2017 XC Team Rankings: Class AA Week Four

Team Rankings: AA Schools

Honorable Mention: Warrior Run

10. Central Cambria (District 6)

Early Season MVP: Ike Haycisak

If Central Cambria wants to make a leap from 16^th (last year) into the top 10, they will need guys like Ike to continue to impress. He wasn’t on last year’s state finals squad, but showcased some of his skills in the Red Devils first season invite.

Biggest Strength: Depth

This is a pretty deep squad filled with a variety of young talent. That should keep everyone motivated, hungry and disciplined.

Keep An Eye On: The Team’s Identity

It’s going to sound silly, but I think teams run better when they have an identity. Some are a pack team, some rely on their front running and just need the 4-5 to bring things home. I’m not sure what CC’s identity is just yet. Once I figure it out, I’ll have a better feel for their state finish.

9. Wyomissing (District 3)

Early Season MVP: Matt Driben

Biggest Strength: Secretiveness

I haven’t seen any big results from this squad just yet. I was super high on them in the preseason, but they are playing their cards close to the vest so far. They should be fresh and no one will have a good scouting report on them just yet.

Keep An Eye On: If They Run A Race

Wyomissing is still a school right?

8. Holy Redeemer (District 2)

Early Season MVP: Bryce Zapusek

The team’s #1 runner has been reliable in the team’s major invites. He is picking up right where he left off last year as the team’s #1 runner at states.

Biggest Strength: Lots Of Choices For A Step-Up Star

This team has a 2-6 that I really like. Any of those guys could become the #2 runner on the right day. That means if this squad clicks at the right time (not unprecedented for this historically strong program) they could really surprise at states.

Keep An Eye On: Who Rises To The Occasion

We’ve seen flashes, but who will actually carry the mantle on race day? Zapusek was the team’s #1 by over a minute in Hershey. There are guys who can run with him, but who will be ready to step up and accept the challenge?

7. New Castle (District 7)

Early Season MVP: LeShawn Huff

There was a lot of high expectations for Huff after he won the WPIAL 1600 title last year, but he has risen to the challenge. Huff has become a top 50 list caliber performer after being a relative unknown last season on the state stage.

Biggest Strength: Improved Front Running

At last year’s WPIAL championship, New Castle missed out on a state championship birth by just 1 point. That was, at least in part, due to the fact that they had no top 15 finishers in the meet while South Fayette (who out tie breakered them) had two guys in the top 5 (WPIAL champs Greensburg Salem had 4 in the top 16). This year they have Huff, they have a more seasoned Litrenta (their #1 at WPIALs last year as a frosh) and they have some freshmen stand outs emerging as well.

Keep An Eye On: Those Emerging Freshmen

Jonah Miller and Zac Gibson (huge race at Sharpsville) will be interesting top 5 pieces this season. I think this team, on paper, has the most complete roster through five looking ahead to WPIALs, but that can change in a blink if the freshmen aren’t quite ready for the big stage.

6. Greensburg Salem (District 7)

Early Season MVP: Dylan Binda

Greensburg Salem graduated Frankie King from their big 3 a year ago and needed someone to fill the shoes alongside Brown and Cameron Binda. Dylan Binda has answered the call impressively through his opening races of the 2017 XC season.

Biggest Strength: Excellent Top 3

Readers of the blog have probably heard my top 3 theory before. I’m a believer that the best formula for a successful XC squad is to have a dynamic top 3. You can succeed with other formulas of course, but the first thing I usually look at is a school’s top 3 runners. Greensburg Salem may have the best top 3 in all of AA.

Keep An Eye On: GS’s State Championship Demons

Greensburg Salem wasn’t a big time program even a few years ago. But now they have a WPIAL championship and a 7:51 4x800 to brag about. However, on the state championship scene this squad has had some heartbreak. How will they seek out redemption as their big 3 hit their junior seasons?

5. Indiana Area (District 7)

Early Season MVP: Evan Weaver

With many of these teams, we often dwell on the young up and coming talent, but for Indiana Area one of their most important pieces is a senior. Evan Weaver has given Indiana consistent varsity scoring and a senior leader to hold down the fort as they make a push for states.

