The goal for this summer’s preview is to be a bit more thorough and coherent. Usually I’m rushed and racing to get out content before the season begins, but I swear this year will be different! I’m starting a little earlier, I already performed a ton of the dirty work over the winter, and am as motivated as ever.
Anyhow, the plan is this:
- Write a bit about teams ranked 11-27, D4 through D1
- Knock out the 50 Tickets
- Have more detailed posts about the Top 10 Teams
- Throw out the always controversial Regional Projections
- Hopefully have one all-encompassing post for each division (including the UP, which typically starts a little later than us trolls, so they’ll get their own two-week period in late August)
Why rank to 27? Well, unless there’s a 4th place team that qualifies out of a regional, there are 27 teams that compete at the Lower Peninsula State Finals.
These projections are based on a combination of last season’s ratings, projected improvements, and this past track season. They contain kids that ran XC in 2025, either for their high school or a middle school that typically feeds to that high school. Projecting D4 is always a little rough because of the smaller enrollments. My estimation is that there’s more recruiting from within the school and multi-sport athletes compared to other divisions. As a result, these likely miss out on athletes that could have a huge impact.
As always, these are for fun and a way to keep the best sport in the world on your mind through these summer months.
27-11
27. Howell – of course Jack MacGregor leads the way, but he’s backed up by two other solid contributors, David DeLand and Alex Weller. Both are mid-16 runners who placed in the top-25 in 2025’s Region 4.
26. Brownstown Woodhaven – the Downriver squad made their first trip to MIS last fall and now appeared poised to advance for a second consecutive year. Talent is pouring out of their middle school program, though the ever-improving senior Vincent Jones should lead the way.
25. Traverse City Central – a traditional power from the north. The Trojans will need to replace Caleb Keller, with Evan Fox likely stepping into the role of the top guy. The senior finished his track season on a high note, racing to a 4:28 PB at MITCA.
24. Fenton – from D1 to D2 back to D1 are these Tigers. Gavin Katic is the standout, but also needing notice is the depth of the program. This fall could very well be a world where seven Fenton kids could be sub-17.
23. Lake Orion – getting a lil’ regional change could be good fortune for the Dragons. They’ll add what could be an outstanding freshman to the duo of Luis Nava (2nd fastest 9th grader at D1 State) and Ricardo Guajardo (4:39/9:54 as a sophomore).
22. Dexter – the Washtenaw County squad will be tough up front. Not only with Coen Hill, but also Nick Martens, whose 9:38 in the 3200m was a 30+ second drop from the season before.
21. Romeo – the Bulldog sophomore class has made their presence known, throwing out eight boys that were sub-18. Take that burgeoning potential and mix it with seniors such as Brody Empson and Carson Hlavin, then you’ve got a stew going.
20. Holland West Ottawa – the Panthers should be able to pack it in up front with luminaries such as Boston Wilkinson, Sebastian Ruiz, and Maxwell Post. The three were all sub-16:30 in 2025.
19. Saginaw Heritage – Region 2 will be tough sledding, but the Hawks are deep. And with depth, comes potential breakouts. The Hawks return 12(!) sub-18 kids from last fall.
18. Davison – a squad that made the most movement from prior to track season to now. A great chunk of that is due to the rapid improvement of Sullivan Gartrell, who progressed from a kid barely breaking 18:00 to one spitting out a 2:00/4:28.
17. Rockford – a senior-laden team. Josiah Derksen, Noah Watson, Charles Gavan, Addison Dufendach are all experienced boys that will or should contribute.
16. Grand Ledge – in 2025, saw the realization from years of program building with a 10th place finish. Five finishers from that state squad remain, including what should be a strong top three of Rylen Richey, Caelan Marsh, and Nolan Lounds.
15. Milford – Sal’s boys move from the western Oakland region to the northern suburbs. The regional magic may still be needed, though their foundation will likely be strong. The Mavericks bring back six boys that have personal bests in the low-17’s or faster.
14. Portage Central – Marcus Essling and Tristan Zhang should be excellent up front, one of the better top-two combos in the state. Each were sub-10 this past spring in the 3200m.
13. Grand Blanc – a team loaded with youngsters that in 2025, got a chance to experience the trials and tribulations of racing, placing 5th in what may have been the toughest region in the state. Region 2 hasn’t gotten much easier, but these guys are a year older, and in the case of Jack Crongeyer, just finished a track campaign where they knocked 30 sec. off their 3200m best.
12. Kalamazoo Central – the depth pieces and packs of Giants clearly spent the winter training, as they progressed in a way that’ll surely see them displacing runners come fall. Two great examples: Colby Bartells and Brady Winther-MacInnis, each of whom dropped significant seconds in the 3200m this past spring.
11. Caledonia – the Scots will have one of the stronger top-three’s of anyone in the state. Sean Thompson, Bennett Snapper, and Bentley Nichols were all in the 16:20’s or faster last fall.
