Eastern Massachusetts Boys' Division 5
Losing just two of their top seven runners from last year's team that finished third overall at the divisionals, Norwell appears to be the cream of the crop this fall. The Clippers have a strong 1-2 punch with senior teammates Steven Driscoll and Andrew Corbett returning. Driscoll is the top returnee coming back. He was third at the Eastern States and placed ninth at the All State Meet. Corbett was seventh at the division meet. With the alignment moving Newburyport up to Div. 4, Norwell could be the one that most schools will be eyeing this season. But look out for Pentucket Regional, a team that had three freshmen (Sam Stys, David Gangemi and Peter Lopato) and two sophomores (Anthony Accardi and William Coppola) among its seven varsity harriers. The Sachems' No. 1 runner Nick Murphy (eighth in 2016) is also coming back. A year older and a year wiser could make Pentucket a dangerous squad. Also don't count out Amesbury, last year's Div. 6 winner.