Best Adapted Screenplay

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Most Improved Runner
Which runner would you like to highlight for making big strides during the 2015-2016 season? It doesn’t have to be literally someone with a big stride.

And the nominees are ...

Noah Falasco, Upper Merion

In one year Falasco went from a relative unkown to one of the best milers in the state. The Upper Merion senior was an 800 talent who was on the cusp of just qualifying for districts before turning over a new leaf in 2015-2016 and qualifying for both state championships in the mile. He just missed a medal indoors, but made sure to grab one in the spring, dropping a 4:16 at Shippensburg.

Kent Hall, Unionville

Hall went from never having run XC before to qualifying for nationals and booking a ticket to Georgetown in the fall of 2016. You don’t see that every day. Hall also qualified for indoor states in the mile and DMR as well as outdoor states in the 3200m after a top finish at the district championships.

Zach Lefever, Ephrata

Lefever was a solid borderline state qualifier in 2014 for XC, but then he blossomed into a star in 2015. He was the runner-up at the District 3 championships and posted top marks in big invitationals like Paul Short. On the track, Lefever finished 2^nd to Nate Henderson at districts in the 3200 and then cranked things up a notch in his first state appearance of the season, earning a well-deserved state medal in a wild state final.

Jeff Kirshenbaum, Methacton

Methacton’s Jeff Kirshenbaum hadn’t qualified for states in 2014-2015, but you wouldn’t have known it looking at his 2015-2016 season. He had an absolutely monster cross season that included a sub 16 mark at Hershey and a top 10 finish in the state (among other performances) and went from being a 9:30s guy to running 9:19 for a full 2 miles during indoors. Kirsh also provided us with our most popular tweet of all-time so thanks for that as well.

Brian Mass, CB West

CB West’s junior made a big jump forward this season. After fading at the end of the fall in 2014, Mass became an integral part of the team’s XC line up. West finished 3^rd in the state and second in the district with Mass in the scoring 5. Outdoor track was where Brian really took off. He dropped a massive 3200 PR, dipping into the low 9:20s, at districts and punched West’s only individual state qualifying ticket out of the loaded District 1.

Marc Migliozzi, North Allegheny

North Allegheny’s had a ton of talented runners over the year’s, but few have had the kind of progression Marc Migliozzi had in his final season. Marc dropped a series of excellent 3200s in 2016 (consistently at or under 9:20), culminating in a 3^rd place finish at states, closing near 60 seconds on the final lap. The previous year, he was hovering around the 10 minute mark for the same distance. He was also 10^th in the state during XC (and 2^nd at WPIALs) after finishing well outside the top 50 in 2014.

Rob Moser, West Chester East

The West Chester East senior went from an afterthought in the loaded Ches-mont to one of the league’s best runners. He dropped to low 9:20s in the 3200 by districts and qualified for states both indoors and outdoors (as well as in XC). He was a gutsy racer who wasn’t afraid to go to the front and push the pace, even if he was inexperienced at the top level of competition, having never qualified for states before.

Ryan Thrush, Brookville

Thrush was a solid runner in 2015, but he absolutely exploded in 2016. After struggling to make the state finals in the 1600 and 800 as a sophomore, Thrush dropped an unbelievable 1:52 800 at Baldwin for a massive PR and a stunning victory over Mike Kolor and Michael Bove. Thrush followed it up with a big state meet that included a 48 second open 400 meter for state gold.

Dave Whitfield, Bonner

Although Whitifield had had success on Bonner’s 4x8 relay in the past, he had never broken 2 minutes in the open 800. Even during the indoor season, Whitfield was on the outside looking in for the state championship. But outdoors, Whitfield turned it up a notch. He clocked a 1:55 early in the season and carried that momentum through to DELCOs, PCLs and Districts, the last of which was a 1:53 low victory that made him the #1 runner in the state. He will be back next year to defend his district title and take a shot at his first state medal.

Nick Wolk, Peters Township

Wolk was a solid WPIAL runner in 2014-2015, just cracking the top 50 at states in cross and qualifying for states in the 1600. But Wolk transformed into the class of the WPIAL in 2015-2016. He absolutely dominated the competition within his district and streaked out to an essentially undefeated record against D7. He also finished 4^th at states in XC, was one of the top regional finishers from PA and capped off his career with a silver at states against Matt Kravitz.