Week 1 Class A Rankings
Minneapolis North. Sometimes I feel like I need to see a team beat another before I can rank them higher. For example, JM/Lakeville North and Wayzata/MG in Class AAAA and Waconia/Delano in AAA. Other times I just feel comfortable that…
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Continue Reading- Minneapolis North. Sometimes I feel like I need to see a team beat another before I can rank them higher. For example, JM/Lakeville North and Wayzata/MG in Class AAAA and Waconia/Delano in AAA. Other times I just feel comfortable that it will happen. Like this year. Even though North has not been able to beat Rushford-Peterson and Maranatha Christian Academy, I just feel that North has way too much talent this year and they lost way too much talent to play with North. Polars get that title in the year that was long awaited to be their top year.
- Spring Grove. I know many are shocked. Why you ask? Because I think after all these years of falling behind the rivals R-P Trojans, I think this year they have the talent, skill, depth, and overall playmakers to get the job done against a Trojan squad that graduated all their starters. Spring Grove finally takes that step I believe.
- Rushford-Peterson. All of the starting pieces, they have graduated. There are so many leaders and backcourt players to replace. That said, they have Noah Carlson back, some size, and a lot of their bench is now starters. They will be right there and maybe they have the mental edge on Spring Grove. But Coach Vix, now a multiple time state champ, has a lot to replace.
- Battle Lake. Tony Ukkelberg is a track star and will run track for NDSU. But before he goes he has one more year of hoops to lead Battle Lake to a wild record and a state trip. Can they do it again? We think they can.
- Central MN Christian. Lost two starters but will still be very good once again. Taylor Slagter is about to turn heads state wide, not just in his area. Can the Bluejays have that dream season? Are they better than the four above them? We just aren't sure but we are sure they will be very good once again.
- Heritage Christian. Love CJ Woda, like the workers around him, and they really surprised us this summer with the way they played at the Bracket Buster. Excellent showing that we expect them to build on.
- Browerville is no longer just Bryce Irsfeld. Bryce has some matured players around him that could finally get them to state so everyone can see what the young point guard can do on the high school stage.
- MN Transitions. I originally had them even higher. They have skill, size, speed, and are coming off a good year last season. I got a little hesitant after the bracket buster though. Expect them to never get lower than 8th with good guards and a double-double machine in Isaih Wade.
- Mt. Iron-Buhl. I know you keep hearing my say Bracket Buster but I thought they would show better at that event. This team has Winans and Holmes returning so the year will be big, looking to see if they can meet expectations. Definitely a top ten team.
- St. Clair. Oh this is my sleeper. Coming off a really good year, they return just about everything. Guys like Brandon Goebel, Brandon Freitag, and some good young players as well. They will miss a couple seniors but a big year is ahead.
- Watch out for Red Lake, Murray County Central, definitely Springfield, Northern Freeze, and what will be of Fond du Lac Objibwe? They came out of nowhere two years ago. Last year they had expectations and weren't good, but then made state. Now what? Let's just keep them on the watch list.