Current Features

 

2001 PA PIAA & PCL Cross Country Team Preview

SEE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PENNTRACKXC MESSAGE BOARD
 

Boys AAA/PCL     Girls AAA/PCL     Boys AA    Girls AA
 

PA Team Outlook - PIAA and PCL

Team performance is more difficult to predict than individual performance. But that won't stop us from making a few prognostications about the season. We would, however, like to acknowledge that there are usually teams that unexpectedly gel during the year, others that peak too early, and others that get an influx of talent that others didn't see coming. So to those who will surprise us, thanks. That's what makes it so much fun. To those who are mentioned below, please do whatever it takes to make us look good : ). Have a great, injury free, PR-setting season. Oh, and here's a hint. District 3 takes three of the four PIAA titles.
 

Boys AAA/PCL

We're going with Cedar Cliff as the 2001 State Champs. They came so close in 2000. Just eleven points. Coatesville will be hard-pressed to repeat, because the only one back of their top five is their #1 guy, Rob Robertson. Cedar Cliff, on the other hand, has their first five returning. Two were medallists, John Butler and Andy Brehm. #3 man Pat Philbin was only 4 places off a medal at #29. And their 4th and 5th men were 61st and 116th. They did lose their 6th and 7th, but with the quality and growing tradition of this program, they should be focused on getting the title they thought was theirs in 2000. They also have home course advantage, as this year's race will be held at HersheyPark, where Cedar Cliff races in District 3 competitions.

Three other teams should have something to say about how well Cedar Cliff fares. Council Rock, Cumberland Valley, and Mount Lebanon. Council Rock won Dan Coval's senior year in 1999 after a three-year drought. Prior to that, they took eight of nine state titles. They just seem to reload. Every one of their 2000 top seven return, led by senior medallist Mike DiDio, and last year's 27th place finisher, senior Rob Hampson. They will give Cedar Cliff all they can handle. Cumberland Valley loses one and four, but gets experience back in their two, three and five guys from 2000. They will be led this year by senior Mark Turner, a medallist last year, and senior William Springman, who was 34th. And Mount Lebanon returns one, two, four and five, including defending state champ Shawn Cavanaugh. But they'll have to close the gap between #1 and #2 if they are to make an impact.

Central Bucks East had top talent in 1999 and 2000, but failed to deliver. They return two veterans from their top five, but the teams mentioned previously are simply too deep. North Penn returns two, three and five.

Coincidentally, these seven match last year's top seven teams. Can Manheim, Liberty, Butler, Altoona, or someone else break into their group?

In the PCL, Cardinal O'Hara lost their top three from a very strong team. They looked good at the Viking Invitational 8/31, but Anderson, Duffy and Cunningham will be hard to replace. LaSalle, on the other hand, only loses their # 2 guy. More importantly, they placed all five scorers in the top 20. But it's a long season, and these teams run Belmont Plateau until they see it in their dreams. Injuries may eventually determine who has the depth to take the top team spot in the PCL this year. Looks like LaSalle at this point, though.
 

Girls AAA/PCL

North Allegheny at the 2000 California Invitational. They should reclaim the top spot in PA this year, after a year in 2nd place.
 

At least four of the top five runners are back for the top AAA girl's teams this year, and that means it will be a close race again. North Allegheny had won it in 1999, and with an unexpected bad race or two in 2000, they slipped to second by just 18 points to District 11's Parkland. Add Wissahickon to the mix, and we believe you can pick the 2001 champion from this group.

We're going with North Allegheny based on the odds. One, they're a huge team. Depth is their middle name. Two, they have tradition and experience. And three, their #1 runner has medalled her first three years in high school, and will be motivating the team to make her senior year a return to championship status. And did we mention that they didn't lose one of their top seven?

Parkland, led by tough-as-nails soph Paula Giguere, ran a great race last year, and they only lose one of their top seven. They could repeat if the stars align like they did in 2000. But our pick for the top challenger to North Allegheny this year is Wissahickon. They had a strong team last year, led by graduated champion Paige Miller. And they lose their number five runner, too. But it looks like their #2 runner has already stepped it up this year (We know, it's cheating to make a prediction after getting some current results). In their first race at the Viking Invitational 8/31, Erin Franklin smoked the field by a minute, running a wooded, root-strewn three-mile course in 18:49. Their second through fifth runners (two of them new), then ran a spread of 37 seconds. 

