Ethan Gonzalez (North Richland Hills) competes at the 2023 Patriot Inv.
The wait is finally over for the perennially exciting 5A Boys division as we'll finally get to see the top teams and individuals go head-to-head this weekend in Round Rock. For some, qualifying for the state meet has been a long and uncertain journey, while for others, qualification was little more than another date to mark on the calendar. Nonetheless, we're surely in for yet another exciting race.
Sometimes a victim of being overshadowed by the prowess of the 6A division, the 5A division doesn't necessarily always get the shine that it deserves. However, the individuals are just as fast and the teams are just as strong and impressive and we're sure to see the race come down to the wire in tight battles for every position. So, let's make our final predictions for the biggest race of the year, and see who will come out on top in the 5A Boys division.
Team Predictions
Photo by: Mylene Canon
1. Lucas Lovejoy
Similarly to the 6A Boys division, the choice for the winner of the team title isn't much of a decision to make as on paper, Lucas Lovejoy has had as close to perfect of a season as one could hope for. Whether it be shining under the bright lights of their home meet against some of the top teams from surrounding states, or going toe to toe with some of the best 6A competition and succeeding every week, this team has all the makings of a state champion.
However, not only has this team performed well on paper, they've been consistent at replicating a tightly knit pack of runners which will continue to be the catalyst for their success this weekend. Over the course of the season, Lovejoy has demonstrated an ability to run close together against some of the toughest competition and deepest fields.
Take their home meet, for example, the Lovejoy XC Fall Festival, where they placed second overall and beat four top-ten-ranked 6A teams. In this race, Lovejoy was able to average 15:44 over a difficult course along with a split of just thirty-four seconds. It's team performances like this that make this team as difficult to beat as they are and their ability to consistently replicate these performances makes them all the more impressive.
That being said, no outstanding team is complete without mentioning its talented individual runners and this Lovejoy team has plenty of them. The Leopards are led by a tight duo of senior Nick Yarad and junior Caden Gary who've both consistently been under 15:40 and have dipped into the 15:20s on multiple occasions. However, this team doesn't stop there as sophomore Joseph Reid holds down the number three spot in 15:37 while Aaron Wimbish, Henry Bennion, and Devin Muaina round out a top six that finish right at the 16:00 mark.
Put simply, this team is rock solid, they've shown time and time again this year why they're the top team in the state and it'd be foolish to predict them anywhere but first. Lovejoy has showcased incredible consistency and ability to run together against the stiffest competition in the state. Because of this, they take the top spot on the podium as state champions this weekend.
Photo by: Christine Langford
2. Georgetown
Edging out the number two spot in our predictions is Georgetown who win out over third-place Frisco Wakeland thanks to an incredible 1-2 punch that's brought them success all year. This success has been characterized by solid performances in tight races against not only the best 5A teams but some of the best 6A teams as well. While finishing just off the top step of the podium may seem disappointing at first glance, this is by no means a team to take your eyes off of as they've earned the right to be mentioned amongst the top teams in the state.
Georgetown's main strength centers around their ability to front-run and it's been largely to thank for most of their success this year. While they may not always run together, they can score the big points up front when it matters which effectively offsets the need that most teams would have to run closer together in the midfield.
However, front-running is more than just a running term or a concept, it has to be executed by the runners themselves and Georgetown's senior duo of Joseph Wienen and Nolan House have done it perfectly this year. At their best, Wienen and House have dipped into the low 15:10s, running 15:10 and 15:13 respectively.
But not only has this duo run fast, they've done so consistently with both regularly dipping under the 16:00 mark and House doing so in every race so far this year. But the fast performances don't end there for this Georgetown team as sophomore Zachary Mangum has also dipped under the 16:00 mark, effectively giving Georgetown one of the best top-three lineups in the state.
Ultimately, Georgetown's strong presence at the front of the race this weekend will give them the edge over their competitors and help them lock up the second spot on the podium. This team has had a great year and has demonstrated an impressive ability to run fast over a variety of courses against tough competition throughout the state. These experiences have prepared them well and as a result, they'll find success this weekend.
Photo by: Mylene Cannon
3. Frisco Wakeland
Sliding into the third and final spot on the podium and rounding out yet another good year is the ever-consistent Frisco Wakeland. Wakeland has had yet another good year characterized by their ability to showcase a consistent ability to run together and score key points throughout the front and midfield of races. While they may not have the fastest times when compared to some of the other teams fighting for the podium, this team is a prime example of how running your own race and utilizing your own strengths breeds success, even against the toughest competition.
As mentioned above, Wakeland's main strength centers around their ability to run together. This allows them to score critical points throughout the midfield where other teams often struggle. While it could be said that this team lacks a true low stick to score the big points up front, in reality, this is far from the truth.
Sophomore Dylan Grzywinski has been instrumental in Wakeland's success as he's led the way for this team despite being only a sophomore. At his best, Grzywinski ran 15:46 at the Braswell Little D Invitational and outside of this he's consistently remained right around the 16:00 mark and scored big points for the team.
In addition to Grzywinski, Aiden Maricle, Dax Ritchie, Grayson Sursa, and John Lensmeyer have all been critical to this team's success. Their ability to run together has given them a massive advantage over the other teams fighting for this final spot on the podium. We've seen this demonstrated time and time again, particularly at the UIL 2A-6A Region 2 Championship where they fended off a number of strong challengers to hold onto their second-place finish.
Overall, while Wakeland may not find themselves on the top step of the podium this weekend, they've still turned in yet another consistent and solid season. Look for this team to build on their success this season as their consistency and ability to run together are two critical qualities that could see this young team become a true state title contender in the near future.
Other Potential Podium Contenders: Boerne Champion, Colleyville Heritage, Kingwood Park