DIVISION V BOYS
TIER 1
Flintridge Prep - Flintridge Prep has qualified for the California state meet ... 21 years in a row! Nobody on the team was alive when the streak began. In those 21 years, they have finished in the top 3 ... 20 times! Six titles, eight runners-up and six 3rd place finishes! Despite graduating divisional and State champ, Evan Pattinelli along with the retirement of longtime head coach, Ingrid Herskind, we rest assured that the torch will continue burning. Carson Hasbrouck will lead his crew right toward the top once again. The team returns six from last year's State meet team while Hasbrouck returns with the 5th fastest time in the division on the Riverside Championship course. But his 16:02 at the State meet was even more impressive while he also ran to a 9:56 this past track season. Sebastian Evans was very impressive this spring where he broke 1:58 for the 800 meters and also ran to a 4:29. Bennett Oakes is the top returning freshman from last year's divisional finals while Grady Morrissey, and Ethan Moutes all return with State experience and remember just missing the podium by only three points. This group has finished 3rd the past two seasons but they are looking to reclaim the title like they did in 2015.
St. Margaret's - In what should be a great battle for the Division V team title, the Tartans return five from last year's state meet crew (4th at the divisional finals). This should be the 11th year in a row where St. Margaret's qualifies for the divisional finals and what should be its 10th time in that span at the State final. They have finished in the top six nine times in the past 10 seasons and will look to claim the title for the first time since their 2010-2012 three-year run up top. Robbie Graham will take over up front, in place of the graduated Matthew Soto, as he is coming off an impressive 4:30/9:59 track season. Graham ran 16:10 at last year's finals and projects to one of the division's best. Matthew Colglazier improved to a 4:27 this past spring, while Christopher Chan (4:36 this spring) will provide additional support. One of the top freshmen in the division, Calvin Capelle ran a 4:50 this past spring. These three all ran in the mid-16:30's during last November. Mason Harline and Grant Kinsey provide added depth. Four of their top five from last year's finals return. Going into the season, this is one of the closer team battles in the section.
Thacher - The defending Division V champions and State runners-up, the Toads return two of the division's 
best in California. They will have to fill the spots of four graduates but returning Colin Kirkpatrick and Ford Shaper up front is a great start. They're projected to both finish among the top five at the divisional finals, if not the top three as they return with the two fastest time (15:30 each) on the Riverside Championship course. Kirkpatrick is coming a monster track season that saw him run 1:57 and 4:17 (CIF finalist in both). Not to be outdone, Shaper dipped just under 4:20 for the 1600 meters which also explains why Thacher was so successful for the distance medley relay (10:20) this past track season. Along with Winslow Atkeson (16:19 last year), Thacher will be in line to defend their title after three scorers. But they will need to find those crucial fourth and fifth scorers to compete with truly compete with the other two schools in this tier. They've practiced a very patient racing schedule and with that in mind, this crew should be in line for another State berth. If so, it would be their 10th trip in the past 12 seasons.
Woodcrest Christian - No team returns as much depth as the Royals do. All seven from their state meet return while they wisely gave 10 boys altogether, the opportunity to compete in the postseason. While most remember how Woodcrest Christian rolled off five straight division titles from 2005-2009, the program continues to be among the most successful. We project the Royals to make the State meet for the fifth time in seven seasons, especially considering all seven all seven now have experience at State. Braulio Alvarez (4:37/10:08) is their top returner with a 16:23 at last year's finals. Riley Batista, Mackenzie Thomas and Steven Martinez are all within 30 seconds of him. Where Woodcrest will rely on its depth, other squads in this tier have very strong front-runners. Jonah Parker and Warren Milligan were freshmen last year so expect more improvement there while Josh Thomas only gives this group one more weapon in the varsity mix.
TIER 2
Desert Christian - Finishing back in 15th place was their lowest since 2012. But when that entire group was all underclassmen, and the top two qualified for State as individuals, that's a nice foundation heading into 2018. Ethan Laubach and Chris Gonzalez finished 9th and 10th, respectively at last year's finals in 15:40. Both made the trip up to Fresno and now plan on bringing the entire team this season. Division V team champions in 2016, this should be their eighth State berth in the past 10 seasons. That huge 2+ minute gap between their top two and their third scorer MUST be minimized to ensure another trip to State.
Maranatha - The squad that finished 11th a year ago, return four of their top five. The Minutemen have the talent to be right there for a state meet berth and if so, it would be the first time since 2004. They will be led by Matt Rutzen (4:38/10:03) who was the top boy last year, running a 16:17 at the divisional finals. Henry Witherspoon, Aiden Arcos and Emiliano Rivas return with postseason experience. All three ran into the low-17's on the Riverside Championship course. Nicholas Camonte also returns while we saw some nice improvement from David Schuapp this past track season. Experience is on their side which should make the difference come November.
