Team Breakdown: PIAA District 4 Boys


D4-A Boys - Team Breakdown

Northeast Bradford put on another show at the District 4 Championship, en route to its fifth straight Class A district crown. NEB will go for No. 6 this season. Its won the D4 Class A title every year that Class A has existed in the PIAA.

Northeast Bradford does lose its two biggest guns in Casey Ellis and Garret Smith, who went 1-2 at districts and both picked up top 15 finishes at states. That NEB team took fourth in Pennsylvania last fall. Rising junior Zak Smith will assume the role of top runner this fall. Smith was fifth at districts and 37th in the state. Nate Mosier and Destin Moore will be relied on to step up to get NEB another district crown and that lone state qualifying spot.

One team that should supply a good challenge is Southern Columbia. It was second last year at districts and sent two individuals---Ethan Knoebel and Nick Kuzo---to the state meet. Both are back this year and Southern Columbia loses just one from its 2016 varsity squad. Could SC end the streak?

Two teams with a good amount of young returners are Wellsboro Area and Wyalusing Valley Area. Wellsboro was just a point ahead of Wyalusing Valley for fourth at districts last fall. With some improvements, either team could give a good surprise to the favorites. Mount Carmel Area was third in the district last year, and it could be in the conversation as well.