SJS Early Season Rankings by Mike Carroll

All the top teams from SJS have had at least one meet so it feels like a good time to do a early-season rankings review:

Boys' Overall
1 (tie).      Vacaville & Jesuit
3.      Davis       
4.      Oak Ridge
5.      Bella Vista
6.      Del Oro
7.      Ponderosa
8.      McClatchy
9.      Atwater
10.    Pleasant Grove

Vacaville and Jesuit both deserve the early season #1 ranking as Jesuit looked strong, but not as dominant as last year with the transfer of Bilodeau and graduation of 4 seniors from last year's state-winning team. Vacaville looked strong at Lagoon Valley. #1 will be decided when they face each other in the sweepstakes race at Woodbridge. Davis beat Jesuit and Oak Ridge at the Soiree at SWRA meet, but Jesuit was resting 2 of their top runners, and Oak Ridge was not running their full squad. McClatchy finished lower than expected at Oakmont invitational but their top 2 runners (Heyer and Warriner) sat out. Bella Vista had a solid effort at Sierra Invite without their top runner, Calvin Fear. They will face many of their D2 rivals at the Kim Duyst next Saturday. Pleasant Grove is the surprise team of the season, and finished respectively at Oakmont and Soiree. 

D1
        1.      Davis
        2.      Oak Ridge
        3.      McClatchy
        4.      Pleasant Grove
        5.      Folsom

D2
        1.      Vacaville
        2.      Jesuit
        3.      Bella Vista
        4.      Atwater
        5.      Rio Americano/Vista Del Lago

D3
        1.      Ponderosa
        2.      Del Oro
        3.      Twelve Bridges
        4.      Oakmont
        5.      Nevada Union

D4
        1.      Christian Brothers
        2.      Colfax
        3.      Placer
        4.      Galt
        5.      St Mary's

D5
        1.      Bradshaw Christian
        2.      Westlake Charter
        3.      Ripon Christian
        4.      Argonaut
        5.      Denair

Girls' Overall:
1.      St Francis

2.      Oak Ridge
3.      Davis
4.      Golden Valley
5.      Whitney
6.      Pleasant Grove
7.      Vacaville
8.      Ponderosa
9.      Del Oro
10.     Christian Brothers

There is no doubt the #1 SJS ranking goes to St Francis, even without Turlock transfer, Ellison Williams. They will have to prove their state #1 ranking when they line up against top teams from Southern California and out-of-state competitors at Woodbridge Invitational. Oak Ridge looked impressive at Soiree and beat defending D1 Section champion Davis and D2 Section champion Whitney. Golden Valley finished 3rd behind St Francis and Oak Ridge at Oakmont Invite, led by Fernandes Cortes. Whitney and Ponderosa have a talented 2 or 3 runners but they fall off a bit after that. Christian Brothers are the strongest squads from the D4-D5 teams and finished well against bigger schools at early season meets. 

D1.
        1.      Oak Ridge
        2.      Davis
        3.      Pleasant Grove
        4.      Lincoln-Stockton
        5.      Turlock

D2.
        1.      Golden Valley
        2.      Whitney
        3.      Vacaville
        4.      Rio Americano
        5.      Granite Bay

D3.
        1.      St Francis
        2.      Ponderosa
        3.      Del Oro
        4.      Lathrop
        5.      Oakmont

D4.
        1.      Christian Brothers
        2.      Colfax
        3.      Placer
        4.      Galt
        5.      St Mary's

D5.
        1.      Westlake Charter
        2.      Golden Sierra
        3.      Ripon Christian
        4.      Argonaut
        5.      Forest hill