etrain's Team Rakings: WPIAL AAA

WPIAL AAA
3. North Allegheny (7 AAA)

If history has taught us anything, the 2014 State Champions will be back again in 2015. North Allegheny, who has won the WPIAL every single year dating back to before I was in High School, has been a top five team in the state year in and year out despite graduations, transfers and more. Their consistency is unmatched by any team in the state. Here are the numbers (their state finish) since my freshman year of high school:

2006- 5th

2007- 3rd

2008- 3rd (Qualified for NXN)

2009- 2nd

2010- 1st

2011- 3rd

2012- 4th

2013- 2nd

2014- 1st

After the 2007 season, they graduated their top two runners who finished 9th and 12th at states (Matt Jacob and Justin Taylor) and then proceeded to qualify for nationals the next year. After the 2008 season, they graduated three of their tight knit top five (Broussard, Morgan and Appman) and still improved their finish at states. However, this 2015 season should be unlike anything they have faced in recent memory. They graduate their top three runners, McGoey, Wharrey and Seel, all of which finished in the top 26 at states last year and had years of vital experience under their belt. Seel had run varsity for NA at each of the previous four state championships and placed in the top 50 every single year, despite being the team’s clear #3 in 2014. That hopefully gives you an idea for how important this top three was.

But things are far from bleak for the Tigers. A year ago in the early season, NA’s 4-5 punch looked like it would be the kiss of death on an otherwise historic season at the Pre State meet before the squad turned the tables during the stretch run of the season and nearly put five in the top fifty when they returned to Hershey. The two big climbers were Jacob Stupak (ET #18) and Zach Dieble (58th at States last year) who now step into the leadership roles for the 2015 team after glimpsing their potential on the state championship squad a season ago. Stupak is fresh off a season that included a sub 4:20 mile and is setting up to be yet another medalist for the NA army. Also returning from last year’s gold medal squad will be Marc Migliozzi and rising sophomore T.J. Robinson (4th AAA Frosh at States). Also worth noting is Sam Blechman who ran 9:53 this past spring after dominating the JV Scene in XC (winning at Pitts CC and Tri-States).

As usual, it appears the next heads of this hydra is ready grow where the previous ones were cut.

10. Mount Lebanon (7 AAA)

At last year’s Pre State meet, Mt. Lebo become one of the year’s first surprise teams as they nearly rallied to upset the early title favorites North Allegheny and O’Hara. However, when they returned to states in November, the team could not recapture the magic and had to settle for 13th. With 5 of their 7 varsity runners penciled in to return this fall, they will have an opportunity for redemption.

The team should hopefully get a lift from Todd Gunzenhauser (ET #26) who is coming off a tremendous track season at 3200m. He has the potential to be an excellent low stick. Behind him, the squad should feature Ian Harris who ran about 4:30 this past spring for 1600m on the track as a contender for a spot among the WPIALs elite. His classmate Josh Kalapos came on very strong to close out the year in XC and carried the momentum through to the track where he was among the team’s top milers. And of course the Lebos have rising sophomore Bryce Brandenstein who was one of the best freshman in state last fall.

Losing Ian Baun will hurt the front running of this team, but returning a strong pack should be a nice bonus as they hope to contend for a WPIAL championship. If they can finish this season the way they have started in recent years, watch out for a potential upset from the Hattons.

Seneca Valley (7 AAA)

The WPIAL gets to send just three times to the state championships in XC and that makes for an exciting battle to sort out the places. Last year Canon-McMillan jumped into second as a surprise state qualifier and in 2015 that team might be Seneca Valley. SV has had success in the past (4th at States in 2007, 5th at Districts the past two years) and is looking to return to Hershey behind perhaps the best runner in program history: Mike Kolor. Kolor, currently ranked 7th on the ET Top 50, is coming off a fantastic track season and looking to beat out Cam Stauffer’s 11th place finish at states (the best in team history the last decade). With Mike at the helm, this team should practically be racing 4 on 5 against many teams in the big invites.

But one runner is not enough to navigate this difficult district, which means a pack of returners will have to step up. Clay Taylor was 51st at WPIALs a year ago and was the team’s #3 last year. Grant McCarthy and Trey Ranzanauskus ran 10:08 and 10:14 respectively on the track for 3200m, showing some nice upside. Trey’s brother Andrew placed 52nd at states his senior year and Trey may be on his way to a similar finish before he graduates. Also keep an eye on Justin Gaydos who ran 4:47 this track season and 10:17 two years ago on the oval.

I like this team’s potential as a sleeper out of the seven.

Pittsburgh CC (7 AAA)
Although this squad loses JVK, they return the rest of their varsity in its entirety, including four rising juniors and one rising sophomore. The senior leader, Dan Young, finished 21st at Districts last year and was the only member of his team to qualify for states. He added a 10 flat for 3200m on the track for good measure. The Gatti brothers have also shown flashes of potential. Joe ran 4:41 this year as a sophomore and Sam was one of the top freshmen in the district in 2014. They will look to improve on their 7th place finish at WPIALs a year ago.