Way Too Early Predictions - Boys' Class AA
Three of the the top four boys from the state meet will graduate, but 13 of the top 20 will be back, looking to take a state title next season.
Grove City's Jonah Powell is the top returner after running a great race to take third in the state. Powell's got a lot of talent and experience that he'll look to put to good use next fall. But he'll have plenty of company from some of his District 10 counterparts. General McLane's Nate Price was sixth in the state, while Harbor Creek's Ryan Starvaggi (fifth) and Aiden Weber (seventh) are the next top returners.
Look for plenty of good duels in Northwest PA next fall.
Greensburg Salem's Mark Brown, Juniata's Garrett Baublitz, and York Suburban's Jarrett Raudensky are among the other returners from the top ten in the state next season.
After a team competition that saw the top three separated by just six points, we can only expect 2018 to bring some more fireworks. The champs from Wyomissing Area lose two from its top seven, including Joe Cullen. Grove City Area, which took fifth place at states, returns all but one from its top seven. York Suburban will have some retooling to do, but it's a squad that has been second in the state in AA in each of the last three seasons.
Prediction
In the individual race, Mitchell Rome of Dallas, who has improved from 73rd to 37th to 12th in his three seasons of high school XC will cap off his senior season with a AA state title in a mad dash to the line. Powell, Starvaggi, and Brown are among Rome's chasers in the closing meters.
Perennial power Grove City Area takes the team title over strong Wyomissing Area and Greensburg Salem squads. Powell leads GCA with a second place overall finish.