The records are through Dec. 27.
Class 4A
1. Federal Way (7-0)
2. Gonzaga Prep (5-1)
3. Curtis (7-0)
4. Jackson (6-0)
5. Mead (5-1)
6. Kamiakin (7-0)
7. Walla Walla (4-1)
8. Decatur (6-1)
9. Lake Stevens (6-0)
10. Foss (5-1)
Next: Auburn Riverside (5-3), Beamer (6-3), Bellarmine Prep (5-3), Garfield (4-2), Kentridge (5-2), Kentwood (2-3), Lake Washington (7-1), Olympia (7-1), Richland (7-0), Wilson (6-2).
Class 3A
1. Rainier Beach (5-0)
2. Enumclaw (7-0)
3. Bellevue (7-0)
4. Lakes (6-1)
5. Seattle Prep (6-1)
6. Mount Si (6-1)
7. Shorecrest (5-1)
8. Shadle Park (5-1)
9. Bainbridge (6-1)
10. O’Dea (5-2)
Next: Bremerton (5-2), Capital (4-1), Clover Park (4-2), Columbia River (6-2), Foster (4-2), Franklin (3-2), Franklin Pierce (4-4), Hazen (5-2), Hudson’s Bay (6-1), Kennedy (4-3), Mount Vernon (4-1)
Class 2A
1. Squalicum (4-0)
2. Ephrata (6-0)
3. Burlington-Edison (4-1)
4. Mark Morris (6-0)
5. Fife (6-1)
6. Grandview (5-1)
7. Selah (4-2)
8. Steilacoom (5-0)
9. North Mason (4-1)
10. Clarkston (3-2)
Next: Elma (4-1), Hockinson (4-3), Lynden (3-0), Othello (3-1), River Ridge (3-2), Woodland (5-2)
Class 1A
1. Vashon (6-1)
2. King’s (4-0)
3. Chelan (4-1)
4. Okanogan (5-0)
5. Granger (5-0)
6. Cascade Christian (4-2)
7. Bellevue Christian (5-2)
8. Onalaska (8-0)
9. Meridian (3-1)
10. Castle Rock (5-0)
Next: Columbia Burbank (4-1), Chewelah (7-2), Coupeville (6-1), Freeman (5-3), Goldendale (7-1), Lake Roosevelt (3-2), Leavenworth Cascade (4-1), River View (4-3), Zillah (4-2)
Do you ever – at all – take strength of schedule into these rankings by watching who these teams are playing? Many teams schedule cupcake preseason schedules to make their records look good. Some of the best teams by the end of the year have coaches that actually go out and schedule tough preseason opponents so their teams are ready for league play. Or they had players out from the football playoffs who are only coming back to the team halfway through preseason. Not things that are hard to find out with some research beyond the records.
The rankings are based on how well teams have played up to this point of the season. It doesn’t make much sense to rank them based on how we think they’ll finish at the end of the season. If that were the case, the rankings would probably be different.
Yes, some teams that have played “softer” schedules might be ranked higher than a team that some perceive as better, but has a couple losses more because it has played better competition.
That said, we do take strength of schedule into consideration, along with other factors, such as injured players; suspended players; wins and losses to out-of-state teams; wins and losses to teams in other classifications; teams that had a football team reach the state finals; common opponents; and other reasons.
These rankings aren’t an exact science, but they’re fun to debate and talk about. We welcome your comments, even if you want to disagree.
Cascade Leavenworth is 7-1. I don’t know where you came up with 4-1. This is the first time in this coaches history to start off with a 7-1 season and they played bigger schools in several games. CTL does have a strong league though. Lets hope they can keep it going.
ginger13,
These rankings were done on Dec. 28 and Cascade Leavenworth had a record of 4-1 on Dec. 28.
Check out the rankings posted on Jan. 3., which lists Cascade Leavenworth at 7-1.
Doug Pacey
The News Tribune