D4-AA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 10
- 2018 Individual Champion: Lauren Trapani (Warrior Run) - 19:03
- 2018 Team Champion: Danville Area - 30 points
Individuals Preview
Warrior Run's Lauren Trapani won her second straight District 4 crown last fall, but her first in Class AA. Warrior Run moved from Class A to Class AA, but the result for Trapani was the same: a runaway district title. Now she enters her sophomore year, as the heavy favorite to win her third district title and place high in the loaded AA classification at the state meet.
She was 11th at states last year, but will be looking to improve upon that and compete for a spot inside the top five.
After Trapani, it will get interesting with a number of individuals that should contend for second and crucial team points. Danville's Emma Mikita is the next best returner; she was fifth at districts last year. She should be in line for a big year leading the Ironmen.
Shikellamy's Alyssa Keeley, Warrior Run's Emma Miller, and Cowanesque Valley's Jules Jones are the others back from the top ten in the district last year.
Team Preview
Danville Area made it an incredible ten-in-a-row in District 4 last season, capturing yet another district title and out-dueling a strong Warrior Run squad. Danville Area, the 2017 AA state champs, went on to take second to Central Cambria last year at states.
But the Ironmen saw the graduation of four of its varsity girls from last year, including its top two. Mikita is a strong returner and Coyla Bartholomew stepped up last season as a freshman, but Danville will face an uphill battle in its quest for 11 straight district titles.
That's because Warrior Run has a strong group of returners and looks to be the team to beat in D4-AA. Trapani is the individual favorite, so she'll provide the lowstick, but Warrior Run has great depth after her with its full varsity squad (all rising juniors) back to the fold.
Miller, Cameron Trapani, Alyssa Hoffman, and Mikaela Majcher weren't separated by much last season. With a strong top five, Warrior Run are the favorites for the district title and could be in line for a nice improvement upon their fifth place states finish last season.
There are two state spots in D4-AA. Warrior Run is likely to get one. After that, the other spot is up for grabs. Surely, Danville will be in the mix. Lewisburg Area will, too. Top girl Lauren Michaels has graduated, but the rest of Lewisburg's varsity squad is back from last year -- that team was third in the district.
Selinsgrove will be in the mix. They have six returners from last year's sixth place district team. Milton Area and Shikellamy are among the other teams that will have a shot in a fairly wide open District 4 Class AA this fall.