2A Boys Rankings

By: Bryan Garcia, H.B. Plant High School, [email protected]  

     
Team Rankings:

Commentary: It was a wild first week in the 2A classification! With Trinity Prep holding down a strong first place lead, Bolles could become that cardiac cat team that could be dangerous enough here down the line in November. In Region 1, Bolles is far and away the best team while West Florida Tech seems to be holding down 2nd.  With Region 2, Trinity Prep won’t allow it to get close as Lake Highland Prep and Eastside emerge to give that region some flavor. Region 3 seems to have Labelle’s name on it, but you can never count out a very good Immokalee team. Pine Crest dominates a stacked Region 4 that saw a rise in Calvary Christian this past weekend. Both Region 1 and Region 4 tied for having the most teams ranked in the top 15 with 4 apiece. As far as Satellite goes, I could not find a way to rank them as a team nor individually. It’s a great team, but with no chance of taking all of their kids to the postseason it seems like a rather moot point. This season has gotten off to a very interesting start and it appears it will stay interesting in 2015.

Rank. (Previous Rank) Team, Region = Comments

1. (1), Trinity Prep, Region 2 = Score 20 points in route to a large victory at the Trinity Prep Invitational. TP had 7 spots in the top 10 individually. With 8 guys under 18 minutes and a 16:59 average to start the season, this team’s depth will keep it well in the lead.

2. (2), Pine Crest, Region 4 = PC did not race this week. They’ve got the runner-up spot on hold as they prepare for their first meet.

3. (6), Bolles, Region 1 = After being noted as one of the youngest teams in the state last week, Bolles came out and made a statement in week 1 with its top 2 finishers being freshmen! They blew the doors off of the Ridgeview Invitational with a 31 point victory and a 41 second 1-5 split. This may not only be a team looking to contend with Pine Crest, but could work its way up to push TP.

4. (4), Labelle, Region 3 = With a runner-up finish at the Riverdale Invitational, Labelle had the best 1-5 split of any team in the state of Florida at 26 seconds! Their ability to pack run is huge and keeps them eying a top 5 finish in the fall.

5. (7), Calvary Christian, Region 4 = This team absolutely went off this past weekend, and did it without defending state champion Joel Lacy. Led by first place finisher Danny Ferro, Calvary won the TKA Lions Invitational by almost 60 points scoring just 34. With a 17:59 team average, this team just made its claim for a top 5 spot.

6. (9), West Florida Tech, Region 1 = Placing 5 guys under 18 minutes and all in the top 15, Tech came out with a big win at the Pace Invitational. They scored 41 points and had a team average of 17:36 as this team ready’s for a top 5 fight.

7. (8), Ransom Everglades, Region 4 = Ransom was the Wickham Park Jamboree runner-up with an average of 18:02. At one of the biggest meets last weekend, this team put 5 guys in the top 26 to hold off a talented Titusville team. This squad, with Gabriel Correa’s leadership, is quietly moving up in the top 10.

8. (13), Titusville, Region 4 = This team made a huge leap from the preseason as they catapulted into the top 10! With an 18:08 average and a 3rd place finish at the Wickham Park Jamboree, this team will be battling out Ransom all year and into what could be a top 10 spot.

9. (10), Immokalee, Region 3 = Immokalee did not race this week. Based on previous times, this team finds itself in the top 10.

10. (NR), Bishop Snyder, Region 1 = Coming out of left field, Bishop Snyder is riding a 4th place finish at the Ridgeview Invitational into the top 10! With an 18:07 average, this team’s 3-5 were within 4 seconds of each other. After a 17th place finish last year at the State Meet, Bishop Snyder is in the driver’s seat for another top 20 finish. 

11. (5), Bishop Kenny, Region 1 = BK placed 5th at the Ridgeview Invitational. This team was just 12 points behind Bishop Snyder and has all season to continue to grow. BK’s 18:36 average keeps them in the hunt for a top 10 finish.

