D4-AA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
- 2020 Individual Champion: Lauren Trapani (Warrior Run) - 18:38
- 2020 Team Champions: Warrior Run - 26 points
Individuals Breakdown
Lauren Trapani's four year run atop District 4 will come to end this season (one in Class A and three in Class AA), so we'll get a different champion in D4-AA for the first time in three years. There's a strong crop of returners and it should be a close and exciting battle to follow all season long in the always-deep District 4 Class AA.
Danville's Coyla Bartholomew was third in the district (the best of any returner in D4-AA), and she's the lone returning state medalist from the district. She was 25th at the state meet to grab the last medal last year, and that sets her up in a good spot for a big senior season.
A number of D4-AA girls were just on the outside looking in of state medals last season. Shikellamy's Alyssa Keeley (second in the district in 2019) was 33rd at states after a ninth place state meet finish. Danville's Victoria Bartholomew was right behind her at states, taking 34th after the freshman was seventh at districts. Warrior Run's Sage Dunkleberger (fifth) was 35th at states and her teammate Sienna Dunkleberger (tenth at districts) was 37th.
Selinsgrove's Shaela Kruskie took fourth at the district meet, during her strong freshman campaign. She was 54th at the state meet, but will surely be a top 25 state contender this season, as well.
All in all, not a lot separates this group of girls. Coyla Bartholomew had the most consistent 2020, and looks to be the favorite entering the fall, but it's going to be a close. And like usual, D4-AA will have a lot of state medal contenders come November.
Team Breakdown
District 4 boasted arguably the deepest AA district for girls last season, but like every other district/classification in the state, there's was just one spot up for grabs. Warrior Run ran away with the district title before claiming the state title a week-plus later in Hershey.
This year, it's back to two spots, though with the talent in D4-AA, some good teams will inevitably not be sending full squads to Hershey. So, who are the favorites? Warrior Run's run atop D4-AA may come to an end with four talented seniors from last year's state championship-winning team graduating. Still, there is some depth remaining -- the Dunklebergers are both state medal contenders -- so this is still a team to watch out for.
Perhaps it's time for Danville Area to reclaim its spot above the district. After its streak of ten straight district titles ended in 2019, Danville has a solid crew back this year from the team that was an unlucky second a year ago. Coyla, Victoria, and Hannah Bartholomew is a very strong returning trio and this team is known for filling in the gaps to be a district and state contender every year.
Selinsgrove has a good returning duo in Kruskie and Breia Mayes, and though it loses three seniors from last year, this team could make a good run again after a third place finish in 2020. Lewisburg Area is a team that counted be counted out. After a fifth place state meet finish in 2019, Lewisburg was fourth at the district meet last year. The Dragons lose a few seniors, but will look to retool this fall to make a run at the top two.
Shikellamy will be a team to watch, as well. The full varsity squad is back led by Keeley and Elli Ronk. They were fifth last year, but this team has the potential to challenge for state qualification in 2021.
There's a lot of depth here and just two spots up for grabs for the girls' teams of D4-AA. It's going to be a thrilling season here.