Class A Boys Team Preview - PIAA State Championships
A good battle is shaking out for the team title in Class A on the boys side. Like the individual race, there are quite a few teams that will have a chance to secure to team state championship.
Perhaps the team at the top of that list is Hughesville. After placing fourth last year, Hughesville returned its full top seven from that team and have been strong all season long. They hung well with some bigger schools at the NEPA and PHAC Invites, before dominating at the District 4 Championships, putting six in the top ten to score just 22 points to take the District 4 title. With a pair of lowsticks in Gavitt and Foust, plus a good pack of the rest of its scorers, this is a very dangerous team that may be the one to beat on Saturday.
A number of teams will have something to say about that, though. Riverview is certainly one of those teams. Riverview logged some impressive wins at Red, White & Blue, TSTCAs, and most recently the District 7 (WPIAL) Championships. This team's 1-5 gap is right around a minute, and they will be a tough team to beat. Second to Riverview at RWB, TSTCAs, and WPIALs was Winchester Thurston. The Bears, which won at Foundation on Hershey's course earlier this season, are always a threat, and once again a team to watch towards the top of the team standings at states this year.
The defending state champions from Jenkintown aren't going anywhere, either. The Drakes lost five boys from last year's dominant state title winning team, but they have retooled in a big way in 2021, and should be right near the top of the team standings once again. Led by individual title threat Michell, Jenkintown has some good depth. They took the top four spots in District 1, and the Drakes are dangerous yet again in 1A.
District 3 has a pair of teams that could make a play at the title, too. Trinity edged out Tulpehocken for the district crown on Saturday, 40-41. Trinity has some good lowsticks, while Tulpy has some good depth with just a 44-second 1-5 gap at the D3 meet. Look for both squads to put down some low scores and compete for high finishes when the dust settles on Saturday.
Cranberry, which placed seventh last year, took home the District 9 title this past week, and looks to be in a good spot for another strong states run. This team was third at Foundation, and that course experience could pay off for Cranberry. WPIAL third place finisher Eden Christian Academy looked strong against the good D7 competition. Montrose displayed some good pack running in its District 2 title win last week. Rocky Grove ran away with the District 10 title on Saturday, winning convincingly. Each of those teams have top five potential entering the weekend.