Traveling to Hershey for the State XC Championships this year? Be advised that I-83 will be closed between exit 41-46 both North and South due to construction. Please follow along with PCN’s live coverage of the state championships at pcntv.com/crosscountry. They will have multiple live checkpoints throughout the course that will help you track your favorite runner(s) throughout his/her race!
Saturday’s schedule of events:
- 11:00AM – 1A Girls – starting block assignments
- 11:45AM – 2A Girls – starting block assignments
- 12:30PM – 3A Girls – starting block assignments
- 1:15PM – 1A Boys – starting block assignments
- 2:00PM – 2A Boys – starting block assignments
- 2:45PM – 3A Boys – starting block assignments
Class AAA Girls
North Allegheny enters as the heavy team favorite to win another PIAA Class AAA title. With only 1 senior in their top 7 there is a chance they are the team favorite in 2023 as well. Their top 5 runners could place in the top 20 amongst scoring teams.
State College is the top Central PA team entered in the field. The Little Lions cruised to Mid-Penn and District 6 team titles and look to be the team most ready to challenge N. Allegheny. Marlee Kwasnica (sr) leads the way and is an individual medal threat.
The District 3 team race was unbelievably close amongst the top 4 teams. Manheim Township took home the title narrowly out scoring Dallastown, Chambersburg, and Hershey. All 4 teams should battle for a top 10 team finish on Saturday.
Top 3 Team projections plus Central PA Teams:
When it comes to individual projections at the state meet you should expect the unexpected. The Hershey course is very different than most of the District Championship courses in Pennsylvania. Every year there are kids that barely qualify that medal (top 25). It’s one of the reasons the PIAA XC Championships are so special. The depth of distance running talent in PA is incredible. Looking at the entire season of performances, here are some individual projections.
Top 3 Individuals:
- #1 – Logan St. John Kletter, jr Mount Lebanon
- #2 – Ella Woehlke, jr Mount St. Joseph Academy
- #3a – Natalie McLean, sr Pine-Richland
- #3b – Olivia Cieslak, so Mount Lebanon
Central PA Contenders looking for Top 10 finishes (alphabetical):
- Kailey Granger, sr Dallastown
- Claire Paci, jr Greencastle-Antrim
- Brooke Preputnick, sr Hershey
- Camy Kiser, sr Chambersburg
- Victoria Rodriguez, so Dallastown
Central PA Contenders looking or Top 25 finishes (alphabetical):
- Elena Barrall, so Manheim Township
- Amy Devan, sr State College
- Lydia Drago, so Governor Mifflin
- Carly Keith, fr Exeter Township
- Gabby Keith, jr Exeter Township
- Marlee Kwasnica, sr State College
- Chloe Poindexter, jr State College
- Isabella Shertzer, jr JP McCaskey
- Gabby Thiry, jr JP McCaskey
Class AAA Boys
Similar to the story in girls Class AAA the North Allegheny boys will look to add to their expanding trophy case. They enter as the team favorite. LaSalle College has also been a powerhouse program over the past couple of years. Look for three District 3 programs to try to break up the N. Allegheny/LaSalle College 1-2 finish. Greencastle-Antrim was the surprise winner our of District 3 last weekend. They used an incredible 1-5 spread of just :31s to edge out Hempfield and Manheim Township. Look for District 1 Champion North Penn to also be in this top 6 team battle.
Top 3 Team projections plus Central PA Teams:
Individually, District 3 is very deep this year compared to other Class AAA Districts in PA.
Repeating myself from above throughout the article – When it comes to individual projections at the state meet you should expect the unexpected. The Hershey course is very different than most of the District Championship courses in Pennsylvania. Every year there are kids that barely qualify that medal (top 25). It’s one of the reasons the PIAA XC Championships are so special. The depth of distance running talent in PA is incredible. Looking at the entire season of performances, here are some individual projections.
