XC Talks- Lower Dauphin

I should have at least 1 of these going up everyday. The team's won't be in order and I may not even do a preview for some of the top 10.

Also I now have created a facebook page called: PADontPlay
Here is the Link: https://www.facebook.com/padontplay

Once I figure out how Twitter works I'll make one of those as well (sorry guys, I don't have a smart phone!). But I'll be tweeting and posting updates, ect on Facebook. The contests for prizes will be going through Facebook as well, so that's how I'll be able to send the prizes out. The contest's will be posted here and on Facebook, but the responses will only count on Facebook, unless you post your name.

I made this post through Microsoft Word, so hopefully I didn't spell too many things incorrectly. I'm a History Major... Grammar and Spelling isn't really my thing.

XC Talks: Lower Dauphin

The top teams in the state all seem to be getting the credit they deserve on the blog. I know many guys are tired of hearing about Henderson, but hey, when you’ve got the 2^nd ranked team in the nation in your state, it’s hard not to talk about them. O’Hara has been big for the past 3 years, and then you’ve got staple programs such as NA and CRN getting love, along with Ches-Mont’s being the top league in the state with many blog viewers. It seems as though LD has slipped through the cracks, so I’ll start with them.

2012 State Finish: 10^th

Key Returners

Jeff Groh (Sr)--  4:16.90- 1600, 9:23.08 – 3200, District 3 Champion in 2011

Cole Nissley (Sr) – 4:21.41 – 1600, 9:22.50 – 3200, 33^rd Last XC season

Josh Santisanio (Sr) – 4:31 – 1600, 9:46.07 – 3200

Sean Weidner (Jr) – 4:41.20 - 1600, 9:46.66 – 3200

This season PA seems to be a state full of 1-2 punches and on paper LD has one of the best. Jeff Groh broke onto the PA field as a youngster placing 11^th in D3 for XC and later in track running 4:23 and 9:30 as just a freshman. He upped the ante as a sophomore by winning districts during XC, but again struggled during the state meet. He struggled through XC his junior year and often times had trouble finishing races, but looked to be in his old form during track running a big PR of 4:16.07. Groh will need to reclaim his old XC glory at districts and step up during the state meet for this team to finish top 5. Groh in many ways represents LD’s team as a whole: A team with tons of upside, but could come crashing down. 

Groh’s tandem partner, Cole Nissley, has been quite the opposite. Nissley has slowly built a great foundation and career on consistency. Nissley placed 33^rd at last year’s state meet and came up with some great PR’s during the track season. He’ll look to build on and improve this XC season as he is in prime position to grab his first ever state medal. If he can help Groh stay health and consistent this team could be very dangerous with two medalists.

In the 3-4 slots we’ve got Santisanio and Weidner who pushed each other to very solid 3200 times of 9:46 this past spring. Having two guys in the same area will be very beneficial during training for the LD team. The 9:46’s are over 25 second improvements for both runners, so it seems that they are headed in the right direction. With the momentum from track season look for both of these guys to be in the top 80 during the state meet. 

To back up this solid returning top 4 are the 6-7 runners from last season’s team, putting 6 of the 7 returning from last year’s state meet. Neither Jack Milligan (Sr) or Caleb Walters (Jr) had particularly impressive state meets last season, but Milligan’s 10:15 PR was a big improvement during track, while Walters looks to have a big breakout junior year. Either way this team has depth which is key going into the state meet.

What to Watch For:

LD is a District 3 team which makes their job of placing well at the state meet much more difficult. Why is this you might ask? Well. . . The District 3 meet is held at Hershey, the same Hershey course that is run during the state championships, which means two weeks in a row of tough, hard, and usually muddy, hill running. This takes its toll on many runners, but it can be done. Vinny Todaro last season was the D3 champion who went on to win the state meet in AA over some very, very strong competition, including FL finalist Brendan Shearn.  

Overall: LD has a very quality 1-2 punch with a solid 3-4 behind them, along with 2 more returners who has state meet experience. This combined makes them and extremely dangerous team with high ambitions. I think they can take 4^th at the state meet. 

That's all for now Folks,

--ForrestCRN