D7-AAA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 15
- 2018 Individual Champion: Daniel McGoey (North Allegheny) - 16:01
- 2018 Team Champion: North Allegheny - 63 points
Individuals Preview
Some of the state's best will make up a deep WPIAL Class AAA this season in what should be another thrilling season in District 7. The reigning district champ and state champ (different boys, both rising seniors) are back this season, along with some terrific depth that could also make a run at district and state titles.
The district champ is Daniel McGoey of North Allegheny. He won the district title last season and went on to take third at the state meet. The state champ is Patrick Anderson of Mount Lebanon, who was second to McGoey at districts before reversing his fortune at Hershey to take the state championship. Anderson ran a terrific states race at Hershey to outlast McGoey and his NA teammate Zach Kinne.
Those two should meet on multiple occasions before the postseason and it will set the stage for another great matchup between these two, who are a pair of the best the WPIAL have seen in some time. McGoey has the state's top returning 3200 time at 9:08. Anderson went 4:13 for 1600 meters this spring.
Another individual that could make a run at the favorites is Christian Fitch of Fox Chapel Area. He was third at districts and fifth at states during his junior season. Fitch went 9:17 for 3200 meters this past spring and is primed for what should be an interesting senior XC season.
Other talented individuals in D7-AAA this season are Mars Area's Zachary Leachman, Peters Township's Zach Marmol, Shaler Area's Dalton Kalbaugh, and Butler's Skyler Vavro. Leachman was 14th in the district, but took 24th at states to earn a medal. He also had a big winter and spring on the track. Vavro was 31st at states.
Seneca Valley's Noah Petersen was 54th at states last season and was AAA's top freshman in the state. He should be a major factor as he moves into his sophomore season.
The talent is overflowing in the WPIAL this season, and last year proved that anything can happen.
Team Preview
North Allegheny ran to the AAA state title last season after adding Zach Kinne from Illinois to an already-strong strong. Kinne has graduated, but the Tigers bring back four varsity boys from a year ago.
McGoey is as strong of a No. 1 runner as you'll see in Pennsylvania. Andrew Kollitz, Stephen Nalepa, and Connor Foody are also back to add depth. A repeat is definitely a possibility for the Tigers, who have been known to add pieces to the puzzle to make a strong team.
Mount Lebanon, which was third in the district and fifth in the state last year, will be a team to watch this season. Anderson will lead the way for the squad, and there are two other varsity returners from a year ago. Lebo will look to some new varsity faces to get it back to Hershey. Seneca Valley loses quite a few pieces from last year's squad, which placed fourth at states. Petersen is a strong returner, but the Raiders will have to rebuild to have a shot at getting back to the state meet.
There are a host of others looking to take down some of the usual top squads in the WPIAL and crack the top three.
Upper Saint Clair was fourth in 2018 and returns four varsity boys. Top '18 runner Robert O'Brien has graduated, but Alex Shaw will lead the way for USC this season. Fox Chapel Area has five varsity boys back, including a strong No. 1 in Fitch. Expect FCA to make a good run at state qualification.
Norwin is a compelling team this season. After a seventh place district finish in 2018, Norwin brings back five varsity boys, which had a 51-second 1-5 gap last season. Butler has five varsity returners from a year ago, led by Vavro, and adds a strong sophomore in CJ Singleton, who has transferred from Saint Joseph. Expect Butler to be right in the mix for state qualification.
Hampton, Greater Latrobe, Peters Township, and Bethel Park are also on the long list of state hopefuls in what will be a tremendously deep and competitive fall in District 7 Class AAA.