D2-AAA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
- 2019 Individual Champion: Bella Noreika (Scranton) - 19:55
- 2019 Team Champions: Abington Heights - 40 points
Individuals Breakdown
It was a strong sophomore season for Crestwood's Molly DeMarzo, who ran to the D2-AA title and then placed tenth at the state meet in Hershey. Now DeMarzo enters the season as our PA#22 girl in the state, and she'll face a new challenge this season: moving to AAA. Still, DeMarzo is the one to beat in the district and she'll be a major factor on the state scene in AAA, too.
The reigning D2-AAA champion, Bella Noreika of Scranton, is back after a solid freshman season. She broke through in a big way late in the season, winning the district and then taking 61st at the state meet. Look for her to be in the mix for another good district and state run as a sophomore this season.
Abington Heights has a good core of girls returning. Abby Marion, Gianna Sabatini, and Maia Arcangelo are all back this season after going 3-4-5 in the district last year. Allison Dammer is another AH girl back from the top ten last year. She took ninth in the district last year.
Amelia King and Paris Morante are two other strong Scranton freshman from last year to keep an eye on into their sophomore seasons in addition to Noreika. King was sixth in the district and Morante was tenth. Emily Hopkins of Scranton was eighth. She'll be a junior this season.
Team Preview
It was a close race for the district title last year, and it should be close again in 2020. In 2019, Abington Heights edged out Scranton 40-48 for the D2-AAA crown and with it, the lone state qualifying spot allotted to the district/classification.
Abington Heights brings its full varsity team back from last year; a squad that placed 17th at the state meet in Hershey. The team has a good mix of experience and up-and-comers and it will make them the favorites again this season.
But Scranton is definitely a team that could give them a run for their money. They had three freshman and a sophomore emerge last season, including the individual district champ in Noreika. With that good core back, Scranton should be able to keep this close and make it interesting.
Wallenpaupack and AAA newcomers Crestwood are among the other teams that will look to get in the mix in the district this season.