Southern Section Division I Boys Detailed Preview


TIER 1

Great Oak - The Wolfpack are seeking their fourth straight title.  The team that stands in their way is no other than Dana Hills, who had its own three-year run from 2007-2009 in dominating the division.  Great Oak has converted those divisional titles into California State meet titles as well, while also making the Nike Cross Nationals in early December a staple as part of the training schedule.   Crowned as national champs in 2016, the Wolfpack finished 6th at NXN last year.  Equipped with the talent to finish individually in the top 10 at the State meet, senior Tyler Tickner (9:15.63) along with juniors Gabriel Abbes (9:16.50) and Chris Verdugo (4:17.47) form a lethal trio.  Ryan Shields also adds valuable postseason experience to the arsenal.  Great Oak remains a slight favorite to ascend to the top of the podium once again in 2018.  Senior Noah Nevens is their most improved (4:37.1 down to a 4:20.6 this past spring) while sophomore Mateo Joseph will become a familiar face in their corral.  Boasting the most depth of any program in the nation (28 boys broke 4:50, with 23 being underclassmen / 18 boys under 10:05, with 16 being underclassmen), Great Oak is not going anywhere folks.  Head Coach Doug Soles claimed the team is as talented as last year and it will come down to performing at their best in November.   That is something the uniform has mastered as this will be their sixth straight season qualifying for the State meet and eighth in the past nine years. 

Dana Hills - The two main storylines revolved around movement off the course.  Perhaps the biggest news was the transfer of Caleb Niednagel from Dana Hills, down south to La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad.  But, they welcome in senior Cole Stark from Anaheim Canyon who was one of Orange County's most improved this past track season.  Stark comes to the Dolphins with a 4:17 and 9:38 to his resume from this past spring.  He will join senior Simon Fuller (9:18) and sophomore Carrick Denker (4:17/9:25) up front.   Senior Eddie Wagenseller is looking to put a frustrating track season behind him while Garrett Hough should round out the nationally ranked group.  But sophomores Brandon Pizano (9:40 = #1 freshman in the section) and Gianni Viola will be two new faces into the varsity mix and will try to break up Great Oak's depth at that crucial #5 scoring slot.  Dana Hills has finished either 2nd or 3rd in each of the five past seasons.  This will be their 13th consecutive year of qualifying for the California state meet.   Over the course of the past 30 seasons, no program in California can boast the credentials and consistency that the Dolphins have. 

  • Sticking with the theme of moving, Newbury Park and Loyola were HEAVY projections to make the State meet out of Division I but have been moved over to Division II.   Both are among the top 10 in the entire section.  In what was an open field beyond these four squads, it is now a more open field for those five remaining team spots to the state meet.