2020 MHSAA Postseason: Division 1 District Predictions
The 2020 MHSAA postseason will get underway next week with everyone in the state gunning for a championship. Certainly 2020 provides a level of uncertainty, as a team’s season could end abruptly due to the coronavirus, but we’re hoping for…
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Continue ReadingThe 2020 MHSAA postseason will get underway next week with everyone in the state gunning for a championship.
Certainly 2020 provides a level of uncertainty, as a team’s season could end abruptly due to the coronavirus, but we’re hoping for everyone to stay healthy. Let’s have a safe and competitive postseason.
There are 32 districts in each division. Here’s a breakdown and prediction for each of the Division 1 districts.
Related: Division 2 District Predictions
Related: Division 3 District Predictions
Related: Division 4 District Predictions
District 1 at Marquette
Teams: Marquette, Alpena, Gaylord, Traverse City Central, Traverse City West, Petoskey
Prediction: Traverse City West looks to be the favorite here. The Titans have played a competitive schedule up north and have been the most consistent.
District 2 at Mount Pleasant
Teams: Midland Dow, Mount Pleasant, Midland, Bay City Central, Bay City Western
Prediction: It’s a Saginaw Valley League-full district. These teams are all familiar with one another. Bay City Central has found a way to win against these teams, but Mt. Pleasant and Dow have taken the Wolves to five sets. Still, have to go with Central to win the title.
District 3 at Flint Carman-Ainsworth
Teams: Saginaw Heritage, Flint Kearsley, Swartz Creek, Flushing
Prediction: All four teams have had some struggles during the season, but Flushing has had the number of their three competitors.
District 4 at Grand Blanc
Teams: Grand Blanc, Linden, Davison, Fenton, Lapeer
Prediction: This district could be a real toss-up. I could see three different teams coming away with the title, but ultimately I will pick Davison to emerge as the winner.
District 5 at Holly
Teams: Lake Orion, Waterford Kettering, Holly, Clarkston, Oxford
Prediction: One of the top districts in the state, with three teams ranked in our top 20. Lake Orion, Oxford and Clarkston are all contenders for a playoff run, but the Wolves were the team to win the best-of-five matches during the season in the OAA.
District 6 at Rochester
Teams: Utica Eisenhower, Stoney Creek, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Romeo
Prediction: Utica Eisenhower and Stoney Creek meet in the district opener, which should be a great team. The Eagles have been rolling over the last month and I expect that momentum to continue during district play.
District 7 at Waterford Mott
Teams: Auburn Hills Avondale, Waterford Mott, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, Pontiac
Prediction: Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield meet in a solid opener. I think the winner of that makes the run to the title. The Black Hawks and Lakers are both battle-tested, but I am going to side with Bloomfield Hills to pick up the victory.
District 8 at Milford
Teams: Walled Lake Northern, Hartland, Walled Lake Western, Lakeland, Walled Lake Central, Milford
Prediction: This district is largely Lakes Valley Conference teams, and the LVC was very competitive throughout the season. Anyone can seemingly beat anyone in that league. When push comes to shove, I am siding with Walled Lake Northern. The Knights have found ways to win some tight matches this year.
District 9 at Grand Haven
Teams: Muskegon, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon Mona Shores, Holland West Ottawa, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Prediction: This should be a great district. A lot of familiarity between the top teams. Grand Haven owns key wins, but also must be at its best to get the district crown. Being at home should be a nice little boost for the Bucs.
District 10 at Hudsonville
Teams: Jenison, Hudsonville, Byron Center, Zeeland East, Grandville, Zeeland West
Prediction: This is a pretty stacked district. Byron Center is the team to beat and a real contender to reach Battle Creek, but the Bulldogs won’t have an easy time of it. Jenison, Hudsonville, Zeeland East and Grandville are all part of our final D1 rankings.
District 11 at Grand Rapids Northview
Teams: Grand Rapids Northview, Rockford, Greenville, Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
Prediction: Rockford has proven it is among the best in Division 1. The Rams have really found another gear over recent weeks and that should be on display in this district.
District 12 at East Grand Rapids
Teams: East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills Central, Wyoming, East Kentwood, Lowell, Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, Forest Hills Northern
Prediction: A district final between Lowell and Forest Hills Central seems likely. The Red Arrows won a tight four-set match earlier this season. Lowell also has the drive of their seniors that played for a state championship last fall.
District 13 at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Teams: St. Joseph, Portage Northern, Mattawan, Portage Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Sturgis
Prediction: Mattawan lost some major talent from last year, but the Wildcats seem to have gotten themselves on the right track entering the postseason. Portage Northern has been a tough opponent for them during the season, but I like Mattawan to find its way to the title.
District 14 at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg
Teams: Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, Battle Creek Lakeview, Battle Creek Central, Kalamazoo Central, Richland Gull Lake, Caledonia
Prediction: A lot of strong contenders in this one. Lakeview and Gull Lake stand out, but I think Caledonia may be the team to beat. The Fighting Scots don’t have a great record, but have played all the best teams out West. I think that experience pays off this week.