Top 3 Individuals:
- #1 – Drew Griffith, jr Butler
- #2 – Brian DiCola, sr Hatboro-Horsham
- #3 – Matthew O’Brien, sr Susquehannock
Central PA Contenders with Top 10 potential (alphabetical):
- Anthony Engle, sr Twin Valley
- Joe Fahrney, sr Hempfield
- Aidan Hodge, sr Hempfield
- TJ Roden, sr Central Dauphin
- Kevin Shank, sr Carlisle
- Zack Zerbe, jr Governor Mifflin
Central PA Contenders with Top 25 potential (alphabetical):
- Joseph Butler, sr Cumberland Valley
- Andrew Diehl, sr Carlisle
- Gunner Geib, jr Manheim Township
- Andrew Hampton, jr Cumberland Valley
- Adam Kingston, so Manheim Township
- Cohen Manges, sr Mechanicsburg
- Ben Meister, sr Twin Valley
- Hayden Parks, jr Greencastle-Antrim
- Jakob Rager, sr Dallastown
- Vinay Raman, so Hershey
- Nick Sloff, sr State College
- Ari Snyder, jr Chambersburg
- Cole Stevens, so Manheim Township
- Eli Stoudt, jr Wilson
- Jordan Tiday, sr Cumberland Valley
Class AA Girls
The girl’s Class AA team race could be the closest of the day. There are at least 3 teams that have a shot at the title. At PIAA Foundation, Central Cambria and Montour tied with Central Cambria winning on tie-breaker. Beaver Area defeated Central Cambria at the Red White and Blue Classic a few weeks earlier. Unfortunately, one of Beaver’s top runners has been out of action since then. Cathedral Prep was 5th at Foundation, but since that time have become healthier and most recently scored a measly 22-points at the District 10 Championships. That said, we are “CentralPA” Runner and we are rolling with Central Cambria!
Top 3 Team projections plus Central PA Teams:
When it comes to individual projections at the state meet you should expect the unexpected. The Hershey course is very different than most of the District Championship courses in Pennsylvania. Every year there are kids that barely qualify that medal (top 25). It’s one of the reasons the PIAA XC Championships are so special. The depth of distance running talent in PA is incredible. Looking at the entire season of performances, here are some individual projections.
Top 3 Individuals:
- #1 – Jolena Quarzo, sr Brownsville Area
- #2 – Harley Kletz, sr Montour
- #3 – Delaney Dumm, sr Forest Hills
Central PA Contenders with Top 10 potential (alphabetical):
- Addie Cohen, jr Wyomissing
- Nicole Dauberman, sr Susquehannock
Central PA Contenders with Top 25 potential (alphabetical):
- Morgan Brandis, so Central Cambria
- Haylee Erme, sr Boiling Springs
- Abigail George, sr Central Cambria
- Annaliese Niebauer, sr Central Cambria
- Samantha Papcunik, fr Forest Hills
- Aubrey Ressler, fr Pequea Valley
- Lila Shore, so Trinity
- Kaydence Strange, jr Eastern York
- Sydney Werner, sr Conrad Weiser
Class AA Boys
Grove City enters as the favorite on Saturday but they could be challenged by Lewisburg and Danville. Wyomissing and Lampeter Strasburg out of District 3 and Juniata out of District 6 will all compete for top 5 finishes. Wyomissing may contend for a top 3 finish. The Spartans have been making noticeable improvements throughout the season and enter Saturday on the rise.
Top 3 Team projections plus Central PA Teams:
When it comes to individual projections at the state meet you should expect the unexpected. The Hershey course is very different than most of the District Championship courses in Pennsylvania. Every year there are kids that barely qualify that medal (top 25). It’s one of the reasons the PIAA XC Championships are so special. The depth of distance running talent in PA is incredible. Looking at the entire season of performances, here are some individual projections.
