Previewing and Ranking the Midwest

By Rob Monroe

Tradition is a word that helps define the York's boys cross country program. On the national state York is one of three boys programs to qualify for NXN every year since regionals started, but more than that they are also the only program (boys or girls) to qualify for NTN/NXN every single year and have been winning or competing for state titles in one of the strongest states in the nation for more than half a century under the same legendary coach, Joe Newton. One state over, another one of the nation's traditional powers has been chugging along for 36 years as the Carmel boys have been winning or challenging for the Indiana State Championship since 1976 and have qualified for state 38 times in the last 40 years. Carmel's girls program is even stronger, having qualified for state every single year that Indiana girls cross country state championship has existed, and winning or placing second 22 of those 32 years.

Both programs, as good as they have been, will face strong challenges within the region this year as the Midwest looks, once again, like one of the two strongest regions for both boys and girls. The fields are deep enough, and returning teams strong enough, to wonder if any of those three programs will have a team finish in the top two in the Midwest - the races could be THAT close. Teams from Ohio, and others from Indiana and Illinois, look to challenge for the NXN Midwest boys title this fall, while there is a pair of great Illinois girls teams ready and able to take a shot at the Carmel girls, with a pair Michigan teams also just as good if they are allowed to compete in the meet. Challenges aside, though, the York and Carmel programs are expected to continue forward as the top teams in the region this fall.

Rankings note: Any runner who was top-5 at any of the championship meets (NXN Nationals, NXN Regionals, and their State Meet) are counted as a "scorer" even if they weren't usually a top-5 runner. The same accounting is used for "varsity" runners.

BOYS

1. Carmel (Carmel, Indiana)

            2012 NXN Nationals 11th place; NXN-Midwest Runner-up; Indiana State Champion

            Four scorers and four varsity runners return

2. York (Elmhurst, Illinois)

            2012 NXN Natinoals sixth place; NXN-Midwest Champion; Illinois 3A State Champion

            Two scorers and three varsity runners return

3. O'Fallon (O'Fallon Township, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest ninth place; Illinois 3A State Runner-up

            Five scorers and five varsity runners return

4. William Mason (Mason, Ohio)

            2012 NXN-Midwest 14th place; Ohio Division 1 State Runner-up

            Three scorers and five varsity runners return

5. Columbus North (Columbus, Indiana)

            2012 NXN-Midwest fourth place; Indiana State sixth place

            Three scorers and four varsity runners return

6. Davidson (Hilliard, Ohio)

            2012 NXN-Midwest 15th place; Ohio Division 1 State fifth place

            Four scorers and five varsity runners return

7. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)

            2012 NXN Nationals 9th place; NXN-Midwest third place; Ohio Division 1 State Champion

            Two scorers and two varsity runners return

8. Illiana Christian (Lansing, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest 19th place; Illinois 2A State sixth place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

9. Milford (Highland, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State Champion

            Two scorers and four varsity runners return

10. Wheaton-Warrenville South (Wheaton, Illinois)

            2012 Illinois 3A State 17th place

            Four scorers and five varsity runners return

11. New Trier (Winnetka, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest 18th place; Illinois 3A State 14th place

            Three scorers and four varsity runners return

12. John Hersey (Arlington Heights, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest 25th place; Illinois 3A STate 19th place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

13. Hinsdale Central (Hinsdale, Illinois)

            2012 Illinois 3A State 12th place

            Two scorers and four varsity runners return

14. Downers Grove North (Downers Grove, Illinois)

            2012 Illinois 3A Marist Sectional 11th place

            Three scorers and four varsity runners return

15. Carl Sandburg (Orland Park, Illinois)

            2012 Illinois 3A State 11th place 

            One scorer and three varsity runners return

GIRLS

1. Carmel (Carmel, Indiana)

           2012 NXN Nationals third place; NXN-Midwest Champion; Indiana State Champion

           Five scorers and six varsity runners return

2. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

            2012 Illinois 3A State third place

            Four scorers and four varsity runners return

3. Naperville North (Naperville, Illinois)

            2012 NXN Nationals 15th place; NXN-Midwest Runner-up; Illinois 3A State Champion

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

4. Saline (Saline, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State third place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

5. Ernest W. Seaholm (Birmingham, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State Champion

            Three scorers and five varsity runners return

6. Palatine (Palatine, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest sixth place; Illinois 3A State fifth place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

7. Northville (Northville, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State fifth place

            Four scorers and six varsity runners return

8. Yorkville (Yorkville, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest eighth place; Illinois 2A State Champion

            Four scorers and five varsity runners return

9. Geneva (Geneva, Illinois)

            2012 Illinois 3A State sixth place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

10. Traverse City Central (Traverse City, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State fourth place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

11. Rockford (Rockford, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State tenth place

            Five scorers and seven varsity runners return

12. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Indiana)

            2012 Indiana State fifth place

            Four scorers and six varsity runners return

13. O'Fallon (O'Fallon Township, Illinois)

            2012 NXN-Midwest 13th place; Illinois 3A State ninth place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return

14. Grosse Pointe South (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan)

            2012 Michigan Division 1 State Runner-up

            Three scorers and four varsity runners return

15. Lee's Summit West (Lee's Summit, Missouri)

            2012 Missouri Class 4 State fourth place

            Five scorers and six varsity runners return