Batavia High School remains a power in boys high school track and field again this season. The assessment comes following success last season.
Head boys track and field coach Dennis Piron, who keeps busy as both head football coach and assistant athletic director, said, “I am very excited about the potential this team has, especially at a State level. This will be a very good year for the Bulldogs as dominate performances showed. We are looking forward to the outdoor season.”
Batavia won the Upstate Eight Conference indoor meet at Batavia last month and performed well in their Bulldog Relays March 22.
The outdoor season will begin, weather permitting, at the Batavia Les Hodge meet Friday.
Other engagements in April will include Glenbard West meets April 14 and April 28, both Saturdays, and the Kaneland High School Peterson Prep Saturday, April 21.
Last season Batavia won championships in the Upstate Eight River Conference, varsity and sophomores, in the Kane County meet, in the sectional meet, the Peterson Prep, and Jim Arnold meet at Glenbard West. The team was undefeated in all invitational meets.
“Maybe (it was) the best team we have had,” Piron said. “It seems like we are getting such focused, hard-working quality young men every year and lots of them. One-hundred sixty athletes came out and all have improved and worked very hard. Last year’s team was very good, but this one is close. A lot of relay depth and some big stars in Sam Conger, Adam Kennedy, Jeremiah Evers, and the relays. Elijah Green is top 10 (in the state) in shot and discus. We will be very tough to beat with a balanced lineup again this year.
“We should be the favorite for the UEC River title and be one of the top teams in Kane County. We believe we should have some very strong State level athletes this year as well as our relay teams.”
The team last year was the first undefeated varsity level in Batavia High School history. Batavia won the Kane County meet with a record 198 points.
Top returning athletes include Reggie Phillips in the 400 and 200 meters; Conger in the hurdles, Evers in the sprints, Kennedy, only a sophomore, in the 800 meters and relays, Tom Stuttle in the jumps and relays, Green in the throws, Jack MacDonald in the triple jump, Chris Levario in distance, Julian Davis in sprints, and Owen Schuster in the pole vault.
The schedule last week and this week in all outdoor Spring sports have suffered because of inclement weather. The word canceled is an evident four-letter word to the competitors and fans.
• Jalen Brunson, junior at Villanova University led the Wildcats to the NCAA men’s basketball championship earlier this week. It was his second National championship in three years. Brunson, who led Stevenson High School in north suburban Lincolnshire to the State basketball championship in 2015, was voted Mr. Basketball that year in the State. He was named the top player in college basketball Division I this year. E.J. Liddell, a junior of State champion Belleville West, was named this year’s Mr. Basketball.
Camron Donatlan of West Aurora finished eighth in the voting. Jake Wolfe of Aurora Christian received two votes. Ryan Boatright of East Aurora was Mr. Basketball in 2011 in a tie with Chasson Randle of Rock Island.