Boys Pre-Season Rankings (41-50)
by Brandon Jones
#41 Pike Red Devils
Franklin Central Semistate #18
2007 Results:
Ben Davis Sectional: 2nd place (51 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 2nd place (68 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 9th place (227 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Michael Jordan (12) 16:06 (14th place)
Max Nommay (12) 17:14 (89th place)
Nilay Patel (11) 17:49 (115th place)
Andrew Schaeffer (11) 18:15 (131st place)
2008 Outlook:
Pike will be hard pressed to repeat their success of 2007. They lose front runner Ben Bizuneh, but second-year Red Devil Michael Jordan is ready to take the torch and run with it. The Red Devils must walk the halls and find some solid support for Jordan or they are in danger of ending their season early once again. Expect Jordan to take the bus ride to Terre Haute alone unless Pike can get some help for him. Nommay needs to get the troops going for Pike to avoid slipping a bit in 2008.
#42 Terre Haute South Braves
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #9
2007 Results:
Terre Haute North Sectional: 2nd place (65 points)
Brown County Regional: 4th place (142 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 13th place (313 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Morgan Goetschel (12) 17:22 (69th place)
Clayton Harlan (11) 17:23 (70th place)
Taylor Head (10) 17:52 (97th place)
Lonnie Wiram (12) 17:54 (98th place)
Matt Collier (10) 18:00 (106th place)
2008 Outlook:
The loss of front runner Andrew Sullivan will be a blow for the Braves, but not all is lost. They return five solid athletes that should make tracks in 2008. Terre Haute South will not be up to the level of their counterparts, Terre Haute North, but has a fighting chance to place in the top half of the semistate provided all of their athletes stay healthy and drop time progressively.
#43 Avon Orioles
Franklin Central Semistate #19
2007 Results:
South Putnam Sectional: 3rd place (72 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 7th place (137 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Ben Davis Regional):
Christopher Surfus (12) 16:37 (12th place)
Joseph Schmitt (12) 16:48 (16th place)
Ryan Griesenauer (11) 17:28 (31st place)
Eric Bryant (12) 18:13 (49th place)
David McKinndy (12) 18:24 (53rd place)
Aaron Nehamkin (11) 18:29 (54th place)
2008 Outlook:
Surfus made the trip to the Franklin Central Semistate along last time around. If his teammates wish to join him in 2008, they need improvements up and down the line. Surfus will do his job, but the pressure is on the remaining five to step up to the plate. If their 2-6 guys can drop significant time, expect to see seven Orioles on the line at the Franklin Central Semistate. If not, Surfus and Schmitt may be by themselves.
#44 Castle Knights
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #10
2007 Results:
Evansville Mater Dei Sectional: 2nd place (93 points)
Pike Central Regional: 3rd place (83 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 16th place (367 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Alex Schoenstein (11) 16:49 (29th place)
Gordon Cunningham (11) 17:16 (61st place)
Eric Bravo (11) 17:49 (92nd place)
Michael Brown (10) 18:22 (118th place)
Ales Phaup (10) 18:31 (125th place)
Quintin Dormeier (12) 19:32 (150th place)
Richmond Fruedenberg (11) 19:50 (152nd place)
2008 Outlook:
Undoubtedly, Castle will improve upon its 16th place finish at last seasons Bedford North Lawrence Semistate. However, they may be one more year away from challenging for a ride up to Terre Haute. The Knights have a solid nucleus to build around and a solid top runner in Schoenstein. The scary thing is that they do not have any margin for error as their pushers (6-7 runners) are way off the pace. If they want to turn into a contending team in the future, depth and improvement in the middle is a necessity.
#45 Oak Hill Golden Eagles
New Prairie Semistate #5
2007 Results:
Logansport Sectional: 1st place (46 points)
Culver Academies Regional: 1st place (56 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 9th place (235 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Cameron Balser (12) 16:13 (3rd place)
Jacob Miller (12) 18:04 (105th place)
Jon Brady (12) 18:05 (107th place)
Graham Spencer (12) 18:34 (128th place)
Lloyd Sperling (12) 18:35 (129th place)
2008 Outlook:
In a down year for the New Prairie Semistate, it appears that Oak Hill has another shot at Terre Haute. Remember, this team was 10th in 2005 with a completely separate group of runners, which is unheard of at the small school level. They do have a solid front runner in Balser who will be going for it all, but nothing is guaranteed. The Golden Eagles must get contributions from the remaining four who all need to shave at least 30 seconds. Even then, an insurance policy in a solid 6-7 duo would not hurt either. Expect to see Oak Hill go down to the wire in their attempt to earn a state finals bid.
