Boys cross country placed third at state this season after losing six of their seven varsity runners from last season. Connor Madell ’16 led the team finishing in 15th place and a time of 14:42, followed by Vince Zona ‘17, Vince Arata ‘15, Alex Lima ‘15, Zach Szczesniak ‘15, Matt Begeman ’16 and Vance Smith ’15.

“We had more motivation to do better this year,” Madell said. “We were ranked 16th at the beginning of the season and we really wanted to prove ourselves.”

This was Madell’s first season competing at the varsity level in cross country after competing at the varsity level his sophomore year in track and field. The team needed juniors and sophomores to step up after losing so many seniors, Assistant coach Tom Stukel said.

“Madell is very serious about running and helped lead the team,” Stukel said. “Begeman is also a great competitor and we could count on him to perform.”

LT boys’ cross country often goes under the radar. It’s not that people don’t expect them to do well, they just forget they are a competitor, Stukel said. Stukel has been the assistant coach for six years and in the past the team has always had dominant runners other teams knew to watch for; however this year, it was more of a team effort.

“This year was the best group experience as a team because we needed all seven runners, not just a few standouts,” Stukel said.

The team headed to Regionals Nov. 15 in Terre Haute, Ind. where Madell placed 34^th and the team placed tenth overall.

“It’s just like LT to come from behind and do something really great at the end,” a Sandburg team member told Stukel after the state final in Peoria, Nov. 8.