Preseason State Team Rankings: Class AA

By Blake Behney

Here’s the Class AA installment of the preseason state rankings. Enjoy.

5. Knoch

After an impressive 4th place finish at last year’s state meet, I’m not predicting Knoch to regress too much this coming season. They lose their #3, #6, and #7 guys, but return a studly top two of Max Freyermuth and John Ejzak. Freyermuth had an especially notable state meet last season, finishing 13th overall in 16:35 and grabbing Knoch’s first XC state medal ever in the process. Although he didn’t have a great spring (although he was coming off of wrestling, which could result in him being a bit banged up), look for him to contend for another medal this time around. Also, Ejzak ran 17:04 at states last season and was only about 10 seconds off of grabbing a medal. Expect that to change as well. Having them here may be a stretch, but another team needs to step up and earn this spot once the season starts.

4. Grove City

Grove City is an interesting team to me because, while this can be said for many teams, I truly don’t know what their ceiling could be. Much of that has to do with their front runner, Jonah Powell. For more info on Powell, check out the PA HS Top 50 where he resides at #48. He is already in line to become one of the better runners in GC history if he continues his ascent. I would not be surprised if he finished in the top 10 at states. Plus, their #2 Braydon Pyle returns and definitely could medal after missing out by 6 seconds last year. Given their two low sticks, plus the fact that they return 6 of their top 7 from last year’s squad, GC looks like a true threat as a relative wildcard in Class AA. Oh, and they’ve got a great coach who knows how to prepare his athletes for the big stage.

3. South Fayette

South Fayette is a state contender in large part due to their dynamic duo up front. Top 50 members Aaron Pfeil and Sam Snodgrass led the Lions to a 6th place finish at states a year ago, grabbing top 15 medals in the process. Also, both had outstanding track seasons that saw Snodgrass run 4:28 for 1600 and Pfeil with a 9:39 in the 3200. Although Pfeil was 8th a season ago to Snodgrass’s 12th, I expect Snodgrass to be their #1 this time around due to the fact that he’s making the all-important sophomore to junior jump. While you can expect those two to mix it up in the front of races, the big reason that I like Fayette’s chances is that they return everyone except their #6 and they’re all making the sophomore to junior jump (minus Pfeil). If the 3-7 guys can step it up, then the Lions could be extremely dangerous in the AA team race.

2. York Suburban

Suburban looks to make this their third consecutive season finishing in the top 2 at states. After winning the title in 2014, they really impressed with a runner up finish to Dallas (more on them in a bit) last season. Suburban was minutes away from title #2 before Dallas slipped in and took it right out from under them. Suburban actually had a faster average team pace than Dallas and proved last season that they could compete at a high level despite losing their front runner from the season before (Brady Wilt). So, even with Donovan Mears heading off to Temple, Suburban should be considered a real threat this season. They could have as many as 2 medalists at states (Ohl and Raudensky are the most likely candidates) and always have a tight spread. They’re also extremely well-coached and seem to pull guys who run sub-18 at states out of nowhere. That’s a recipe for success.

1. Dallas

Although I raved about Suburban, Dallas has to be considered the team to beat in AA. The defending state champions return everyone except their #6 from states last season and, on paper, should be nearly invincible this time around. My favorite part of this Dallas team is their youth. With only one senior in their projected top 5, this season might not even be the peak of what this squad is capable of. They had two freshmen run 17:35 and 17:40 at states last season and were led by Top 50 member Jack Zardecki and Adam Borton, sophomores who both ran sub-17 at Parkview at the same meet. Unless disaster occurs or another team has some sort of surprise up their sleeve, then I foresee Dallas occupying this spot for a while and having as many as 5 guys under 17 at Parkview this November. .

Watch List: Harbor Creek (young team who returns 6 of their top 7. Great 4x8 this spring and are led by a couple stud rising sophomores.) Berwick (7th at states a year ago after coming out of a loaded District 2. Returns everyone except their #2.)