CBA looking to make it eight straight

By Paul Schmitz of DyeStat

Northeast Boys Preview 2017 

Since 2010, the Nike Northeast regional can be summarized by two things: the dominance of Christian Brothers Academy NJ and parity. The Colts have qualified for NXN for seven consecutive years and they have been joined by seven different schools during that time.

Last year, Staples CT joined CBA in the first trip by that school and the first bid by a team from Connecticut since 2008.

This season, look for CBA to make an eighth straight appearance with yet another new team joining the Colts. This time, keep an eye on Saint John’s of Massachusetts.

The Northeast has not has not produced an at-large bid since 2012. The best chance the region has for three bids to NXN this year will be if one of the young teams from Rhode Island shows its potential early. The scene in Rhode Island will play out this fall much like it did last season, with La Salle Academy and Bishop Hendricken going 1-2. Both teams return three of the top five, but the edge goes to La Salle, which has a chance to snag that second automatic berth.  

Staples might have been one of the happy-just-to-be-here teams at NXN. The Connecticut state and New England champions took second at NXR Northeast and wound up last in Portland.

This squad is still tops in Connecticut, but need to retool a bit to get back into regional contention. Staples returns four of its top five and is one strong runner away from moving up the rankings. Staples’ biggest competition in Connecticut will come from Xavier, which finished third at the state meet last year and returns its top three.  

Last year’s surprise New Jersey champions, the Princeton Tigers, return three of their top five and five of their top seven. For now, Princeton is well back of CBA and in a virtual tie with West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Kingsway in New Jersey. The team from Kingsway put up track times that make it look like an NXR contender.  West Windsor-Plainsboro North is led by Matthew Santamaria, who came on in the spring with a 9:12 3,200 PR and a third-place finish in the NJ Meet of Champions. If Santamaria and his teammates can carry over an impressive spring to the fall, then they can be in the hunt for a national berth. 

1. Christian Brothers Academy NJ. After a year of inconsistency and injuries, Christian Brothers Academy put a team effort together just in time to win NXR Northeast and make its seventh straight trip to NXN. The Colts nearly lived up to the preseason hype and finished seventh in the nation after placing just third at the New Jersey state meet. CBA only returns three of the top seven from that team but the program is loaded, with five runners going 9:41 or better this spring in the 3,200, led by Brian Hill at 9:13.    

2. Saint John’s MA. Saint John’s is the team to beat in Massachusetts. It returns six of the top seven from a lineup that finished fourth at the state meet last year. The Pioneers are led by Tristan Shelgren, who posted a 9:10 2-mile in spring track. They have a capable low stick plus good back-end depth. 

3. La Salle RI. The alma mater of David Principe Jr. and Jack Salisbury gets the nod in Rhode Island based upon the potential of two low sticks. Max Dimuccio is the fastest returner from the state meet last year and Joseph Dos Reis finished second in the 3,000 this spring in the state track meet, losing only to Principe. 

4. Staples CT. Ben Seiple, who had a breakout year in track (9:13 for 3,200 for third place at New Englands) leads a group with some valuable NXN experience.

5. Princeton NJ. Last year’s surprise state champion return three of the top five and five of its top seven. The Tigers finished seventh at the NXR Northeast and have a very good chance at improving upon that finish.   

Watch list:

Kingsway NJ  

West Windsor-Plainsboro North NJ

Lowell MA

Newton MA

Council Rock North PA

Bishop Hendricken RI

Mendham NJ

Wellesley MA