This week’s notebook highlights district champions Jake Brophy and Marissa Sheva and includes all the runners who will be competing in the PIAA Championships on Saturday.
By Scott Huff
Junior Jake Brophy of Central Bucks East and senior Marissa Sheva of Pennridge captured first place in the PIAA Class AAA District One cross-country championship last week at Lehigh University. And this week both Brophy and Sheva are considered strong contenders – although not favorites – to win the state title at Hershey.
The favorite to win the boys’ title this year is Colin Albert of Easton, while the favorite to win the girls’ title is Brianna Schwartz of Shaler Area. Both Brophy and Sheva are being touted as the #1 contenders to both Albert and Schwartz.
“I am extremely excited about the race,” said Brophy. “Colin seems to go out hard, and I’ll try and hang with him the first mile. I want to keep him in my sight and try to make a run in the final 800 meters.”
“Jake has developed a great final kick when running the 800 meters in spring track,” said Central Bucks East head coach Sam Losorelli. “It has been a great cross country season watching Jake run. He has developed a great confidence and has shown extremely well in both the league and district meets the last two weeks.”
Brophy has made his mark the last two weekends – but Hatboro-Horsham senior Casey Comber has also been in strong contention in both races.
“I know that Jake has great respect for Casey,” said Losorelli. “And now he will go against a great runner like Albert and could go head-to-head for a state title.”
“Casey is a great guy – and I would love it if both of us could finish in the top five at states,” said Brophy. “The course at Hershey is a monster course, and running at states is going to be a great experience.
“It will be great to room with (CB East’s) Connor Sands – who also made states,” added Brophy. “And we both will be pulling for our girls team who is also competing at states.”
Sheva – who captured second place as a sophomore at the state meet – fought a losing battle to mono last season.
“Most people would consider Brianna Schwartz the favorite – and there is no question that she is a very good runner,” said Pennridge head coach Bill Smith. “But the only strategy that Marissa will run the race with is that she runs to win. She won’t compete just for second place.
“Marissa is running the best of her career this season,” added Smith. “She hasn’t lost
a race all year – and she is very confident in her ability. She has shown a great deal of maturity.
“Schwartz may have the better time going into the meet, but there are so many factors that go into comparing times in cross-country,” continued Smith. “How difficult is that course – what is
the weather – what is the condition of the course? Who is running in the race?
“Marissa goes out and races against people,” added Smith. “She will compete on any day – in any conditions – and against any competition.”
Both Brophy and Sheva will represent their respective schools exceptionally well – and in doing so will also represent the entire Suburban One League just as well.
SOL Tickets to States
Boys’ Team:
Central Bucks West (3rd in Districts):
Rock Fortna (13th place)
Ian Davies (15)
Brian Iatarola (23)
Declan McDonald (39)
Teagan Fortna (79)
Trevor Belding (111)
Brian Mass (114)
Council Rock North (4th in Districts)
Brian Arita (9th place)
Sean Griswold (32)
Tim Haas (51)
Jesse Laitman (56)
Ben Heintz (60)
Bryan Keller (115)
Rohan Bhandarker (127)
Boys’ Individual:
Jake Brophy (Central Bucks East) [1st –place]
Casey Comber (Hatboro-Horsham) – [3]
Sam Webb (Pennsbury) – [4]
Andrew Hanna (Council Rock South) – [10]
Connor McMenamin (Souderton) – [11]
Joe Maguire (Council Rock South) – [19]
Lukas Marcelis (Wissahickon) – [20]
Connor Sands (Central Bucks East) – [22]
Eric Chapman (Neshaminy) – [29]
Tyji Mays (Bensalem) – [35]
Alex Ramirez (Bensalem) – [36]
Girls’ Team:
Pennsbury (District Champions)
Olivia Sargent (3rd place)
Hannah Molloy (8)
Merideth Twomey (9)
Erin O’Connell (19)
Bailey Balmer (25)
Rachel Estey (35)
Maddie Sauer (70)
Central Bucks East (5th in Districts)
Elizabeth Morris (31st place)
Jackie Kinhead (32)
Hannah Morris (40)
Tate Dawson (50)
Julia Heiges (108)
Caitlin Shewbrooke (129)
Sommers Moyer (153)
Girls’ Individual:
Marissa Sheva (Pennridge) – [1st place]
Maddie Villalba (Central Bucks West) – [7]
Lotte Black (Wissahickon) – [14]
Gabriella Bamford (North Penn) – [27]
Phoebe Clowser (North Penn) – [36]
Lucille Ionescu (Upper Dublin) – [38]
SOL State Rankings Going Into PIAA Class AAA Championship Meet
Boys’ Team:
[1] Central Bucks West
[2] Cumberland Valley
[3] Conestoga
[4] West Chester Henderson
[5] North Allegheny
Boys’ Individual:
[2] – Jake Brophy – (CB East) – 15:08
[4] – Casey Comber – (Hatboro-Horsham) – 15:12
[8] – Sam Webb – (Pennsbury) – 15:26
Girls’ Team:
[1] Pennsbury
[2] Cardinal O’Hara
[3] Unionville
[4] Central Bucks East
[5] Great Valley
Girls’ Individual:
[2] – Marissa Sheva – (Pennridge) – 17:28
[6] – Olivia Sargent – (Pennsbury) – 17:51
[12] – Hannah Molloy – (Pennsbury) – 18:30
[15] – Maddie Villalba – (Central Bucks West) – 18:32
[17] – Merideth Twomey – (Pennsbury) – 18:35
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