Girls Regional Rankings - 11/14/19

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The performances produced Saturday by UIL state champions Southlake Carroll and Boerne Champion at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas, sets up an intriguing NXR South showdown Nov. 23 at Bear Branch Park in The Woodlands.

Southlake Carroll captured its first 6A state championship, the Dragons’ first title since winning 5A in 2013 and the eighth state crown in the past 20 seasons.

Boerne Champion secured its first girls state title in any classification, winning 5A after placing second last season. The Chargers had captured four boys state championships, in addition to winning Nike Cross Nationals in 2009, but the girls finally broke through, with senior Kelsie Vicknair leading the way.

Southlake Carroll has been the top team in Texas for the past two months, but has yet to square off against Boerne Champion this season.

The Dragons spread 25 seconds among their top five scorers – Jenna Holland, Katherine Mcelaney, Grace Williamson, Tatum Foreman and Abigail McIlvain – with Lydia Ko and Kaylie Cox not too far behind in a 45-92 victory over Humble Kingwood.

A young lineup supported Vicknair in a 51-80 win over Grapevine, with Boerne Champion relying on sophomores Kate Williams, Anastacia Gonzales and Katie Houck, in addition to freshman Grace Flores.

Boerne Champion was one of several programs to make an impressive move in the regional rankings this week, in addition to Muskego WI in the Heartland and North Central WA in the Northwest.

Muskego, led by runner-up Kate Sperka, joined Edina MN in securing the first two qualifying berths to Nike Cross Nationals with their efforts Sunday at NXR Heartland in Sioux Falls, S.D. Muskego became the first Wisconsin girls program since Neenah in 2011 to advance to nationals.

North Central was energized by the return of junior Allie Janke to join seniors Erinn Hill and Amelu Ruff in sweeping the top three spots at the Washington 3A final. The Indians took five of the top nine spots overall to produce a 20-point performance, setting a new Class 3A record by lowering its 21-point effort from a year ago.

North Central has an opportunity to earn its first berth to Nike Cross Nationals, and the first by any Washington girls team since 2014, with another strong showing Saturday at NXR Northwest in Boise, Idaho.

The Indians will square off against defending regional and national champions Summit OR, along with Boise ID and Jesuit OR – NXN qualifiers last season – and 2017 national fifth-place finisher Bozeman MT.

The only change atop the regional rankings occurred in the Northeast, with Champlain Valley Union VT riding the momentum of its second straight victory at the New England Championships to move ahead of Pennsylvania AAA state champion North Allegheny.

Champlain Valley Union, led by junior Alicia Veronneau, had four athletes under 20 minutes at Wickham Park in Connecticut to prevail against William Hall by a 142-173 margin.

North Allegheny edged State College Area by a 137-152 margin at Parkview Golf Course, but had only senior Hannah Lindgren and junior Keeley Mistuka eclipse the 20-minute barrier.

Depending on their performances Nov. 23 at the New Jersey Meet of Champions, Ridgewood, Middletown South and North Hunterdon have demonstrated they are all capable of competing with Champlain Valley Union, North Allegheny and State College Area when it comes to deciding NXN berths Nov. 30 at Bowdoin Park in New York.

Cuthbertson, led by runner-up Gabriella Castro, prevailed against Chapel Hill by a 67-84 margin in the North Carolina 3A final. But the top two teams in the Southeast remain Loudoun Valley VA, which placed six athletes in the top 13 at its region meet Nov. 7, along with Florida 2A winner Pine Crest and individual champion Tsion Yared.

Naperville North continued to build momentum toward a showdown Saturday with Beavercreek OH at NXR Midwest in Terre Haute, Ind., winning a fourth consecutive Illinois 3A state championship by a 90-142 margin over rival Yorkville.

Naperville North, national runner-up the past two seasons, is seeking an eighth consecutive berth to compete at NXN, with Beavercreek pursuing its first trip to Portland.

New York powers Fayetteville-Manlius and Saratoga Springs are expected to meet for the first time this season Saturday in the Class A state final in a race that became much more intriguing following the performances at their respective section meets.

After Saratoga Springs, led by sophomore Ella Kurto, placed five scorers in the top 10 at the Section 2 Championships on Nov. 4 at Saratoga Spa State Park, Fayetteville-Manlius responded Saturday with five athletes in the top eight – led by senior Claire Walters – at the Section 3 Championships at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High.

SOUTH

1. Southlake Carroll TX

2. Boerne Champion TX

3. Humble Kingwood TX

4. Prosper TX

5. Grapevine TX

SOUTHEAST

1. Loudoun Valley VA

2. Pine Crest FL

3. Cuthbertson NC

4. Bolles School FL

5. Chapel Hill NC

NORTHEAST

1. Champlain Valley Union VT

2. North Allegheny PA

3. State College Area PA

4. Ridgewood NJ

5. Middletown South NJ

NEW YORK

1. Fayetteville-Manlius

2. Saratoga Springs

3. East Aurora

4. Shenendehowa

5. North Rockland

MIDWEST

1. Beavercreek OH

2. Naperville North IL

3. East Grand Rapids MI

4. Ann Arbor Pioneer MI

5. Yorkville IL

HEARTLAND

1. Edina MN

2. Muskego WI

3. Wayzata MN

4. Sioux Falls Lincoln SD

5. Stillwater Area MN

NORTHWEST

1. Summit OR

2. North Central WA

3. Boise ID

4. Bozeman MT

5. Jesuit 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