2025 XC Weekend Roundup: Week 4
- Carson Vittorio
- Sep 19
- 13 min read
This upcoming week has plenty of action as we see it host our 2nd major peoria invite. We will see amny matchups that we have waited months to see this weekend as we continue to steamroll our way to towards the State Meet. Enjoy reading about some of the best invites in the state this weekend.
Tuscola Classic
Key Boys Teams: 1A - #4 Tolono Unity, #5 Clinton, #14 Toledo (Cumberland), #25 Downs (Tri-Valley); Effingham (St. Anthony), Shelbyville, Tuscola, Urbana University
Key Girls Teams: 1A - #2 Shelbyville, #10 Tolono Unity, #14 Effingham (St. Anthony), #16 Urbana University; Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, Clinton, Downs (Tri-Valley), Marshall
Key Boys Individuals: #3 Johnathan Iacobazzi (Sr., Sullivan), #9 Will Fuson (Sr., Cerro Gordo-Bement), #12 Cayden Bostic (So., Clinton), #16 Eli Crowe (Sr., Tolono Unity), #19 Camden Fairbanks (Sr., Tolono Unity), #20 Harrison Hays (Jr., Paris), Henry Woolery (Jr., Shelbyville)
Key Girls Individuals: #3 Kate Foltz (Sr., Tuscola), #6 Klaire Eighner (Sr., Maroa-Forsyth), #11 Tessa Bowers (Sr., Shelbyville), #12 Leah Shoaff (Fr., Shelbyville), #13 Mackenzie Pound (Sr., Tolono Unity), #20 Adelin Bruce (Sr., Downs [Tri-Valley]), #21 Madeline Fox (Jr., Marshall), #23 Ellie Emberson (So., Fishers)
Outlook: The Tuscola Classic looks to bring tons of action out of 1A, as four ranked boys and girls teams will be running. For the girls, the team favorite is #2 ranked Shelbyville, led by the #11 and #12 ranked runners in 1A, Tessa Bowers and Leah Shoaff. Shelbyville has been dominating everywhere they’ve gone, taking 1st place in the three races they’ve run this season, so expect to see another win here. Battling for second will be #10 Tolono Unity and #14 St. Anthony. Either team could take the silver on any given day. Individually, there will be strong competition. The race favorite is 1A #3 Kate Foltz of Tuscola. She will be coming off a strong 16:28 from First to the Finish, and will likely take the win. Behind her will be a battle between #6 Klaire Eighner (Maroa-Forsyth), Bowers, Shoaff, and #13 Mackenzie Pound (Tolono Unity). Other notable contenders to medal are #20 Adelin Bruce (Downs Tri-Valley), #21 Madeline Fox (Marshall), and #23 Ellie Emberson (Fishers). On the boys side is a key 1A battle between #4 Tolono Unity and #5 Clinton. These teams both raced First to the Finish, with Unity besting Clinton 273-295 to go 4 and 5. It will be interesting to see them match up again. Other notable teams that could be a surprise are #14 Tolono Cumberland and #25 Downs Tri-Valley. Individually, senior and #3 ranked Jonathan Iacobazzi of Sullivan comes in as the favorite, but he could be challenged by #9 Will Fuson (Cerro Gordo-Bement) or #12 Caden Bostic (Clinton). #16 Eli Crow, #19 Caden Fairbanks (Tolono Unity), and #20 Harrison Hays (Paris) could also contend for a medal.
