Boys Team Preview

Simply put, Council Rock is well-coached and knows how to win state titles. They took nine in a row in the 80's to mid 90's. They then took a four year break before winning it last year in All-American Dan Coval's senior year. Counted out at the start of this campaign, they went through some doubts and injuries, before running strong against favorites CB East and Coatesville at the District One Championships. They finished in a 122-122 tie with East, but lost on the tie-breaker. They have a tradition of winning. More importantly, they know how to win the big ones.

But standing in their way are seven strong teams which each have something to prove. CB East was favored all year in 1999, before finishing a disappointing third. The seniors on the team, led by potential state champ Karl Dusen, want to go out on top. They won a close one at Districts, and are sure to do everything they can to keep it from being close.

On their game, Coatesville will be there.

Coatesville beat East, North Penn, Cumberland Valley and Rock at their home invitational on the tough, hilly Steel City course. They have also defeated Williamsport and Altoona this year, by a lot. If they run their races, they will stand atop the podium.

North Penn has front-runner Dave Atkiss, plus a team of confident, young national-caliber middle distance guys who have adapted nicely to the longer distance. They were third in District One, but not by much. Haverford is a dark horse. They made States for the first time in over 30 years, but as their coach, Jay Williams said, "not one scenario I drew up for the race included my #1 guy running #5 and by # 5 guy running #2." With races in line with their season performances, they drop into the CB East, Council Rock category. States can do funny things.

The Haverford boys had all five in before any other District One team, even with their #1 guy off his best. They could spoil a lot of plans.

CB East Coach Paul Wilson believes it is between five teams, Mt. Lebanon, CV, and the three District One teams, CB East, Council Rock, and Coatesville. "Coatesville had it won (DI) until the last quarter mile. On any given day, I think one of us could win. I just have feeling it's going to be a District One team."

But that was before Cedar Cliff served notice that it's how well you run at the end of the year that counts. Their 40 points at the District 3 Championships obliterated a powerful Cumberland Valley squad that had won virtually everything until their Leagues. They had been beaten several times during the year by Cumberland Valley, but started to show their late-season teeth at that conference championships a week before. Cumberland Valley can't be counted out. They have something to prove.

The Cedar Cliff performance even surprised former college All-American and Cedar Cliff Head Coach Ken Roseberry. "All year the plan was don't start racing until the second half of the year. These guys were all running slower this year than last for the first 3/4 of the season. Usually we crush everybody early, but this year we completely flip-flopped. Everything they did the first part of the season was slow distance. We maintained 60 miles until this week. Last year, we cut early, ran great in the middle, and then died out. I think we're considerably faster than we were at Steel City (they finished fourth). We were just starting to think about getting a little faster, and we did."

Mount Lebanon is strong this year, and took the District 7 meet over Butler. But their spread of 2:06 could be a detriment to winning States, especially when you compare it to Cedar Cliff's 28 seconds at District 3.

AA Boys Teams

From District 3, the Wyomissing boys are the "most athletic team" they've had in a few years according to one of their assistant coaches. They will be joined at States by annual power York Suburban, and newcomer East Pennsboro, led by D3 champ Ryan Blood. All three were close in the team scoring, and in a larger state meet, could find themselves switching places. Wyomissing placed third in 1997. They were 15th last year, while York Suburban was 4th.

From District One, Octorara placed five in the top nine and all seven medaled. They are a strong team. On the same course the day before, Notre Dame won District 11. And from the West, Grove City and North East were within three points of each other.