Daily Herald Season Previews

Below are the 2017 season previews from the Daily Herald.

LAKES Boys

Coach: Travis Shepherd (fourth season)

Last season: eighth in sectionals, second in regionals, second in NLCC

Top graduated runners: Jeremy Wallace (22nd in Class 2A, College of Lake County)

Top returning runners: senior Kael Moran; juniors Jack Erwin, Charlie Halberg, Ethan Schommer, Owen Wenberg; sophomore R.J. Migas

Key newcomers: sophomore Talon Knauf

Outlook: The Eagles have some big shoes to fill with the graduation of all-state runner Jeremy Wallace. In spite of that, coach Travis Shepherd said his team has set some high expectations for this season with the goal of reaching the state meet at the top of Lakes' wish list. Kael Moran will be gunning for the Eagles' school-record time of 15:04, despite suffering an injury that sidelined him during track. Former soccer player Talon Knauf should be a huge addition in only his sophomore campaign. Lakes is coming off its best season ever.

* Click here to see the full article with previews from other teams in Lake County.

LAKES Girls

Coach: Keith West (14th season)

Last season: eighth in sectionals, first in regionals, second in NLCC

Top graduated runners: Alyssa Stromsland (Point Loma University)

Top returning runners: juniors Rae Dwyer, Simone Lippman, Hannah Grant, Megan Knuettel, Morgan Gillespie; sophomores Olivia Schmitt Ashley Whitis

Key newcomers: freshmen Brooke Stromsland (IESA state qualifier), Alex Bryant (IESA state qualifier)

Outlook: After bringing home a Class 2A regional crown last year, the Eagles took eighth at sectionals. They finished just 14 points behind fifth-place Grayslake Central in a logjam of teams. Olivia Schmitt, who finished 15th at the sectional, just missed qualifying for the state meet by one place as a freshman. The sophomore should be an outstanding front-runner this fall with strong support from the junior trio of Rae Dwyer, Simone Lippman and Hannah Grant. While they are still young with no seniors, the Eagles have five of their top seven runners back from last year's sectional meet.

* Click here to see the full article with previews from other teams in Lake County.