D5-A Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 5
- 2018 Individual Champion: Ian Zimmerman (Northern Bedford) - 16:41
- 2018 Team Champion: Northern Bedford - 34 points
Individuals Preview
Northern Bedford's Ian Zimmerman will look to win his third straight District 5 title. The rising junior cpatured the D5-A crown as a freshman and a sophomore. He's now running the best of his career and seems poised to run away with the district and make a run at another high states finish.
Last year, Zimmerman won the district by well over a minute before placing 13th at the state meet. He's among Class A's top returners in the state and will be a threat to the top five at the state meet. This past spring, Zimmerman dropped a 4:23 1600 meters to take fourth in the state in Class AA. He's fit and ready to go.
His NB teammate Ian Sherlock was second to Zimmerman in the district for a second straight season. He placed 49th at the state meet in Class A. This past spring, he was a state qualifier in the 3200 meters and should be in line for another big fall.
Windber's Matthew Shank, Meyersdale's Reese Kennell, Southern Fulton's James Buchheit, and Meyerdale's Gabriel Kretchman are among the other top returners in the district.
Team Preview
Northern Bedford will look to win its second straight District 5 title, and it should have the horses with its full varsity squad back. In 2018, NB scored 34 points to cruise to the district win, and with it, the lone state qualifying spot. At states, they placed 13th in Class A.
With a solid top two in Zimmerman and Sherlock, NB has two solid lowsticks. Then Connor Laird (ninth at districts last year) and Josh Strayer (tenth) add some good depth to Northern Bedford's big for a repeat.
Meyersdale Area, which was second last year at districts, returns four varsity boys from a year ago. Its top three is all back (each are rising juniors) and they will hope to give Northern Bedford a challenge. Windber Area, the 2017 D5-A champs, and Southern Fulton will also look to get in the mix for a high finish here.