Edwardsville Invite
Key High School Boys Teams: 3A - #15 Edwardsville, 2A - #12 Bethalto (Civic Memorial), 1A - #9 Pinckneyville, MO - #10 Parkway West; John Burroughs, Mascoutah, Gillespie
Key High School Girls Teams: 3A - #20 Edwardsville, 2A - #22 Mascoutah; Parkway West, John Burroughs
Key Middle School Boys Teams: #1 Edwardsville (Liberty), #4 Edwardsville (Lincoln), #13 Quincy, #23 Chatham Glenwood
Key Middle School Girls Teams: #1 Edwardsville (Lincoln), #17 Quincy, #19 Chatham Glenwood; St. Jacob (Triad), Edwardsville (Liberty), Belleville (Zion Lutheran)
Key High School Boys Individuals: 2A - #2 Max Weber (Sr., Bethalto [Civic Memorial]); 1A - #1 Chaz Oberkfell (Sr., Gillespie), #8 Landen Boman (Sr., Pinckneyville); MO - #7 Wade Patten (Sr., Parkway West), #14 William Doyle (Sr., Fr. Zumwalt West [MO]);
Key High School Girls Individuals: 1A - #22 Caroline Tepe (Sr., Okawville); Morgan Popelar (So., Edwardsville), Jadyn Gerardi (Jr., Anna-Jonesboro), Madison Popelar (Sr., Edwardsville)
Key Middle School Boys Individuals: #18 Evan Thompson (8th, Edwardsville [Liberty]), #20 Preston Brown (8th, Edwardsville [Lincoln]), Peyton Hlubek (8th, Quincy), Jasper Johnson (8th, Chatham Glenwood), Gage Gusewelle (8th, Edwardsville [Liberty])
Key Middle School Girls Individuals: #17 Audrey Floyd (8th, Edwardsville [Lincoln]), #21 Abigail Godard (8th, Edwardsville [Lincoln]); Chloe Wietfeldt (7th, Chatham Glenwood), Leila Hiatt (8th, St. Jacob [Triad]), Cathryn Wolf (6th, Belleville [Zion Lutheran]), Zoe Scroggins (8th, Edwardsville [Lincoln]), Retta Frey (7th, Highland)
Outlook: Some big names will clash at the Edwardsville Invite this week. Arguably the fastest athlete in the state of Illinois, Max Weber of Civic Memorial, will continue his streak of excellence with another win here. He ran a blistering 14:28 at the CM Twilight Invite to start off his season and he has been undefeated against Illinois competition throughout the fall. He should be able to secure another win here, but Chaz Oberkfell of Gillespie and Wade Patten of Parkway West will do their best to stop him. Oberkfell is the returning 1A state champ and Patten is undefeated this season thus far. Both are capable of running in the low 14:40s and they could take it up with Weber if push comes to shove. The team race should be easily decided, with 3A #15 Edwardsville being the favorite by a landslide. 2A #15 Civic Memorial will be the only competition they have, but Edwardsville should be able to lock them away with relative ease. On the girls side, By season best, 1A #22 Caroline Tepe would get the win after her quality performance at FTTF. However, The Popelar sisters from Edwardsville are elite racers as well. Morgan Popelar and Madison Popelar both ran under 17:50 last season and the rest of the field doesn’t hold a candle to their PRs. Should both of them get back to where they were last season, they should be in contention for a win. The middle school boys team battle will be a great one between Liberty and Lincoln who have been running phenomenal up to this point. The girls' side will be won by Lincoln pretty easily. Evan Thompson and Preston Brown will be an excellent battle on the boys side here. Audrey Floyd should get the win on the girls side.
Bill Dawson Invite
Key Boys Teams: 3A - #21 Buffalo Grove; Palatine (Fremd) JV
Key Girls Teams: 2A - #12 Grayslake Central, #19 Crystal Lake South, #21 Cary-Grove, #25 Lake Villa (Lakes); Glenview (Glenbrook North), Park Ridge (Maine South), Schaumburg
Key Boys Individuals: 2A - #4 Jameson Tenopir (Sr., Cary-Grove), #17 Adan Cordova (Sr., Grayslake Central); Joseph Gonzalez (Sr., Crystal Lake South)
Key Girls Individuals: 3A - #25 Reagan Malone (Sr., Elk Grove Village); Kaylee Wilson (Jr., Gurnee [Warren]), Tessie Bradley (Jr., Park Ridge [Maine South]), Juliet Bing (Fr., Mundelein [Carmel])
Outlook: The Bill Dawson invite should shape up to be a fun match up between some great individual athletes. Jameson Tenopir will be coasting off of his elite performance from FTTF where he ran 14:37 in the scorching sun. He won this race last year and he’ll be looking to secure his second win in a row. Adan Cordova of Grayslake Central and Riley Wold of Buffalo Grove will be in the hunt for second, both should post a good time. On the girls side, it should be Reagan Malone of Elk Grove Village up front. She just dipped under the 18 minute border at the Harvey Braus invite for a huge PR of 17:59 and she’ll be looking for her first win of the season here. Kaylee Wilson of Warren and Tessie Bradley of Maine South will be two names on sub 18 watch as well.