Biggest Strength: Overachieving

I feel like the word “overachieving” sounds like it’s negative, but really it’s a big compliment. Indiana Area wasn’t at the forefront of the preseason WPIAL discussion. Their top returner, Rocco Fanella, hasn’t raced yet this season, and one of their most important pieces, Kendall Brenan, is a sophomore still finding himself on the big stage. But this team has consistently improved, including a big leap from Julian Yerger this weekend at Foundation. Keep in mind, Indiana Area was just 10 points back of York Suburban at half way.

Keep An Eye On: The WPIAL’s Depth

Like the AAA landscape, there are only 3 spots up for grabs and multiple deserving teams. New Castle, Greensburg Salem and South Fayette are among the squads trying to knock Indiana from their perch at the top. And now that they finished as the top dogs at Foundation, they will have a big target on their back the rest of the way.

4. Harbor Creek (District 10)

Early Sesaon MVP: Nate Dougan

Dougan has really stepped up to start his senior season. Harbor Creek knew they would need to improve their depth to stay competitive and Dougan is among a core of 3-4-5-6-7 guys that have really made great strides thus far in September. Guys like Dougan, not their returning state medalists, will determine HC’s success in 2017.

Biggest Strength: Absurd Front Running

They’ve got 3 returning state medalists. What more is there really to say? Has any team after brought back three state medalists in the same season? With two of them entering just their junior seasons? Babo-Weber-Stravaggi is a nightmare for the rest of the state.

Keep An Eye On: Health

There has been more than one time this year where HC has been missing a key piece or two. Since they rely on those big three, having Babo and Stravaggi MIA in their last meet isn’t the best sign. However, it is a good opportunity for some of the other guys to get experience running as a scorer. It’s a different type of attitude when you know every guy you pass means something.

3. Dallas (District 2)

Early Season MVP: Adam Borton

From the beginning, Borton has been a key part of the Dallas dynasty. It was his clutch run in 2015 that might have swung the title toward the Cowboys. In 2016, he overcame an up and down season to throw down another top finish and swing another title. Now this year, Borton looks to be in top form and ready for that first state medal.

Biggest Strength: Monster Top 4

We talked a lot about the big 3 for HC and GS, but how about Dallas’s top 4? They could very realistically have 4 state medalists this year in Zardecki, Rome, Borton and Wyandt. They should have at least two for the first during this dynasty run.

Keep An Eye On: The Hot Seat At The Top

It’s hard to stay on top for this long. Three straight titles? That’s very rare in any classification in recent years. Is the pressure going to be too much in 2017?

2. York Suburban (District 3)

Early Season MVP: Andrew Paskey

York Suburban returned a nice core, but Paskey would be needed to round out the top 5. As has been the case the past two seasons, the AA state title bout should be very close again. Every point will count and that’s why the development of a guy like Paskey in the 4-5 spot is huge.

Biggest Strength: They’re Always Good

It sounds silly, but this York Suburban team will seemingly never be stopped. They won the state title in 2014 with a terrific team. Then, they lost their top guy and still competed tooth and nail for the title. Then, they lost their top guy and still competed tooth and nail for the title. Yes, that happened twice in a row. This year, they’re actually returning the most they ever have heading into a title run. Look out.

Keep An Eye On: The Foundation Curse

York Suburban went to Carlisle in 2014 when they won the state title, but in 2015 and 2016 they went over to Hershey for the Foundation Invite. They won each of those editions of the meet, but they ended up losing both state title runs in November when they came back. 2017 brought another foundation gold, but will it be Silver for YS next time they take to the hills?

1. Grove City (District 10)

Early Season MVP: Luke Owrey

As Grove City tries to claw back to the top of the state rankings, Owrey has been a consistent scorer for this team. He really hasn’t had a bad race all season and is a reliable piece behind their front-runner Jonah Powell.

Biggest Strength: Best Top 5

I think this past weekend Grove City proved they are the most complete team at this point in time. They had some younger guys step up and they rolled against a solid field at Sharpsville. No one has wowed me yet in this classification, but Grove City came the closest with their most recent win.

Keep An Eye On: Recent History

Grove City has always seemed to be in the state title talk, but they are still searching for that elusive victory. Since the first AA state championship of the three classification system in 2012, Grove City has been within striking distance of gold. Could 2017 finally be the year they pull out a victory?