Kaneland’s Matthew Richtman was left without team aspirations for the final two weeks of last year’s Class 2A boys cross country season.
“Obviously, it was pretty heartbreaking,” Richtman said.
Although Richtman won the individual race at the Burlington Central Regional to advance to the Belvidere Sectional, the Knights were left out as a team after finishing in seventh place.
“It was called the ‘Regional of Death,'” Kaneland coach Chad Clarey said. “Seven of the top 12 ranked teams in Class 2A were there. It was our year not to qualify.”
“It’s not really the same feeling as going (to sectionals) as a team,” Richtman said.
Richtman, however, more than eased the heartache on an individual basis. He placed third in the sectional. In the state meet, he crossed the finish line at Detweiller Park in Peoria in 14 minutes, 36 seconds for fourth place.
“I am running to compete, not just to run,” Richtman said of his unrelenting mindset.
Richtman will garner much attention this fall as the Knights secured a No. 8 preseason ranking from ilxctf.com. Clarey warns against heightened expectations and misplaced projections for his star senior.
“The three guys who finished ahead of him (at state) all graduated,” Clary said. “I don’t see (Richtman) as a clear-cut runaway favorite. Class 2A is just too deep.”
“Rankings don’t matter when it comes to the state meet,” Richtman said.
Richtman will have a time-honored regimen in preparation for the all-important four-week stretch of the conference meet and state series.
“For the regular season, I want to get used to the competition,” Richtman said. “I am trying to hit the times and places that I want. I will key off my training. I would say one of my strengths is having a game plan.”
Richtman, who wants to compete at the next level but is undecided, followed up his cross country season with a strong run in track. He was a linchpin of the Knights’ third-place finish, taking runner-up in the 3,200 meters and seventh in the 1,600.
Sophomore Daniel Occhipinti, a returning at-large sectional qualifier, has been tapped to complement Richtman in the Knights’ lineup as the number two runner.
“(Richtman) has taught me a lot,” Occhipinti said. “He’s awesome. It’s really great to work with him.”
Clarey said Richtman has the proper mental disposition for the demands of the sport.
“He never gets too high, he never gets too low,” Clarey said.
More than anything, Richtman wants to vanquish the feelings of emptiness of not having any classmates at last year’s state meet.
“It’s definitely motivating this year, so we don’t end up in the same boat,” Richtman said.
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Among the local 3A programs, Batavia has received the most preseason interest, followed by Marmion, Oswego East, Yorkville, Waubonsie Valley and Oswego.
“We definitely think winning a conference championship is a feasible goal,” Batavia coach Bronco Meeks said. “Our younger guys have got that much better. They want to be in that Sweet 16 at least.”
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.