Fenwick sophomore Juliana Gamboa figured earning Class 2A girls cross country top-25 all-state honors a second time would be even harder. The Riverside resident responded with a personal-best time of 17:41.23 for the 3.0 miles at Peoria’s Detweiller Park, her fastest time since taking 14th at state last year in 17:47.33.
“My goal was just to place and get all-state,” Gamboa said. “I definitely had high expectations. I wanted to place again, but there’s also a lot of really good girls this year and I realized that.”
Gamboa becomes the Friars’ third multiple all-stater, joining four-time all-stater Olivia Ryan (2011-14) and two-time all-stater Bella Daley (2021-22). Gamboa also took pride that her team qualified again and jumped to 17th (448 points) from 25th in 2023. Saturday’s young lineup consisted of four state-returning sophomores, one junior and two freshmen.
“Everyone was just really excited to show how hard we worked this season,” Gamboa said. Her final push was aided by her uncle yelling her place with just under one mile left. During the middle portion, Gamboa received help particularly from Trinity junior Molly McGreal (18th, 17:35.69) after they first bonded during the 2023 state meet.
“She’s my racing buddy. We kind of have a special connection,” Gamboa said. “We are always able to find each other during races.”
Nazareth cross country
Besides executing his pre-race plan, Nazareth junior Daniel Lewis of Brookfield received some welcome rain during the 2A boys state race.
“Actually I’m one of those people who really enjoy running in the rain,” Lewis said. “I just stuck to [my plan] and I think I excelled.”
Lewis posted a school-record 15:28.6 for 3.0 miles in placing 61st. In his 2023 state debut, Lewis was 160th (16:27.15). He worked off and then outkicked two Notre Dame runners that edged him at the East Suburban Catholic Conference Meet, Oct. 19.
“I was really happy with my time last year, but I knew I could do definitely better and I’m really happy with how I ran,” he said.
In 2A girls, Nazareth freshman Kathleen Hardy (22nd, 17:42.69) joined 2023 graduate and three-time honoree Colette Kinsella as the Roadrunners’ only all-staters. Besides rainy conditions, Hardy withstood a right foot injury from lacrosse that resurfaced during the race.
“I tried to run my hardest. [All-state] gave me a lot of motivation to finish the race,” she said. “I was really nervous because I knew there were going to be a lot of great runners but my goal was to get all-state and I tried to push it as much as I could.”
The Roadrunners were 25th (493) in their fifth straight team trip to an IHSA state meet. Sophomores Allie O’Halloran (95th, 19:03.54), Sophia Towne (117th, 19:20.48), Julia Parkes (194th, 20:13.35), seniors Sarah Owen (195th, 20:15.99) and Alayna Plahm (211th, 20:40.67) and sophomore Ashley Kenna (222nd, 20:52.31) also competed.
Hardy said she nearly joined tennis for her fall sport but chose cross country because “I’d meet a lot more people for school. My team put in so much work. I truly think it was a team effort and I’m really happy with the way my season ended,” she said.
Fenwick football
Starting senior defensive lineman Aiden Burns of Riverside fueled a great Fenwick football defense that had two shutouts and helped hold nine opponents to 15 points or fewer.
“I feel this defense is one of the strongest Fenwick has had on the field,” Burns responded. “If there was a good play, a teammate was charged to make a bigger one. We fed off each other, and once we got rolling, nothing was getting through us.”
The Friars nearly pulled out a huge victory in the second round of the Class 7A state playoffs Saturday but defending state runner-up Downers Grove North kicked a field goal as time expired to prevail 13-10.
Other Fenwick players from Riverside include junior lineman Luke Leone, who also saw significant time, and juniors Diego Robles, Connor Wahl and William Tomczak.
The Friars (8-3) graduate 27 seniors.
“Unfortunately, the game didn’t go our way. It was a hell of a game and a battle we loved to fight,” Burns responded. “The Fenwick football experience is hard to put into words. The coaching staff throughout all four years of my career was amazing. The bond we made as football players is more than just teammates.”
Nazareth diving
Nazareth Academy sophomore diver Ellie Fleishmann qualified for state at-large with her fourth-place 452.05 points at the Hinsdale Central Sectional Saturday.
(Melvin Tate contributed to this story)