2017 XC Team Raknings: A Classification Week Four

Team Rankings: A Schools

Honorable Mention: York Catholic

10. St Joesph’s (District 6)

Early Season MVP: Carter Kauffman

The sophomore has become a breakout star, leading the team across the line at all meets this year including an excellent top 10 finish at the Foundation Invitational.

Biggest Strength: Youthful Team On The Rise

Yes, youth can be a concern, but youth can also be a benefit. This is an exciting group of sophomores (their top four finishers from Foundation) who have the chance to get this program back to states for the first time in a while. It can be great motivation to be running with your young teammates and trying to build a dynasty.

Keep An Eye On: Youthful Team Under Pressure

Yes, youth can be a benefit, but it can also be a concern. Four sophomores at the top of your lineup doesn’t always end in success right away. There’s a reason at least half of the top 50 guys from states are typically seniors.

9. Seneca (District 10)

Early Season MVP: Brock Smith

Smith is another sophomore who has stepped into a leadership role. Brock’s performance was particularly important as Seneca graduated their top 3 runners from last year’s 3^rd place squad and those guys were all-time kinda talents. It’s nice to see another youngster carry on their mantle and inspire his teammates.

Biggest Strength: Week to Week Improvement

I feel like Seneca made a nice jump from Race One to Race Two. Race Three wasn’t quite as spectacular, but it was solid. They need to be clicking through five guys to knock off some of the front running squads in front of them. Jake Schneider and Rob Stepnowski have experience from the state championship and understand how to peak in November. Step was 56^th at last year’s state meet and is an x-factor for this team in October.

Keep An Eye On: Depth, Particularly Nick Post

Like I said, this team will need to be the best through five guys if they want to knock off North East and Cochranton (among others) in District 10. One of the key pieces could be Nick Post who raced (well) at McDowell, but hasn’t been seen since. Hopefully, he is healthy and can return to the top 5 soon.

8. Cochranton (District 10)

Early Season MVP: Jac Coakley

Cochranton had a star last year in Noah Bernarding, but Coakley has stepped up to get within striking distance of the sophomore. After not making states last year, Coakley is a medal threat in 2017.

Biggest Strength: Battle Tested

Cochranton has already been in a slew of close team battles. They’ve faced top squads like Shenango, North East and Seneca and seem to fight well against them every time. I like the resiliency of this squad.

Keep An Eye On: A Deep District

Not only are there a lot of good teams in District 10, there are a lot of good runners. That means you really need all of your top 5 runners to be sharp so no one gets buried deep in the pack and drags down the team score.

7. North East (District 10)

Early Season MVP: Zane Courtwright

Courtwright has stepped up in his sophomore season becoming a reliable #2 behind breakout star Josh Lewis.

Biggest Strength: Big Breakthroughs

This team wasn’t amazing last year, placing 4^th in D10 and finishing 63 points out of state qualifying. They only returned two top five runners from that team while the schools around them returned much more. But North East has had big breakthroughs. After having 0 state qualifiers individually last year, they have two guys who could get in even if the team falters.

Keep An Eye On: Lack of Experience

Like I said, this team had 0 state qualifiers last year. Their top two guys are a junior and a sophomore who don’t quite know their way around Hershey. There will be big pressure on these guys at both districts and states. Can they handle it and come through?

6. Riverview (District 7)

Early Season MVP: Ben Barnes

Riverview’s #1 runner has been fantastic this season, even picking up an individual win against AAA medal hopeful Christian Fitch in his first invite of the season. Barnes sets the tone for this team with his low stick ability.

Biggest Strength: Team Still Coming Together

Riverview was missing a few varsity performers in meet #1 and had a big talent in the freshman race in meet #2. That means this full varsity squad likely hasn’t shaped up into its peak form.

Keep An Eye On: Team Still Coming Together

Like I said, we still don’t know what the varsity squad is. It will be nice to see them in a couple races with a consistent group so that they can gain confidence and comfort in their roles. That being said, this isn’t a big concern as the Riverview boys have been to the big dance before and know what it takes to get out of the WPIAL.

5. Jenkintown (District 1)

Early Season MVP: Jack Miller

Jenkintown’s #1 guy was good last year, but he has been phenomenal thus far in 2017. He’s proven that he could be a top 3 guy in the A state championship race and that should give Jenkintown a lot of confidence.

