Girls Regional Rankings - 10/31/19

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Although Arapahoe winning its first Class 5A title was the feel-good story of the Colorado High School Activities Association state championships Saturday, the most outstanding performance that came out of Norris-Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs was from Niwot in the Class 4A final.

The Cougars took over the top spot in the Southwest, just ahead of Lone Peak UT, which also produced an impressive effort Oct. 23 with Eliza Arrington, Eliza Mason, Reagan Gardner and MacKenzie Meldrum all finishing in the top six to capture its first Utah High School Activities Association 6A state championship at Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake City.

Led by 4A champion Samrawit Dishon, Niwot placed five scorers in the top 13 – joining Amelia Philofsky, Madison Shults, Taylor James and Joelle McDonald – and was the dominant team in the merge of all four Colorado championship races combined. Battle Mountain, the 4A runner-up led by Grace Johnson and Elliot Pribramsky, was just ahead of 5A winner Arapahoe, which had three freshmen – Ava Escorcia, Ava Mitchell and Emily Lamontagne – among its top five scorers to prevail against Cherry Creek and 5A individual champion Riley Stewart.

Several other regions had significant movement based on district, regional and state results, especially in New York, with three new teams completing the top five behind perennial powers Fayetteville-Manlius and Saratoga Springs.

East Aurora, led by sophomore Megan McLaughlin, produced an impressive effort at the ECIC Championships and Greenwich Central was dominant at the Wasaren League Championships, bringing in teams from Class B and C to join Class A programs Fayetteville-Manlius, Saratoga Springs and newcomer Shaker, which finished ahead of Shenendehowa at the Suburban Council Championships.

Coppell, considered one of the top teams in the South at the beginning of the season, overcame a slow start in September by demonstrating its depth with a runner-up performance behind Texas UIL 6A state title favorite Southlake Carroll at the Region 1 Championships. 

Even without its usual lineup, Loudoun Valley VA still rolled behind sophomore Ava Gordon at the Dulles District Championships, maintaining its advantage in the Southeast over Florida powers Pine Crest and The Bolles School, along with North Carolina programs Chapel Hill and Cuthbertson.

Champlain Valley Union VT continued to build momentum in the Northeast following its 11th consecutive Division 1 state title, with Middletown South joining Ridgewood in representing New Jersey in the top five after a strong showing at the Shore Conference Championships.

Beavercreek OH placed four athletes in the top five in its Division 1 Regional, the final tuneup for the Beavers in preparation for Saturday’s state championships in Hebron. Michigan will also hold its Lower Peninsula state meet Saturday in Brooklyn, with Illinois holding section competition before its Nov. 9 state finals on the road to NXR Midwest.

Lincoln East joined a talented quartet of Minnesota programs in the Heartland after repeating as Nebraska Class A state champion, with freshman Angelina Schutz leading five scorers in the top 15 for the Spartans. Edina secured another victory over Wayzata at the Minnesota Section 6AA Championships, with Stillwater Area and St. Michael-Albertville cruising to convincing wins in their respective sectionals.

Bozeman MT had six runners finish in the top 12, led by senior Terra Trom placing second, to secure a 12th Class AA state title in 13 years, continuing its march toward a Northwest Regional showdown with the Oregon trio of Summit, Jesuit and Lincoln, along with Boise ID and possibly a resurgent North Central WA lineup, depending on the health of junior Allie Janke.

Sage Creek and Saugus, both in the preseason national top 50, are both bolstering their lineups at the right time in California with veteran athletes returning from injuries. Sage Creek relied on senior Skyler Wallace to repeat as Mt. SAC team sweepstakes champion by prevailing in the spotlight race on the opening day of competition, with Saugus taking second behind seven-time sweepstakes champion Great Oak in the marquee race Saturday. Despite Newbury Park suffering a pair of narrow setbacks this season to St. Francis Sacramento, the eligibility of Hailey Golmon, combined with the improved depth demonstrated by the Panthers have them primed for a strong postseason run.

SOUTH

1. Southlake Carroll TX

2. Coppell TX

3. Grapevine TX

4. Flower Mound TX

5. Boerne Champion TX

SOUTHEAST

1. Loudoun Valley VA

2. Pine Crest FL

3. Chapel Hill NC

4. Cuthbertson NC

5. The Bolles School FL

NORTHEAST

1. North Allegheny PA

2. Champlain Valley Union VT

3. Ridgewood NJ

4. Middletown South NJ

5. State College Area PA

NEW YORK

1. Fayetteville-Manlius

2. Saratoga Springs

3. East Aurora

4. Shaker

5. Greenwich Central

MIDWEST

1. Beavercreek OH

2. Naperville North IL

3. Downers Grove South IL

4. Ann Arbor Pioneer MI

5. Petoskey MI

HEARTLAND

1. Stillwater Area MN

2. Edina MN

3. Wayzata MN

4. St. Michael-Albertville MN

5. Lincoln East NE

NORTHWEST

1. Summit OR

2. Boise ID

3. Bozeman MT

4. Jesuit OR

5. Lincoln OR

SOUTHWEST

1. Niwot CO

2. Lone Peak UT

3. Battle Mountain CO

4. Arapahoe CO

5. Cherry Creek CO

CALIFORNIA

1. Great Oak

2. Buchanan

3. Sage Creek

4. Saugus

5. Newbury Park