States Week: Jarrett vs etrain AA Predictions

AA States Predictions (Jarrett Felix v. etrain11)

 

Jarrett’s Picks:

1. D. Hockenbury, Lake Lehman (2)

2. W. Kachman, Bedford (5)

3. D. Green, James Buchanon (3)

4. S. Smith, Towanda (4)

5. M. Kravitz, North Pocono (2)

6. A. Benka, Grove City (10)

7. K. Gonoude, Salisbury (11)

8. S. Hilverding, Waynesburg (7)

9. J. Tidball, Tunkhannock (2)

10. B. Wilt, York Suburban (3)

11. Z. Skolonevich, Quaker Valley (7)

12. K. Shinn, Wyomissing (3)

13. N. Morgan, Lakeland (2)

14. N. Smith, Ringgold (7)

15. J. Condloy, Jim Thorpe (11)

16. R. Budnik, Grove City (10)

17. D. Lopez, Pottsgrove (1)

18. B. Bickerton, South Moreland (7)

19. D. Mears, York Suburban (3)

20. J. DiContinio, Wyomissing (3)

21. Q. Amiable, Mifflinburg (4)

22. J. Toczko, Tunkhannock (2)

23. D. Filler, Gettysburg (3)

24. K. Perry, Scranton Prep (2)

25. A. Maxwell, Slippery Rock (10)

 

26. N. Bartos, Mt Caramel (4)

27. C. Lennon, HG Prep (1)

28. N. Mrdjenovich, Mars (7)

29. S. Sullivan, Bonner (12)

30. B. Descavisch, Central Cambria (6)

31. B. Dinger, Punxsutawney (9)

32. B. Wurtz, Pottsgrove (1)

33. J. DePew, Grove City (10)

34. R. Rasatter, Bonner (12)

35. S. Signor, East Pennsboro (3)

 

Hockenbury was 2nd a year ago and seems poised for his first title. He ran away with the victory at Pre States and has hammered his competition this year with his grueling pace setting. I really think Dan Green is the best hope for an upset. Hilverding, Budnik and Shinn all dramatically improved from districts to states. Kravitz and Smith each had memorable performances at Paul Short. This race is just extremely loaded at the front. If Hockenbury isn’t in top form there are 20 or so guys who can realistically win this race.

 

train’s Picks:

1. Z. Skolonevich, Quaker Valley (7)

2. D. Hockenbury, Lake Lehman (2)

3. J. Tidball, Tunkhannock (2)

4. J. Condloy, Jim Thorpe (11)

5. B. Wilt, York Suburban (3)

6. W. Kachman, Bedford (5)

7. K. Gonoude, Salisbury (11)

8. N. Morgan, Lakeland (2)

9. D. Green, James Buchanon (3)

10. D. Lopez, Pottsgrove (1)

11. S. Smith, Towanda (4)

12. N. Smith, Ringgold (7)

13. A. Maxwell, Slippery Rock (10)

14. K. Shinn, Wyomissing (3)

15. A. Benka, Grove City (10)

16. M. Kravitz, North Pocono (2)

17. B. Descavisch, Central Cambria (6)

18. S. Hilverding, Waynesburg (7)

19. J. Toczko, Tunkhannock (2)

20. D. Mears, York Suburban (3)

21. B. Wurtz, Pottsgrove (1)

22. S. Lanze, Indiana Area (7)

23. C. Sadvary, Coughlin (2)

24. N. Bartos, Mt Caramel (4)

25. J. McLaughlin, Holy Ghost Prep (1)

 

26. L. Caruso, Bradford (9)

27. J. Bucior, Jim Thorpe (1)

28. R. Budnik, Grove City (10)

29. C. Babo, Harbor Creek (10)

30. Z. White, West Allegheny (7)

31. B. Kreider, Allentown CC (11)

32. C. Stabolepsky, Schuylkill Valley (3)

33. B. Grumski, Knoch (7)

34. A. Bach, Lewisburg (4)

35. D. Mazzeriello, Somerset (5)

 

Upset city baby! What’s the fun of predictions if you aren’t going to make some crazy picks every once in a while? Sophomores rarely ever win state championships. But you know what happened this past spring? A sophomore won the 8, 16 and 32 at AA states! 2014 is the year of the sophomore in AA and I follow through with Skolonevich for the W. I am thinking that Hockenbury could leave himself vulnerable gunning it at a fast pace. I think so of the guys who go with him could end up crumbling a bit the second half of the race which leaves room for craziness, especially for patient runners. I really like Wilt and Tidball under that system. I’m interested to see if Shinn, Hilverding and Budnik can repeat what they did last year as well. All three had huge breakthroughs a year ago at this meet. By the way, District 2 is really loaded this year. All their individual qualifiers have legit shots at medaling and they should produce a slew of top guys. I think Knoch is a great team, they should get some top 35 guys in. Going to be a super intense team battle and those guys need every point they can grab.

 

Runners we were sad to leave off the list …

B. Lott, Ellwood City (7)

B. Oleh, York Suburban (3)

T. White, Northern York (3)

 

S. Breslin, Bishop Shanahan (1)

J. Heid, Valley View (2)

Basically all the D2 and D7 guys we didn’t mention