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by Don Rich
PennTrackXC (which has much more on PA)
It's Wyomissing vs. themselves in GIRLS AA. The defending
state champs start with a 1:34 spread, and build with depth beyond
that. It's their home course for Districts. And they love the hills.
Plus, winning a District race by over a hundred points tells you
a lot. Challengers are Notre Dame, Nativity BVM, and Scranton Prep.
Individually, Junior Jesi Christiansen of Greenville in District
10 should repeat. As a frosh, she was 2nd to a talented Lauren Shaffer
of West Allegheny. Amy and Debbie Huss of Wyomissing should lead
the challengers along with District 2's Stacey Muchal of Valley
View, and Mansfield's Charity Learn.
In BOYS AA, it's Eisenhower vs. Scranton Prep,
last year's champs. Prep's 5th man looks stronger. It may not be
so automatic for Eisenhower. District 11's Saucon Valley is waiting
in the wings to mess with the plans of both of the favorites. But
Eisenhower will probably start the scoring with a single point from
Andy Weilacher, last year's individual champ. Weilacher has
been running the best times in the state, AA or AAA. But he will
face a more experienced, and more motivated Ryan Blood from District
3. Blood took the D3 title easily and set a Mid-Penn course record
two weeks before that. This could be the challenge Weilacher has
been waiting for.
Council Rock's GIRLS AAA team is nationally ranked.
They beat a talented North Penn squad four times this year. But
on the fifth chance, North Penn knocked them off at Districts.
Waiting to pick off either team is former champ North Allegheny
(last year's runner up), plus perennial power Chambersburg. Cumberland
Valley and Allentown Central Catholic looked strong winning their
District meets. Parkland is nicked, but the defending state champ.
And pack attackers Haverford and Mount Lebanon will be lurking.
The girls race is worth paying to see. It will be newly minted elite
Jessica Cickay of Council Rock, taking on some very savvy
and talented upperclassmen. Angie Saterstad, Hershey, was
10th at Northeast Foolockers last year as a sophomore. Stephanie
Madia of North Allegheny is a sub-5:00 miler and state champ
in the same. Plus, she has medalled at States in XC her first three
years, finishing second last year. And Lauren Bricker of
Hempfield in District 7, looks ready to stake a claim many thought
she would last year. This is what the sport is all about.
PA's other nationally ranked team is Cedar Cliff, and they
have yet to lose in-state. Council Rock, which has won nine
of the last 14 BOYS AAA championships, looks positioned to make
a run at a win yet again after a year off. Mt. Lebanon and the defending
state champs Coatesville are healthy and hungry. And upstart Shaler
could also challenge, along with West Chester Henderson. In the
boys race, defending state champ Shawn Cavanaugh of Mt. Lebanon,
has been returning from a spring injury, and getting into race shape
as the season progressed. He is again in the front, but not first.
That spot in western PA has been occupied by Baldwin's Dan Mazzocco.
Mazzocco has been running a more conservative schedule this year,
and may have enough in his tank to get the championship he craves.
District 1's Rob Robertson of Coatesville looked incredible
at District 1 in 30 mph winds, running a 15:37. And either Andy
Brehm or Pat Philbin of Cedar Cliff, or Mike DiDio and Rob Hampson
from Council Rock could bust one.
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