D7-AAA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 15
- 2019 Individual Champion: Patrick Anderson (Mount Lebanon) - 15:41
- 2019 Team Champions: North Allegheny - 66 points
Individuals Breakdown
After Patrick Anderson's dominating and thrilling 2019 season it's time for some new blood at the top of the WPIAL in Class AAA. Anderson, who won his second state title last year and then placed third at Foot Locker Nationals, is off to UNC. He led a powerful group of senior boys in the WPIAL last year that included Dan McGoey, Zach Leachman, Christian Fitch, and Zach Marmol.
But there will be a new top dog in the WPIAL and the first place we have to look to fall is at Butler. The Golden Tornado had a trio of state medalists last season, and those three are all back this year. All three eanred top ten finishes in the district last year with CJ Singleton taking fifth, Sage Vavro placing seventh, and Skyler Vavro in ninth. At the state meet, Sage Vavro took ninth, while Singleton was 13th, and Skylar Vavro was 24th. That's as powerful a trio you will find anywhere. Look for these boys to pack up and work together throughout the season and and 1-2-3 district finish isn't out of the question this season.
Of course, plenty of boys will be looking to break up the Butler trio. Seneca Valley's Noah Petersen did it at the district meet last year, placing eighth. He's back for his junior season and will be one to watch. Norwin's Alex Jubert had a big season last year and just missed a state medal, taking 27th in the state at Hershey after taking 18th in the district.
Scott Nalepa is North Allgheny's top returner. He was 12th at districts and 36th in the state. Him and his teammates Andrew Kollitz (14th in the district) and Graham Wolfe (15th) should all be in the mix for top five district meet finishes, as well as state medals.
Mount Lebanon's Barak Asher, Shaler's Tyler Paszkowski, and Greater Latrobe's Joseph Hill are among the other top returners in the always loaded D7-AAA. A strong senior class from last year has graduated, but there's plenty of talent waiting in the wings for this fall.
Team Preview
North Allegheny had yet another strong season last fall, winning the WPIAL crown for the second straight season before taking third at the state meet in AAA. McGoey has graduated, but a strong group of returners are back for NA that will make a district three-peat a definite possibility. Nalepa, Kollitz, and Wolfe are a very formidable top three, while Connor Foody and Jackson Hickel are also back. The Tigers will perhaps need a lowstick to step up, but this squad is in good shape to compete with the best of the best in PA once again.
Butler was a breakthrough squad last year that took second to NA at districts and then fourth at states, just a place behind their district rival from NA. Their top three of Singleton and the Vavros is hard to overcome with that many lowsticks. The challenge for Butler will be getting 4-5-6 to move up in the field. If they can, there are few teams in the state, let alone the district, that can beat this team. NA vs. Butler will be an intersting battle to watch for this season.
After those top two, it will get interesting for that third state spot. Seneca Valley retooled well enough to grab the third state spot last season. Petersen is a strong No. 1 and the Raiders can't be counted out to crack the top three again this fall. Mount Lebanon was fourth in the district last season. While Lebo loses Anderson they have a good core of boys back that will put this squad right in the mix for a state spot.
After that, there is a lot of room for sleeper teams to step up and get in the conversation. Baldwin, Fox Chapel Area, Norwin, and Greater Latrobe are among the teams that have a good group of boys back. Upper Saint Clair, Kiski Area, and Canon-McMillan can also get in the mix. It's relatively wide open this season.