Top 10 Class A Teams in Meets / Preseason
- Millard South
- Omaha Burke
- Columbus
- Lincoln East
- Kearney
- Papillion LaVista
- Lincoln High
- Papillion LaVista South
- Norfolk
- Bellevue East
Comments: This sets up to be a very competitive year in Class A, with several teams expected to make a run at the Class A team title in mid February in Omaha. Most of last years top squads return a lot of firepower, and I expect the top 5 teams above to all be deep and talented squads. Millard South returns 10 state qualifiers, with 6 medalists, including 3 runner-ups. I hear they have 2-3 FR studs coming in as well….great FR class @ MS! Deep. Omaha Burke will be right there as well, with 7 returning SQs, and 4 medalists, including 3 state champions, all of whom are solid favorites to win again! I gather a couple solid SQ kids transferred in as well, so Burke is right there, and could easily be #1 in Omaha come February. Columbus is a fascinating team, with a crazy 12 returning SQs, and 6 medalists, including a couple 2nds. They are definitely a threat to win it as well, provided they can fit all those kids in 1 roster! Both Lincoln East (8 SQs/4 SMs, including 2 champions expected to win again, and a 2nd) and Kearney (6 SQs/3 SMs, all 3 of which are returning State champions) are perennial powers, and should be around the 4/5 spots…if they want to challenge the top 3, they need to find a few more difference makers, which is totally possible! The 2nd half of the Top 10 features some very solid squads, but depth is an issue for most of them. Papio certainly has a lot of talent (6 SQs/3 SMs), and is well coached, and could rise higher if they can develop some upper weight kids. Lincoln High has 7 SQs/2 SMs, including champion and NU recruit Alford. Papio South (6 SQs/2 SMs) has another nice team, especially in the mid to upper weights. Norfolk is again tough (6 SQs/2 SMs) and my squad, Bellevue East (5 SQs/2 SMs) was certainly bolstered by the addition of the Grice brothers, both title threats.
Top 10 Potential teams include Grand Island (7 SQs); Omaha Central (3 SQs/2 SMs); Millard West (4 SQs/1 SM); Omaha Bryan (6 SQs/1 SM); Lincoln Pius X (8 SQs) and Lincoln SE (6 SQs).
Top 10 Class A Teams in Duals / Preseason
- Millard South
- Columbus
- Omaha Burke
- Lincoln East
- Kearney
- Papillion LaVista
- Lincoln High
- Papillion LaVista South
- Grand Island
- Norfolk
Comments: Should be an interesting year dual-wise as well in Class A, especially with the new changes to the qualifying system, and moving the State Duals to the Saturday before Districts, which a number of coaches have expressed mixed opinions on. I just hope like heck nobody gets hurt the weekend before Districts.
Team –wise, Millard South starts on top, and I bumped up Columbus to #2, due to the 12 returning SQs. The two teams dual @ Millard South January 3rd……should be a good one!
Burke will be very strong, as will Lincoln East and Kearney. All 3 might be better tourney teams than duals. The rest of the Top 10 could and probably WILL change numerous times over the season. Some of the 6-10 ranked teams may be deeper than some higher…so much to be seen with transfers, incoming FR studs, JV kids stepping onto the Varsity for the first time. Many Class A teams will field a mixed bag of veterans and youngsters…should make for an interesting year dual-wise.
Top 10 potential dual teams include Bellevue East; Omaha Central; Omaha Bryan; Lincoln Pius X; Millard West; Lincoln SE; and perhaps Gretna – good program with hard working kids.