The trio who led Sandburg to the 2015 Class 3A state title was back for the 2016 intrasquad meet.
As alumni.
Sandburg graduated six of seven from the state team — topped by Sean Torpy, Max Lehnhardt and Chris Torpy — and will rely on several new faces to add to its history of distance success.
“We’ve got to start fresh and start with a new group, and start building with what we have,” coach John O’Malley said. “We’re not looking at it as a defense. We’re looking at building something new, something different.”
Sandburg was state runner-up in 2014 and last year had five runners finish under 15 minutes in a strong 3A field. Graduates Brandon Lukas and Tom Brennan also were part of the Eagles’ first five at state.
“It’s going to be tough to replicate what we’ve done the last few years, but we’re not going to be overly concerned about it,” O’Malley said. “We’re just going to focus on what this group can do.”
The group will be led by junior Dylan Jacobs, who suffered a hamstring injury at the rain-plagued sectional and missed the state final.
Jacobs ran a personal-best 14 minutes, 36 seconds at the Peoria Notre Dame meet and was among Sandburg’s top runners during a season that had the Eagles ranked No. 1 in the nation.
More Top Picks Panasonic Ni L70sr Cordless
“They were all winners,” Jacobs said of the 2015 squad. “They showed us the path to get good. I know we lost a lot of them, but we’ve got guys coming up. Most of our top seven is going to be pretty new. That’s what the season is for, to get more experience.”
Jacobs’ first two years at Sandburg have impressed O’Malley, who coached Lukas Verzbicas to state championships in 2009 and ’10.
“He looks as good as any runner I’ve had,” O’Malley said of Jacobs. “I don’t know that he’s quite there with Verzbicas, but he looks like a low-14-minute runner. He looks like a state contender.”
“It’s really difficult to get there,” Jacobs said of reaching the state elite. “Once I get there, I can stay there and really be a threat.”
Martin Skucas, Alex Szymanski and Tom Marchese will be expected to provide senior leadership on the developing team. Skucas, who has the most state meet experience, was Sandburg’s No. 5 runner in the 2014 final and No. 6 for the Eagles last year.
Jacobs (15:22) and Skucas (15:48) finished 1-2 Tuesday in the SouthWest Suburban Conference preseason meet.
Szymanski made the 12-man state roster last year and credited his improvement to being around the 2015 squad.
“They really rubbed off on you,” Szymanski said. “Their excellence every day, even the little things.”
Marchese attended Sandburg’s cross country camp every year since sixth grade and witnessed the program’s success early on.
“I’ve watched scores of guys run for Sandburg,” Marchese said. “I see this as a legacy I want to help continue.”
Talented teammates with the same idea include Robbie Sieczkowski, Nico Calderon, Ben Cachares and Sam Rodriguez, a freshman.
The defending state champ in any sport has a target on its back, but that’s OK with Jacobs.
“That’s what we want,” he said. “We’re going to feed off all that, feed off the pressure and really try to go out and kill it this season.”
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.