From the Daily-Herald

Raiders win first sectional
By John Lemon Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on October 28, 2001

A new chapter was written Saturday in Glenbard South's history-making season as the Raiders set the stage for what could be a Cinderella ending next week in Peoria.

Glenbard South won the first sectional title in school history Saturday. The Raiders beat Crystal Lake Central Saturday at the Wheaton North Class AA boys sectional at Northside Park. The Raiders scored 58 points to top the Tigers' 64.

Crstyal Lake Central has been widely considered the favorite to win state. But the Raiders, led by individual champion Micah VanDenend and Kevin Kuhlman in third, might have changed some minds about who is the team to beat.

The Raiders' previous best sectional finish was second in 1998. That also was the year of their best state finish, sixth.

Time for at least one update.

"Our guys really believe in themselves," said Glenbard South coach Andy Preuss. "They set goals high. They'll enjoy the moment but we know Crystal Lake will be right there next week."

VanDenend's 14 minute 59 second time was 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Brian Brunick from Waubonsie Valley.

"We were aware of them (Glenbard South)," said Crystal Lake Central coach Bill Eschman. "It wasn't that we ran bad. They ran great. They ran incredible."

VanDenend formed a 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup with Kuhlman that the Tigers' could not match. Crstyal Lake's first two runners came in sixth and seventh.

"All year they have been the No. 1 team," Kuhlman said. "We didn't get much attention. They are a real tough team. The key was our front runners, because their pack is great."

Glenbard South's pack was fast too, especially Eric MacTaggart in ninth and John Mulrow 11th. Kyle Nugent finished 34th. "John ran unbelievable," Preuss said.

Geneva (110 points), Waubonsie Valley (116) and Wheaton Warrenville South (192) grabbed the final three team spots for state.

The loudest roar of the day came at the awards ceremony when the Tigers found out Kanelend finished sixth, thus leaving WW South in the top five. Michael Popejoy led the Tigers in 19th place (15:37).

Lake Park's Chris Bosworth was the top individual qualifier in 15:34 (eighth), and Glenbard North's Dave Cobian also qualified in 15:48.

Rich East: Sandburg surprised a few folks by placing four runners in the top 19 and five runners in the top 23 to win the Rich East sectional.

Naperville North was a close second after Adam Kendrick took sixth with a time of 14:53 while covering the muddy, 2.9-mile course. Dan Curran was ninth in 14:55, and fellow Huskies Andre Light (15th, 15:12) and George Klein (20th, 15:17) joined him to give Naperville North four runners in the top 20.

"Sandburg ran great and beat us man-for-man by one or two seconds," Huskies coach Dave Racey said. "I think our three and four guys, Klein and Light, ran real well today. I think we'll run even better next week."

Next weekend will mark the sixth time in Racey's eight seasons that North makes the trek Downstate. Naperville Central, even with regular No. 2 runner Jack Susin out with an injury, is off to state for the 14th time in the last 17 years under coach George Cyr.

"We missed Jack today but the other guys did a great job," Cyr said. "We've been to state all but three years since '85."

Sean Hardy led the Redhawks by taking fifth in 14:52. Dan Rickert was seventh at 14:55, while Andy Gush (22nd), Kirk Debuck (29th) and Alan Bernardi (42nd) rounded out Naperville Central's top five.

Senior Evan Roberts paved the way for the Wildcats' historic trip to state with a time of 14:58 that was good for 10th. Sophomores Nick Dunne (28th, 15:26), David Krist (32nd) and Dan Box (33rd) came through the chute in a tight pack followed closely by teammate Greg Wittendorf (35th) for Neuqua.

"I don't think it was a spectacular day overall for us but it was a solid day for us and good enough to get us out of here," Wildcats coach Paul Vandersteen said.

- Stan Goff

Niles West sectional: Fenton's Carlos Mendoza and Andy Sbertoli finished first and second for the second straight week to lead the Bison to the sectional title.

Jose Muneton (11th), Joe Roeges (32nd) and John McHugh (37th) rounded out the top five.

The Bison were 13 points better than defending state champ York (96). David Kikuchi led the Dukes, who had none of their top five runners lower than 28th, in ninth.

Downers Grove North's Ed Borjan finished third and was joined by individual qualifiers Alan Jackson from Hinsdale Central, Justin Sommer from Benet and John Ryan from Downers Grove North.

Lisle sectional: Pat Quinn (15:32) finished second to defending state champ Paul Jellema (15:03) as St. Francis won the sectional by a convincing 55 points.

Wheaton Academy also is headed to Peoria after finishing fifth. Tim Foster was 14th overall.