Week 8 Rankings: Who Is The Best Of The Best?



Take a long peek at Tony Jones and Alex G's week 8 rankings

3A Boys-



1. Elmhurst (York)
2. Hinsdale Central
3. Arlington Heights (Hersey)
4. Chicago Lane Tech
5. Orland Park (Sandburg)
6. O’Fallon
7. Naperville (Neuqua Valley)
8. Winnetka (New Trier)
9. Wheaton-Warrenville South
10. New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)
11. LaGrange (Lyons Twp.)
12. Naperville North
13. Downers Grove North
14. Palatine
15. Wilmette (Loyola Academy)
16. Chicago (St. Ignatius)
17. Edwardsville
18. Buffalo Grove
19. Barrington
20. Mt. Prospect (Prospect)
21. Batavia
22. Park Ridge (Maine South)
23. Roselle (Lake Park)
24. Naperville Central
25. Oswego East

Tony Prepster’s quick thoughts: the season is quickly coming to a boiling point as the state series is on the horizon. In looking at the results from this past week, it was evident that many schools put their best efforts into winning their league titles.  In effect, it was status quo for most of last week’s top 10 teams. However, there was one school in particular, O’Fallon, that had a bit of trouble in getting a smooth win.  The Panthers only won 27-29 against nemesis Edwardsville and on the surface that looks damaging to a state champion run for the pre-season #1 team.  But if you look closely at the scoring ledger of the Southwestern Conference meet there are only six finishers. Coach Jon Burnett had to pull one of his top runners, Evan Wesslund, out of the race because of an Achilles Heel flare up… it will be interesting to see some of the same teams re-matching for the regionals.

3A Girls-



1. Naperville North
2. Palatine
3. Winnetka (New Trier)
4. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)
5. Hinsdale Central
6. O’Fallon
7. LaGrange (Lyons Twp.)
8. Downers Grove South
9. Geneva
10. Barrington
11. Wheaton-Warrenville South
12. Naperville Central
13. Lockport
14. Downers Grove North
15. Hoffman Estates
16. Schaumburg
17. Naperville (Neuqua Valley)
18. Chicago (St. Ignatius)
19. Minooka
20. Wilmette (Loyola Academy)
21. Oak Park-River Forest
22. Lake Zurich
23. Crystal Lake South
24. Libertyville
25. Edwardsville
25. Cary-Grove

Tonyprepster’s thoughts: top ranked Naperville North took care of business on Friday afternoon against some pretty tough competition in the Dupage Valley Conference. It is clear they will be the team to beat as the state series is finally here.  The ranked teams 2-5 have an opportunity to get a state trophy fairly easy. Palatine is incredibly strong with its pack smashing teams with amazing splits every time out. New Trier has front runner junior Mimi Smith running as an individual state contender. Glenbard West will begin life with their ace senior Madeline Perez back in the fold. Hinsdale Central is looking strong with freshman Alexa Haffe leading the way.  But there is one team on a separate island. O’Fallon is a solid team but it will remain to see a team from the southern sector of the state to step up on the prime time stage. The 1987 E. St. Louis (Lincoln) squad is the only team from south of Interstate 80 that has won a state trophy (state runner-up to Hoffman Estates)… watch out for a deep, deep 25 and beyond girls field go into combat this weekend!

2A Boys-



1. Lansing (Illiana Christian)
2. Mahomet-Seymour
3. Vernon Hills
4. Yorkville
5. Normal (University)
6. Crystal Lake Central
7. Chicago Jones Prep
8. Dixon
9. Metamora
10. Rock Island (Alleman)
11. Lisle (Benet Academy)
12. Springfield
13. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)
14. Chatham-Glenwood
15. Bensonville (Fenton)
16. Champaign Central
17. Maple Park (Kaneland)
18. Belvidere North
19. Dunlap
20. Waterloo

Tonyprepster’s thoughts: IC continues to roll through the season with a dominating performance at their conference meet. They will have to wait until the state championship to duel Mahomet-Seymour and Vernon Hills.  Chicago Jones Prep dropped a few spots but don’t sleep on the Eagles as they look to defend their state title. They will bring up a few of their super sophomores for the post-season run.

2A Girls-

1. Yorkville
2. Normal (University)
3. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)
4. Crystal Lake Central
5. Highland
6. Vernon Hills
7. Belvidere North
8. Lake Forest
9.  Woodstock
10. Maple Park (Kaneland)
11. Lemont
12. Metamora
13. Mattoon
14. Mahomet-Seymour
15. Chatham-Glenwood
16. Dunlap
17. Lombard (Montini)
18. Springfield
19. Normal West
20. West Chicago (Wheaton Academy)

Tonyprepster’s thoughts: defending state champion Yorkville enjoyed an easy time at conference.  The Lady Foxes led by sophomore Skyler Bollinger are a prohibitive favorite to advance to the sectional round even if they ran a completely different top 7 at regionals. Normal U High is lurking and waiting for Yorkville to slip. How about Glenbard South? They are getting well physically and mentally at the right time.  Look at for their star sophomore Diane Lipa to get rolling.


1A Boys-



1. Monticello
2. Tolono (Unity)
3. Winnebago
4. Shelbyville
5. Rochester
6. Elmwood-Brimfield
7. St. Joseph (Ogden)
8. Tremont
9. Sterling (Newman Catholic)
10. Rockford Christian
11. Urbana (University)
12. Champaign (St. Thomas More)
13. Stanford (Olympia)
14. Mt. Zion
15. Freeburg
16. El Paso-Gridley
17. Pleasant Plains
18. Paxton-Buckley-Loda
19. Liberty
20. Nashville

Alex's thoughts: Monticello and Tolono (Unity) continue to duel as the top teams in the state.  The Sages got the best of Unity at the Okaw Conference meet.  It is not done yet between these titans.


1A Girls-

1.  Decatur (St. Teresa)
2.  Rochester
3.  Monticello
4.  St. Joseph-Ogden
5.  Eureka
6.  Chicago (Latin)
7.  Tolono (Unity)
8.  Liberty
9.  Macomb
10.  Henry (H.-Senachwine)
11.  Freeburg
12.  Litchfield
13.  Elmwood-Brimfield
14.  Monmouth-Roseville
15.  Urbana (University)
16.  Downs (Tri-Valley)
17.  Ottawa (Marquette)
18.  Kankakee (Mcnamara)
19.  Carlinville
20.  Champaign (St. Thomas More)

Alex's thoughts: St. Teresa is ready to pull the plug on the state's best competition after handing rival Monticello another defeat at the Okaw Conference meet.  Rochester beat some quality teams in their Central State Eight Conference meet that featured several ranked 2A clubs. It will be interesting to see how the Rockets fare against St. Teresa and Monticello at state.