District 15 at Coldwater
Teams: Coldwater, Holt, Okemos, Jackson, Mason, Jackson Northwest
Prediction: The Mason Bulldogs have quietly put together a strong season, including a CAAC Red title. Mason could be a breakout team in this year’s postseason.
District 16 at DeWitt
Teams: Lansing Waverly, DeWitt, Grand Ledge, East Lansing, Haslett, St. Johns
Prediction: DeWitt has the home-court advantage and the Panthers have been the foundation of the Lansing-area volleyball scene. DeWitt had a great October and it should lead to a great November.
District 17 at Dexter
Teams: Saline, Dexter, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Ann Arbor Huron, Ann Arbor Skyline
Prediction: Saline and Skyline are both top-10 caliber teams, but I have to go with Skyline. Last year’s playoff run should help their veterans and they still have the top player on the floor.
District 18 at Ypsilanti Lincoln
Teams: Westland John Glenn, Ypsilanti Lincoln, Belleville, Wayne Memorial, Ypsilanti Community
Prediction: The Rockets of John Glenn own wins over the key teams in this district. They just need to avoid a lot of unforced errors.
District 19 at Southgate Anderson
Teams: Taylor, Wyandotte Roosevelt, Southgate Anderson, Riverview, Trenton
Prediction: This district is somewhat of a mystery. I think it could come down to Trenton and Riverview. Just calling it a gut instinct, but I am going with the Pirates.
District 20 at Monroe
Teams: New Boston Huron, Temperance Bedford, Gibraltar Carlson, Brownstown Woodhaven, Monroe
Prediction: Bedford is a sleeper within the Division 1 tournament. The Kicking Mules have a great name and they could play spoiler to a lot of teams in the coming weeks.
District 21 at Howell
Teams: Brighton, South Lyon East, South Lyon, Howell, Pinckney
Prediction: South Lyon East and Brighton open things up in the district. I think the winner will eventually win the week. Brighton is a solid team that got overshadowed in the KLAA. I think this is the Bulldogs week to shine.
District 22 at Novi
Teams: Northville, Novi, Plymouth, Salem
Prediction: Novi and Northville are big rivals, and the Wildcats have the bragging rights over the Mustangs this year.
District 23 at Dearborn Divine Child
Teams: Livonia Churchill, Garden City, Dearborn Divine Child, Livonia Franklin, Dearborn Heights Crestwood, Dearborn
Prediction: Livonia Churchill has played a lot of good teams this year and taken their lumps against them. That experience should pay off in this district.
District 24 at Lincoln Park
Teams: River Rouge, Dearborn Edsel Ford, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale
Prediction: This could be anyone’s district, but I am going to side with Allen Park. The Jaguars have a little fire to make it happen this week.
District 25 at Farmington
Teams: Livonia Stevenson, Redford Thurston, Farmington Hills Mercy, North Farmington, Farmington
Prediction: Top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy is too good to drop this district. The Marlins have a lot of senior leadership and are coming off a loss to their rival, so there should be no lack of motivation during this postseason.
District 26 at Bloomfield Hills Marian
Teams: Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills Marian, Birmingham Groves, Troy Athens, Birmingham Seaholm
Prediction: Teams like Seaholm and Athens could compete for district titles in a lot of other brackets, but Bloomfield Hills Marian is playing as well as anyone over the last few weeks. The Mustangs believe they can make a run to the title.
District 27 at Warren Fitzgerald
Teams: Warren Mott, Detroit Mumford, Warren Fitzgerald, Detroit Renaissance, Berkley
Prediction: This district could be a real toss-up, but Berkley has some nice wins during the season that I think can propel it to the district championship.
District 28 at Detroit Martin Luther King
Teams: Detroit Martin Luther King, Hamtramck, Detroit Cass Tech
Prediction: A small district should see Detroit Cass Tech come away the winner. The Technicians have produced some quality talent over the years.
District 29 at Macomb Dakota
Teams: L’Anse Creuse North, Port Huron, Anchor Bay, Marysville, Macomb Dakota, Port Huron Northern
Prediction: A district of largely MAC schools, I like Macomb Dakota to run the table at home. The Cougars have some nice wins during the year and should be competitive at the regional level.
District 30 at Chippewa Valley
Teams: Utica Ford, Sterling Heights, Chippewa Valley, Sterling Heights Stevenson, Utica
Prediction: This is a district that could go a number of ways. Most of the teams are pretty evenly matched and quite familiar with one another. Utica is my pick, as the Chieftains have shown the most consistency throughout the season.
District 31 at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore
Teams: Warren Woods Tower, L’Anse Creuse, Fraser, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, Warren Cousino
Prediction: The Ramblers of Fraser had a perfect run in the MAC White and that momentum should carry over into this district against fellow MAC opponents.
District 32 at Grosse Pointe North
Teams: Grosse Pointe South, Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe North, Detroit East English, St. Clair Shores Lakeview
Prediction: It’s a district without anyone clearly as the frontrunner, but Grosse Pointe South has some pieces I feel good about. I will put my trust in the Blue Devils.