Font ResizeRed Lion was a cut above all other teams in YAIAA Division I last year -- and that includes both the boys' and girls' teams.
The girls went 5-0 in the division to lock up the title, while the boys were just as strong in going 6-0.
It was the first cross country title for each squad since 2003.
Both teams have a number of runners back as they attempt to stay on top with the target now on their backs.
"I'm certainly going to bring that up," coach Nate Stetter said. "You have to be ready for every meet. You can't just think everybody is going to roll over. It's going to be tough. There's a lot of good competition out there."
Stetter has a solid group of runners returning to lean on.
"It's a senior-laden group," Stetter said of the boys. "I think they're all going to feed off each other and challenge each other. That kind of drove them last season."
Caleb Gatchell, Nick McCabe, Josh Pardoe, Nate Pardoe, Ethan Gatchell and Andrew Erickson are the returning starters for the boys, while the girls welcome back Julia Kendrick, Naomi Scharf, Amanda Wivell and Anna Haynie.
"We only lost one of our top girls, Brooke Amandola," Stettler said. "We have a lot returning there. We'll just see how they do. They're excited about the season. Last year was the first (girls') championship since 2003. They were excited to bring that to Red Lion. Hopefully, they can do it again."
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Still, the coach saw a good turnout for summer workouts and said the team is hungry to pick up where it left off at the end of last season.
"We've just been trying to keep the kids working hard and keep them focused," Stetter said. "They've been a really focused group and we want to try to keep that going."
Another powerhouse: Call this the safest pick of the year: York Suburban will be one of the better teams in YAIAA Division II.
"They are a team that has had a rich history of success," West York coach Ryan Sell said. "They race as a team really well and are well-prepared."
The boys return five starters and the girls seven. But despite their reputation and the mystique around the program, don't forget that Northeastern is the defending Division II boys' champion.
Big shoes to fill: It was no accident that the Northeastern boys' captured the YAIAA Division II crown last year.
The Bobcats packed a powerful punch on the courses.
But coach Greg Cauller must replace three big names in Nate Slonaker, Alex Hake and Nate Vitacco.
And if trying to replace those three wasn't difficult enough, the Bobcats are also moving up to YAIAA Division I.
Quotable: Dover coach Jerry Shaffer included some lines to remember on his preseason team questionnaire.
Shaffer considers his squad's measuring stick to be Central, the runner-up in both Division I boys' and girls' last season.
"It's always a feather in your cap to beat Central School District," Shaffer said. "For the girls who are in AAA again, a win over Central is something to strive for. Their team may be 10 times our size, but it only takes five good runners to beat them."
Shaffer is also looking forward to coaching Danty Pagan.
"This kid has all the planets lined up in his favor," Shaffer said. "If he puts his mind to it, he will be a tough one to beat."
The Eagles should be able to hold their own this fall with eight starters back on the boys' side and three back for the girls.
