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Sports

2011 Outlook: Glenbard South Cross Country

The boys squad is looking for a repeat trip to the Class 2A state meet, and the girls team also has Peoria on its mind.

This fall, boys cross country program is experiencing one of the smallest turnouts in its history.

Andy Preuss, now in his 30th year as cross country and track coach, reports that 16 runners are out for the team. The numbers might be down, but Preuss’ enthusiasm hasn’t diminished. Those who are on the 2011 roster give Preuss reason to believe that the Raiders, a Class 2A in 2010, have a return trip to Peoria in them.

“I told the guys we just have to have the right guys,” said Preuss, inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association last spring. “I know we’ve got one of the top, if not the top, sophomore combinations in the state.”

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Glenbard South’s dynamic duo, John Wold and Joe Singleton, ran the state course as freshman. Both ran personal bests at state, with Wold recording a 29th-place finish. He just missed nabbing all-state honors, which are awarded to the top 25 finishers.

Wold, a track finalist last May in the 1,600, and Singleton were the only two underclassmen on last year’s state squad (Preuss’ other four state runners have since graduated).

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“I think with Joe and JZ, I forget they’re sophomores because of the times they’ve run already,” said Preuss, who refers to Wold as JZ because Wold’s full name is John Zachary Wold. “They’re legit, and as good as it gets. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the top 10 or top 15 in Peoria in November.”

Peter Jaeger and his twin brother, Fred, are seniors on the team. Tom Stoffels and Mark Cizek, both juniors, made the Raiders’ 2010 state roster but didn’t compete in the race. They figure into the Raiders’ mix, as do juniors Eric Greenwell and Andrew Kladiva, last year’s conference champion in the sophomore race.

“It’s unusual to have that many young guys with state meet experience,” Preuss said. “We’ve got a nice nucleus. I think they definitely have a chance to make it down state. If those guys run as well as I think they can, I think we can be in the top five to seven down there.”

The Raiders will get an opportunity to test out the state course on Saturday when they compete in the Peoria Notre Dame Invite at Detweiller Park. The meet features around 60 teams from across the state.

Glenbard South Girls

Coach Brian Webb’s team put together a productive 2010 season. The Raiders captured the conference championship and qualified for the sectional after finishing third in regionals. The road ended for the Raiders, though, at the Belvidere Sectional, one of the toughest in the state.

But with five of their top seven runners back—four of whom were all-conference—2011 looks promising for the Raiders.

Katie James, Shannon Cadagin and Monica Byrne, all juniors, competed on the Raiders’ sectional-qualifying team, along with sophomore Elizabeth Niedert. Bailey Reese, also a sophomore, didn’t run at sectionals but was on the roster.

“The majority of these girls had a very good summer and come into the season in better condition than last year,” Webb said.

Seniors Janet and Teresa Witort, juniors Allison Gibson and Marina Jawad, and sophomore Erin Gibson, are on varsity after competing at the JV level last year.

Webb explained that the Raiders have a good shot at qualifying for state this season since a fifth sectional is being added. Thus, 25 teams will run at Peoria instead of 20.

“Our goal is to be competing at the state meet on Nov. 5,” he said.

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