Photo by Phil Grove
D7-A Girls - Team Breakdown
- A Preseason Team Rankings
- Qualifying Spots For Teams: 4
- 2016 Champion: Vincentian Academy (50 points)
Vincentian Academy won its second straight WPIAL Class A crown last year behind the legs of Marianne Abdalah and a strong varsity core. While Vincentian begins life without Abdalah, a four-time WPIAL XC champ and three-time XC state champ in Class A, the rest of the six return to the fold this season.
At states last year, Vincentian took fourth place, though it was probably hoping for more. The returners---most notably rising juniors Katherine Fedko and Marissa Canizan and rising sophomore Hollie Walters---will look to make up for Abdalah's absence and go for its third straight WPIAL crown and try and make some noise on the state scene.
State spots are aplenty in D7, which awards four teams a spot in Hershey, which is two more than the next closest district.
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic looks primed to book another trip to states. CWNC saw Rylee Kopchak have yet another strong season up front, but a number of freshmen stepped up to help the team get second to Vincentian. It has a nice mix of seniors and rising sophomores that could mean it could improve upon the impressive seventh place finish at states last year.
Neshannock returns six of its seven runners from last year, which placed third at districts. Abby Hutchison will likely provide a low stick that could mean another high finish at WPIALs and a berth in states.
Our Lady of Sacred Heart and Northgate both saw some younger runners emerge last year. Both were on the outside looking in of a spot in the state meet, but this could be a good year for both if they can have a few more breakthroughs. Riverview isn't a team to overlook here, either, with some good returners.
Laurel was a strong squad in 2016. It earned the fourth spot to states and then took 11th at Hershey. Laurel graduated all but one from its team from last year, so it will have some rebuilding to do this season.