'Jury's out' on GHS cross country teams
A year after enjoying unparalleled success in the first year of the IHSA's three-class system, the
Glenwood High School cross country teams find themselves searching for identities as the season
opens this weekend in Granite City.
On the boys side, the post-Neal Anderson era has begun. The graduated senior, who finished
third individually at the Class 2A state meet, claimed CS8, regional and sectional titles a year ago.
As a team, the Titans placed second at state, while the Glenwood girls took 11th.
Other key graduation losses include Greg Staley, Adam Aydt, Aled Fain, Jon Carrigan, Jordin
Dowling and Rachel Blisset.
This year, the Titans may not have to look too far to find this year's Class 2A state favorites, as
conference rivals SHG (defending girls state champs) and Springfield High (defending CS8 champs)
are loaded with returnees.
"Right now, the jury's out on both squads," 14-year Glenwood head coach Mike Johnson stated.
"They have to learn a little about themselves in the early meets as they gain confidence and good
things will happen in October.
"We'd like to be considered a sleeper," he continued. "When you look at our graduation loss, youth
and inexperience, I think right now you'd have to say at best we'd be a sleeper."
Varsity returnees on the boys side include juniors Brian Dixon and Pat Gray. Among those who
will be competing for varsity slots are Aaron Entemann, Chris Crowell, Ryan Wendel, Connor Jones
and Michael Zink, among others. Sophomore Ryan Anderson is currently injured and out indefinitely,
Johnson added.
"We're calling upon young men that have been in the program, but have never stepped into a
varsity race, to do the job," Johnson explained.
On the girls side, the Titans have two seniors - Alli Zink and Kristine Kerr. Zink is already out for
the season with an ACL injury, and Kerr has also been injured but may return to action later this week.
Juniors Sara Douglas, Lauren Aydt and Rylie Sullivan have been impressive early, Johnson
added, as have a pair of freshmen from last year's Glenwood Middle School state championship
squad - Rachel Kobayashi and Lauren Mueller.
There are a total of 46 in the program, including 30 boys. Seven of the 16 girls are freshmen.
The schedule includes an open date on Oct. 4, with regionals Oct. 25. The CS8 meet will be Oct.
18 in Taylorville. Glenwood gets its season underway this Saturday morning at the Granite City Invite.
•The entire cross country roster consists of: seniors Will Borders, Ryan Cantrell, Chris Crowell,
Gage Fink, Nelson Pearson, Tom Stone, Ryan Wendel, Kristine Kerr and Alli Zink; juniors Dustin
Charles, Brian Dixon, Aaron Entemann, Nick Fuchs, Greg Garrett, Pat Gray, Luke Harness, B. J.
Johnson, Bobby Lee, Karl Medina, Sara Douglas, Eryn Sullivan and Rylie Sullivan; sophomores Ryan
Anderson, Kenny Hall, Connor Jones, Tyler Landess, Brandon Rovey, Alec Thompson, Michael Zink,
Carly Hunt, Kelly McMahon and Anna Talley; and freshmen Suraj Arshanapally, Whit Kinley, Brandon
Kuchar, Collin Marcotte, Evan Sale, Katherine Alexander, Nicole Alexander, Nicholle Hamman,
Rachel Kobayashi, Cristina Martinez-Singh, Lauren Mueller and Brittany Peterburs.
A year after enjoying unparalleled success in the first year of the IHSA's three-class system, the
Glenwood High School cross country teams find themselves searching for identities as the season
opens this weekend in Granite City.
On the boys side, the post-Neal Anderson era has begun. The graduated senior, who finished
third individually at the Class 2A state meet, claimed CS8, regional and sectional titles a year ago.
As a team, the Titans placed second at state, while the Glenwood girls took 11th.
Other key graduation losses include Greg Staley, Adam Aydt, Aled Fain, Jon Carrigan, Jordin
Dowling and Rachel Blisset.
This year, the Titans may not have to look too far to find this year's Class 2A state favorites, as
conference rivals SHG (defending girls state champs) and Springfield High (defending CS8 champs)
are loaded with returnees.
"Right now, the jury's out on both squads," 14-year Glenwood head coach Mike Johnson stated.
"They have to learn a little about themselves in the early meets as they gain confidence and good
things will happen in October.
"We'd like to be considered a sleeper," he continued. "When you look at our graduation loss, youth
and inexperience, I think right now you'd have to say at best we'd be a sleeper."
Varsity returnees on the boys side include juniors Brian Dixon and Pat Gray. Among those who
will be competing for varsity slots are Aaron Entemann, Chris Crowell, Ryan Wendel, Connor Jones
and Michael Zink, among others. Sophomore Ryan Anderson is currently injured and out indefinitely,
Johnson added.
"We're calling upon young men that have been in the program, but have never stepped into a
varsity race, to do the job," Johnson explained.
On the girls side, the Titans have two seniors - Alli Zink and Kristine Kerr. Zink is already out for
the season with an ACL injury, and Kerr has also been injured but may return to action later this week.
Juniors Sara Douglas, Lauren Aydt and Rylie Sullivan have been impressive early, Johnson
added, as have a pair of freshmen from last year's Glenwood Middle School state championship
squad - Rachel Kobayashi and Lauren Mueller.
There are a total of 46 in the program, including 30 boys. Seven of the 16 girls are freshmen.
The schedule includes an open date on Oct. 4, with regionals Oct. 25. The CS8 meet will be Oct.
18 in Taylorville. Glenwood gets its season underway this Saturday morning at the Granite City Invite.
•The entire cross country roster consists of: seniors Will Borders, Ryan Cantrell, Chris Crowell,
Gage Fink, Nelson Pearson, Tom Stone, Ryan Wendel, Kristine Kerr and Alli Zink; juniors Dustin
Charles, Brian Dixon, Aaron Entemann, Nick Fuchs, Greg Garrett, Pat Gray, Luke Harness, B. J.
Johnson, Bobby Lee, Karl Medina, Sara Douglas, Eryn Sullivan and Rylie Sullivan; sophomores Ryan
Anderson, Kenny Hall, Connor Jones, Tyler Landess, Brandon Rovey, Alec Thompson, Michael Zink,
Carly Hunt, Kelly McMahon and Anna Talley; and freshmen Suraj Arshanapally, Whit Kinley, Brandon
Kuchar, Collin Marcotte, Evan Sale, Katherine Alexander, Nicole Alexander, Nicholle Hamman,
Rachel Kobayashi, Cristina Martinez-Singh, Lauren Mueller and Brittany Peterburs.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Sept. 4, 2008
