Photo by: Jackson Polin
It's finally here. After much waiting and talk it is finally states week and we can not be more excited. We are going to rank the top 3 teams at each level top 10 individuals in A and AA and top 25 individuals in AAA.(Discussion between Dylan Leone and Jackson Polin all rankings and predictions are subjective and opinion based)
For some background knowledge at every level the top 2 team finishers will earn team state medals/trophies and the top 25 individuals will earn individual medals with an award ceremony to follow the start of the next race.
A team predictions: We believe that Elk lake will win on the team side as the have a very strong top 3 who are all in the race for an individual medal and if 4 and 5 perform on the day it should be enough for them to win the team title. Lakeview will be very close to Elk lake as they have much more of a pack for the 2nd place finish on the team side. Riverside looks like the 3rd best team in the A schools and we believe they will place 3rd on the day.
We have 1 Elk Lake 2 Lakeview 3 Riverside
AA team predictions: Grove City year after year leads the way in 2a and we think they will come out on top with low stick Miles Jenny finishing in the top 10. Hughesville has been ranked as the best 2a team all year and will defiantly keep it close with Grove City but we think that will come in 2nd on the day. Quaker Valley has a low stick of Jonah Montagnese who we think will win the individual title and carry them to the 3rd place finish on the team side.
We have 1 Grove City 2 Hughesville 3 Quaker Valley.
AAA team predictions: The 3a team race is defiantly going to be a very close one between the top 3 teams as non of them have competed against one another head to head this year. We think that State college is going to win for the 2nd year in a row on the team side but do believe it could go anyway between them La Salle and North Penn. We have La Salle coming in 2nd on the team side but could win if they pack run how they have been all year with 1-2 in the top 25 and put their 3-5 above state college 4th. North Penn is a dangerous team this weekend as they have 4 under 16 with low stick Justin Landis at a 15:05 and definitely in major consideration for a top 10 finish. We believe North Penn will take 3rd at the meet.
To sum things up 1 State College 2 La Salle 3 North Penn in a very close race where any of the top 3 teams could win.
A Individual predictions: 1. Kendal Jones, 2. Michael Fritz, 3. Cody Adams, 4. Gabe Simkiss, 5. Zachary Sharara, 6. Kam Skelton, 7. James Alexander, 8. Parker Upright, 9. Ashton Saunders, 10. Mikey Schimelfenig.
Kendal Jones has to be the favorite to win the A state title as he has only lost 2 meets this year and with them being the 2 biggest meets he's raced in against the top competition in the state against all levels.
AA Individual Predictions: 1. Jonah Montagnese, 2. Tyce Shaner, 3. Carter French, 4. Jack Steineman, 5. Blake Glass, 6. Miles Jenny, 7. Ryan Gourley, 8. Justin Nolt, 9. Tyler Carroll, 10. Jacob Borrelli
Jonah Montagnese is definitely the favorite to win the 2a state title as the junior has only lost twice this season once being his season opener and 2nd being at The VA Showcase with some of the best competition in the nation. Jonah has gone under 15:10 3 time this year and leads all 2a boys by 16 seconds.
AAA Individual predictions: 1. Carter Smith, 2. Nicholas Mazzeo, 3. Alexander Mazzeo, 4. Travis Furmanski, 5. Theo Oppermann, 6. Matt Gosling, 7. Rowan Carr, 8. Justin Landis, 9. Luke Bradbury, 10. Tyler Tomlinson, 11. Teddy Foster, 12. Kyle Tracey, 13. Brendan Eicher, 14. Bobby Franklin, 15. William Edgar, 16. Andrew Peigh, 17. Stephen Keller, 18. Jude Olsen, 19. Nathan Boyer, 20. Ben Doumaux, 21. Benjamin McBride, 22. Kyle Fritzsche, 23. Jonathan Stetchock, 24. Ben DiCola, 25. Ryan Cleary
Carter Smith has to be the individual favorite for the 3a state title as he is the defending state champ and has not lost a meet this year. We believe that Carter will keep his undefeated season alive through states and if he should run at a regional meet.