Top 3 Individuals:
- #1 – Rory Lieberman, sr Danville
- #2 – Ryan Pajak, jr Ringgold
- #3 – Colin Whitaker, jr Lampeter Strasburg
Central PA Contenders with Top 10 potential (alphabetical):
- Chad Muckey, sr Philipsburg-Osceola
- Logan Strawser, sr Juniata (will challenge for top 3 finish)
Central PA Contenders with Top 25 potential (alphabetical):
- Tommy Crum, sr Boiling Springs
- Dylan Cunningham, sr Kennard-Dale
- Ben Devine, sr Lampeter Strasburg
- Chase Ebeling, sr Bellefonte
- David Giles, so Wyomissing
- Nate Goldsborough, sr Fleetwood
- Aiden Konetsky, jr Schuylkill Valley
- Steven Miller, jr West York
- Paul Monsour, sr Wyomissing
- Andrew Namatka, jr East Pennsboro
- Peyton Small, jr Littlestown
- Parker Stoner, sr Lampeter Strasburg
Class A Girls
23 teams will score in the Class A girls race. York Catholic is the top Central PA team in the competition. They are coming off of an impressive win at the District 3 Championships where they scored just 28-points. They won the PIAA Foundation Invitational earlier this season against 7 of the 23 state qualifying teams. Winchester Thurston placed 2nd to York Catholic at Foundation and defeated 2 additional state qualifying teams at the Red White and Blue Classic. The Fighting Irish will look to challenge Notre Dame Green Pond, Montrose, and Northeast Bradford for the team title.
Top 3 Team projections plus Central PA Teams:
When it comes to individual projections at the state meet you should expect the unexpected. The Hershey course is very different than most of the District Championship courses in Pennsylvania. Every year there are kids that barely qualify that medal (top 25). It’s one of the reasons the PIAA XC Championships are so special. The depth of distance running talent in PA is incredible. Looking at the entire season of performances, here are some individual projections.
Top 3 Individuals:
- #1 – Virginia Kraus, fr Moravian Academy
- #2 – AnnSophia Viccari, fr West Middlesex
- #3 – Grace Neubert, jr Elk County Catholic
Central PA Contenders with Top 10 potential (alphabetical):
- Lanee Berkhimer, fr Martinsburg Central
- Madeline Murphy, so York Catholic
Central PA Contenders with Top 25 potential (alphabetical):
- Ellen Brown, sr Christian School of York
- Alex Chobany, jr Portage
- Sheila Driscoll, fr York Catholic
- Alexis Durn, sr Penns Valley
- Amber Fisher, jr Saint Joseph’s Catholic
- Alexa Ladika, fr Richland
- Alexis Lovrich, sr Bellwood Antis
- Lydia Miller, jr Marion Center
- Reagan Ryen, sr Marion Center
- Lillyanna Smith, fr Penns Valley
- Claire Thomas, jr Lancaster Mennonite
Class A Boys
The boys from Central Cambria are one of the favorites heading into Saturday’s Class A Championship. They were dominant at the District 6 meet last week placing 5 guys in the top 12 of a 123 person field. Their biggest competition will likely come from Jenkintown and Eden Christian. Jenkintown defeated Central Cambria at PIAA Foundation by 28-points. Jenkintown has an impressive top 3 that placed 1-2-3 at the District 1 Championship. Eden Christian tied Central Cambria at the Red White and Blue Classic but won on a tie breaker. Kutztown and Tulpehocken tied at the District 3 Championship with Kutztown winning on tie-breaker. Both have a chance at a top 5 team finish.
Note – at the District 1 meet, Jenkintown senior Isaac Mixon did not run. If he is out then Central Cambria becomes the team to beat. Central Cambria could bring home 2 state team titles this weekend!
Top 3 Team projections plus Central PA Teams:
Top 3 Individuals:
- #1 – Thomas Smigo, sr Palisades
- #2 – Kevin Sherry, so Coudersport
- #3 – Oliver Michell, sr Jenkintown
Central PA Contenders with Top 10 potential (alphabetical):
- Landon Hostetter, so Annville-Cleona
- Aiden Lechleitner, sr Central Cambria
- Tyler Raider, jr Huntingdon
Central PA Contenders with Top 25 potential (alphabetical):
- Tim Barrett, sr Marion Center
- David Bednarczyk, sr Tulpehocken
- Mitchell Bradley, jr York Catholic
- Allen Ebersole, jr Tulpehocken
- Henry Friedrichs, so Veritas Academy
- Derek George, sr Westmont Hilltop
- Evan George, sr Central Cambria
- Dillon Green, sr Marion Center
- Colton Henning, so United
- Dom Kuntz, so Central Cambria
- Cody Roberts, sr Central Cambria
- Colin Simander, jr Saint Joseph’s Catholic