo and Laurel Munson. The Hornets finished 11th out of 15 teams. Normal University was without their top runner Lyndsey Wolters. The Pioneers still came away with the sectional title with 78 points placing five runners in the top 36. Stanford Olympia was next (88 points) behind Beavers finish and Abby Litwiller finishing ninth. Sacred Heart-Griffin ran good in finishing third (113 points) with Vivian Rahmel leading the team placing seventh. Auburn was fourth (131 points) led by the 12 place finish from Emma West. Knoxville finished fifth (167 points) followed by Williamsville (168 points) and Bloomington Central Catholic (186 points).

Stanford Olympia easy team winner at Elmwood; Kistner edges Sheppard in great individual race

One of the showdowns that we were looking forward to this weekend was Charlie Kistner of Olympia racing Miles Sheppard of Hamilton (COOP) in the boys final race. Sheppard entered the meet without a blemish on his 2020 resume. When he finished, it was not that way at all. Kistner ran 14:55 on his home course a week ago. Kistner and Sheppard broke away from the pack early setting the table for a great individual race. It was Kistner that cashed in his chips first moving away from Sheppard to win the sectional title with a 14:55 time. Sheppard still ran a good race a little more than six seconds behind (15:02). Luke Hoffmann of Elmwood finished third (15:39) with Noah Penry of Heyworth (15:52) and Adam Bohn of Havana (15:57) finishing fourth and fifth.

Stanford Olympia only scored 36 points for the sectional title placing five runners in the top 17. Logan Wheeler finished behind Kistner in sixth. Owen Dare and Carter Philips had a 11-12 finish with Lucas Lawless the team’s fifth runner in 17th. Their split from Wheeler to Lawless was 37 seconds. Elmwood scored 85 points to finish second. Hamilton (COOP) had a good team race in finishing third with 128 points. Deer Creek-Mackinaw (144 points) and El Paso-Gridley (149 points) finished fourth and fifth.

This time it is Rosary for the team title; Surtz tunes up for the post-season with individual win

Lianna Surtz of Rosary has run on this Harvest Christian Academy campus course many times this fall. Saturday’s race in Elgin was just another race for the defending Class 1A State Champion. Surtz was in charge through this race on the rugged 5k course running 19:07 to win another sectional title. Julia Wolke of Christian Liberty Academy was Surtz’s closest competition as she ran 19:28 to finish second.

It was IC Catholic Prep that won last week on this course. This sectional race belonged to Rosary but just barely. Rosary used top ten finishes from Surtz, Maia Italia (5th), and Olivia Kunio (7th) helped Rosary edge IC Catholic Prep 37 to 42 for the sectional title. Rosary had five runners in the top 20 with a split of 67 seconds from their second through fifth runners. IC Catholic Prep again had their top three runners in the first six places with a 3-4 finish from Carly Manchester and Kennedy Calcagno and Frankie Chaidez placing sixth. The Lady Knights had five runners in the op 23.

Wheaton Academy finished third (112 points) led by the 14th place finish from Lily Lebo. Harvest Christian Academy finished fourth (145 points) with Joliet Catholic a point back in fifth (146 points). Chicago Christian (195 points) and Kankakee McNamara (218 points) were the next teams.

Rogers stays undefeated with sectional win; Harvest Christian Academy defends home course

Drew Rogers of Herscher continues to be one of the top runners in the state regardless of class. The junior ran to a 32 second sectional title win running 15:49 on the 5k campus course at Harvest Christian Academy. Matthew Olech of Harvest Christian ran 16:21 to finish second with Nicky Edwards-Levin of Chicago University running 16:29 to finish third.

Harvest Christian Academy had three runners in the top five with all their scorers in the first 32 to win with 62 points. Olech was followed by the 4-5 finish from Hayden Colclasure and Daniel Winkelman who were both timed at 16:33. Carson Welsh was the team’s fourth runner (25th) 79 seconds behind the front pack. Alex Powell was another 12 seconds back finishing in 32nd.

Northridge Prep had a top 10 finish from Andrew Brockmeier (9th) to finish with 100 points. Latin School had top 10 finishes Akili Parekh (6th), Ryan Hardiman (8th), and Peter Bernhardt (10th) to finish third overall with 104 points. Aurora Central Catholic (118 points), Herscher (136 points), Wheaton Academy (187 points), and Joliet Catholic (209 points) were the next teams.

Bailey runs away with 41 second win; DuQuoin too much in sectional team win

Ansley Bailey of Metropolis has been the top 1A Girls runner in the south all season. She proved it again Saturday morning at the Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park. Bailey easily won her final high school race covering the course in 18:39. Kristen Ess of Breese Central finished second (19:20) ahead of DuQuoin’s Olivia Phillips (19:38), Julia O’Neill (19:52), and Mia Wills of Benton (19:56).

DuQuoin came into the meet as the favorite and showed that in winning the sectional title with 53 points. The Indians placed four runners in the first 14 and five runners in the top 28. Phillips was followed in the top 10 with Jacqueline Crain finishing ninth. Lauren Heape (11th), Kallie Oestreicher (14th), and Alexis George (28th) rounded out the team’s top five. Their top five split was 108 seconds. Hamilton County edged Benton for second 88-90 led by a tenth-place finish from Maddie Karcher. Benton had Wills and Hailey Wallace in seventh finish in the top 10. Pinckneyville (123 points) and Freeburg (128 points) finished fourth and fifth. Breese Central finished sixth (145 points) ahead of crosstown rival Breese Mater Dei (166 points).

Mumford rolls to sectional individual title; Benton win team title

It was an easy win for Trenton-Wesclin’s Justin Mumford in his race Saturday in Swansea. Mumford’s time of 15:19 was 37 seconds ahead of Benton’s Gavin Genisio and his teammate Reece Johnson (16:02). Issac Teel of Pinckneyville (16:10) and Landen Swiney of DuQuoin (16:11) finished fourth and fifth.

Benton had a 16 second split on their third though fifth runners as the Rangers scored 63 points for the sectional win. Pinckneyville (78 points) and Freeburg (101 points) finished second and third. Belleville Althoff Catholic (160 points) was fourth. DuQuoin and Trenton-Wesclin both scored 163 points tying for fifth.