Photo by Abby Huber
Team Preview
Like the girls, four PA teams will be on the line for Saturday's NXN Northeast Regional.
The team with the best chance at qualifying is Council Rock North. The PIAA-AAA state champions tore through the latter part of their schedule and dominated the competition at states a few weeks ago. North is led up front by Ryan Campbell, but then they have a tight pack of Bryan Keller, Sam Earley and Tim Haas. Brigding fifth runner Ethan Koza closer to the top four will be crucial, but the PA state champs will have a really good shot at making the top two and automatically qualifying for NXN in Portland.
Standing in North's way will be three New Jersey squads---CBA, Colts Neck, and Princeton---who have all had strong seasons. Staples from Connecticut and Wellesley from Massachusetts are two other teams to watch. Ultimately, North will need to be clicking on all cylinders, but the opportunity is there.
Photo by Howard Anderson
Downingtown West was third at states behind North and Carlisle and the defending NXN-NE champs will return to defend their title. It's a much different looking team for the Whippets this year. Gone are the Hoey brothers and Henry Sappey, but they've had a number of runners step up and we'll see what the champs can do on Saturday. Drew Alansky, Ryan Barton, and Jake O'Neill are the returners from last year's team.
West Chester Henderson, who came out of nowhere to make states out of District 1 and then take eighth in the state a week later are also bringing a team, which is led by Spencer Smucker. Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy, out of District 6, will also toe the line at Bowdoin Park.