D7-AAA Boys - Individuals Breakdown
- Class AAA Individuals Rankings
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 15
- 2016 Champion: Mark Provenzo (Franklin Regional) - 16:18
Don't look now, but if you take out all the graduated seniors and transfers from last year's state meet, the top returner is Noah Beveridge. The rising senior may have been seventh at the season-opening McDowell Invitational, but he ended up fifth at the state championships, completing a great progression.
As we look to 2017, Beveridge is one of a number of favorites to capture the state title in AAA. He was also fifth on the track in the 3200 meters at states. He's proved to be a strong XC runner and we expect to see it on display this fall...just don't put too much stock in any early season performances.
Beveridge will be favored to win the WPIAL, but there's a good amount of talent after him. Seneca Valley has some of the best depth in the state, but the Raiders will be led up front by a pair of juniors, Sam Owori and Seth Ketler. Owori was fourth at districts and 30th at states last fall, while Ketler was seventh at districts and 34th at states. Both will be chasing those all-important state medals at Hershey.
Photo by Phil Grove
North Allegheny is looking to take back the WPIAL team title, but it will need some individuals to emerge. Its top finisher from states was Daniel McGoey, brother of Matt McGoey (fourth at states in 2014). Daniel will be a sophomore and we should expect some improvement upon his impressive 45th place finish at states last fall. Rising senior TJ Robinson led NA at districts last fall with an eighth place finish. He'll be crucial to the team's hopes as well, but will definitely be an individual factor, too.
There's plenty of room for others to emerge as factors for top five finishes in the WPIAL (and high finishes at states). Norwin's Matt O'Neill has some fast times to his name. Chartiers Valley's Czar Tarr was ninth at districts last fall and 69th at states. Franklin Regional's Matt Busche should factor in as well. Mount Lebanon brings back a good group of runners with solid potential in Bryce Brandenstein, Patrick Anderson, Thomas Cosentino, and Peter Cosentino.
As always in District 7, we anticipate a good number of breakthrough performers in a district that always produces some of the state's best.