Paul Vandersteen, the only coach in Neuqua Valley history, views Zach Kinne as a seminal athlete.
“(Kinne) is looking as good as any runner — other than (former state champion) Chris Derrick — that I have ever had in practice,” Vandersteen said. “(He) could be something special.”
Kinne was one of three All-State runners for Neuqua Valley last fall, finishing 17th to help the Wildcats win their third state title by an 83-116 margin over runner-up Downers Grove North.
But Kinne will assume an entirely different role this fall in the program as the lone returning state starter.
The junior relishes the challenge.
“I am definitely not scared to be the only guy back,” said Kinne, who was also fifth last spring at state track in the 3,200 meters. “We all have it in us. We have six new guys (to the postseason lineup). No one sees us doing very much.”
But the Wildcats’ sustained degree of success this century in the sport has left its mark.
Neuqua Valley enters the season ranked third behind West Suburban Silver juggernauts Downers North and York.
A collective and equally rigorous summer training schedule has been as instrumental to the Wildcats’ legacy as the depth has been the cornerstone of six state trophies since 2007.
Kinne has continued the tradition in recent months.
“I am developing some strength to my running,” he said. “I can’t wait to see how that impacts me. I can hold a face pace for a long time.”
Kinne readily admits he would not hold the distinction of being the only state returnee had Danny Winek been healthy last fall.
“(Winek) would have been up on our (state) team last year,” Kinne said of Winek, who was lost for the season with a back injury. “He has always been good at cross country.”
Senior Tyler Bombacino is another key for Neuqua Valley this fall as the senior ran the lead leg on the Wildcats’ state championship 3,200 relay last spring.
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“There are other guys who had good track seasons who would factor in there as well,” Vandersteen said.
“We’re not heavily favored like we were last year,” Bombacino said. “But we think we can be up there with anybody.”
Neuqua Valley, though, will be hard-pressed to defend its state championship against Downers North and York, the all-time record-holder for team titles.
“Depending on what poll you look at, they are the top-ranked team in the nation,” Waubonsie Valley coach Kevin Rafferty said of Downers North.
“They are in the same position as we were last year,” Vandersteen said of the Trojans.
In addition to Kinne, Winek and Bombacino, Vandersteen will look to Ryan Kennedy, Chris Keeley, Michael Madiol and Alex Johnson to compensate for the Wildcats’ graduation losses.
Kennedy is yet another Neuqua Valley athlete in recent memory primed for a breakout final season after barely missing the Wildcats’ state lineup a year ago.
“It’s going to be a tight pack,” Kinne predicted. “It’s going to come down to four, five, six guys running behind me.”
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.