2017 PIAA XC District Previews: District 6

District 6 (10/28)

A (2 Teams, 10 Individuals)

1. Penns Valley

2. Purchase Line

3. St. Joesph’s

4. Marion Center

1	Garrett Baublitz	So	Juniata
2	Chris Colwell	Sr	Penns Valley
3	Andrew Stanley	Sr	Southern Huntington
4	Cater Kauffman	So	St. Joesph's
5	Colton Sands	Fr	Penns Valley
6	Brendan Colwell	Fr	Penns Valley
7	Hunter Armstrong	So	Marion Center
8	Nick Fetzer	So	Westmont Hilltop
9	Michael Hanik	Jr	Bishop McCort
10	Mark Bierly	Sr	Penns Valley
11	Micah Kurka	Sr	Purchase Line
12	Alex Ringler	Sr	United
13	Sam Gray	Sr	Penns Valley
14	Sam Cunkleman	Sr	Homer Center
15	Alex Boring	Sr	Purchase Line
16	Charlie Romig	Sr	Penns Valley
17	Isaac Hyman	So	St. Joesph's
18	Brandon O'Hara	Sr	Marion Center
19	Gabriel Crawford	Fr	Purchase Line
20	Aiden Ringler	So	United

The story of the 2017 XC season in A has been the emergence of Penns Valley as a state title contender. They rolled through their early season schedule, including an impressive victory at the Foundation Invite. But this squad has been pretty quiet since then with no major invites to note on their schedule. Districts will be the first time we’ve had a good look at this squad in roughly a month. Let’s see if the freshmen sensations Colton Sands and Brendan Colwell are still rolling the same way they did in the early season. I’m also intrigued to see how last year’s district runner up, Mark Bierly, runs on race day.

Overall, I think D6 A is much more loaded individually than it was a year ago. So even though Penns Valley is undeniably stronger as a squad than 2016, they may barely better last year’s team score (47 points). Leading the way in this super charged field is Garrett Babulitz of Juniata. Last year’s AA D6 champ apparently has moved to A based on his Foundation run. He was the top D6 finisher in that race against a field that included all the prime contenders for the throne. Andrew Stanley of Southern Huntington is an intriguing upset pick. He ran 16 flat at Paul Short, has raced in some big meets this year and proved his clutch factor at last year’s state champs on the track with a gutsy 3200. I also really like Michael Hanik’s upset for a deeper sleeper pick.

A few youngsters outside the Penns Valley bucket are also contenders for the title. Hunter Armstrong of Marion Center and Carter Kauffman of St. Joesph’s are sophomores with a ton of talent. I really like the season Armstrong has had to date and respect the fact he was 11^th a year ago as a frosh. Both of these guys also have big team goals to be concerned with as their schools are borderline qualifiers in a competitive race for the #2 spot. Keep an eye also on Nick Fetzer of Westmont Hilltop. He’s another sophomore who has grabbed headlines with some top 5ish performances against local competition.

In that aforementioned tight battle for the #2 qualifier, I give the nod to Purchase Line. They lost to Marion Center in the two team’s last meeting, but I respect this programs consistency performing in the clutch. Purchase Line was the second qualifier last year and also produced a big 4x8 run toward the end of the season on the track. I think Micah Kurka could have a big day out front, but the key cog will likely be freshman Gabriel Crawford.

AA (1 Team, 5 Individuals)

1. Central Cambria

2. Forest Hills

1	Brett Pope	Sr	Bellefonte
2	Mitchell Chunta	Jr	Forest Hills
3	Ohm Vyas	Jr	Central Cambria
4	Nate Kuntz	So	Central Cambria
5	Joe Kohler	Sr	Tyrone
6	Zach Kohler	Jr	Tyrone
7	Tyler Wilson	Sr	Central Cambria
8	Ike Haycisak	So	Central Cambria
9	Neil Sutton	Sr	Penn Cambria
10	Logan Michina	Fr	Penn Cambria
11	Zach Brandis	So	Central Cambria
12	Cole Hovis	Sr	Bellefonte
13	Trent Mazzotta	Sr	Longier Valley
14	Robert Krug	Jr	Forest Hills

Central Cambria has gotten some buzz as a contending team in the AA state title run this year. They rolled through this meet a season ago with just 33 points and the Red Devils actually return the majority of that core. Leading the way in 2017 have been the same top two from districts last year: Ohm Vyas and Nate Kuntz. These two youngsters will look to better their 4^th and 6^th place finishes from last year. However, I’m most interested in the pack. If they are going to really be state contenders, they will need a strong spread in Hershey.

Individually, the top 8 finishers from last year return (although Baublitz has likely moved to A) meaning we will get a strong rematch. Amazingly, of those top 8 returners, just two guys are now seniors- Joe Kohler and Brett Pope. That means we could be seeing another rematch of the top finishers in 2018. But for now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve got a senior representing his class in this moment, Brett Pope of Bellefonte. I think he takes down the individual title based on some of his impressive results from the earlier season (rolled at Lock Haven). Mitchell Chunta seems like the primary contender behind him. He was 3^rd a year ago and is gaining steam at the right time. The Kohler boys from Tyrone will also be factors.

AAA (1 Team, 5 Individuals)

1. State College

2. Mifflin County

1	Mitchell Etter	Sr	State College
2	Chayce Macknair	Jr	Mifflin County
3	Owen Isham	Jr	State College
4	Brayden Harris	Fr	Mifflin County
5	Erik Boethius	Sr	State College
6	Chase Sheaffer	So	Mifflin County
7	Joe Messner	Jr	State College
8	Greg Williams	Sr	Altoona
9	Corbin Green	Jr	Central Mountain
10	Seth Phillips	Jr	Mifflin County
11	Sam Horn	Sr	State College
12	Garren Wolfgang	Sr	Mifflin County

It’s been a while since anyone has had a realistic shot at upending State College in the District 6 championships. Last year, we knew they had won almost right away as SC took 1-2-3-5 in the final standings. This year, I expect things to be a little less dominant, but I still think the Lions take gold. Mifflin County is the primary obstacle in their way just as they were a season ago. MC returns their top 3 guys from last year who all were state qualifiers. Plus they added in Brayden Harris, a frosh who has run 16:02 this year. If everything clicks, maybe they upset State College, but the question revolves more around their depth than anything else.

SC’s biggest advantage comes from their new additions. Mitchell Etter is back and healthy in 2017. He’s absolutely smoked the events he has contested this year, placing in the top 5 at Foundation, breaking 16 at Spiked Shoe and taking 2^nd to Morgan Cupp at Mid Penns. He’s the logical pick to keep the title in house individually. Erik Boethius, a new transfer to State College, has been a critical part of the team’s pack. He projects to be a key piece if State College is going to hang with Mifflin’s potential front running. They will need Boethius to have a big day and drag Joe Messner with him (or maybe vice versa).