Defending Champs Will Be Challenged This Year: District 11 Champs Preview


PIAA District 11 Championships - Boys' Preview

Class-A

  • State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1

Tri-Valley's Wayne Reilly will try to defend his D11-1A title, but he'll have competition for that title. The Mahanoy duo of Adam Soriano and Cole Striesel went 2-3 behind Reilly last season at districts and will be hungry to take the title from him this year.

But the favorite coming into Wednesday looks to be Weatherly Area freshman Scott Zoscin. He made a big impact placing second in the Schuylkill League last week in 16:43, proving he may have what it takes to win the title this year.

Palmerton's Jacob Martinez and Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg's Andrew Beers will also factor into what should be a close race up front.

In the team battle, Mahanoy Area will go for its second straight district title, which would give it the lone state qualifying spot out of D11-1A. Soriano and Striesel will lead the way for this squad. Notre Dame-East Strousburg and Marian Catholic will likely the supply the best challenge to the favorites from Mahanoy.


Class-AA

  • State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2

The battle for the D11-2A individual title will be interesting. Last year's champ---Ethan Bernstein of Saucon Valley---lost to Notre Dame's John Koons at the Colonial League Champs last week. Koons was second to Bernstein at districts last year, so that should be a terrific race up front for the top spot.

But Tamaqua's Brad Clemson may have something to say about that. He took the Schuylkill League title last week and will try to win on Wednesday. North Schuylkill's Sean McCabe, Notre Dame's Sheamus Hammerston, and Pine Grove's Travis Anderson are other individuals that could make noise.

Notre Dame-Green Pond looks to be in good position to grab one of D11-2A's state spots on Wednesday. The Crusaders edged out AAA squad Southern Lehigh for the Colonial League title last week. Behind Koons and Hammerston, the rest of the team appears to be coming together nicely. North Schuylkill also looked strong, winning the Schuylkill League title in commanding fashion last week. Those two will be favored for the top two.

Jim Thorpe Area, Saucon Valley, and Blue Mountain make up the list of teams that will try to challenge for the top two.


Class-AAA

  • State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2

Like the girls, last week's EPC Championship gave a good glimpse of how things might shake up back in Bethlehem on Wednesday afternoon. The Easton Area boys edged out Parkland by four to take that title. Parkland will be looking to reverse its fortune this week, while Stroudsburg (third at EPC) will look for a big day that could jettison them into the top two and thus, the state meet.

But we also can't forget about Southern Lehigh, last year's D11-3A runners-up. Solehi was second at the Colonial League Champs and with Thomas Matsumura back in the lineup the Spartans can also throw its name in the hat for the top two.

Individually, it should be a very competitive race up front. Parkland's Riley Williamson has had a breakthrough season. Fresh off an EPC win, he'll be one to watch after taking eighth last year. His best challenger could be Southern Lehigh's Colin Cramer, who has stepped up in a big way this season.

Easton's Cosmo Cardone, Parkland's Nicholas Bower, Stroudsburg's Matt Bodon, and Liberty's Darlyn Fermin make up a big list of boys who will put themselves in the mix on Wednesday.