D6-AAA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
- 2020 Individual Champion: Jordan Reed (State College Area) - 18:34
- 2020 Team Champions: State College Area - 18 points
Individuals Breakdown
Two of State College's top three from last season have graduated, but SC's Marlee Kwasnica is back for her junior year. The 2019 district champion was second to her teammate Jordan Reed last year, and this season, Kwasnica will be the one to beat in D6-AAA. She was 38th at the state meet, but Kwasnica can certainly make a run to return to the medalstand this season. She went 5:03 for 1600m on the track this spring and looks to be in a goos spot heading into the fall.
She will face a good challenge from Mifflin County's Kylee Cubbison. Cubbison was third in the district last year, and is coming off a strong track season. Look for a motivated Cubbison to make a run at the district title and a high state finish this season. Her teammate Addie Parsons qualified for the state meet as a freshman last year, and will be looking to build off that this season. Parsons was seventh in the district last year.
State College has three other returners from its top seven that should make an impact this season: Amy Devan (fifth in the district), Grace Morningstar (sixth), and Ava Langelaan (ninth). Morningstar was a state medalist in the 800 meters outdoors this past spring, and could be in line for a big XC season after that impressive spring.
Other girls looking to get inside the top ten of the district and chase individual state spots are Williamsport's Ellie Fisher and Emily Hale, as well as Altoona Area's Mackenzie Kelley and Reese Wilber.
Team Preview
State College Area will once again be in the driver's seat to capture the team title in District 6 AAA. 2020 was another great season for the Little Lions, which rolled to the district crown with just 18 points and then placed second at the state meet, 14 points off North Allegheny, which won its third straight state title. It was the sixth straight year that State College placed fifth or better at the state meet and the team's second straight season placing runner-up in PA's largest classification.
State College loses some strong seniors from last year's team, including Reed, Karsyn Kane, and Vivian Scott. But a good core returns, led by Kwasnica with Devan, Morningstar and Langelaan prepared to step into bigger roles. The Little Lions always develop talent well, and SC will be the big favorites to win the team title and make a run at yet another high finish in Hershey. It's hard to bet against this team.
Mifflin County, second in the district last year, loses just one varsity runner and brings back its full top five from 2020. Cubbison and Parsons are a strong 1-2 punch and the Huskies will aim to close the gap to State College this season. Williamsport Area and Altoona Area both have a strong group of returners, too, and the race for second in D6-AAA should be a competitive one.