With nine, ten or more matches played this season, most of the top clubs in Colorado are at or past the midway point of the regular season. As a result, teams are starting to settle into top 10 rankings with only minor shuffling occurring week to week.
Below are the Colorado Preps rankings for Classes 1A, 2A and 3A. Official polls from CHSAA will be released on Monday.
CLASS 1A
#1 Kit Carson (11-0)
#2 Fleming (10-1)
#3 La Veta (9-0)
#4 Holly (9-1)
#5 Otis (8-3)
#6 Flagler/Hi Plains (6-2)
#7 McClave (8-1)
#8 Briggsdale (10-2)
#9 Eads (5-2)
#10 Weldon Valley (5-5)
TEAMS TO WATCH:Â Sangre De Cristo (8-3), Wiley (7-2), Elbert (8-4), Pikes Peak Christian (8-3), Arickaree/Woodlin (8-3), Springfield (2-5), Kiowa (7-5), Belleview Christian (9-0), Dove Creek (8-2), Stratton/Liberty (6-2)
NOTES: Probably the most important match that caused movement in the rankings came Saturday as Flagler/Hi Plains scored a win over McClave (2-1). That decision caused the Cardinals to drop three spots to seventh this week. Holly and Otis both moved up as did Flagler/Hi Plains. Otis moved up one spot despite two losses as they remain unbeaten against 1A competition. Weldon Valley also gets into the rankings as they’ve won three straight since a loss to Briggsdale. They replace Wiley who was swept by top ranked Kit Carson last week.
CLASS 2A
#1Yuma (8-1)
#2 Paonia (8-1)
#3 Denver Christian (9-1)
#4 Lyons (9-4)
#5 Dayspring Christian (9-1)
#6 Swink (7-1)
#7 Wiggins (12-1)
#8 Hoehne (8-3)
#9 Simla (10-2)
#10 Dolores (8-1)
TEAMS TO WATCH:Â Rangely (9-2), Meeker (9-2), Fowler (6-2), Dawson (8-1), Holyoke (6-2), Haxtun (8-2), Rocky Ford (9-3), Telluride (9-2), Highland (9-3), Clear Creek (6-2)
NOTES: Yuma and Swink are the only two teams in the same spot as a week ago. The Indians collected an important league win over Haxtun and then survived Lyons in five sets last Friday. Swink meantime kept sole possession of first place in the Santa Fe by beating Fowler in three sets to remain sixth. Lyons also lost to Denver Christian inside the Mile High so the Lions dropped three spots to fourth allowing Paonia and Denver Christian to move up. Dayspring Christian, which lost to Lyons last week, stays behind them in the rankings. The Eagles had a tremendous week beating Simla, Hoehne and Wray to capture the Simla Tournament. Wiggins and Dolores are two newcomers this week. The Tigers are 12-1 and sit tied with Yuma and Holyoke atop the Lower Platte. Dolores, which has a key league match with Dove Creek on Tuesday, gets the nod over Rangely as they’ve beaten Telluride twice and the Panthers lost to the Miners early in the season. Wiggins replaces Fowler and Dolores joins in favor of Meeker who lost to Rangely in non-league play.
CLASS 3A
#1 Eaton (10-1)
#2 University (9-2)
#3 Bayfield (7-3)
#4 Lamar (11-1)
#5 Resurrection Christian (10-2)
#6 Valley (8-4)
#7 Lutheran (10-2)
#8 Middle Park (8-2)
#9 Machebeuf (10-2)
#10 Faith Christian (7-3)
TEAMS TO WATCH:Â Centauri (9-0), Bennett (9-1), Frontier Academy (5-2), Colorado Academy (8-4), Buena Vista (8-2), Colorado Springs Christian (5-4), Prospect Ridge (9-1), Platte Valley (4-6), Sterling (8-4), Coal Ridge (5-0)
NOTES: Several ranked teams suffered losses since our last poll so there is some slight movement. Eaton and Bayfield were both knocked off last week but neither moved off their spot as the losses came against Lewis Palmer and Piedra Vista NM. Both teams lost matches to team they’re not competing against for the 3A state championship. It’s the same scenario for Middle Park. We kept them at number eight since their loss was against 4A D’Evelyn. Lamar and Resurrection Christian each jumped one position as Valley lost to Platte Valley. Machebeuf also enters ahead of Faith Christian following a win over the Eagles. Centauri, Coal Ridge and Platte Valley are three teams difficult to rank. The Pirates are 9-0 and collected their most impressive win of the season over Pagosa Springs last week. They challenge Bayfield later this week. Coal Ridge has only played five matches and won all five but their sample size is very small. Platte Valley has wins over Valley and Lutheran but sits only 4-6 overall.