D7-A Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 4
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 20
- 2019 Individual Champion: Adam Hessler (Freedom Area) - 16:49
- 2019 Team Champions: Winchester Thurston - 37 points
Individuals Breakdown
Five state medalists from D7-A are back this season in what should be a great season of competition in the WPIAL in Class A. The top returner is Mason Ochs, who took second at the district meet last year to the now-graduated Adam Hessler before placing at the state meet. Ochs will certainly be a top five threat in the state, though he see plenty of good competition within his own district.
One of those challenges will come from his teammate Gideon Deasy, who was fifth in the district and 14th in the state last fall. Deasy, like Ochs, is a senior and both will be looking to go out on a high note. Another contender is Riverside's Colby Belczyk, who was ninth in the district, but ran the best race of his career at the state meet to place 10th in PA. He's quick (he went 1:57 indoors in the 800 this past winter) and has the talent to contend for high district and state meet finishes.
Winchester Thurston's Patrick Malone was 11th in the district and 23rd in the state. He will be a factor for a return trip to the podium at Hershey and possibly a top ten state finish.
Malone's WT teammate Gus Robinson, OLSH's Finn Sweeney, and Eden Christian's Sean Aiken are among the other top returners in the WPIAL Class A this fall to watch out for.
Overall, there is no shortage of talent and should be a number of podium boys coming out of this district again this year. One thing's for sure: the boys that make it out of D7-A, are battle-tested for the state meet.
Team Preview
Winchester Thurston returned to the top of the state in Class A for the first time since 2016, winning the state title with 113 points. WT loses two strong seniors from last year's team, but they return a good contingent of rising seniors with Malone, Robinson, and Benjamin Bermann. The Bears will need to add some depth for this season if they want a shot at another district and state title. They've been known to retool very well, so we can expect another strong Thurston squad this fall.
But they will be getting good challenges for the district crown out of the WPIAL. Riverview was second to Thurston in both the district and the state, during a terrific 2019 season. The team's whole top five from that runner-up state squad return, led by state medalists Ochs and Deasy. This squad is locked and loaded for a big 2020 season with plenty of experience to go around. Riverview may be the state's best Class A team.
There are four total spots allotted to D7-A so it will be a close race for those limited state spots. Avonworth, a 2019 state qualifier out of D7-A moves to AA. Eden Christian Academy, third last year, loses some key seniors from last year's team, but should be a factor near the top four again.
Our Lady Of Sacred Heart, Shenango, Chartiers Houston, and Laurel are among the other teams with a good shot at state qualification in the WPIAL Class A this season.