Xavier College Prep - Since the school opened up in Palm Desert some 10 years ago, the Saints have been one of the best in the division. They are seeking a ninth straight trip up to Fresno this November and return five from their 2017 state meet crew. But they will need to make up for the graduation of their top two runners. They now compete in the reconfigured Desert Empire League. The program's only head coach ever, Aron Lyons, said he is pleased with the summer training Jesus Arzapalo, Patrick Trubee, and Eli Salmon. He anticipates incoming freshman Corbin Hewitt to make an immediate impact and be up in the top scoring slots with Andres Arias. Lyons is confident that the crew will be in the mix of making a trip up to Fresno, again. Somehow, they have worked around the extreme summer where the average temperatures have been over 110 degrees.
Viewpoint - The Patriots return one of the division's best in junior Ronnie Orosky. He rolled to a 16:14 at last year's prelims and will look to finish in the top 10 overall this season. He came out of the spring season with 4:40 and 10:09 bests. They do graduate three from last year's finals' crew, but relatively speaking, the program possesses more depth than most for the division. Miles Clark was one of the division's top freshman a year ago, coming away with a 17:01 on the Riverside Championship course. Thomas Matthew (4:49 this track season) was not available during last year's postseason run and will also be another weapon that should yield Viewpoint with their 2-3 in the 16-minute range. Carson Gilford also returns with postseason experience as this will be their third straight year of qualifying for the divisional finals. Viewpoint has never finished in the top ten but this crew has what it takes to do so.
St. Pius-St. Matthias - Relatively, this is the new kid on the block as they moved up to 10th at last year's finals, up from 24th place in 2016. Do they have what it takes to jump into the top seven slots for State? That remains to be the seen, but they will definitely be in the mix. They return their top six from last year's finals while five of them could very well return for 2019. Angel Perez should be the only senior this year as he returns with a 16:01 at last year's prelims. Perez is also coming off a 4:36/9:56 track season. Alex Esquivel (16:33 at finals) and Ryan Hernandez will look to close that gap on Perez. Chris Amaya and Miguel Gomez are looking to break into the 17's and give this group a legitimate shot at State. Nathan Valencia also brings postseason experience back.
Chadwick - On what looked like a team that could be in our top tier, Chadwick is now in a reshuffling mode. Their top returner and top freshman in the division last year, Alex Mainvielle has decided to focus on the triathlon this Fall. Meanwhile, one other major returner will be taking the season off. Longtime head coach, George Ramos is optimistic about the talent remaining but does admit that it will a year of transition for the Dolphins. Frank Glantz is their top returner from last year's finals (16:07) and projects to be among the top 10 in the division. Sophomore Dylan Santana, Jeffrey Zhang and Steven Song will be asked to step up into larger roles this season. Those three return with postseason experience along with Matthew Lesser. Ramos' entire crew that competed in the 1600 meters this past spring return, so the depth is there to carry Chadwick back into the top 10.
TIER 3
Sage Hill - The Lightening return six from last year's finals' squad. They finished back in 17th place, but this is a program that has qualified for the finals in 12 of the past 13 seasons. Their strength will lie in their 1-2 combo up front as Luke Nataupsky rolled to a 16:12 at last year's prelims while fellow senior, Kylen Patel was not too far behind him at 16:28 at the divisional finals. To compete for a state meet spot, this crew will need to shore up their depth. Despite returning four others with postseason experience, none of them broke 18:15.
Campbell Hall - The Vikings will feel the huge losses of the graduates especially that of Jamie Moreland. Moreland led them to the State meet the past two seasons. The Vikings placed 5th at last year's divisional finals. Three return with high-level postseason experience. Matias Marroquin and Szentgyorgyi Lucas were both within the scoring five a year ago. Nick Gazzale was also a part of the State meet crew. If they can tap into the talent of Andrew Mutchnik, this team can very well qualify for the divisional finals for the fourth season in a row.
Pasadena Poly - This should be the 12th time in 13 seasons that the Panthers will qualify for the divisional finals. Trying to fill the shoes of two-time All-State runner Xian Shively will an impossible task. Evan Hayes, Dash Llidi-Brown are the top returners from the squad that finished 18th last year. Sam Salvati and Nicky Yoong will need to continue to improve to ensure them another trip into the postseason.
Midland - From a squad that emerged virtually out of nowhere in 2017, four of the top five returning athletes were freshman last year. Midland placed 14th at last year's divisional finals. Will and Ziggy Goddard along with Porter Barnes all ran between 17:13 and 17:19 on the Riverside Championship course. Jack Carden and Justin Edmunds-Watters will round out the top five returners. They definitely could use some added support but Midland could very well be a sleeper here in 2018.
Crossroads - The Roadrunners have quietly qualified to the divisional finals for nine straight years! The crew returns their top five from last year, while they have finished 16th the past two seasons. Aristotle Hartzell was their top runner a year ago with a 16:52 at last year's divisional finals. Riley Olds, Jaj Lalwani and Arden Cole return all coming back with mid-17's during last season's postseason run.