Best Track Seasons
(some of the teams that improved the most from March until now)
Davison
800m: 5 returners sub-2:15
1600m: 4 returners sub-4:50
3200m: 4 returners sub-11:00
Portage Central
800m: 5 returners sub-2:15
1600m: 6 returners sub-5:00
3200m: 2 returners sub-10:00
Kalamazoo Central
800m: 9 returners sub-2:15
1600m: 7 returners sub-5:00
3200m: 5 returners sub-10:30
2025 State Finals
3rd – Kalamazoo Central
7th – Milford
10th – Grand Ledge
12th – Caledonia
14th – Romeo
18th – Woodhaven Brownstown
14th – Fenton (D2)
DNQ – Grand Blanc, Portage Central, Rockford, Davison, Saginaw Heritage, Holland West Ottawa, Dexter, Lake Orion, Traverse City Central, Howell
27-11
27. Zeeland East – the Chix will look to reload from a streak of greatness. Adalyn Raab will undoubtedly lead the way. She’ll be followed by girls that’ve shown potential, such as Tenley DeWitt, who broke 20:00 as a freshman.
26. Mason – the Bulldogs could benefit from a reworked Region 4. They’re an experienced squad, led by three upperclasswomen (Jorga Wooledge, Ruby Petee, and Morgan Allen) that’ve all been sub-20 in their careers.
25. Macomb Dakota – coming off a wonderful track season, especially shown through the improvement of Grace Mathers, who progressed from a girl running mid-19’s in cross to one that posted the 14th fastest freshman 1600m in Michigan.
24. Dexter – Senior Kodie Snyder will be at the forefront of the Dreadnaught squad. She’s fresh off a track season where she dropped a vast amount of time in the 3200m (11:40 to 11:12).
23. Howell – the class of ’29 can be a gamechanger for the Highlanders, offering up four sophomores that slipped under 21:00 as freshmen. Add those girls to Anna Halliday and you’ve got another squad hopeful to make it out of Region 4.
22. Utica – Kylie Brown is a girl that’s quickly gotten better and better. She dropped over two minutes off her freshman best to run 19:05, placing 11th in Region 9.
21. Clarkston – Avery DeGrendel has been gradually whittling time down, each and every year. A major payoff came this spring, where she grabbed her first individual qualifier on the track in the 1600m.
20. Romeo – many have gone and left a legacy that will be remembered for years. But in their absence, the opportunity comes for others to step up and make a name for themselves. Of course, Annie Hrabovsky and Reese Rosbolt will lead the way, giving the Bulldogs two low-sticks in a year that’s a little more uncertain.
19. Zeeland West – the Dux return six of the seven runners that competed on Region 3’s 4th place team. They add what could be a solid freshman piece.
18. Rochester – Charlotte Jones had a breakout track season, though she’s not the only Falcon to show out. Annie Roraff dropped 6 seconds in her main event (800m), but also proved to be an adept miler, which could definitely carry over to XC.
17. Rochester Adams – those Keith girls always find a way, Leah Keith the latest of the bunch. She found a home in the 1600m this spring, racing in the 5:30’s on multiple occasions, showing that she has the fitness to contribute during cross.
16. White Lake Lakeland – always a solid squad that performs above expectation. This year’s version appears to be deep and will be senior-led. Those seniors have plenty of experience stepping up when needed, having qualified and competed for the past three State Finals.
15. Hartland – Along with Lakeland, another team that can throw many girls at you. The Eagles will replace Neuer and Nunnery, but are well-equipped to be led by Ava Goodman, a senior who has slipped under 19:00 the past two seasons.
14. Midland Dow – we know about Emilia Garces, yes. Though through four, the Chargers should be able to pack up and bury teams. Kate Mcfarlane, Autumn Luick, and Hannah Vogel were all sub-19:30 in 2025,
13. Saline – the combo of Savannah Staton and Katarina Munson can surely be one of the quicker one-two punches in the state. Staton’s accomplishments are numerous and speedy, but don’t sleep on Munson, who has dropped under 19:00 each of the past two falls.
12. Brownstown Woodhaven – the queens of Downriver look to make their presence more well-known in the state. The Warriors were able to state a bit of a case in 2025-2026, qualifying for XC State, then their 4×8 winning Region 5. With six varsity returners from that state squad, the purple-clad crew can challenge for the top-10.
11. Traverse City West – the Titans graduate their excellent and accomplished ’26 class, but there’s still plenty of numbers in the waiting. Four returners, including the great Tessa Mascari, have run in the very low-20’s or faster.
Best Track Seasons
(some of the teams that improved the most from March until now)
Macomb Dakota
800m: 5 returners sub-2:40
1600m: 6 returners sub-6:00
3200m: 5 returners sub-13:00
Rochester
800m: 4 returners sub-2:40
1600m: 5 returners sub-6:00
3200m: 2 returners sub-12:00
2025 State Finals
2nd – Romeo
7th – Traverse City West
9th – Hartland
10th – Saline
14th – Rochester Adams
17th – Rochester
19th – White Lake Lakeland
20th – Woodhaven Brownstown
21st – Clarkston
22nd – Utica
23rd – Macomb Dakota
25th – Zeeland East
DNQ – Midland Dow, Zeeland West, Howell, Dexter, Mason
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 