D7-A Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 4
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 20
- 2018 Individual Champion: Carmen Medvit (Shenango) - 19:55
- 2018 Team Champion: Vincentian Academy - 70 points
Individuals Preview
In a competitive WPIAL Class A race last year, Carmen Medvit of Shenango ran a terrific race to capture the district title. She leads a powerful contingent of returners in D7-A this year, which brings back the top four girls from a year ago.
Medvit closed out her sophomore season on a very high note last year, winning the WPIAL and then placing fifth at the state meet. She'll once again be one to watch, but she'll have plenty of competition to her title.
North Catholic's Alaina Hicks was fourth at districts, but she was 18th at states. She has a 19:24 to her name from a year ago, the fastest returning time in the district/classification. Hicks could very well capture the district title. The same goes for Vincentian Academy's Tara Lucot, who was second to Medvit at districts a year ago. Lucot was 26th at states, just missing a medal, so VA's top girl will have her sights set on the podium this season. Greensburg Central Catholic's Corinn Brewer, like Hicks, had a strong freshman campaign last season. She was third at districts and then 29th at states.
Haley Hamilton of Our Lady of Sacred Heart was the 2017 D7-A champ. She took eighth at districts, but was seventh at states. She will be one to watch and could capture the district title this season for the second time in three years.
Vincentian's Hollie Walters and North Catholic's Emma MacDonald are among the other returners from the top ten in the district from last year that are back again this fall. Walters captured a medal last season at states, taking 22nd at Hershey.
Team Preview
Vincentian Academy ran to its fourth straight WPIAL Class A crown in 2018 and took fourth at the state meet. VA scored just 70 points in the large district field to runaway with the title for another year. It returns two solid lowsticks in Lucot and Walters, but loses three varsity girls for a while. Vincentian will look to retool the back part of its varsity squad to have a shot at the five-peat, but they should easily be in the mix for a spot in the top four to get to states.
North Catholic returns its full varsity team from 2018 and very well could be the team to beat in D7-A. Hicks is a strong lowstick and NC has good depth back after her. This team was 11th at states last season, but it should be better again this season and make a good run at the district title.
Riverview was fourth last year, earning the final state qualifying spot in the district. Five of seven return for Riverview, which should make a strong big again this season for a return trip to states. Our Lady of Sacred Heart (sixth in 2018) has some good returners, led by Hamilton. All seven varsity girls are back from last year's team and it should put OLSH is the states conversation.
West Greene (third in 2018) and Eden Christian (fifth) are among the teams that have some strong returners, but must add depth to contend for a spot in the top four this season. Shady Side Academy loses its top girls (Emmie Lau) from a year ago, but similarly could also be a threat for states if it can add some depth.