Haverford's very young team (pictured here at a 8/31/01 scrimmage) gets critical state level experience in XC from senior Gen Story, and national caliber experience from three sophomores and a junior who ran a 9:19 4x800 in the spring. The four, including the York twins, Fiona and Alicia, along with Adriana Boyle and Rachel Giannascoli, will challenge all season, and could end up top five.
 

Other teams to watch for include Haverford, Great Valley, Chambersburg, Allentown Central Catholic, and Allerdice. Haverford's elevation to this list is based on their 9:19 2nd place 4x800 in the spring with three freshmen and a soph. Those four ran well their first scrimmage on 8/31, losing by just a few points to state finalist Great Valley. Their expected 5th and 6th runners both ran out of the top six on the team. As they mature and gain experience, they could quickly become a top three, state team. And Great Valley returns their top six, placing four runners ahead of Haverford's third in the scrimmage. Chambersburg is a perennial power, but lost four of their varsity seven, although they return their #1 girl, District 3 champion Kylee Schuler. Allentown Central Catholic lost their top two, but always has depth. And Allerdice is down a top runner, but returns great young depth.

Did we mention SpringFord, the state 4x800 champion? They're young, and could make some state waves.

Prendie will be shooting for a fourth straight PCL championship. Last year's team won because its young members answered the challenge after losing all-state runner Tara Johnson. 
 

In the PCL, Archbishop Prendergast is going for four in a row. They lose their first and third runners, Lindsay Scottoline and Sarah McFadden. But Justine Tidmarsh returns, and if form holds, she or another experienced runner will step up just as Tara Johnson did when Sheila Klick gradutated, and as Scottoline did upon Johnson's departure. With five of their top seven back, no one can ever count this team out. But O'Hara only loses their #4 runner, and their five scorers were in the top 19. #6 and 7 are back as well. This could, and probably should be their year. But with the one-two scoring punch of St. Hubert's Kelly sisters, Jackie and Amy, only their #4 runner departed, and all five in the top 23 in 2000, St. Hubert's will challenge Prendie and O'Hara, maybe even taking the whole thing.

Let's watch the races unfold, and enjoy.
 

 

Boys AA

This year, Scranton Prep has three of their top five returning, including #1 runner, junior Jonathan Pastore. But the loss of their second and third guys may open the door to others, especially fast-rising Wyomissing, which was 15th in 1999 and 4th last year. Yes, they lose star Joel Moceri, and their fifth runner, but they have everybody else back, and with the success of their girls' team, there's an atmosphere in Wyomissing that spells winning. That's why we're going with Wyomissing as our top pre-season pick. Regular powers York Suburban, who lost 1,2,4,5 and 7; and North East, who lost 1,3,4,5 and 6, will have to reload quickly if they are to challenge Scranton Prep and Wyomissing. After winning the 1999 title, Bishop Hafey dropped to 7th last year, and has lost their top two.
 
 
 

Girls AA

Last year's two-peat Wyomissing girls will be back in virtually full force, and should make it three in a row. 
 

Unlike the boys AA teams where graduation hit the top squads very hard, most of the girls' top teams return major talent. This could be closer than last year, when Wyomissing repeated their 1999 championship season. In 2000, they won by 107 points, and in 1999, it was 39 points over Wyalusing Valley. They lose #2 Janna Sallade, and their #4, but return the Huss twins, juniors Debbie and Amy, plus five, six and seven, plus whoever else is in the chute for the closest thing AA has to North Allegheny's depth. Wyomissing should take it for a third year in a row, but Scranton Prep returns four of their top five, and five of their top seven. York Suburban should also be strong, losing their second and fifth runners. While Northeast Bradford loses their second and third runners to graduation. It may not be the domination of 2000, but Wyomissing will three-peat.
 
 

FROM THE PENNTRACKXC MESSAGE BOARD

"I thought I'd like to make a correction on the AA Boys Preview. Wyomissing also lost their 4th runner from last year Peter Janson. Janson moved to Texas. This could be a big loss for Wyo because Janson emerged to get 2nd in the mile this track season at states. I do have to say that the guys at Wyomissing say they have great chemistry going so the state better watch out!"

"I'm a runner from quaker valley and I just looked at the preview and was a little upset to see that we didnt even get mentioned as a contender...If i remember correctly we were only 12 places behind wyomissing at 5th place...Wyomissing lost their 1,4, and 5. But my team on the other hand didnt lose any of our top five...Now i'm not taking anything away from the other teams mentioned, because i know they are definitely tough and i respect them...I just think that we deserved a little recognition."