D7-AA Boys - Team Breakdown
- AA Preseason Team Rankings
- Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
- 2017 Champion: Indiana Area (82 points)
In a close battle for the top spot in the WPIAL Class AA last season, Indiana Area edged out New Castle for the top spot. Greensburg Salem earned the third and final state qualifying spot out of districts. Flash ahead to this season and it's those three teams, with a healthy smattering of others, who will be in the mix for the win and those state spots at the district meet.
Indiana Area brings back five boys from last year's varsity team. up front, Kendall Branan (above) returns. He took second in the WPIAL and then 11th at states. He'll be in contention for the win and a crucial one stick this season. Indiana placed ninth at states a year ago, and could be primed to improve upon that this fall.
Greensburg Salem was third at WPIALs last year, but came away from states as the top placed WPIAL team at seventh. GS rode its lowsticks --Mark Brown (eighth at states), Cameron Binda (19th at states), and Dylan Binda (34th at states) -- to that high finish. Brown and both Bindas are all back again this fall, along with three other varsity runners from last year. If the back half of varsity can bridge the gap to the lowsticks, few teams in the district or state will be able to compete with this squad.
Bringing back five/six varsity runners from last year's squad is New Castle. After taking second at WPIALs, just six points off the win, NC placed 11th at states without usual top runner Le'Shawn Huff. He does not return this season, but New Castle does bring back a solid pack that won't be separated by much this fall.
Uniontown Area just missed out on a states bid last season. It loses three seniors, but returns four rising seniors that will aim to crack the top three in the WPIAL this season. Beaver Area, Laurel Highlands, and Ringgold will look to add some pieces and contend for those limited trips to Hershey out of D7-AA.