Girls' Class AAA
Photo by Abby Huber
After an incredible comeback effort and a great season, North Allegheny's Clara Savchik is the top returner in the state of Pennsylvania. Savchik ran a limited schedule of races this season after battling some injuries, but if Savchik can remain healthy, it will be very exciting to watch the senior to be race in 2017. Abington Heights' Katie Dammer, Cocalico's Jamie Zamrin, North Penn's Ariana Gardizy, and Chambersburg's Abby Yourkavitch are four of the other returnees that placed in the top ten of Saturday's state meet in AAA.
The state's top two teams from the state meet---Cardinal O'Hara and Oakland Catholic---will lose their top girls from this season (Olivia Arizin for O'Hara and Lauren Finikiotis for Oakland Catholic), but both return five of seven for next year. If some of those returners can move up, they can be factors again. Perkiomen Valley and North Penn have some strong returners. Manheim Township, North Allegheny, State College, and Fox Chapel are among the other teams that should make some noise next season.
Way Too Early Prediction: Clara Savchik of North Allegheny reverses her Poop-Out Hill fortune, holding off a hard-charging Katie Dammer of Abington Heights for the AAA crown. Oakland Catholic loses at WPIALs, but wins the state title by ten over North Allegheny.