Photo by Abby Huber
PIAA Class AA
Individuals - Is it Isaac Davis's Turn in AA?
Last year, a pair of WPIAL standouts battled it out at Hershey with Waynesburg Central's Ben Bumgarner taking first and Quaker Valley's Zach Skolnekovich placing second in AA at states. Those two are gone now and the line to be the next Class AA state jump is quite long.
Jersey Shore's Isaac Davis is the top returner from states last year. He had a very strong junior season that culminated with a third place finish at states. He'll have the target on his back, but he'll have plenty of challengers.
South Fayette's Sam Snodgrass out of District 7 will look for a strong fall. He was sixth a year ago. Jack Zardecki was seventh at states last year, pacing the state championship Dallas squad. He ran 9:22 for 3200 meters this spring and should be on the radar. York Suburban's Bryce Ohl and Loyalsock's Quinn Serfass also return from the top ten last year.
Milton Area's Tyler Leeser, Western Wayne's Jacob Pasake, Wyomissing Area's Joe Cullen, and Grove City's Jonah Powell are among the AA names to get familiar with before the season starts,
Teams - Dallas and York Suburban Ready For Another Dual
Dallas will go for the historic three-peat in Class AA this season. The past two years, Dallas beat out runner-ups York Suburban. As we look to this fall, both those teams look to have legitimate arguments for why they can take home the top team prize in November.
Dallas, which won by 20 points last year, brings back six of its top seven, including an individual title threat in Zardecki. York Suburban, meanwhile, also bring back six including Ohl who was just a spot behind Zardecki at states last year.
last year's third place finishers from South Fayette lose top guy Aaron Pfeil, but will look to add some pieces and contend again. Harbor Creek (fourth in 2016), General McLane (sixth), Greensburg Salem (eighth in 2016), and Wyomissing Area (11th in 2016) are also teams worth watching for in the fall. Quaker Valley loses four of its top five, but they can usually find some strong runners and make a good run.