There is an inescapably central challenge for Trevor Wills, Alexx Naumann and Zack Price for the boys cross country season.
“They’re very talented guys,” Yorkville coach Chris Muth said of his three top returnees for the two-time defending Class 2A state champion Foxes. “They have always been overshadowed. It’s time for them to step up and get into the spotlight.”
The Foxes’ back-to-back state titles had the fingerprints of twins Jake and Luke Hoffert all over them.
The brothers swept the top two spots at Detweiller Park last year, and the five returning state-meet runners — Cody Hornyak and Jake Firrantello also are back — no longer have the luxury of a one-two haymaker at the top of the lineup.
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“The twins taught us how it should be done,” Naumann said. “Training with Trevor and Zack, it has been a pretty good transition. Right now, we have to get our splits as tight as possible.”
Muth has been more than encouraged during the Foxes’ early-season practices.
At their smallish home invite last week, Wills, Baumann and Price were second, third and fourth, respectively, to propel an easy team victory.
Wills enters the season with a sense of unfinished personal business.
“I just missed all-state (top 25) last year,” said Wills, who finished 29th. “If I can get All-State this year that would be awesome.”
Muth more than realizes there will be questions regarding his squad until proven otherwise after losing the Hofferts, who are both at Bradley University.
“The biggest thing the twins brought was their security,” Muth said. “We still bring back a very solid core.”
The seasonal expectations have been slightly altered, but the Foxes are as optimistic as ever the season will be a success.
“Right now, we are trying to be a top-five team,” Baumann said. “If we can get a trophy, that would be awesome.”
Muth echoes the sentiments of both Wills and Naumann that developing a pack mentality is the central objective this year.
“Right now we have to get our split as tight as possible,” Muth said.
Yorkville will also count on senior Thor Hester to help the bridge the gap of the twins’ graduation.
“We don’t have that powerful one-two punch anymore,” Wills said. “We are going to have to run as well as we can as a pack. Everyone is really excited. We all had a great summer.”
Muth accepts the Foxes’ margin for error will be magnified this year for his boys team, which will not see its first meaningful invitational until Peoria Notre Dame the weekend after Labor Day.
“We’re not a perfect team,” Muth said. “They strive for perfection at every practice — and they’re getting there.”
Among local Class 3A boys, West Aurora senior Connor McCue is the name to watch this fall.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.