The first state rankings for the 2020 the season have been released by the NYSSWA. Below are the WNY teams that made the cut:
Class AA
No teams ranked
Class A
Park #2
Canisius #3
Health Sciences #5
St. Joe's #22
East #24
Class B
Cardinal O'Hara #9
Olean #11
Allegany-Limestone #23
Class C
Tapestry #3
Middle College #6
Randolph #7
Ellicottville #15
Class D
Panama #2
Clymer #8
According to the rankings...
- The Class AA Far West Regional won't be of much interest to the rest of the state. No teams from Section VI or Section V even cracked the Top 25 in the opening rankings, although Rochester does have five AA teams in Honorable Mention. There are only nine public schools outside of NYC in the Class AA Top 25.
- The difference between Class AA and Class A must be pretty significant. Park's loss to a non-Top 25 Class AA team at McQuaid on Friday night was basically viewed as a non-story and had no impact on the rankings. The Pioneers remained in the same #2 spot they'd have been in if they'd won - behind the defending Federation champs from Albany Academy, who they'll face in the postseason in a one-game playoff for the right to reach the Federation Tournament as the NYSAIS representative.
- The #2 and #3 teams in NYS Class A will not play each other twice this year. Or even once. Unless it's for the Class A Federation title.
- The good news is, the #5 team in NYS Class A will play #2 and #3. Health Sciences debuts in the 2020 state rankings higher than they've ever been ranked in just its second year competing as a Class A school.
- St. Joe's is back in the state rankings for the first time in a long time at #22 with losses to the #5 and #8 teams in Class A (Health & Holy Trinity) keeping them from an even higher spot.
- East is good at any level. The Panthers, who have won state titles in Class C & Class D, are a Class A school once again and a Top 25 one at that. And according to these rankings, it's an East vs. Health Sciences Class A2 Final at Buff State.
- The two best Class B squads from WNY are the same ones from last season, just a little farther down the pecking order to begin the year. O'Hara & Olean (#9 & #11 respectively) were top 5 Class B schools all season in 2019.
- Allegany-Limestone wins Class B2 this season - they are the only team from that classification and considered better than the likes of Iroquois, East Aurora, Timon, and Fredonia by the state.
- Tapestry is going to Glens Falls! The Thunderhawks are the highest ranked team from the western region of the state.
- Holland's 16-point win over Olmsted wasn't that impressive. Despite a 3-0 start that includes the before mentioned victory, the Dutchmen didn't crack the top 15. It doesn't mean they won't be ranked later on though - at some point expect the state rankings to magically expand to 20 teams in Class C. For now, only 15 teams are worthy, including the 4-0 Eagles from Ellicottville, who visit Tapestry on Wednesday.
- Panama gets one game closer to heartbreak. The Panthers reached the Class D state semifinal in 2019, but with their #2 ranking to start this season, Panama is now in line to lose the state championship game to defending champion Harrisville.
Click HERE for complete NYSSWA State Rankings
-centercourt
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