Flash Back Friday

Although the AAA WPIAL has been successful at state championships in the past, competing as arguably the state’s second best district, the west hasn’t had two top five teams at states since 2011. That season also happened to be the best performance for Mount Lebanon in the last decade as they took home 4^th place overall and were just a few rolls of the dice away from the state championship.

Two weekends into 2017, the narrative is somewhat similar. We have two WPIAL teams who are ranked in the top five of the state with a few others looming. And we have Mount Lebanon right to lead the charge up the ranks.

Entering the 2011 season, Mount Lebanon returned six members of their varsity squad which had placed 7^th in the state the previous year (just 11 points out of 4^th). 2011 was, undoubtedly, a transition year for the state on the whole. 11 of the top 12 state medalists in AAA for 2010 were graduating. There was just one sophomore in the top 40 state finishers, so it appeared the young talent waiting to fill the shoes of the graduated elite was not there either.

From this turnover, the experienced Mount Lebanon squad emerged. Alex Moran, who was one of the 7 returning state medalists, blasted a 15:30 for tops in the WPIAL at the Red, White and Blue Invitational. His teammates backed him up as Lawton Tellin and Kevin Tramaglini finished 10^th and 16^th respectively, followed by Scott Westover and Seamus Roddy in 22^nd and 33^rd. Overall, through 7 guys, Lebo was the deepest team in the state, even better than defending champions North Allegheny. Their final average on the quick course was 16:08.

Flash forward six years later. Again, only 7 of the previous year’s medalists are back. Seniors made up every single medal spot from 16^th through 24^th in last year’s championships. Many of the top teams were hit by graduation. This time, Mt Lebo was not a returning state power. They didn’t qualify for the 2016 state championships and were actually just 6^th at districts. However, they returned five of their top seven runners including two young state qualifiers.

At the Red, White and Blue Invitational this year, Lebo didn’t have a front runner like Alex Moran was in 2011, but they had an even better pack. Patrick Anderson, Peter Cosentino, and Alex Brokaw took the top three spots for Lebo in 9^th, 10^th and 16^th. Again, the deep pack was on display with 23^rd and 32^nd place finishes rounding out the top 5. In total, Lebo had 88 points, a 16:16 average but a dynamite 33 second spread. They were victorious at the invite, defeating the defending WPIAL champions. Just like they did in 2011.

Looking back at that 2011 team, the next few races were strong. Lebo battled hard with Cardinal O’Hara at the Foundation Invite, losing by 6 points in a tight race. Here, the Lebo pack was bested by a tighter one from O’Hara. At the Tri-State Championships, Lebo moved one step closer to that elusive WPIAL title by scoring 76 points to North Allegheny’s 90. This time their spread was excellent with just 39 seconds separating the 1 to 5.

Unfortunately, when the Lebo boys returned to Coopers a week later, the rain was pouring down about the course. In a dramatic turn from Zach Hebda’s blazing run a year earlier, the district title was won in just 17:04. North Allegheny shocked the world by scoring 50 points in the muddy conditions and Mount Lebanon barely hung on for 2^nd as Pittsburgh CC was breathing down their neck.

However, that Lebo team was resilient. They overcame the loss and performed admirably at states. Alex Moran took home a second straight medal with Lawton Tellin finishing in the top 30 as well. That 1-2 punch helped lead Mount Lebanon to a 4^th place finish with just 153 points, only 19 points away from a state championship.

They say history repeats itself and maybe we will see a similar battle between Mount Lebanon and this year’s defending district champions, Seneca Valley. The discrepancy between the two teams in week one was comparable to the gap in 2011. Both teams are currently projected to be top 5 teams in the state and the PA team title landscape seems ripe for a wild state meet similar to the one we saw in 2011.

Yet as great as that season was for Lebo in 2011, the members of this year’s team may be hoping against the tides of repetitive history. After some struggles at Coopers Lake in the past, Mount Lebanon should be hoping for redemption on the district course. Not only do they have a battle on their hands for the district title, but they will have close competitors in North Allegheny and Baldwin who will be looking to knock them out of the state picture entirely.

In the end, maybe the way to close this post is with a simple quote from philosopher George Santayana. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Ultimately, that’s why everyone should read this blog on a daily basis.

I feel like I just ruined a moment. Well, it’s gone now.

Good luck to all the WPIAL schools this year. It’s going to be fun to watch.