This year’s 1A girl’s competition should be very heated. Bishop McGuinness returns two top runners, Heather Hofmann and Cissy Nitz, and also has solid depth. Hayesville is led by Stella Snowden is always at the top. They have won the state title 2 of the last 3 years. Finally, Topsail and Zatha Loewen will look to knock off the top returning teams. Zatha won the state title as a 9th grader last year and may have more depth to help her out in 2007.
Breakdown by regions – West: 4, Midwest: 4, Mideast: 1, East: 1.
1A Girls
1 Bishop McGuinness *2 Hayesville *
3 Topsail
4 Hendersonville
5 Murphy
6 Polk County
7 Northside 1A
8 North Moore
9 Raleigh Charter
10 Jordan Matthews
Also receiving votes: East Wilkes, North Stokes, Chatham Central, NCSSM, Swain County, Gray Stone Day, South Stokes
NCSSM returns a very talented group this year, coming off their first 1A state title last year. They are the heavy favorites headed into this season led by Daniel Kimmel. Bishop McGuinness should be strong this year as well led by their #1, Will Scott. Don’t ever count out Hayesville in the 1A classification. They always seem to be near the top at the state championships. Gray Stone Day was an unfamiliar team to me last year but ran very well at states to finish 3rd.
Breakdown by region – West: 3, Midwest: 5, Mideast: 1, East: 1.
1A Boys
1 North Carolina School of Science & Math *
2 Hayesville
3 Gray Stone Day
4 Bishop McGuinness
5 South Stokes
6 Murphy
7 Lejeune
8 Northside 1A
9 Chatham Central
10 Polk County
Also receiving votes: Topsail, East Wilkes, North Stokes, Manteo, Trask, Robbinsville