Biggest Strength: Two Returning Medalsits

Jenkintown brings back two guys who have done it before. Along with Miller they have Josh Jackson who knows what it takes to peak and run the hills well in Hershey. Out of the top teams, no one else brings back two runners of this caliber.

Keep An Eye On: A Game Changer In the Back Half

This team is already good. Now it is about becoming great. To do that, they are going to need to find a game changer in the back half of their line up. Maybe that guy is freshman Luke Miller or maybe it’s junior Danny Westcott who didn’t race at Foundation, but somebody has to have a breakthrough if they are going to join the top 4 elite squads. That’s just what it will take in this loaded year.

4. Montrose (District 2)

Early Season MVP: Eric Bixby

A newcomer to the varsity season, Bixby was excellent as a scorer on Montrose’s Cliff Robbins championship team.

Biggest Strength: 6 Deep

Not many schools can say they go six deep in the A classification, but this school is legitimately that good through 6 runners. I’m confident anyone can step up and be a capable scorer on state championship Saturday. Not sure the other teams are as comfortable with each of their varsity runners.

Keep An Eye On: The Next Time They Race

They’ve only had one major appearance this year and, while it was great, it’s just one appearance. I need to see more if I’m going to properly rate them. Last year, I had Montrose a little too high on my big board as I thought they were state title threats. This year, I don’t want to put unfair pressure on them.

3. Elk County Catholic (District 9)

Early Season MVP: Jacob Carnovale

To stay competitive at the top of this deep state title race, you need to have 5 legit cross country runners. Carnovale has emerged from completely off my radar into an instant, steadily improving contributor so far this season.

Biggest Strength: Emerging Front Runner

I think Ben Hoffman is going to have a big season. This sophomore was their #2 runner last year and nearly a state medalist. Now he’s significantly better in year #2 of his high school career. He won’t led Winchester Thurston get far ahead and he should put a gap on Montrose and Penns Valley.

Keep An Eye On: A #2 Stepping Up

If you look at the top 2 teams on this ranking (and most rankings) they’ve got a dynamite big 3. I think ECC has the potential to get there as well. I just need to see a little more from Wortman and Logan Hoffman. At least one of those guys needs to get on the state medal stand.

2. Winchester Thurston (District 7)

Early Season MVP: Scott Routledge

This sophomore was outside the scorers last year at states, but he’s come on like a rocket in his second XC season. He’s the big reason why Winchester Thurston has a legit shot at a repeat.

Biggest Strength: Championship Pedigree

This team won the state title in 2016 and 2014. Their #1 man, Tristan Forsythe, was a scorer on both of those teams. Gordon Pollock also has two golds from the two state meets. Four of their top six guys from last year’s gold medal winning team are back. They should feel confident, even after a tough loss against Penns Valley. Even in 2015, when WT didn’t win the title, they still overcame an injury and finished just nine points out of 2^nd place and 17 out of 1^st.

Keep An Eye On: Two Frosh, Two Soph On Varsity

This is a really young core outside of Forsythe and Pollock and that always leaves the door open for an upset. However, I think the championship pedigree trumps that a bit. They can rely on their young guns because they have a system in place that has allowed them to excel in the past. Soph Sean Heintzleman will be the x-factor this season.

1. Penns Valley (District 6)

Early Season MVP: Sam Gray

While the freshmen sensations on this roster will get a lot of well-deserved publicity, Gray has been one of the most important contributors through the team’s first three major invites. The senior has been excellent as a reliable 4/5. He was easily the best #4 at Foundation’s White Race.

Biggest Strength: No Weakness In The Top 5

That top 5 is insane. Bierly may be their #5 runner and I thought coming into the year he had a legit shot at a state medal. This team is great. Not just great for a A team. Great in general. As pointed out in the comments, they would have been 5^th in merged scoring with the best spread of any of the top 5 teams.

Keep An Eye On: Two Top Five Freshmen

This will be the story line all year. Elk County Catholic had two scorers who were freshman last year and those guys came up clutch under the lime light so success is possible with the young guns. However, it is at least worth mentioning as Penns Valley relies heavily on Colton Sands and Brendan Colwell for points. If either of those guys have an off day at states, they will need seniors Haden Stamm and Charlie Romig to be ready to rise to the occasion.