MAX Field Hockey’s Regional Rankings for 2016 have been expanded from a Top 10 to a Top 20! The West/Mid-West Region consists of all public and private schools in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
The top 5 teams heading into the 2016 season are very similar to the ones that finished in those spots last season. #1 Serra High School returns in the top spot after an impressive 26-1 2015 season. The Conquistadors return lots of talent, including MAX Field Hockey’s West/Mid-West Player of the Year Megan Rodgers, Megan Schneider and Kathryn Peterson. Laurie Berger’s squad are the strong favorites to repeat and win their 22nd San Diego Section title, 3rd straight. The #3 ranked team also hails from the state of California. Los Gatos High School return from an 18-0 Central Section Championship season with MAX Field Hockey All-Region player and All-Mercury News’ Player of the Year Sara Deck. This program has been so dominant over the last couple of years, we can only expect the same from this Fall.
Assumption High School from Louisville, Kentucky comes in at the #2 spot. The 2015 Kentucky State Semifinalists were the dominant team last season in the midwest and Kentucky and suffered a disappointing loss in the state tournament, getting knocked out by DuPont Manual 1-0 in the semifinal. They return at least seven Division I committed players (that we know of!) and two MAX Field Hockey All-Region players in Elizabeth Allgeier and Camryn Pichea. Juniors Erica Cooper and Ashley Willbur will also be big contributors. Three other Kentucky schools made the Preseason Top 20 and we expect this to be a very competitive season in the state of Kentucky. #4 Sacred Heart Academy won the 2015 State Championship, but lost 3rd Team All-American and Miss Kentucky Field Hockey winner Katie Esselman to graduation. #8 DuPont Manual and #14 Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL) are also expected to be contenders and return a lot of names we have become very familiar with. DuPont Manual were the runner-up in 2015 and CAL were semifinalists.
The state of Missouri is not as clear cut as it has been in the past. We give respect to MICDS and their performance over the last couple of years in giving them the #5 spot, but they will be without two of their big stars in 2nd Team All-American Bridget Condie and Kara Zurlinden. #7 Villa Duchesne will also be without one of their standouts, Allie Christopher, and this may be the year that some other team is able to make their move towards the top. Perhaps #18 St. Joseph’s Academy?
#6 Colorado Academy return as the heavy favorites for the state of Colorado once again. The returning state champions will be looking for the repeat behind one of their leaders, 1st Team All-State and MAX Field Hockey All-Region player Nellie Turnage. #9 Lake Forest High School (Illinois) were not ranked in the final 2015 regional rankings, but we think this could be a strong year for them behind two very talented players, Libby Thompson (Duke) and Catherine Nicholson. #10 Thomas Worthington High School will return to defend their Ohio State Championship and undefeated 20-0-1 2015 season without MAX Field Hockey All-Region player Hanna Sinno.
Disclaimer: The West/Mid-West Region Rankings are the most difficult of any region to do well! There are so many different states and areas to learn about with not much media coverage and with not as much cross-over in competition as in some of our other regions. These preseason rankings are really a starting place for the West/Mid-West. We will be paying close attention to early season games and tournaments (especially the regional tournaments that bring in teams from multiple states) to fine tune these!
2016 HIGH SCHOOL WEST/MID-WEST REGION PRESEASON RANKINGS
SERRA HIGH SCHOOL
San Diego, California
2015: 26-1-0, San Diego Section Open Division Champions
ASSUMPTION HIGH SCHOOL
Louisville, Kentucky
2015: 23-2-0, Kentucky State Semifinalist
LOS GATOS HIGH SCHOOL
Los Gatos, California
2015: 18-0-0, Central Section Champions
SACRED HEART ACADEMY
Louisville, Kentucky
2015: 22-6-1, Kentucky State Champions
MICDS
Saint Louis, Missouri
2015: 21-4-3, MidWest Tournament Champions
COLORADO ACADEMY
Denver, Colorado
2015: 17-0-1, Colorado State Champions
VILLA DUCHESNE & OAK HILL SCHOOL
Saint Louis, Missouri
2015: 20-2-2, MidWest Tournament Runner-Up
DUPONT MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL
Louisville, Kentucky
2015: 17-5-1, Kentucky State Runner-Up
LAKE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
Lake Forest, Illinois
2015: 18-4-0, Illinois State Tournament 3rd Place
THOMAS WORTHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Worthington, Ohio
2015: 20-0-1, Ohio State Champions
SCRIPPS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL
San Diego, California
2015: 22-4-0, San Diego Section Semifinalist
PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL
Ann Arbor, Michigan
2015: 16-4-1, Michigan State Division I Champions
TORREY PINES HIGH SCHOOL
San Diego, California
2015: 24-3-0, San Diego Section Runner-Up
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF LOUISVILLE
Louisville, Kentucky
2015: 18-6-0, Kentucky State Semifinalist
NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL
Winnetka, Illinois
2015: 17-2-2, Illinois State Champions
COLUMBUS ACADEMY
Columbus, Ohio
2015: 18-2-1, Ohio State Semifinalist
ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL
Houston, Texas
2015: 19-1-0, SPC Champions
ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY
Saint Louis, Missouri
2015: 15-6-0, MidWest Tournament Quarterfinalist
DEXTER DREADNAUGHTS
Dexter, Michigan
2015: 19-3-2, Michigan State Division I Semifinalist
KINKAID SCHOOL
Houston, Texas
2015: 16-3-0, SPC Runner-Up
A Note About Preseason Rankings:
MAX Field Hockey’s Preseason High School Rankings are based heavily on the previous Fall’s Final Rankings and team performances. As much as possible, seniors graduated and key returning players are taken into consideration, but complete information is not always available for each program. Historic dominance and success at the highest level and in the postseason are a major factor. MAX Field Hockey’s general ranking philosophy: you must prove it on the field and beat the best and ranked teams to move onto and up the rankings!
MAX Field Hockey always welcomes feedback on the High School Rankings.
Think we missed someone or that a team should be ranked higher or lower?
Email us: admin@maxfieldhockey.com
