On Nov. 8, Trinity honored its cross country team for qualifying for the state finals. Since head coach Johann Gonzalez took over the program four years ago, he has started a tradition of rewarding his team with a surprise gift before state (if they get there). Trinity also has a tradition of having every state-bound team run through the school with every student lined up outside of their classrooms (this is called "Running the Halls").

Every season, the goal for cross country teams in the area is to make the three-hour bus ride to Peoria, where the state finals are held, worth the drive. In the 2019 season, Fenwick, and Trinity high schools participated in the IHSA Class 2A state finals while Oak Park and River Forest High School battled in the Class 3A state finals.

Spoiler: every team did well in its own respect. Here are the storylines you need to know for how each school performed in Peoria.

After their upset win over Walter Payton High School last week, the Friars (6-5) ran into a superior team in the second round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs, ending their season with a lopsided 28-7 loss to Hillcrest High School (10-1).

Before the regional match against Lyons Township High School, the OPRF varsity volleyball team didn't look like a team that was about to face a conference foe who had taken them down in the first two meetings in the regular season. They brought in-game energy during warmups, ready to seek revenge and keep their season alive.

They did just that as the team bulldozed the Lions in a quick two-set win at Lyons Township on Oct. 31 (25-14, 25-14).