Woodstock Byrne Fest
Key Girls Teams: 2A #5 Prairie Ridge
Key Boys Individuals: 2A #14 Ellery Shutt (Woodstock), #16 Amana Omale (Crystal Lake Central), #24 Bryant Lester (Vernon Hills), 1A #11 Grady Smith (Johnsburg), Key Girls Individuals: 2A #1 Emaline Foster (Prairie Ridge)
Outlook: This meet is a flight meet, which separates the No. 1 runners from each team into one race, the No. 2 runners into another, and so on. The results from First to the Finish (FTTF) have influenced the outlook for this race, as several teams had breakout performances at Detweiller and will now compete at Emricson Park this week. On the boys’ side, Vernon Hills and Crystal Lake Central are set to compete for the team win. Both teams ran extremely well at FTTF, placing 4th and 7th respectively. Crystal Lake Central especially shocked the crowd, coming into the race with no expectations to place in the top 15. With key athletes returning from injury, Reed Mihelich and Oliver Lavaty, who are making significant impacts in the top seven, CLC could surprise Vernon Hills and contend for the team title if they return to their spring form. Individually, it will be a three-way race between Ellery Shutt of Woodstock, Bryant Lester of Vernon Hills, and Amana Omale of Crystal Lake Central. Shutt has shown proficiency on his home course, losing only to high-ranking athletes like Jameson Tenopir of Cary Grove and Judah Binger of Belvidere North. Lester has been running well but didn’t have his best day at FTTF. The smaller field here may better suit his racing style, giving him a shot at the win. Omale ran out of his socks at FTTF, finishing just behind Shutt at 15:05. He will be looking to repeat that elite performance and take down both Shutt and Lester. On the girls’ side, it looks like smooth sailing for Emaline Foster of Prairie Ridge, who is the top-ranked runner in the 2A classification. Her team, ranked No. 5, will be one to watch as well.
Dale Donner Invite
Key Girls Teams: #11 Toulon (Stark County), #15 Cambridge, #17 Elmwood, #22 Byron, #24 Sandwich, #25 Sherrard; Port Byron (Riverdale)
Key Boys Individuals: 1A - #5 Tim Starwalt (Sr., Byron), #10 Aiden Faulkner (Sr., Elmwood), #21 Braeden Bode (Sr., Port Byron [Riverdale]), #25 Evan Knobloch (So., Toulon [Stark County]); Daniel Gonzalez (Sr., Oregon), Vinny Gullone (So., East Dubuque), Andrew Richardson (Jr., East Dubuque)
Key Girls Individuals: 1A - #1 Sundara Weber (Sr., Sandwich), #4 Kyla Babb (Sr., Westmont), #7 Emily Downing (Sr., Cambridge), #8 Abigail Baumann (Sr., Rockford Lutheran), #17 Dusti Smith (Jr., Toulon [Stark County]); Cheyenh Smith (Sr., Toulon [Stark County]), Jana Vande Kemp (Jr., Cambridge)
Outlook: The boys team race will be a good one between Elmwood and East Dubuque which both teams are ranked highly in the 1A classification. Both teams' makeups are very similar and will create an intriguing battle. The individual race will be one to watch between Tim Starwalt of Oregon, Aiden Faulkner of Elmwood, and Evan Knobloch of Stark County duking it out for the win. The girls' side will be an even better team race between the three teams of Stark County, Cambridge, and Elmwood who could all win this one. On the individual side we will see a great race that features Sunny Weber of Sandwich and Kyla Babb of Westmont. Both are amazing athletes, but it's hard to see Weber not getting the win here.
Dunlap Invite
Key Boys Teams: 1A - #1 Eureka, #3 Glasford (Illini Bluffs); Metamora, Dunlap, Lincoln, Chatham (Glenwood)
Key Girls Teams: 2A - #2 Chatham (Glenwood), #13 Normal West; 1A - #4 Eureka, #7 Pleasant Plains, #19 Knoxville; Dunlap, Metamora
Key Boys Individuals: 1A - #18 Eric Pincock (Sr., Glasford [Illini Bluffs]); Preston Short (Jr., Lincoln), Zach Born (Jr., Metamora), Peter Stoltz (Sr., Glasford [Illini Bluffs]), Gavin Statler (Sr., Eureka), Adam Galvan (So., Chatham [Glenwood]), Timothy Rogers (Sr., Eureka), AJ Ince (Sr., Normal Community)
Key Girls Individuals: 2A - #3 Ali Londrigan (Jr., Chatham [Glenwood]), #4 Ashlyn Chopra (Sr., Chatham [Glenwood]), #11 Sophie Rentmeister (Sr., Chatham [Glenwood]), #14 Renee Warren (Sr., Normal West), #21 Julie Bach (Sr., Normal West); 1A - #14 Audrey Dickinson (Fr., Glasford [Illini Bluffs]), #18 Emily King (Sr., Knoxville); Alyssa Higgins (Sr., Knoxville), Alaina Hawker (Sr., Pleasant Plains), Taylor Short (Fr., Lincoln)
Outlook: The Dunlap Invite looks to be a great matchup for some of the best squads in the Peoria area. The girls team race will look to be up for the taking for Chatham Glenwood who enters as the 2nd best ranked team in 2A. They are led by the trio of Ali Londrigan, Ashlyn Chopra, and Sophie Rentmeister who will likely go 1-2-3 this race. Eureka, Pleasant Plains, and Normal West will battle it out for the 2nd place team position here. Renee Warren of Normal West will attempt to break up the trio of Glenwood athletes. Also keep your eye on Julie Bach of Normal West, Audrey Dickinson of Illini Bluffs, and Emily King of Knoxville here. The boys team battle will be between #1 Eureka and #3 Illini Bluffs which looks to be an excellent contest. Eric Pincock of Illini Bluffs and Zach Born of Metamora will duke it out for the win in the individual race here.
