D1-AAA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 6
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 30
- 2020 Individual Champion: Aiden Barnhill (Downingtown West) - 16:21
- 2020 Team Champions: Downingtown West - 57 points
Individuals Breakdown
It's going to be an interesting season in District 1 Class AAA this year. A talented senior class from last year has graduated, so there will be a lot of new faces near the front of D1-AAA this season, and on paper, it looks like the race for the top spots are up for grabs.
There is surprisingly just one returning state medalist from last year: Brian DiCola of Hatboro Horsham. DiCola, now a junior, was sixth at the district meet and 16th at states during a terrific sophomore season. He looks to be the one to beat this season, as he goes for a district title and another high state meet finish.
After DiCola, two others placed inside the top 40 of the state. Downingtown East's Caiden Leen was 36th in the state and 12th in the district. Central Bucks West's Nikolaus Mangeot took 38th in the state after a 13th place district run. Both are in a good spot to challenge for state medals this season
The other two returning state qualifiers: West Chester Henderson's Gavin Brophy and Downingtown East's Brendan Flynn. Brophy was seventh in the district and 69th at states. Flynn was eighth at districts and 63rd at states. Flynn went 9:25 for 3,200m this past spring on the track, the fastest returning District 1 time in the event.
The Central League did not compete at the District 1 Championships last year, but they did have a league championship meet. The top two from that race last year have graduated, but a few boys will have a good shot to make an impact this fall. Lower Merion's Alex Bullard was third, Haverford's Patrick Lawson was fourth, and Lower Merion's Simon Schmieder was fifth. Each will have a shot to go after the district title this season.
There is plenty of room for boys to step up in District 1, and there will be no shortage of state qualifying spots to go around (30 for non-team qualifying individuals), Some names to keep an eye on: Andrew McGonigle (Owen J. Roberts), Vicente Pena (Conestoga), Brennan Wellock (CB West), James Smith (Downingtown East), and Gus Platt (Upper Dublin).
Team Preview
Like the individual situation, the team race will see some big shifts in 2021. There is a lot of room for teams you may not normally see towards the top of District 1 making a good run at the top six this season.
Downingtown West has been the team to beat for the last few years in District 1. The third place state finishers from last year will have some retooling to do, though. D-West loses six of its top seven from last season, and will have a much different looking squad in 2021. You can't count this team out, and as always, the Whippets will be a team to monitor.
But who could fill this power vacuum? Perhaps D-West's neighbors from Downingtown East? Last year, this team was a relatively close second to D-West, missing out on states by 15 points. D-East has a pair of returning state qualifiers (something no other D1-AAA can say) in Leen and Flynn, which makes up a very solid duo. If D-East can solidify the it's 4-5-6 spots, this could be a very dangerous team.
It could also be Central Bucks West. Last year, the Bucks placed fourth in the district -- a position that normally would qualify a D1 team to states -- but only one team went due to the pandemic. West brings back five of its top seven behind a very solid No. 1 in Mangeot. This could be the team to beat in District 1 this season.
Another team to watch for is Haverford Township. The Fords didn't compete at the district meet last year, along with the rest of the Central League, but it wound up third in the CAL. Haverford brings back five of its top seven, as well. Lawson, Ethan Fingerhut, and Quentin Ryan make up a good trio that could carry this team to a high district finish. Lower Merion, which ran away with the Central League team title last year, brings back three boys from last year's team and should be a factor after a strong, albeit under-the-radar, 2020 season.
Owen J. Roberts was seventh in the district last season, and brings back six of its top seven behind a good No. 1 in McGonigle. OJR is a good bet to qualify through to the state meet.
With six total state spots up for grabs, there are realistically about 20 teams that could have Hershey aspirations this season. Other squads to keep an eye on include West Chester Henderson, North Penn, Council Rock South, Pennridge, and Conestoga.