Addams boys are making first trip to state finals

"After seeing the caliber of teams in our Sectional, I knew this was going to be a fight," said Jane Addams coach Adam Thas who along with Mark Setchell are now in their 5th season as the Mustang coaches. "Five of these teams qualified for State last year," said Thas, referring to the field of teams including state regulars Woodridge Jefferson, Lemont Old Quarry, Homer Glen, and last year top ten finisher, Oak Park Julian. Despite going 13-3 this season the team began to gain confidence with some mid-season success. "We had a quad meet with Homer Glen a few weeks ago and beat them, and then we beat Lemont at Channahon. That was really the first time the boys started to believe they had a shot at state," said Thas. After a fourth place showing at last year's Sectional, the Mustangs were led this season by returning State Qualifier and team captain Evan Gutierrez. "You don't get much better a leader than Evan; he really was like a third coach. He came into this season in shape and on a mission, you couldn't ask for a better team captain," said Thas of his Captain. Gutierrez was not alone. Along with him the Mustangs brought back two returning 8th graders, last year State qualifier Kyle Nadres, and Mark Starr. Starr, now in his 3rd season, dropped an unbelievable 2:00 from last season to become one of Mustangs top 3 runners. Adding to the roster were 7th graders Jeffery Colvin, Kokeith Perry, Jerome Davis, and 6th grader Isaac Camacho. "Right before the race, I told the boys it was going to be tough. There was a chance they would fail, but the only way to deal with failure is to know you gave it everything you had, they had to leave it all on the course," said Thas. "I was really nervous before the race, I wanted to make State." Explained Camacho. As the 2 mile race ended, the Mustangs found themselves in good position placing 4 of their runners in the top 20 with Gutierrez leading the way finishing 10th in a time of 11:56, followed by Starr 12th at 12:02, Davis 15th at 12:08, Perry 20th at 12:16, Nadres at 32 at 12:45, Colvin 43 at 13:01, and rounded out with Camacho 53rd at 13:24. In the end, Jane Addams ended up out-dueling its opponents and finishing in 2nd place behind Lemont Old Quarry by 3 points guaranteeing them a spot as Valley View's first boys' cross country team to qualify for the State meet. When asked about the race Thas explained, "All the boys really stepped it up, it was truly a team effort in all aspects, they should be so proud of what they've accomplished this season. They've made district history and no one can take that from them." Not to be over shadowed by the boy's squad the Lady Mustangs qualified one individual for the State meet. After qualifying as an alternate last season, 7th grader Sydney Banks is returning to the state meet by finishing 11th with a time of 13:19. "Sydney is one of the toughest runners I've ever coached. Somewhere about mid season she got it into her head she was making state and did everything she could to make it there," said Thas. Along with Jane Addams, Valley View will be sending one other runner to the State meet, A. Vito Martinez's Josh Sopczak. All the runners including Jane Addams alternates Nick Sramek, Tim Mohammed and Matt Starr, will be participating in the State meet in Normal Illinois, Saturday October 18th.