Geneseo Invite
Key Boys Teams: 2A - #3 Morton; Rock Island, Moline, Lemont
Key Boys Individuals: 3A - #25 Elliott Batz (Jr., Rock Island); 2A - #12 Maxwell Carter (Jr., Morton); Isaiah Engle (Sr., Moline), Malik Gbadamassi (Sr., East Moline [United]), Abe Martin (So., Morton)
Key Girls Individuals: 2A - #17 Brooklyn Smith (Jr., Geneseo), #23 Hannah Farley (So., Lemont); Addy Lindsay (So., Wheaton Warrenville South), Daniela Lovett (Sr., Dixon), Rubi Tapia-Macias (Sr., East Moline [United]), Natalie Houcek (Fr., Wheaton Warrenville South), Kamryn Rogers (Sr., Dixon)
Outlook: An interesting race this weekend will be the Geneseo Invite, which breaks its races down by grade levels. On the boys’ side, the race to watch will be the junior contest. Maxwell Carter of Morton enters as the favorite after breaking the 15-minute barrier for the first time this past Saturday at the First to the Finish Invite. It won’t be easy, though, as 3A-ranked athlete Elliott Batz of Rock Island is also in the field; Batz ran 15:03 at FTTF. The race could get even more intriguing if Abe Martin of Morton runs—he won the Silver Streak Invite two weeks ago. In the senior race, Isaiah Engle of Moline and Malik Gbadamassi of East Moline United are expected to have a great battle for the win. On the girls’ side, the senior race is shaping up as a battle between Daniela Lovett of Dixon and Rubi Tapia-Macias of East Moline United. The junior race will likely be an easy win for 2A-ranked athlete Brooklyn Smith of Geneseo. The sophomore race promises to be a great contest between Hannah Farley of Lemont, who is looking to bounce back after a tough weekend at FTTF, and Addy Linsay of WWS, who ran an excellent race to win the Red Devil Invite Fr/So race two weekends ago. Expect freshman Natalie Houcek of WWS to take home the win in the freshman race.
Larry Eddington Invite
Key Boys Teams: 3A - #22 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West), 2A - #1 Dixon, #7 Aurora Central Catholic, #11 Morris, #17 Belvidere North, #18 Maple Park (Kaneland); Downers Grove North JV, Sycamore
Key Girls Teams: 2A - #3 Arlington Heights (St. Viator); Algonquin (Jacobs), Hampshire, Lisle (Benet Academy), Crystal Lake Central
Key Boys Individuals: 2A - #1 Carson Kaiser (So., Maple Park [Kaneland]), #5 Judah Binger (So., Belvidere North), #6 Cuyler Swanson (Jr., Morris), #11 Averick Wiseman (Sr., Dixon), #16 Amana Omale (Sr., Crystal Lake Central), #18 Jack Swiatek (Sr., Aurora Central Catholic), #19 Dean Geiger (Jr., Dixon), #21 Owen Gottfred (Jr., Arlington Heights [St. Viator]), #23 John Reinbold (So., Aurora Central Catholic), #25 Everett Swanson (Jr., Morris), Ben Bohr (Jr., Aurora Central Catholic), Matt King (Sr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard West]), Evan Whildin (Sr., Maple Park [Kaneland])
Key Girls Individuals: 3A - #4 Lennox Szymonik (Fr., Algonquin [Jacobs]); 2A - #15 Cecilia Hilby (Sr., Aurora Central Catholic), #25 Emily Walberg (Sr., Arlington Heights [St. Viator]); 1A - #16 Lyla Plaisier (Fr., Elmhurst [Timothy Christian]); Nora Wedwick (So., Rockford [Boylan])
Outlook: 2A teams will have a chance to stand out this weekend at the Larry Eddington Invite. The No. 1 team in 2A, Dixon, is favored for another win over 3A’s No. 22 Glenbard West. The Dukes opened their season with a win over St. Charles North at the St. Charles East Leavey Invite and will now aim for fast times on the speedy Kaneland course. Other top-rated 2A teams like Aurora Central Catholic and Morris showed well at First to the Finish last weekend and could also be in the mix with Glenbard West. Individually, the boys’ race will be stacked with several top-10 runners vying for the win. Carson Kaiser of Kaneland is the