12. (11), Lemon Bay, Region 3 = Lemon Bay placed 4th at their self-named Lemon Bay Invitational, with an average of 18:32. Lemon Bay is in great position to move up as the season goes along as they have 4 seniors in their top 5 looking to end their careers on a top 10 finish.

13. (15), Lake Highland Prep, Region 2 = LHP begins the 2015 season with a 6th place finish at the Deland Invitational. This team’s 2-4 are composed of sub 19 minute kids and are aiming to use that core to break into the top 15.

14. (NR), Archbishop McCarthy, Region 4 = Moving down from 3A, Archbishop McCarthy has quite the team to start the season. Last year, they were led by recent graduate Jeremy Farrell. At the Park Vista Invitational, McCarthy placed 2 guys in the top 10 that gives them a chance to finish top 15 in the fall. 

15. (NR), Eastside, Region 2 = Eastside placed 6th over the weekend at the Ridgeview Invitational with an 18:59 average. After making it to the State Meet last year, Eastside will not only be hoping for back to back state appearances but a shot at a top 15 finish.
 

Individual Rankings:

Commentary: As of course is the case with doing preseason rankings, the first week ushered in complete change from the previous one. There are 8 names in the top 25 that were not on it last week. The top has not change that much with Joel Lacy still the favorite as the defending state champion. Mason Jones, Trent Mandato, Danny Ferro, and Charles Hicks all made pretty significant moves in/into the top 10 with some of the best racing in the state. In the top 15, Patrick Salas and William Shine were big movers with both of them having impressive first races. 3 freshmen made the list, 2 of whom appear to have not run before this year. With all the new additions, this season could be one of the craziest in the last 5 years in 2A where on any given day, anyone can medal in November.

Rank. (Previous Rank) Name, Grade – Team = Time / Comments

1. (1), Joel Lacy, 12th – Calvary Chrisitan = Lacy did not race this past weekend. He is the defending state champion in 2A, and until he gets beaten, he stays on top of the hill.

2. (7), Mason Jones, 11th – Titusville = Moving up 5 spots, Jones was the runner-up at the Wickham Park Jamboree. With a time of 16:34, this young man looks poised to make some noise this fall.

3. (2), Gabriel Correa, 12th – Ransom Everglades = Correa placed 5th at the Wickham Park Jamboree with a time of 16:48. Correa finished 3rd at the State Meet last year, but don’t expect him to go down this year as he eyes a state championship.

4. (6), Trent Mandato, 11th – Trinity Prep = With a runner-up placing to Steven Cross at the Trinity Prep Invitational, Mandato brought himself back into the top 5 fold. Mandato ran 16:38 and it’s a good start for this season.

5. (4), Chas Cook, 12th – Trinity Prep = Cook was close behind teammate Mandato to place 3rd at the Trinity Prep Invitational in a time of 16:41. With the constant pushing of teammates, it is not inconceivable to see Cook move up more spots before the season ends.

6. (5), Caleb Pottorff, 11th – Lincoln Park = Pottorff did not race this week. Even with the week off, Pottorff’s track season alone puts him in a perennial top 5 finish.

7. (8), Michael Kennedy, 11th – Pine Crest = Kennedy did not race this week. With that, he still belongs deep in the top 10.

8. (NR), Danny Ferro, 10th – Calvary Christian = Ferro claimed his first high school cross country victory this past weekend winning the TKA Lions Invitational in a time of 16:40. After leaving him off the list last week, there is no denying that he belongs on it and in the top 10. 

9. (10), Antonio Gomez, 10th – Frostproof = Gomez did not race this week. Gomez had a great freshmen year and is a good pick to land in the top 10.

10. (14), Charles Hicks, 9th – Bolles = This young man is really something. As an 8th grader he made it to the State Meet in track and in his first race of his freshmen year, he ran 16:47. Hicks placed 3rd at the Ridgeview Invitational and could be poised for a big top 10 finish in November.

