Boys Preview - PIAA District 11 Championships
Class A
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
He was second last year, and this time around, Mahanoy's Cole Streisel will look to move up to the top spot in D11-A. He's the only boy in the district to have gone sub-17 and even sub-18 this season so far and should be the one to beat.
Weatherly Area's Scott Zoscin, Shenandoah Valley's Diego Olayo, and Moravian Academy's Sam Carter, but the race for spots in the top five appear to be fairly wide open here. Zoscin was second in the Schuylkill League.
It was close last year for the team title, and it figures to be close again this season. Shenandoah Valley edged out Moravian Academy by two points last year for the lone states spot. It could be just as close again on Wednesday. Both squads match up pretty similarly headed into the district meet. MA was fifth in the Colonial League, while SV took second in the Schuylkill League.
Class AA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
It will be an interesting race for the win in D11-AA. At the Colonial League Champs, it was a freshman that stole the show. Thomas Smigo of Palisades, a ninth grader, captured the win at DeSales. He'll face a number of those same opponents this week.
But a lot can change in a week's time and many will be hungry to grab the top spot. Saucon Valley's Matthew Chaikowsky and Pen Argyl's Anthony Coppolella, and Salisbury's Shane Artis are among the other talented Colonial League boys that will be factors, too.
Schuylkill League champion Travis Anderson of Pine Grove should also get in the mix for the win, or at least a high finish, after a big win Friday. Blue Mountain's Kevin Haas (fourth in the district last year) will be up there, too.
Blue Mountain won the Schuylkill League by 53 points in a runaway on Friday. It will have a quick turnaround on Wednesday for the D11 meet. This team won the district big last season and has plenty of good depth back, led by Haas. BM is likely the favorite again this year, but it may be close.
Northwestern Lehigh was second in the Colonial League. Palisades, paced by Smigo, was just five points off NW Lehigh in the CL. The Notre Dame-Green Pond wasn't far off taking third in the Colonial League. Each of these teams will look to challenge Blue Mountain. But either way, it will be a close race for those two state spots here.
Class AAA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
Cole Frank of Liberty is the top returner from last year's district meet, but the junior has improved in leaps and bounds this fall. Frank ran 15:38 at Paul Short and then took home the EPC crown last week. He's one twice this season at DeSales and will enter the D11-AAA meet as the favorite.
Southern Lehigh's Alex Kane was second in the Colonial League. He was seventh at districts last year and should compete for the win on Wednesday. Easton's Marco Cardone should make a run at a high finish, too, after a second place finish to Frank at EPCs. Nazareth's Daniel Brunner and Parkland's Ethan Warren will be up there battling it out for top five spots, as well.
Nazareth Area took home the EPC crown on Wednesday, scoring just 62 points with a slim 46-second 1-5 spread. Brunner is a strong No. 1 and Nazareth will look to convert that showing into a district title back at DeSales on Wednesday. They will certainly be the favorites.
Parkland was second, also with a 1-5 gap under a minute, at EPCs last week. After taking second in the district last year, Parkland will be looking for a return trip to Hershey. Emmaus was third in the EPC, four points back of Parkland, and should be in the mix for one of the district's two state spots.
Southern Lehigh made it a runaway for the Colonial League title last week, putting five in the top 13. The Spartans are a talented group that is capable of making a run at the top two. Easton Area (fourth at EPCs) has won the district each of the last two years. If the back end of its varsity can step up, the Rovers will have a shot at a return trip to Hershey.