Freshman Trapani Goes For State Glory; SJCA On Hunt For 3 Straight: 1A Girls' States Preview


PIAA State Championships - 1A Girls' Individuals Preview

Sera Mazza of Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy is the defending 1A champion from last year after she ended Marianna Abdalah's bid for four straight 1A crowns. However, Mazza was defeated by teammate Julia Cusatis, beat her by two seconds at the District 6 championship last week. The two teammates will battle again at Hershey, but this time with a state crown on the line.

Challenging the pair will be freshman star Lauren Trapani of Warrior Run. Trapani surprised us all by opening up her season with a 17:41.40, but followed this performance up with a big win at the Foundation Invitational on the state course in Hershey. Trapani has the experience on the course and the leg speed. Will she win the individual title to top off a dream freshman year?

Highlights from the 2016 Girls' 1A States Race Above

Marian Catholic's Tina Capparell will look to finish her senior year with an individual win. Capparell was not far behind Trapani's time in the Foundations meet earlier this season. Capparell has won the District 11 Championship for the last four years and has been steadily moving up in place each year at the state meet. Capparell set a new personal best 5k of 18:13 this season and will definitely be one to watch on Saturday. Capparell's D11 rival Christina DiFalco of Pine Grove Area was second at states last year, and though she's battled an injury this season, she will still look to make her last race her best one on Saturday.

Two other freshman to watch for are Maddison Hayes and Halle Myers of Fairview. Hayes had a nice race at the Slippery Rock Invite earlier this season and followed it up with an individual win at District 10. Myers and Hayes finished with the same time at the District 10 champs.


Photo by Barb Krohn

Lexi Walsh of Holy Cross and Haley Hamilton of Our Lady of Sacred Heart should be on the radar this Saturday. Hamilton had a top ten finish at the Mack Cooper Invite earlier this season and is coming off a big win at the District 7 (WPIAL) Championship. Walsh finished a place behind Hamilton at the Foundation Invitational earlier this season. Hamilton defeated New Brighton's Alyssa Campbell for WPIAL crown last week. Campbell won at Red, White & Blue and had a number of strong performances throughout her senior season after a strong third place finish at states last season. Don't count her out for a title run

Others to watch for are Marion Center's MacKenzie Walker, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's Rylee Kopchak, Northgate's Megan Wisniewski, Vincentian's Tara Lucot, Wilmington's Grace Mason, Calvary Christian's Abigail Brown, Columbia's Jordan Haberstroh, and Northern Potter's Danielle Perry.