Class A Girls' Teams Preview - PIAA State Championships
In what figured to be a close team race last year, the girls from Marion Center Area actually turned it into a runaway, putting 96 points on the board to win the Class A state crown by 43 points.
It's likely that the race for the top spot this year, however, will be much closer, and it will involve Marion Center once again with some local rivals and a few other strong teams looking to go after the No. 1 spot.
The District 6 Championships provided as much drama as one could ask for with three of the state's top five 1A squads battling it out for two state qualifying spots. In the end, all three of those teams are bringing a full scoring squad to Hershey. Westmont Hilltop pulled out a one-point victory for the district title, 51-52, over Marion Center. Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy (SJCA) took the unlucky third with 57 points, just a few back from the top two. But it turned out to be fine, as the Wolves got five individual qualifiers, meaning SJCA can and will factor into the team race Saturday.
Marion Center will be looking to be the first 1A girls team to repeat since SJCA did it in 2015-2016. Despite the loss of the team's lone individual medalist from last year in MacKenzie Walker, MCA has turned to Cornetto and freshman Ryen to provide a boost. But it was Westmont Hilltop that came out on top at districts to win by a point, putting four in the top ten of the D6 meet. Barbato and Dorian were strong up front, but Julia Dill and Avari Admire were the difference makers for WH, which put four before MCA's three. Replicating that kind of performance at Hershey will make the Hilltoppers
It will be close again between these two on Saturday. SJCA, meanwhile, will be in contention considering they were just six points off WH at districts. The Wolves will have just five at Hershey, but that's all you need to score. SJCA won the pre-state PIAA Foundation Invite and doesn't have a traditional frontrunner, but rather a tightly-packed five (they had a slim 44-second gap at D6). In 2015, SJCA didn't win the district, but won the state a week later. A state title for a team that qualified via only individual spots would be historic and interesting. XC is never dull.
Who can challenge these D6 powers? Well, a number of teams. Vincentian Academy has been getting better as the season has progressed and it won yet another WPIAL title last week. After a fourth place finish last season, VA is looking strong heading into Hershey with Walters and Lucot making for a very strong top two. Our Lady of Sacred Heart was a close second at WPIALs. With Hamilton competing for an individual title, OLSH's 2-3-4-5 were separated by just 15 seconds, an impressive pack. North Catholic was third at WPIALs. It has a similar makeup to VA with a strong top two in Hicks and Zalenski.
The WPIAL may very well to prove to be as strong through three teams as D6.
Camp Hill is a team that will get in the conversation, too. They were second at Foundation to SJCA and got an important piece back this past week at districts in Sakol, a medalist from last year who has battled an injury this fall. Her return adds even more firepower to this already strong squad, who was previously led by Grace Shartle. The Lions (fifth at states in 2018) ran away with the District 3 crown and now are looking like a team with state championship talent.
Wilmington is a solid battle-tested team that could mix it up with these teams. The District 10 champs have had some good big meet experience and look strong heading into states, paced by lowstick Mason and a young group of others. Lakeview, too, proved it can be a contender, taking second to Wilmington in D10. They are a team that can compete for the top five with a good day.
District 4 champions Wyalusing Valley Area, District 11 winners Notre Dame-Green Pond, and District 9 first place finishers North Clarion make up a solid group of teams that will shoot for high finishes in this field on Saturday morning.
The race for the top spot in girls' Class A will be a heated one. Every spot will matter, and this one will be close for the first team trophies of a busy Saturday.