#46 Plainfield Quakers
Franklin Central Semistate #20
2007 Results:
South Putnam Sectional: 1st place (47 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 4th place (118 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 14th place (372 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Andrew Wilhelm (11) 17:04 (73rd place)
Patrick Patterson (11) 17:24 (97th place)
Cameron Fears (11) 17:44 (111th place)
Mohsin Mukhtar (12) 17:50 (116th place)
Grant Collicott (11) 18:23 (134th place)
Michael Banning (11) 18:26 (135th place)
2008 Outlook:
The Quakers have a solid class to build around for the next couple of years. Geography is a big issue standing in the way of the Quakers making a run for the state finals, but they should field a competitive team this fall. They must work together and bring the times of their pack down. They lose Eichenberger so they will be searching for an identity early on in 2008.
#47 West Noble Chargers
New Haven Semistate #12
2007 Results:
West Noble Sectional: 2nd place (73 points)
West Noble Regional: 4th place (121 points)
New Haven Semistate: 10 place (280 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Joseph Landeros (10) 16:51 (37th place)
Frederico Ramirez (12) 17:35 (87th place)
Tyler Alles (12) 17:43 (93rd place)
Andrew Huntsman (10) 18:05 (117th place)
Alan Pizana (10) 18:28 (129th place)
Jose Ibanez (10) 18:39 (140th place)
2008 Outlook:
Gone is Jeff Wysong. Back are the remaining six runners, four of whom were freshmen in 2007. Those freshmen will now be forced into leadership roles and the front running responsibilities that come along with those roles. No longer can West Noble rely on having their freshmen run as pushers as they will now be scoring every time out. If they can steadily improve year by year, expect to see West Noble in Terre Haute before too long. For now, another top 10 semistate finish is the goal.
#48 Batesville Bulldogs
Franklin Central Semistate #21
2007 Results:
South Dearborn Sectional: 1st place (60 points)
Greensburg Regional: 7th place (170 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Greensburg Regional):
Jonathan Krekeler (11) 17:25 (30th place)
Jarrod Lowery (12) 17:52 (42nd place)
Blake Coleman (11) 17:57 (43rd place)
Collin Koury (10) 18:13 (49th place)
Cody Cavinee (11) 18:25 (51st place)
Damien Suffridge (10) 19:23 (65th place)
2008 Outlook:
Batesville was 18 points behind the fifth spot last season at the very competitive Greensburg Regional. Long gone are the days of Rob Grote, but the Bulldogs should field a competitive team in 2008 that has a shot at advancing to the semistate level of competition. They have some youth in the lineup and their sophomores are key to closing the deal and making it happen.
#49 Northview Knights
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #11
2007 Results:
Terre Haute North Sectional: 3rd place (103 points)
Brown County Regional: 6th place (155 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Brown County Regional):
Ryan Lutes (12) 17:02 (19th place)
Chris Smith (12) 17:27 (34th place)
Conor Strain (11) 17:45 (43rd place)
Eli Kirby (12) 17:55 (50th place)
2008 Outlook:
The Knights are part of a running resurgence in southern Indiana. That part of the state is beginning to hold its own in tournament series competition. They finished a disappointing 6th at the Brown County Regional, a mere one point behind Edgewood. They should take the next step this time around and could do even more damage should they find a solid #5 man.
#50 Lowell Red Devils
New Prairie Semistate #6
2007 Results:
Crown Point Sectional: 4th place (107 points)
Crown Point Regional: 4th place (85 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 13th place (370 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Jake Lamb (12) 17:49 (86th place)
Zachary Wiersma (12) 17:53 (92nd place)
Kyle Pattee (11) 17:55 (94th place)
David Weiand (12) 18:00 (101st place)
Ryan Eller (11) 18:02 (104th place)
Cameryn Brady (11) 18:09 (112th place)
2008 Outlook:
Without a true front running threat, Lowell will rely heavily on its quick striking pack. Moving up in the overall field along the way is crucial, but if they can keep their 1-5 split under 20 seconds, they are in great shape to make a run towards Terre Haute. They have a luxury, in that, they have decent depth, but cannot feel too comfortable as there are a handful of contending teams that are waiting to pounce on the final couple of positions to the state meet.