Sports
Dukes Have Another State Trophy In Mind
Led by six returning all-state athletes, the York boys track team hopes add to last year's Class 3A state runner-up finish.
YORK BOYS TRACK PREVIEW
Coach: Stan Reddel (11th season)
2010 Results: Won West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet; second at Lake Park Sectional; second at Class 3A state meet (40 points)
Returning 2010 State Qualifiers: Seniors Kevin Adamik (400-meter relay, 800 relay, 1,600 relay), Jack Driggs (3,200 and 1,600), Nick Gornick (3,200 relay), Kris Romanczyk (800 relay) and Will Sullivan (400 relay, 800 relay and 1,600 relay); and junior David Byerley (400 relay)
Other Varsity Returnees: Seniors Louis Christopher, Tim Cooney, Tom Hedman, Ron Hedman, Adam Hibner, Ryan Kent, Paul Mason, Mark Reyes, Matt Simo, Gavin Wegner, Matt Winans and Wes Zitek; and juniors Kenny Boesenberg and Nick Sgarbossa
Varsity Newcomers: Senior Mo Watkins; juniors Paul Golen, Eric Glaubke, Zach LoCicero, Matt Mandarino and Carlos Vega; and sophomores Shawn John, Scott Milling, Alex Mimlitz and Jahmal Ross
Outlook: The Dukes earned their third consecutive state team trophy last season, taking second after winning the 2009 title and taking second in 2008.
Only one other time has York earned team trophies four consecutive years in a row, from 1998-2001 with a state title in 2000 and a second in 2001, Reddel's first year as head coach in taking over for Joe Newton.
Led by six returning state competitors who combined for five all-state efforts, the Dukes expect to be in the hunt for another top-three finish.
“The last three years, we’ve been second, first and second so these kids really don’t know much different,” Reddel said. “Our goals would probably be to have Jack (Driggs) in those two events (the 3,200 and 1,600), have a very strong 3,200 relay and then come back in the sprint relays and maybe have an individual here, there in the 200, 400.”
On March 18, the Dukes finished third at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Indoor Meet (91 points) behind Lyons Township (130) and Oak Park-River Forest (112). In 2010, the Dukes finished second to Oak Park by 20 points indoors but then won their eighth consecutive outdoor Silver title and 18th in the past 19 seasons 132-130 over Oak Park.
“In fact, I don’t think we’ve had a team ever make that much progress in the course of a year,” Reddel said.
“Probably like last year, we didn’t round into form very well until the end of the year. We ran a lot better in May than indoors and I think that’s going to probably hold true (in 2011). We’re still battling illness and our motto is ‘Let’s get the kids through the indoor season healthy.’ ”
Driggs is a favorite to contend for a state title in the 3,200 and 1,600, if not both, after a pair of top-three all-state finishes in 2010. Driggs was second in the 3,200 (9:13.17) to graduated teammate Andrew Smith (9:12.39) and later took third in the 1,600 (4:15.10) behind two seniors.
Driggs helped the Dukes’ 2009 team win the 3A state title (56 points) by 20 points as part of the all-state fifth-place 3,200 relay (7:49.43) after scratching from his individual berth in the 1,600.
York also is coming off a Class 3A state championship in cross country in November. Driggs finished second individually to nationally-rated senior Lukas Verzbicas of Sandburg.
Driggs, who will run next year at the University of North Carolina, swept the 3,200 (9:13.22) and 1,600 (9:13.22) at the indoor Silver Meet. On March 12, his 4:15.2 in the 1,600 at York was the then fourth-fastest reported time in the U.S. for this high-school indoor season.
“(Driggs) proved in cross country he’s a real definitive second after Verzbicas, and he happens to be the best in the United States, and he’s not running track,” Reddel said.
The Dukes again have a strong corps of sprinters from two all-state relays. Romanczyk, Sullivan and Adamik were part of the sixth-place 800 relay (1:28.41), and Byerley, Sullivan and Adamik were part of the seventh-place 400 relay (42.56)–both with graduated Conor Hennessey. The 1,600 relay with Adamik and Sullivan was 12th (3:22.29), just missing the nine-team finals by 0.09.
Gornick is the lone returnee from last year’s all-state 3,200 relay, which finished fourth (7:47.84), but there is plenty more distance talent.
Mimlitz (41st place), Tom Hedman (52nd), Milling (55th) and Gornick (58th) were the Dukes' other top-five finishers for the state championship cross country lineup and Simo and Ron Hedman also were in the state lineup. Gornick won the 800 at the indoor Silver Meet (1:58.62). Mimlitz was injured most of the indoor season.
Byerley also missed part of the indoor season after breaking his wrist snowboarding. Sullivan, the basketball program’s all-time leading scorer, should return to training soon after missing the end of the indoor season when he broke two bones in his left wrist during the basketball regional semifinals.
A great addition to the sprinters has been Watkins, a first-year competitor as a senior who has played soccer for the Dukes. He won the indoor Silver title in the 400 (51.31).
Reddel is among those who coach the sprinters. Assistant coaches are former Morton head coach Joe Gianneschi (pole vault), Jim Hedman (distance) Chris Korfist (sprints), John Marinier (hurdles) and Mike Murphy (shot put/discus). Volunteer assistants are Tom Clancy, Nolan Lamb, Andy Oh, Mike Pawelek and Alex Perkowski.
“I think the sprint relays will be better than we were last year,” Reddel said. “We have more depth to be able to have some pretty good individuals (in events) and still field very good sprint relays.”
Among entries that just missed qualifying for state at the 2010 sectionals, Sgarbossa tied for third in pole vault (13-3), missing a state berth by six inches, and Romanczyk was fourth in the 200 (22.77), 0.68 from second place. Sgarbossa battled back problems during the indoor season yet won the indoor Silver title by clearing 13-0.
York’s frosh-soph team roared to victory at the indoor Silver Meet with 154 points. Event winners were Milling (3,200 in 9:52.20), sophomore Chris May (1,600 in 4:38.70), John (12-6 in pole vault), the 1,600 relay (3:44.61) and 3,200 relay (8:39.42).
Lake Park won last year’s state title (50 points) with Neuqua Valley (36 points) third. Lake Park scored all of its points in four field events by three current seniors (Jeremy Kline, Jermaine Kline and Zach Ziemek). Jermaine Kline (shot put) and Ziemek (pole vault) are defending state champions.
York's outdoor season opener is at home April 5 with Proviso East.
QUOTABLE: “I think (our key is), like with all track teams, to keep people healthy,” Reddel said. “The last few years, our kids have made good progress over the course of the season. We sort of gear for it physiologically how we train the kids, get you ready for May and that’s when we expect you to run your best.”
