Photo by Abby Huber
D7-A Boys - Team Breakdown
- A Preseason Team Rankings
- Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
- 2016 Champion: Winchester Thurston (20 points)
The boys from Winchester Thurston left no doubt about it last fall.
After dominating the WPIAL scoring just 20 points in 2016, WT came to Hershey and put three in the top 20 to win the the state title by 48 points. Thurston will go for its third state title in four years this fall, led by Tristan Forsythe, who very well could give his team a one stick at states. Replacing Ben Littmann and Shaun Hay (the other two from the state top 20 last year) will be vital, but Thurston looks to have some young runners, like rising senior Gordon Pollock, waiting in the wings to make that happen.
Riverview was second in the WPIAL last year and 11th states. It returns six of its seven runners, including Ben Barnes (above), who was seventh at WPIALs and 19th at states. With some improvement, look for Riverview to possibly threaten Thurston, or at least place very high in Hershey.
After that, it will be a close race for third place and the final state qualifying spot allotted to Class A in D7. Avonworth was a mere two points off for the final state qualifying spot last year and will be hungry for another shot this year. It loses four of seven from last year's team and will need some breakout performances to get there. Shenango was just six points off third place last year. Led by '16 state qualifier Matt Salem, Shenango should be a serious factor in the WPIAL this year with six of its varsity seven returning.
Sewickley Academy, which was third in the WPIAL and 12th at states, loses some key pieces like 2015 Class A state champ Griffin Mackey, so it will have some rebuilding to do to turn itself into a factor this fall.