D6-AA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
- 2020 Individual Champion: Ellie Dorian (Westmont Hilltop) - 19:30
- 2020 Team Champions: Central Cambria - 39 points
Individuals Breakdown
It should be a close one this fall for the top spot in D6-AA. While 2020 district champ Ellie Dorian has graduated, the rest of the top five from the district meet are back and three of them were state medalists last season. Westmont Hilltop will look to keep the individual title in-house with Julia Dill. Last year as a junior, Dill was second to Dorian at districts and then placed 15th at the state meet.
She will face a tough challenge from the Central Cambria duo of Stella Kuntz and Annaliese Niebauer. Niebauer was just two seconds behind Dill at the state meet, placing 16th. Kuntz wasn't far behind, taking 20th. Delaney Dumm of Forest Hills was fifth in the district and 32nd at the state meet, not far out of medal territory. She, too, will be a factor.
Overall, it looks like it could be tight between these talented returners this season. Others to watch for this season include Forest Hills' Danielle Dumm, Central Cambria's Abigail Walwro and Marlow Soyka, and Westmont Hilltop's Avari Admire and Ayda Dorian.
Team Breakdown
Central Cambria will look to win its fourth straight district title this season, and once again the Red Devils will be the team to beat. After a strong 2020 that saw them take second at the state meet, Central Cambria brings back six of its top seven girls from last season. Behind a solid top two of returning individual medalists in Kuntz and Niebauer, CC has the depth to match it. This team could very well be seen as the state title favorite in AA, and will be looking to win its first state crown since 2018.
Realistically, on merit, D6-AA probably deserves a second state qualifying spot. But alas, it's just the one spot. A pair of teams will look for the upset against Central Cambria. Forest Hills was second in the district last year, just missing a bid to Hershey by a mere seven points. FH loses one girl from its top five last year and two of its top seven. Delaney and Danielle Dumm are a strong 1-2 punch. Forest Hills can make it interesting if their respective packs can make some moves up in the field.
Westmont Hilltop is another team to watch. Third in the district last year, the team loses its No. 1 from last year in Ellie Dorian, but it brings back five of its top seven from 2020. Like Forest Hills, with some improvements and maybe a breakthrough performer, there is some potential to give Central Cambria a run for the top spot.