D1-AA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
- 2020 Individual Champion: Gianna Cagliola (Pope John Paul II) - 20:35
- 2020 Team Champions: Merion Mercy Academy - 55 points
Individuals Breakdown
The top six girls in D1-AA are back this season, so it will be an interesting fall for the AA girls. The defending champion is Gianna Cagliola of Pope John Paul II. After running away with the district title, Cagliola went on to place 22nd at the state meet, earning a state medal. Her teammate also got on the medal stand, as Kathryn Todd (third at the district meet) took 24th at Hershey. Both Cagliola and Todd enter their senior seasons set to be among the district favorites and contenders for high state finishes again.
Looking to challenge the PJP duo is Merion Mercy's Claudia Campisciano. She was second at the district meet, between Cagliola and Todd, and then 28th at the state meet. Campisciano will have her sights set on the top 25 at the state meet this season, and on the district level, should make a run at the title.
Lower Moreland's Amelia Ogawa had a solid freshman year in 2020, taking fourth in the district and 47th at states. Now a sophomore, she will look to move up in this competitive district. Merion Mercy's Marianne Cheeley and Lower Moreland's Siri Hellenbrand are among the other returning individual state qualifiers from last year back this season.
The X-factor here is Meredith Glunz of Villa Joseph Marie. Glunz won the district title as a freshmen, but hasn't competed since that XC season. if she returns this season, she will be a factor for the district title.
Team Breakdown
Last year was supposed to be the first year that District 1 Class AA got two team spots to the state meet. But the pandemic limited it back to just one team. Well, 2021 will be the first year of two state spots in D1-AA and that's a good thing for the top teams here.
Merion Mercy Academy will be in pursuit of its second straight district title this season. MMA returns its top four from its team that year that placed ninth at the state meet. Merion Mercy will want to add depth to the backend of its varsity squad, but the team looks like it will be a factor in the district title race again this year.
A team to watch is Villa Maria Academy. Second last year, Villa Maria returns its full varsity seven from 2020 -- a team that would have made states if D1-AA got two state spots. While it lacks a true frontrunner, Villa Maria has a great pack; its 1:11 1-5 gap at the district meet was by far the best last year in D1-AA.
Pope John Paul II and Lower Moreland are a couple teams that if they can add some depth, they could give a good challenge to the top two teams and get themselves to Hershey. It could be a close one this year.