June Rankings for Class D-2
The 2019 high school season is going to creep up on you like a bratty little sibling trying to scare you. It’s right around the corner, so be prepared. July is when the high school team camps really kick into…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 high school season is going to creep up on you like a bratty little sibling trying to scare you. It’s right around the corner, so be prepared.
July is when the high school team camps really kick into overdrive, and that’s when we will start to see if reality matches expectations for some teams. It’s far too early to try and pin down the top 10 teams in each class, so here is a look at the top five in each class. We will have updated team rankings in early July, early August and then the actual preseason rankings just before the start of the season.
For now, let’s take a look at my projected top five teams in Class D-2.
***Note that I’m trying to make educated guesses on the classes teams will be in as well. Especially in the lower classes, there is a decent chance that teams may wind up competing in a different class than what I have them ranked in.***
#1 – CWC
Defending champion BDS loses some really key pieces and last year’s runner-up – Ewing – is now Ewing-Clearwater-Orchard, and I suspect that will bump them up from Classs D-2 to Class C-2. CWC went 25-8 last year and lost in the state quarterfinals to Mullen. The Renegades return their top three attackers from last season – Morgan Ramsey, Taylor Peter and Tessa Metschke and setter Ryann Haburchak.
#2 – Wynot
Wynot finished fourth in Class D-2 a year ago and is probably the deepest team in the class, although it lacks a dominant player. At the Class D-2 level – and all levels, really – the teams that do best are the ones that can have six solid players on the court at all times and this is going to be where Wynot has an advantage over everyone else. Whitney Hochstein is a 6’1 senior-to-be to watch for Wynot while Emersyn Sudbeck, Edyn Sudbeck, Karley Heimes, Shalee Planer and Katelyn Heine are played a major role last year in the teams success.
#3 – BDS
As I mentioned above, BDS loses some really big pieces off its championship team from a year ago, but that certainly doesn’t mean the Eagles are out of the conversation for a shot at the 2019 title. A lot will fall on 5’11 senior-to-be Regan Alfs and 5’9 junior-to-be Macy Kamler, who were both all-state selections a year ago. But, BDS has become one of the most consistent, annual powers in Class D and the path to the 2019 state title still runs through the Eagles.
#4 – Mead
Don’t let Mead’s 15-12 record from a year ago fool you, the Raiders were one of the best teams in the class and playing in a ultra-competitive conference with larger schools keeps its record lower than most. But, the Raiders lost a heart-breaker in five sets to Cody-Kilgore in the Round of 16 last season (16-14 in the fifth set) and Mead returns a lot this fall. The Raiders must replace setter Josie Parham and libero Michyla Lihs, but they also return their top four attackers in 6-footer Brianna Lemke, Abby Miller, Delaney Patocka and Rebecca Halbmaier. The Raiders will be talented and hungry this fall.
#5 – Falls City Sacred Heart
The Irish went 22-12 last season and lost to Ewing in the state quarterfinals. The Irish lose a good chunk of their contributors, but FCSH has three really good players returning in McKenzie Witt, Erison Vonderschmidt and Lauren Malone and that should be enough to carry the team quite a ways.