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Midwest Region Boys Preseason Rankings 2021Published by
Indiana Champ Columbus North Eyes Even More Accolades This Fall, Top Illinois Teams Putting Pieces Back Together By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Midwest Preview The last time there was a regional meet in the Midwest, the state of Illiniois was humming along. Six of the top seven boys teams at NXR Midwest in 2019 were from Illinois, including the top three, and eventual Foot Locker champion Josh Methner won the race. The state of Illinois, even more so than its neighbors, feels like it is in recovery mode following a year with no official state meet in 2020. It's taking some time to put the pieces back together, for teams to congeal, for the depth of packs to be revealed. There is no such problem with Columbus North of Indiana, which is picking up where it left off in 2020 -- holding a big state meet trophy -- with an early season flex at the Rick Weinheimer Classic. The Bulldogs have four runners already going under 15:45 and three more under 16:10 on a 5,000-meter course. Hinsdale Central gets credit for a strong performance at its home course in last weekend's Hornet-Red Devil Invite, where junior Daniel Watcke won the race and five of his teammates crashed the top 20 in the first big meet of the season. Big things are expected of York, which brings has a big pack led by four runners who clocked 4:32 or better in the 1,600 last spring. The Dukes will be on display soon. In Ohio, St. Xavier of Cincinnati is off to a good start after losing talented seniors Nathan Mountain and Conor Bohrer. Last year, St. Xavier lost the state title to Lakota West by two points. Caledonia, the Michigan Division 1 runner-up, is equipped to go for the state title this fall with six of seven returning to the lineup. 1. Columbus North IN. The Bulldogs return four of their top six from last year's Indiana state championship team and leader Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff should be in the running for the individual title with defending champion Izaiah Steury of Angola and Carmel junior Kole Mathison. Behind their low stick, Matt Newell, Clayton Guthrie and Evan Carr are running strong and Mateo Menedez, Will Kiel and Will Russell round out the most complete pack in the region. 2. Hinsdale Central IL. An impressive showing by the Red Devils in their first meet of the season raises the stakes and puts them into consideration for a potential nationals berth. But there is still a lot of work to do. Daniel Watcke ran 15 minutes flat for three miles and Hinsdale Central put six guys in the top 20 of a meet that included a lot of name brand programs in Illinois -- New Trier, Neuqua Valley, Palatine, Wheaton Warrenville South, etc. Perhaps the best part of the win was that the top four -- Watcke, Grant Miller, Jesse Gamboa and Aden Bandukwala are non-seniors. 3. York IL. The Dukes have yet to roll out but they are one of the favorites to claim the Illinois 3A title when it returns to Detweiller Park thanks to a talented group of returners. The historic program seeks its first state championship since 2012. There are some big expectations on a senior class that includes Ethan Summer, Jackson Geiger, Jeff Luka, Eric Rutherford, Garrett Schwan and Simon Hildy and this group aims to bring back glory to Elmhurst. A berth to NXN would be the school's 10th. 4. St. Xavier OH. Senior Will Goodrich led five scorers into the top 17 at the Hot Summer Bash to begin the season at Hilliard Davidson last weekend. A 37-second compression behind Goodrich's fourth-place finish in 15:53 was a good place to start for the Bombers as they seek a Division 1 title in Ohio and additional prizes in the postseason. Junior Colin Sams, sophomore Evan Trapp, senior Brendan Krych, sophomore Dominic Jackson and junior Casey Bohrer give the team depth that will be difficult to match in Ohio. 5. Caledonia MI. Senior Josh Oom and junior Jordan Domany both finished in the top 30 of the Michigan Division 1 state meet last year to help Caledonia to a second-place finish behind Romeo. Their return, in addition to senior Caden Dixon and junior Brett Guzman, give the Fighting Scots a leg up on the competition to begin the fall. Watchlist More news |
