'Mini-state meet' on tap at Oakhurst

Marmion's Zack Young (front, left) and Geneva's Kevin Sparks will lead their respective teams into regional competition Saturday. Mary Beth Nolan / For the Beacon News

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Saturday's Class 2A Aurora Central Catholic Regional at Oakhurst Forest Preserve could be called a mini-state meet, with four highly ranked teams battling for a trip to the loaded Belvidere Sectional the following week.

"The boys race is stacked," Aurora Central coach Troy Kerber said.

Kaneland and Marmion should battle Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake Central for the top honor.

Marmion is led by senior Zack Young and junior Ben Kanute while the Knights are paced by senior Matt Reusche.

The top five teams and top five individuals who are not on a qualifying team advance to the sectional. Host Aurora Central will be one of the teams fighting for the final spot.

"We are going to have to run for our lives," Kerber said.

Regardless of how the Chargers fare as a team, look for Manuel Saucedo and Jimmy Spencer to reach sectionals.

Yorkville leads the pack at the Class 2A Sandwich Regional. The Foxes are ranked in the top 20 by dyestat.com and should coast to the regional title.

Sandwich and Oswego figure to battle Joliet Catholic for second place.

"It's a pretty well-matched regional," Sandwich coach Jeff Smith said. "Any way you look at it, it's going to be close."

Led by Kevin McDowell and Kevin Sparks, Geneva is the favorite in the Class 3A West Aurora Regional. The Vikings, who finished third in the state last season, have the experience to make a deep run as a team.

Host West Aurora is coming off one of its best seasons in recent history and figure to easily qualify as a team. Juniors Steve Loran and Matt Muth are capable of posting top-15 finishes for the Blackhawks.

Also in the mix for sectional advancement are Batavia, Waubonsie Valley and East Aurora -- they figure to battle Bartlett, West Chicago and Metea Valley for the third through fifth spots.

In Class 1A, area teams will compete in the Seneca Regional, which feeds into the Aurora Christian Sectional.

On paper, Aurora Christian should breeze to a regional title, with Sam Schuette in the hunt for the individual title. Somonauk senior Mack Land will lead the young Bobcats squad while Plano is led by junior Brandon Miller.