11. (11), Ryan Welch, 12th – Pine Crest = Welch did not run last week. Welch stayed at 11, but clearly has the ability to finish in the top 10.

12. (21), Patrick Salas, 11th – Trinity Prep = Placing 4th at the Trinity Prep Invitational, Salas finished with a time of 16:51. Salas leaped up 9 spots after the first meet and is could move even higher. 

13. (3), Jesse Millson, 12th – Trinity Prep = Millson placed 5th at the Trinity Prep Invitational over the weekend. He ran 17:06, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say I think he is still a top 5 finisher in November.

14. (15), Alejandro Ruiz, 12th – Immokalee = Ruiz did not race last week. Ruiz still holds down a top 15 spot.

15. (NR), William Shine, 12th – Archbishop McCarthy = Shine went 17:04 this weekend to place 5th at the Park Vista Invitational. Shine ran a PR of 16:01 last cross country season at Footlocker. Having him on the list makes me feel better, but there is a chance Shine could not only medal but make 2A turn upside down up top.

16. (NR), Chase Rivera, 9th – Bolles = Another Bolles Freshmen Phenom, Rivera ran 17:01 at the Ridgeview Invitational to place 5th. What is crazier than his age is that this race is his only statistic on flrunners. If this kid’s first 5k ever is 17:01, expect special things.

17. (15), Trevor Foley, 10th – Hernando = Foley did not race last week. With a great freshmen year behind him, Foley will most certainly find himself in a top 15 scenario in the fall.

18. (18), Leonal Ochoa, 11th – Berkeley Prep = Ochoa did not race last week. However, Ochoa ran 17:45 at the Crusader Gallop 5k two weekends. He had a “runaway” victory with over a minute on the second place finisher.

19. (20), Jake Gilbert, 12th – Pine Crest = Gilbert did not race last week. It was hard to justify moving him down since his times are better than those below him. Hopefully we can see him and Pine Crest in action soon.

20. (NR), Alexander Bullock, 12th – West Florida Tech = Bullock placed 2nd over the weekend at the Pace Invitational. With a time of 17:15, Bullock is looking for one good push to go top 20.

21. (24), Anderson Bobo, 12th – Lake Highland Prep = With a 17:17 and 18th place finish to start the 2015 season, Bobo is setting himself up for a good senior year. It could end the perfect way with a top 20 finish.

22. (NR), Daniel Dean, 12th – Middleton = Dean has claimed lopsided victories to start the season with both of them being by 25 seconds. With a 17:26 season best, Dean will push for a top 20 once he sees bigger meets.

23. (NR), Brandon Williams, 12th  - Chaminade-Madonna College Prep = Williams placed 3rd at the TKA Lions Invitational in a time of 17:12. Williams made it to his first State Meet last fall and is looking to make it two in a row with a potential top 25 finish.

24. (NR), Troy Smith, 9th – Rockledge = Not to be confused with the former Buckeyes quarterback, Smith was impressive with his 9th place finish at the Wickham Park Jamboree. Finishing in 17:28, this was also his only statistic on flrunners. Another unheard of freshmen becoming heard and in the top 25.

25. (NR), James Hunter, 12th – Archbishop McCarthy = Part of that 1-2 punch, Hunter ran 17:20 to place 9th at the TKA Lions Invitational. With a strong first meet and a PR to start it off, Hunter will be eying a top 25 finish.

Notable name(s) left off:

    Sidney Perry did not run the first meet at Wickham Park, although his teammates did. It is possible that he had something else going on, but something to watch for in the weeks to come.

    Omar Figueroa ran 17:50 at the Riverdale Invitational this past weekend. While the time is pretty slow, he did place 9th and it appears he may have been doing some park running. This is someone to keep an eye on.

    All of the Satellite transfers are not going to be eligible for postseason meets this fall. As good as they may be, and obviously they are good, I think the best thing to do is to see how they progress through this season and through track to see if these guys can really take Satellite to new heights.