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Woodbridge - This figures to be the Warriors' fourth straight season of advancing to the divisional finals, seeking their first trip to State since 2009 (while in Division III). They return all seven from last year's 16th place team, but could very well be their best team in school history. At finals last year, a slim 41 second gap separated their scorers but now to get more of them into the sub-16 minute bracket. Brett Knudson (15:28) is their top returner while Caleb Terefe (15:53) will look to join him up front. Knudson put together a great track season with 4:24/9:28 stats while Terefe improved down to a 9:33 for the 3200. Ben Choi (4:30/9:49), Cody Billings, John Pantigoso and Sean Crowley return with postseason experience while Ryan Welton (4:37) had a solid freshman track season. This team is looking to create some history and has all the tools to do so. To do it, the Warriors will need to stay toward the top of this tier in November.
Capistrano Valley - The Cougars are coming off their best track season in quite some time. Returning six from last year's cross country squad, they are positioning themselves to possibly be the best one in school history. Ty Savely and Sean Robertson are their top two returners and both with sub-16 credentials on the Riverside Championship course. Andrew Bautista also peaked well last November while Richard McLain, Thomas Mordy and Matthew Savely form a core that is projected to advance onto the state meet. But, glancing at the history and depth of the programs in this tier and it becomes obvious that it will a true fight for those last three spots to Fresno. Ty Savely moved up the ranks this past spring with a 4:22/9:35 season while Robertson did not disappoint, leaving the season with 4:28/9:45 personal bests. Head coach Matt Soto has set the bar high and this group is matching it. Capo Valley's newfound depth included nine underclassmen under 4:50 and five under 10:10 this past track season.
Note: Capo Valley was mistakenly omitted in our original lineup, but the Cougars are for real and a squad to be reckoned with come November.
Canyon (Canyon Country) - After taking 6th place last year and onto State for the first time since 2009, the Cowboys return the top boy in the division in senior Ethan Danforth. He is the defending divisional champ with a best of 14:50 on the Riverside Championship course while rolling to a 9:00 and 4th place at the CIF State final in Clovis. Competing in arguably, the toughest boys' league in the state, Canyon could very well need an at-large entry to qualify for a return trip to State. The crew returns six from last year's squad and could very well be knocking on the door of squads in the upper tiers. The leaders looking to fill the gap created by the graduation of No. 2 scorer Andrew Mawhorter are Estevan Covarrubias and Alfredo DeAnda (4:30/9:52), who will look to be in the mid-15 minute range this November. Frank Lofton also returns with State experience following a solid track season. As they fight their way through the Foothill League, Canyon is seasoned with valuable big race experience to make it back to the state meet.
Redlands East Valley - Graduating Division II State Meet champion Elias Opsahl will be a daunting task for the crew that placed 8th a year ago. That's the bad news. The good news is all seven behind Opsahl return. Looking back at last year's final, Matthew Casillas, Cole Cooper, Jacob Dooley and Simon Opsahl all finished within 21 seconds of one another. That pack mentality will be utilized in their quest to qualify for the State meet this season. Add in Matthew Barnett, Matt Hornung and Zane Blum, and you have three others with sub-17 credentials last postseason. Casillas had the best track season with 4:26/9:28 splits while the younger Opsahl improved down to a 4:22, and Cooper left the season with a 4:31 best. This team has never made the State meet, so this year's version of the Wildcats look to create some history.
Mission Viejo - The Diablos will have the extra motivation of last year's 11th place finish at the divisional finals. Head coach Robert Bello has been pleased with this summer's development. He anticipates that the five returners from last year's group will use that disappointing finish to move them forward here in 2018. Oliver Svensson, Andrew Galvez, Jack Lawson, Zachary Anderson, and Jacob Schwarz are their top five coming into the season. Belo sees eight others with talent to break into the varsity between now and November while the program boasts over 80 boys! Connor Ree and Sebastian Belo return with postseason experience as well. Galvez (15:56) and Svensson (16:04) are their top two returners from last postseason.
Saugus - After placing 2nd in both the section and state in 2017, this season should line up to be the Centurians 11th consecutive advancing to the divisional finals. The Foothill League will be as competitive as ever but while Saugus may not possess the weapons up front like its league counterparts, the Centurians definitely possess more depth. With most of their State meet squad graduating (4 of the top 5), head coach Rene Paragas' ability to progress athletes is unmatched. In what should be a condensed scoring block, Blake Gallardo, Lothar Hernandez and Jacob Kaufmann will return with postseason experience. Gallardo (4:42/9:56) was one of the top freshmen last year while Josh Duarte left the track season equal with that trio. They may need an at-large bid to make the postseason, but with impressive year to year development to go along with high expectations, Saugus will be back in the hunt.
Simi Valley - The Pioneers have finished between 8th and 12th the past three years and that's right about where we have them seeded going into the season. They return six from last year's team but will have to make up for the graduation of Andrew Teasdale. In what should be a pack mentality, their top four returning from last year's postseason finished within 30 seconds apart from one another. Seniors Alejandro Diaz and Joshua Moncada along juniors Nicholas and Bradley Williams give this crew a solid four. Bradley Williams had the best track season of the group, coming away with 4:33/9:38 splits. Moncada also produced 4:33/9:59 personal bests. The talent is there for this crew as they could very well find themselves qualifying for the State meet for the first time since 2013.
Arroyo - Noah Hibbard will lead the Knights, who return six from last year's 22nd place squad. Hibbard is one of the division's finest and is coming off a 4:15/9:22 track season. With the squad underachieving in last year's finals, we need to see that reversed this November if they are to compete for a spot to the state meet. Jonathan Lopez (15:45), Josh Orellana (16:11) and Nicholas Martinez (16:54) return with postseason experience. Orellana had the best track season of the group, finishing with 4:36/9:45 splits. Lopez along with Andrew Rivas return after a solid spring on the oval. Arroyo will need to shore up the depth if they overcome the talent within this tier.
El Toro - With all of graduations and losses or personnel, most would be surprised to see the Chargers here. We're going to lean on history and tradition as this is their fourth-year under head coach Ken Chai. El Toro has qualified for the divisional finals every year this century, including nine trips to the State meet in the last 14 seasons. Coming off a 5th place finish in Division I last year, Mitch Groff (4:27/9:30) is the clear front-runner here. Now 100% healthy and after a great summer of training, he is ready to compete with the division's best. Juan Torres-Mondragon, Jason Leland, Jonas Hartline, Bryce Callender, and Brandon Tressler will provide the supporting cast to keep the El Toro tradition alive.
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