clear favorite after his standout performance at Detweiller Park last weekend. Judah Binger of Belvidere North and Cuyler Swanson of Morris will be looking for a rematch from FTTF, and all three should post some electric times. Dixon’s duo of Averick Wiseman and Dean Geiger will look to stay with that top pack. This will be their first time competing against strong 2A competition, and their goal will be to prove themselves against their peers. On the girls’ side, it looks to be all about 2A’s No. 3 St. Viator, who had a great race at FTTF last week. They took second behind a powerful 3A Chatham Glenwood team, relying on an elite pack from 2nd through 5th place. This pack should carry them to a win over some solid 3A schools here. Individually, freshman phenom Lennox Szymonik of Jacobs will continue her reign of terror. She narrowly won the 3A race at FTTF with a time of 17:03 and will be aiming to break the 17-minute barrier here at Kaneland. The next runner to watch is 2A’s No. 15 Cecilia Hilby of Aurora Central Catholic, who has been consistent in the low 18-minute range and will be looking to dip under 18 minutes.
Minooka Flight Invite
Key Boys Teams: 3A - #19 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central), #20 LaGrange (Lyons), 2A - #9 Normal University; Minooka, Yorkville, Batavia
Key Girls Teams: 3A - #12 Huntley, #19 Minooka, #25 Naperville Central; Yorkville, Park Ridge (Maine South)
Key Boys Individuals: 3A - #21 Bryce Counihan (Sr., New Lenox [Lincoln-Way Central]); Brennan Monohan (So., LaGrange [Lyons]), Tyler Gantt (Sr., LaGrange [Lyons]), Collin Frye (Jr., Park Ridge [Maine South]), Sean Kaeb (Sr., Normal University), Nico Cimino (Sr., Minooka)
Key Girls Individuals: 3A - #22 Isabella Ciesla (Sr., Huntley); Natalie Nahs (Jr., Minooka), Athena Triner (So., Yorkville), Morgan Sauber (Jr., Huntley), Cori Kilvinger (Sr., Huntley), Charlotte Danahy (So., Naperville Central), Annabelle Reeder (Sr., Yorkville), Ellie Porath (Fr., Minooka)
Outlook: The Minooka Flight Meet is one of the most interesting meets each year, as it features each team’s No. 1 runner facing off in one race, their No. 2 runner in another, and so on. This format creates some compelling individual matchups throughout the meet. We have two ranked individuals competing here. On the boys’ side, this should be the Bryce Counihan show in the top flight. Counihan has run excellently so far this season but had a bit of a down race at First to the Finish (FTTF). He’ll be looking to bounce back with a strong performance here. Nico Cimino of Minooka and Brennan Monohan of Lyons are expected to battle for second place. On the girls’ side, Isabella Ciesla of Huntley enters as the favorite. She ran well at Lake Park this past weekend, finishing 8th in 17:54. If she races, Natalie Nahs of Minooka will be a challenger; she has missed the last few weeks but had a great day at the Yorkville Kailey Fox Invite just a few weeks ago. Also keep an eye on Athena Triner of Yorkville, who could potentially play spoiler in the girls’ races.
Roy Griak Invite (Minnesota)
Illinois Girls Teams: 3A - #10 Naperville North, Batavia
Illinois Boys Individuals: 3A - #20 Santiago Chavez (Jr., Burbank [Reavis])
Outlook: The Roy Griak Invitational is one of the best invites in the country. The race will feature Naperville North who will be looking to jump up the rankings after their finish at the FTTF Invite. Batavia started out as pre-season #6 and dropped out of the rankings this past weekend. They will try and jump back into them this week. Santiago Chavez of Reavis comes to the meet as an individual and will be looking to be in the mix with some of the best in the nation.
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