Class AAA Boys Teams Preview - PIAA State Championships
It's a year for the traditional powers in AAA. Like last year, the top three teams entering the state meet are the same as last year. And once again, we can figure it will be close.
The top team entering Saturday is LaSalle College, the 2017 state champs, who are looking to return to the top of AAA for the second time in three years. LaSalle comes in with an impressive resume and is undfeated against Pennsylvania competition. The Explorers won handily at Briarwood and Paul Short, and placed second at major NY meets Bowdoin and the Manhattan Invitational. Ethan Maher has become a top five individual contender, while Vince Twomey, Bradden Koors, and Dan Gervino are a terrific core.
Downingtown West (PA no. 2) will be in the hunt for the title. The Whippets ran away with the state title in 2015 and have placed third at states each of the last three seasons. D-West has its most talented crew since that '15 team. They won easily at the Carlisle Invite and placed fourth at the loaded Manhattan Invite before winning their third straight District 1 title. Aiden Barnhill has emerged as an individual contender, and Declan Rymer, Holden Betz, and Ben Datte are a very good top four for the Whippets that placed inside the top 20 in D1.
The defending state champions come from North Allegheny (PA No. 3). The Tigers had a great top two last season with Zach Kinne and Daniel McGoey, who placed 2-3 at states. Kinne has graduated, but McGoey returns as NA's lowstick. NA has dominated western PA of late, winning at TSTCAs and then WPIALs. The Tigers have improved their depth as the season has gone on. After McGoey, NA's 2-3-4-5 are separated by less than 30 seconds.
LaSalle got the midseason leg up on D-West at Manhattan, but a lot can change in the weeks since then. Plus, Manhattan is only a 4K. The teams are similarly matched, but LaSalle may hold the edge on the fifth runner. North Allegheny will look from a big day from its pack to get close to their opponent's 2-3-4. This will be close anyway you draw it up. There will be surely be some anxious waiting in the final race of the day.
A team that has emerged in the WPIAL over the last month is Butler. This team has arguably the state's best top four, led by sophomores CJ Singleton and Sage Vavro. They were second at TSTCAs and then WPIALs, 22 points back of the latter. Look for Butler to be in the mix, particularly if it gets a big day from their No. 5.
Cedar Crest ran to its second straight District 3 crown last week. The Falcons' 1-4 gap was just 12 seconds at D3 last week and 1-5 was just 52 seconds. The young CC squad was 17th at states last season, but this group is more experienced and stronger up front than a year ago. Look for this team to be inside the top five.
Unionville was second in District 1. Behind a great top two with Cole Walker and Ethan McIntyre, U'Ville's depth is improving as the season has progressed and they likely be an even bigger factor in the smaller team field at states. Penncrest and Lower Merion are also teams to watch for. Penncrest has scored a number of team wins this season, while Lower Merion won the mid-season Foundation Invite against a number of teams from across the state. Other D1 qualifiers Owen J. Roberts and Council Rock South can't be counted out after getting out of an always-deep district.
State College Area rolled to another District 6 team title last week and the Little Lions can never be counted out at the state meet. After taking eighth last year, SC is strong again with Brady Bigger and Ben St. Pierre making for a good top two. They battled some injuries early in the season, but look to be clicking again at the right time.
District 3 qualifiers Hershey, Twin Valley, and Cumberland Valley should be among the squad's competing for high spots in the team standings. The same goes for third WPIAL qualifier Seneca Valley, which ran well last week to snag that final spot. District 11 champ Nazareth Area has just a 34-second gap in its win at DeSales last week and will look to crack the top 10 at states.