Jesuit, Crater, Bishop Blanchet Loom Large InThe Northwest With National-Caliber Lineups Coming Back

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Boys NXR Northwest Preview

Two of the best returning lineups in the country come from the opposite ends of Oregon, with Jesuit (Portland) and Crater both entering the fall with elite talent. 

Jesuit finished the 2021 season with a third-place finish at the RunningLane Championships and the Crusaders were the best team in Oregon since the South Eugene dynasty of the 1970s. Four of the team's top five are back, including senior Jacob Nenow, who could be one of the top runners in the country this fall. 

Crater's available returners are led by Tyrone Gorze, who was sixth at the Eastbay Cross Country Championships last December and competed for the United States in the 5,000 meters at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia last month. Additionally, Josiah Tostenson is one of the best sophomores in the country. 

Jesuit and Crater, of Central Point in the southern end of the state, occupy different classifications in Oregon and they are unlikely to go head to head until November. Crater will get an early competitive test Sept. 16 at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in Southern California. 

For the moment, Jesuit gets the nod over Crater, largely based on a bit more postseason experience. But it's a close call. 

Another powerful team in the region is Bishop Blanchet of Seattle, which cruised to the Washington Class 3A title last year and brings back six of its top seven. William Schneider and another of the country's best sophomores, Vincent Recupero, spearhead a team that could be in the realm of Jesuit and Crater. 

Central Catholic of Portland, led by seniors Wes Shipsey and Charlie Black, come in at No. 4 and have a knack for performing when it matters, at the state championships. The Rams will need to develop some younger athletes to hold onto that spot. 

Franklin of Portland has graduated a string of Division 1 standouts in recent years (Aidan Palmer, Charlie Robertson and Charlie North) but will need to rely on a tightly compressed pack 1-5 to remain a top team in the region. Even within the Portland Interscholastic League, it appears very close between Franklin and Lincoln, which graduated three from its national championship 4xMile relay team. And either of them may be able to knock off Central Catholic as well. 

1. Jesuit OR. The Crusaders are poised to extend a run at the Class 6A level in Oregon and a relevant presence on the national scene with four returning scorers back from the third place team at the RunningLane Championships last December. Jacob Nenow, who ran 8:16 for 3,000 meters last spring, could be Jesuit's best distance runner ever. Seniors Gus Clevenger, Josh Augustine and junior Caden Swanson offer dependable experience and a top four that could compete against anyone in the country. There are a few options at No. 5, including freshman Matthew Wroblewski, but there will be some separation between 4 and 5 now that John Schuler and Caden Hildenbrand have graduated. 

2. Crater OR. Tyrone Gorze competed from January to August, in races ranging from 800 meters to 10,000, and has shown a willingness to race anywhere, any time. He comes into the fall as one of the top runners in the country and is looking to build upon a sixth-place finish at the Eastbay Cross Country Championships. His younger teammate, Josiah Tostenson, also shows no fear and stabbed the state 1,500 meters title away from Gorze at the finish line. The Comets won't be as compact as Jesuit, but there are numerous other pieces to the puzzle that lend belief that depth will not be a problem this season. Jeffrey Hellman, Shaun Garnica, Ryder Hvall, Caleb Doddington and Tayvon Kitchen could all factor into a special season in Central Point.

3. Bishop Blanchet WA. The Washington Class 3A champions come into the season riding high with senior Will Schneider and sophomore Vincent Recupero coming back as two of the top runners in Washington. Schneider and Recupero went 1-2 in the state 3,200 meters final and those two could push one another to greater heights this fall. Drew Oliver, Will Sandnes, Johnny DiMartino and Dash Weber return and will help elevate this team even higher in 2022. The Bears are a definite national finals candidate. 

4. Central Catholic OR. The Rams of Portland have a standout in Wes Shipsey, who finished third and one spot ahead of Nenow at the 6A cross country final in Eugene last fall. Shipsey ran a 4:06 mile and 8:15 for 3,000 meters in the spring and is one of the most talented runners in the country. The loss of Max Girardet to graduation hurts, but Charlie Black is running well at No. 2 and Garrett Mackey returns to hold down the No. 3 spot. The Rams could get a little wobbly at 4 and 5, but coach Dave Frank has time to develop sophomore Jack Canaday and seniors Tristan Sullivan and Brady Dugan. 

5. Franklin OR. The energy in the city of Portland remains high in the public schools, and the competition will be fierce between the Lightning of Franklin and Lincoln on the west side. Plus Ida B. Wells, Roosevelt, Grant have some talented runners. Franklin doesn't have a big-time front-runner but it has a pack of six that should move together like a flock. Sophomore Brennan McEwen is a potential future star and he's running with Donagh Palmer, Max Jacob-Korilo, Oscar Ponteri, Sheadon Ocker and Lev Michaels. 

WATCHLIST

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