By Jeff Vorva
Talk about a great first impression.
Freshman cross country runner Klarke Goranson participated in her first varsity competition and broke the Manteno school record as she ran a time of 19 minutes, 5.7 seconds in the three-mile race at the Morris Early Bird Invite on Aug. 28 at Morris High School.
Sundara Weber of Sandwich was the only athlete to beat her, running a 17:31.10.
Before setting foot in the high school, Goranson was one of the top grade school runners in the state.
Her goals for her first year on the high school level is to be among the elite at this level as well.
“I want to get top 25 in the state and try to go sub 17:30,” she told the Illinois Running News website.
The next run for the Panthers is Sept. 6 at the Seneca Twilight in the Woods event.
Wild week one
Two area football teams kept the scoreboard operators busy all night and a third dropped a heartbreaker as the season kicked off on Aug. 30.
As expected, Peotone flexed its muscles to open the 2024 season with a 55-14 victory over Chicago Muchin in a nonconference home game as Chase Rivera ran for 155 yards.
Manteno was also at home and took a big bite out of Sandwich with a 54-32 nonconference victory. Niko Akiyama ran for 198 yards.
Crete-Monee had the lead late at home against Richards in a nonconference tilt, but the Bulldogs scored with 30 seconds left to pull off a 27-26 win. Quarterback Derrin Couch threw for 173 yards for the Warriors.
Next level
There will be plenty of athletes to cheer for in the area on the high school level, but Beecher officials compiled a list of alumni playing on the college level this fall.
Volleyball players to watch are Lily Avelar (Moraine Valley), Talia Messana (St. Francis), Julianna Picicco (Indiana University Northwest) and Kaylie Sippel (University of St. Francis).
Soccer players on college rosters are Fabi Barraza (South Suburban), Abi Fernandez (Prairie State), Taylor Killis (South Suburban) and Ethan Rydberg (Governors State).
Cross country runners at the next level are Sydney and Trinity Bonham (Governors State), Ryan Gayton (Governors State) and Aaralyn Martinez (University of St. Francis).
Golfers on the college level are Jack Hayhurst (Governors State), Vonny Messana (St. Ambrose), Brandon Moffitt (Olivet Nazarene), Brady Serafin (Purdue Northwest) and Trevor Stout (Governors State).