D10-AA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
- 2020 Individual Champion: Dylan Throop (General McLane) - 15:22
- 2020 Team Champions: Grove City Area - 32 points
Individuals Breakdown
It will be a changing of the guard this season in District 10 Class AA. Two-time district champion and 2019 AA state champion Dylan Throop has graduated and is off to the University of Pennsylvania, so we will see a new champion in D10-AA this fall. Additionally, the top four boys and five of the top six from the district meet have graduated. Who's time is it to shine?
It could be Lucas Boyd's turn. Now a junior, he was fifth in the district last year and then he put together a terrific race at the state meet to place 16th at Hershey, earning him a state medal. He won't have his North East teammate Brock Pennington (fourth in the district, seventh at states) as a training partner anymore, but Boyd is certainly the guy to watch in D10-AA.
There is a lot of up-and-coming talent in D10-AA after Boyd though. Meadville's Max Dillaman was seventh in the district last year and was 50th at the state meet as just a freshman. Now a sophomore, he will certainly be one to watch out of D10-AA. Grove City Area has a pair of returners that ran very well at the state meet last year. Quinn McKnight was 13th in the district, but 38th in the state. Joshua Jones, who was eighth in the district was 43rd at states. Both will be serious contenders for high places at both districts and states again this season.
Fort LeBouef's Ben Schrumpf just missed state qualification last year, but look for the junior to be right in the mix for a high district finish last year. Cathedral Prep's Kaemen Smith and Grove City's Caleb Hawke are among the other boys to watch in this district, which, despite losing some big talent up front, should still be very strong in 2021.
Team Breakdown
Grove City Area has three straight district titles in the bag, and will be going for four-in-a-row this fall. The Eagles lost some key pieces to its team in 2019, but roared back in 2020 to win last year convincingly, putting just 32 points on the board. That gave Grove City the lone state qualifying spot and a 30-point victory.
This year, Grove City loses some key pieces from last year once again, including Gabe Nichols (tenth place at states), but could certainly once again be the team to beat in D10-AA. Jones, McKnight, and Hawke are a solid returning trio, and the Eagles will look to fill in the gaps; this should be a strong team this fall.
General McLane was second to GCA last season. Of course, this team loses Throop to graduation, but it does bring back four boys from its top seven last year. Expect this team to have a good pack of boys that can make some moves this season. General McLane could make a run at Grove City for the district title, and will definitely be in the mix for the top two.
While North East loses it top runner in Pennington, it does bring back six varsity boys from last year, led by the early district individual favorite Boyd. NE was fourth last season and seems primed to compete for a state qualifying spot -- and quite possibly the district title -- this season. Conneaut Area could surprise this year. They return their full varsity squad and it will be all seniors, so look for a motivated group to have a shot at state qualification.