2017 PIAA XC District Previews: District 5

District 5 (10/25)

A (1 Team, 5 Individuals)

1. Southern Fulton

2. Windber

1	Ian Zimmerman	Fr	Nothern Bedford
2	Ian Sherlock	So	Northern Bedford
3	Tyler Napora	Jr	Windber
4	Nate Voight	Jr	Southern Fulton
5	Trenton Noon	Sr	Windber
6	Dylan Ensor	Sr	Southern Fulton
7	Casey Spade	Jr	Southern Fulton
8	Matt Shank	So	Windber
9	Nick Shank	Sr	Windber
10	Scott Yutzy	Jr	Meyersdale

District 5 is always a wildcard to start off the district predictions. It’s tricky to know how most of the top teams will do as there aren’t many marquee invitationals that feature them. This always seems to be true for the reigning district champions, Southern Fulton. They are basically the “Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers” of the state because I never know what they are doing … back there. But this is a consistently strong program that returns five of seven including some marquee names like Nate Voight. They rolled with under 30 points a year ago and I think they can post a similar mark this year, unless Windber really steps up (they looked solid in their one invite I researched).

Individually, Northern Bedford is the team to watch. They have the #1 returner (sophomore Ian Sherlock was 5^th last year) and an up and coming freshman in Ian Zimmerman. This team has raced mostly out of state, but Zimmerman looked really good in that out of state action. I’ve got him as one of two freshmen champs at District 5. Trenton Noon and Tyler Napora of Windber would be my other individual sleepers.

AA (1 Team, 5 Individuals)

1. Somerset

2. Bedford

1	Van May	Fr	Bedford
2	Cejay Walker	Jr	Somerset
3	Dominic Mazzariello	Sr	Somerset
4	Garrett Cornell	Jr	Bedford
5	Jacob Gregor	So	Somerset
6	Alex Calhoun	Sr	Bedford
7	Andrew Straka	Fr	Somerset
8	James Bastian	So	Somerset
9	Gabe Mantilla	Jr	Somerset
10	Larky Brakeall	Jr	Bedford
11	Jorden Feaster	So	Bedford
12	Chance Dull	Sr	Bedford

It’s kind of weird storyline here. Bedford and Somerset will battle for the second straight year to be district champion. However, the most interesting part of this race will be who doesn’t run. Last year, just one non-Bedford & Somerset runner competed (and he’s now graduated). If nobody outside of these two teams toes the line at districts, then both squads will technically qualify for states (the winner gets to send 7, the loser gets 5).

I think Somerset will be the victor when all is said and done. They are the defending champs, have a great 1-2 punch and looked like the superior pack in their last meeting. However, Bedford freshman Van May looks poised to knock off that strong 1-2. May rolled in last match up against Walekr and Mazzariello at their Heritage League Championships and put enough of a gap to make me feel confidence enough to slot him in the #1 spot. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the more seasoned Walker gets some revenge. Mazzariello is the defending champion and, after a bit of a slow start, is hitting his peak at the right time.