IHSA Regionals
DFDC ADVANCES TO SECTIONALS WITH FOUTH PLACE REGIONAL FINISH! BRODSKY ALL-REGIONAL
The DFDC traveled to Adler Park to compete in the opening round of the IHSA State Series as the smallest school at the 3A (largest) level. In this the first of three rounds, the top six teams at each Regional advance to Sectional competition.
Deerfield considered themselves on the bubble. The battle for the final two qualifying spots was expected to be between four teams: Deerfield, Highland Park, Wheeling, and Buffalo Grove. But Deerfield stayed hot when it mattered most.
For the second straight week, the DFDC blew away their expectations. Not only did they defeat all four of the teams they needed to beat, but they also unexpectedly beat Stevenson to move up to fourth place. That performance safely qualified the DFDC for the Sectional Meet.
Senior Bradley Brodsky went to the front, and by the time the second mile started and the pack had strung out, Brodsky and a Libertyville runner separated themselves in second and third. They battled, and ultimately the Libertyville runner had the leg up on his home course. Brodsky finished in third place to earn All-Regional honors. He is the first Deerfield runner to earn the All-Regional distinction at the 3A level since Alex Gold in 2011.
Sophomore Josh Puyear ran a strong race to finish 11th overall. Junior Ben Kraemer was next in 21st place.
Senior Declan Black ran in the fifth position for most of the race pulling sophomore Charlie Hart along with him. Hart credits Black’s leadership for perhaps the best race of his career. Hart followed Black’s lead and then catapulted up to 33rd place where he was the fourth finisher for the Warriors. The freshman Cole Bernstein again found himself in the team’s top five with his 36th place finish. Black followed shortly thereafter in 38th place after helping his teammates finish further up. Senior Jonathan Wallk finished seventh for the team in 41st place, displacing top five runners on six of the nine other teams.
Next week the Warriors hope to continue their hot streak at Busse Woods for IHSA Sectionals. At Sectionals, the top five teams and next even individuals qualify for the IHSA State Championships.
