October 28, 2001
BY TINA AKOURIS STAFF REPORTER
The top two teams in the state staged a worthy preview for next week's main event--the state cross-country meet at Peoria's Detweiller Park. Crystal Lake Central, ranked No. 1 all season, was edged out by peaking No. 2 Glenbard South 58-64 for the Wheaton North Sectional title Saturday at Northside Park in Wheaton.
"That was definitely our goal. You never go into a race trying to get second place,'' said Glenbard South senior Micah VanDenend. "We knew we'd have a tough team challenge today, and everybody had their own assignment on how to run the race."
This is the third major title in a row for Glenbard South. The Raiders won the Suburban Prairie Red Conference title, and then went on to win the Glenbard South Regional last weekend.
Geneva finished third with 110 points, followed by Waubonsie Valley with 116 and Wheaton-Warrenville South with 192. The top five teams qualify for next week's state meet.
Individually, VanDenend dominated the boys race and ran away from the pack at about the 1-1/2-mile mark, winning the sectional title in a course-record 14:59. Waubonsie Valley senior Brian Brunick was second in 15:13.
Raiders senior Kevin Kuhlman, who was third in 15:19, said having VanDenend back from an injury gave the team more confidence entering one of the state's toughest sectionals. VanDenend missed most of last year and part of this season with a stress fracture in his right leg.
"[The team's confidence is] huge now. I can't even put it into words,'' Kuhlman said. "Our back guys [sophomores Eric MacTaggart, John Mulrow and Kyle Nugent] were right where they had to be, and we knew we had to get our work done.
''We knew where we stacked up as a team, and we exceeded that. We're ready. The confidence is there.''
Crystal Lake Central coach Bill Eschman had to juggle his lineup for the sectional, but he does not think the changes made a difference in the final scoring. Junior Nick Fuhs, who normally runs in the No. 5 lineup spot, was sick, and Eschman moved junior Joe Schaumann up from the seventh position to take Fuhs' place.
"It wouldn't have made that much of a difference [if Fuhs was healthy], but it would have made the meet closer,'' Eschman said. "You look at what [Glenbard South] ran at conference and regionals, and they're getting better each week. It's going to be scary to see them run next week. They're stepping it up.''
AT RICH EAST: Sandburg won the team sectional title with 59 points ahead of Naperville North with 66. In a close battle for third, Naperville Central edged out Lockport 95-99. Andrew sophomore Matt Withrow won the boys title in 14:26; senior Jake Stout of Lockport was second in 14:38.
AT NILES WEST: Fenton edged two-time defending state champion York for the team title, winning the sectional 83-96. Fenton seniors Carlos Mendoza and Andy Sbertoli continued to dominate their races and finished 1-2, respectively, to propel the Bison. Mendoza won the meet in 15:31 and Sbertoli ran a 15:35. Downers Grove North senior Ed Borjon was third in 15:40.
AT SCHAUMBURG: Lake Zurich junior Sam Romanowski won the sectional title in 15:03, well ahead of New Trier's Erik Sloan, who finished second in 15:26. Barrington won the team title with 130 points; Wheeling was second with 131.
AT LISLE: In a Class A sectional, senior Paul Jellema of Illiana Christian blew away the field and won the boys title in 15:03. St. Francis won the team title with 62 points, and St. Francis senior Pat Quinn was second overall in 15:32.