Team Breakdown: PIAA District 1 Girls


D1-AAA Girls - Team Breakdown

It's always a close battle for the District 1 Class AAA crown and those five state qualifying spots, and this year should be no different. And if a team can make it out of Lehigh and onto Hershey for the state meet, there's always a good chance they'll make a splash a week later. Four of the top seven team finishers at states came from District 1 in AAA.

Perkiomen Valley won the district title last season and went on to take third in the state in what was a very successful season. Perk Valley does lose top runner in Annie Glodek and another strong runner in Michele Daniels. Its strength last year was depth, though, and expect some Vikings to step up and possibly lead this team to another district title. PV will turn to Teagan Scheinbecker, Julia Dorley, and Jocelyn Rotay to lead try and lead them back to the top of D1.

North Penn brings back Ariana Gardizy and Olivia Dyer---a pair of state medalists---along with Jenna Webb and Maeve Gimbert. It will need to add some depth, but the team that placed fifth in the state looks to be in a good spot to get back to Hershey and contend for another high finish at states. Strath Haven loses some pieces from last year's team that qualified for states, but don't count them out of the conversation, as it can usually find the pieces to contend.

Owen J. Roberts barely missed out on a spot in the state meet last fall, seven points off Strath Haven for fifth place. It loses Allison Brunton, but returns five of seven from last year's varsity team. Mary Bernotas is a returning state qualifier, and Autumn Sands and Alex Glasier will be strong runners as well. OJR will be motivated to crack that top five and get to Hershey. Fellow PAC team Spring Ford was also on the outside looking in from states last season. It loses Isabella Marchini, but will look for Gabrialla Bamford and Emily Smith to have good seasons, and Spring Ford will be in the mix for the top five.


Central Bucks East and Central Bucks West were also both just outside the top five last fall, and both have plenty of talent that will put them in the mix for a berth in the state meet. CB East returns five strong runners from a deep team from 2016. Cameron Billingsley and Abby Iafolla will pace the Patriots this fall. CB West lose Megan Kolbe to graduation, but bring back five girls. If a runner or two can breakthrough, West could improve on its eighth place finish from last year.

Unionville has made states every year since 2011, but this year it loses four girls including Anna Juul (third at states) from the '16 sixth place states team. U-Ville will need some runners to step up if it wants its states steak alive. Downingtown West was second at districts and seventh at states, but it loses four girls from last year's team like state champion Aislinn Devlin.

The door is certainly open for some teams to creep into the top five this season. Pennsbury will look to return to Hershey. Council Rock South returns its full varsity from a team that had just a 23 second 1-5 gap. West Chester Henderson, Conestoga, and Upper Merion are also among the teams to keep an eye on.