STORY: DGN at Hinsdale Central Sectional

Already key contributors to the Downers Grove North boys cross country varsity lineup as sophomores, Nick Chudzik and Jacob Ridderhoff were among the five alternates for the senior-led 2014 Class 3A state-qualifying team.
“After they graduated, I thought, ‘It’s our turn. We’ve got to keep carrying on what they did for us,’ ” Chudzik said. “When we were alternates, they were the ones that really ran it and got it and now it’s our turn to do it for everyone else.”
Other than the Trojans themselves, very few believed that their turn would already so soon at the rainy Hinsdale Central Sectional Saturday, Oct. 31.
Yet there were the Trojans celebrating in a steady rain after earning the fifth and final state-qualifying spot for the 3A boys state race at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Peoria’s Detweiller Park.
The Trojans had no seniors among their top-five finishers.
Junior all-state candidate Alec Danner, who finished fourth (15:16.49 for 3.0 miles), and Robby Prescott (73rd, 16:54.34), the lone senior in the seven-runner lineup, were the only returnees from last year’s state lineup that ran Saturday.
“I don’t think about my age or how young I am. I think I just relied on my fitness to get it done (for our team),” Ridderhoff said. “I wasn’t worried that all of these (other) guys are seniors. Everybody’s got to run in these conditions. Everybody’s got to see how fit everybody is.
“We know we have enough talent (to qualify). We know we have the training. We know we have the coaching staff. We just got it done because we relied on our fitness. And we just ran our race.”
The pack of Chudzik (25th, 16:08.03), Ridderhoff (29th, 16:12.05) and sophomore Ryan Birkmeier (34th, 16:16.32) came through along with nearby freshman Matt Moravec (42nd, 16:25.85). They were followed by sophomore Sam McCool (55th, 16:41.20) and Prescott, who competed for the second meet in a row with tendinitis in his foot.
By 21 points, the Trojans (134 points) beat out sixth-place Plainfield South (155) for the final qualifying spot. Sectional champion Sandburg (45), Hinsdale Central (65), Lyons Township (74) and Downers Grove South (133), just one point ahead of the Trojans, also advanced.
“It’s awesome. Absolutely. It’s great,” Downers North coach John Sipple said. “It’s a big deal for our young guys and how far they’ve come. They ran super tough, super proud of our effort. We had to beat some good teams. It feels great to earn it the way they did.
“Even if we didn’t make it, they ran awesome.”  
After a long wait for the boys awards ceremony, the Trojans still only knew they were in the hunt based on their results but there was no official word regarding the final results.
“We knew it was really close. We were really worried on the cool down,” Ridderhoff said. “We were all just like, ‘I hope we got it. I hope we got it.’ And then we did and it’s just unbelievable.” 
“When they announced it, we were all silent but going nuts in our heads,” Chudzik said. “As soon as we walked out (following awards), we all just started jumping up and down. It’s unbelievable because we worked hard for it.”  
This group also equaled history. This marks only the second time that the Trojans have qualified for state as a team in a program-best three consecutive years, joining the 2002-04 run under previous head coach Will Kupisch, who was among those who braved a driving rain to support the team Saturday.
“I remember an interview last year after the state cross country meet and Jack Diamond and some of the (then senior captains saying) that they just want us to continue the tradition of going to state,” Danner said.
“It’s just what DGN is striving to be, a whole other level than what they previously were. Not just experience but just to compete at that level each and every year, no matter what the lineup, the circumstances. I think that was really installed in each of our minds this year, that we can do this, we have the potential. We can all be really fit so we just trained relay hard and we achieved that today.” 

More to come...