After an unprecedented season filled with dual and triangular meets, head coach Mark Zilis and the Rochelle Hub and Lady Hub cross country teams are eager for a more normal schedule and the opportunity to compete against a greater number of teams this fall.
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ROCHELLE — After an unprecedented season filled with dual and triangular meets, head coach Mark Zilis and the Rochelle Hub and Lady Hub cross country teams are eager for a more normal schedule and the opportunity to compete against a greater number of teams this fall.
The Rochelle cross country team held its first practice of the 2021 season Monday morning, with its first meet against Plano and Sycamore scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 24 at Plano. The Hubs will look to build on their five victories from the 2020 season, while the Lady Hubs are seeking to add more wins after securing only two victories in competition this past fall.
“We’re excited for a regular schedule of meets and we have a decent number of kids,” Zilis said. “Some of our kids are already in tremendous shape. We’re still not completely over COVID-19 and we’re still not sure what’s going to happen each day, but we’re looking really good right now. We can always use more athletes, but we have full teams on the boys and girls sides.”
The Hub varsity team will need to replace only one senior from last season, meaning Rochelle will return several upperclassmen with varsity experience. Junior David Wanner and sophomore Parker Lenkaitis headline Rochelle’s returning varsity starters, while seniors Peter Forsberg, Luke Orlikowski, Max Orlikowski and Josue Huerta are expected to round out the lineup. Senior Sara Johnson and junior Yuelma Ortiz highlight the returning varsity starters for the Lady Hubs.
“Sara made the sectional competition last season and I thought both Sara and Yuelma did a fantastic job during the track and field season earlier this year,” Zilis said. “I’d like to see our girls make it to the sectional meet as a team and I think that’s entirely possible.”
Both teams will attempt to improve their standings in the Interstate 8 Conference after the Hubs finished seventh and the Lady Hubs took eighth in the conference meet last season. The Lady Hubs placed eighth in the IHSA 2A Regional at Belvidere, while the Hubs finished 10th.
“We have some guys who have been training hard over the summer,” Zilis said. “Peter’s in great shape and David looks really good. Parker, Luke, Max and Josue are coming back as well and I think we have a really good lineup. We have a lot of juniors and seniors who look ready to run this year.”
