DGS Girls Cross Country Team Celebrates 100+ Conference Meet Winning Streak and Season
The Girls Cross Country team at Downers Grove South High School has become the first team in Illinois to achieve 100 consecutive dual meet wins. The team currently holds the IHSA state record for consecutive dual meet wins; second on the list is Downers Grove North High, with 69 conference victories in a row, which took place from 1976 to 1985.
The DGS winning streak began during the 1999 season and has extended over 17 seasons. The team is currently ranked in the top 15 in the state.
As a member of the West Suburban Conference Gold division, the Downers Grove South High cross country team races dual meets against the other six conference schools each season. After defeating Addison Trail and Proviso East, the Mustangs claimed their 99th and 100th victories for DGS on September 21, 2015.
The streak grew to 102 when DGS defeated both Hinsdale South and Willowbrook on October 5, and the team ended the dual meet season 6-0. At the meet, senior Allie Cheevers won the individual race, finishing the 3-mile course in 19:39.
“Our success is based on a combination of having lots of really talented girls come through the program and their dedication and willingness to put in the work, especially over the summer,” says Head Coach Doug Plunkett, who has served in the role for 11 years and teaches computer science. “Our team consistently puts in a lot of miles, and this extra practice really makes a difference.”
Michael Arenberg was the head coach when the streak began in 1999. Other assistant coaches during the streak have included Tina Stec, Scott Wuggazer, Katerina Claiborne, Mike Farthing, and Alison Swade.
Members of the 2015-16 varsity team include: Megan Albers, Lizbeth Alcantara, Amanda Annese, Sarah Ansah, Haley Beube, Riya Bhasin, Jillian Boyle, Allison Calek, Allison Cheevers, Meghan Deenihan, Hanna Diggory, Olivia Duax, Andrea Engel, Mary Eterno, Katie Finucane, Alexis Fuller, Kristina Garney, Andrea Gilleran, Kelley Hackbarth, Michaela Hackbarth, Teagan Halik, Natalie Izaguirre, Emilia Kaszyk, Navpreet Kaur, Nicole Koeplin, Julie LaLonde, Kristen Leung, Amber McCauley, Katie Meyr, Amanda Murphy, Nicole Murphy, Natalie Olsen, Lauren O'Meara, Kara Petersen, Julia Poplawska, Victoria Protsyuk, Emily Qualizza, Clare Quirin, Hailey Rodden, Taima Saei, Maggie Seitz, Gabby Senne, Johanna Skibbe, Lily Skrapka, Carlirose Smid, Katie Stapleton, Alyssa Taglia, Isabella Taylor, Gillian Thomas, Ailyn Trejo, Eileen Tyrrell, Rebecca Versaskas, Melissa Weidner, Megan Wicklein, Kylie Ann Wild and Lauren Wong.
See team photos and of the team’s recent senior celebration, please go to https://www.flickr.com/gp/134291428@N08/54Asqw.
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