PreSeason Team Rankings

Maybe I am jumping the gun with these posts since the first real meet (Lodi Flame) still almost 2 weeks away (8/26); but heck, I am excited to see some racing!

Tonight I am ranking the top StanCo teams based on last year's XC and track results and who returned from those programs. As I stated in the individual Preseason write ups, newcomers almost always play a big factor in the varsity girls' teams...but I am not yet privy to that knowledge.

PRESEASON VG RANKING

Fife, Langley, Campos, and Mitchell should lead the Huskies back to State

1. Hughson--The Huskies return their top four runners from a team that finished first in the final StanCo rankings last year. That team also qualified for State. To quote Coach Bernard, this year's team has "higher goals than just qualifying for State." So who returns? None other than All StanCo performers Abigayle Mitchell, Emily Fife, and Kinsey Langley. Add to that Esmeralda Campos who recorded times of 5:37 and 12:28 in track. Coach Bernard also scored a couple of solid new recruits. I believe this year's team is significantly stronger than last year's and should roll through the TVL and probably on to State.

Bickel and Krieger should lead the Knights to the MMC title

2. Downey--The Knights return 6 of their top nine runners from the team that won the MMC last year and finished 7th in the loaded D2 section meet. They will be led by a largely junior squad that includes PreSeason All StanCo selections Esmeralda Aguayo, Makaelyn Bickel, and Katie Krieger. They should win the MMC and qualify once again for sections.

Fredeen, Salsig and Varella will push the Bulldogs

3. Turlock--The Bulldogs return 5 members of a team that was 11th in D1 section last year and won the CCC. They should be led by All StanCo PreSeason selection Maria Varela with the help of top performers Ade Fredeen and Hope Salsig. It may be rocky going at first as Salsig recovers from an injury suffered in track last season. If she can get healthy they should qualify for the section championship meet.

Perillo and Young will help lead the Panthers

4. Modesto--The Lady Panthers return only three of their top seven runners, but they are good ones (Kerry Young, Hilda Perez, and Aryana Perillo). Needless to say they will need some help from newbies. However Modesto is the largest school in the area and they always manage to find a way to compete at a high level.

Briseida Garcia may be the best of the StanCo ladies

5. Gregori--The Jaguars are led by Briseida Garcia, the top returning distance runner from the last season. Oh did I mention that she is only a soph. She should roll through the MMC and definitely challenge for an individual qualifying spot to State. Okay but she will need at least 4 quality team mates, and I believe that she will find them in newcomers and underclassmen. Gregfori may slip past MoHi as the season progresses.

A pack of Bruin underclassmen from last season

6. Riverbank--The Bruins lost All StanCo selections Kim Ruvalcaba and Stephanie Bernal. Other than Alondra Hernandez I am unsure what they will be able to piece together. That is, I am uncertain whether or not some of their non-graduates will run this season. However I do know their coach, Monte Wood; and he always has a quality team that is prepared to compete. I don't think this year will be any different.


PRESEASON VB RANKINGS

Modesto's Perez, J Orendain, L Orendain, and Duquette

1. Modesto--The Panthers return 3 All StanCo selections (Josue Perez, Alan Guerrero, and Jose Orendain) and 5 runners from a team that won the MMC and finished 3rd in the D1 Section meet. They should repeat as the MMC Champions and finish in the top 5 in the Section once again.

Esquivel and Santiesteban are much improved for the Huskies

2. Hughson--The Huskies lost two of their top six from a sqaud that battled for the TVL title last season. This year they should easily take the TVL and compete strongly for a berth to State. Carson Boice, Jaymie Jackson, Josue Esquivel, and Dalton Santiesteban should lead them through the season.

M Reeves leads Miller, Middaugh, and Prado of Oakdale

3. Gregori--The Jags graduated only one of their top ten from last season. I would have them second (and they may be there by the end of the season) but the report is that several supporting runners from last year's squad are either out of shape or not running. That is the bad news. The good news is that they have some very solid new-comers. None the less they should be led by PreSeason All StanCo selections Santiago Ruiz and Mason Reeves.

Prado and Crescenti should help lead the Mustangs

4. Oakdale--The Mustangs return almost the whole team. Last year the mix of mostly Sophs and a couple of Jrs struggled to match expectations in VOL competition. With an extra year of maturity I expect the group (Justin Crescenti, Ben Miller, Cade Middaugh, James Forkner, Russell Pabalan, Daniel Prado, and others),  to challenge in the VOL and secure a berth in the Section Championship.

Benavides is the top returning Knight

5. Downey--The Knights lost six of their top ten from last season. Additionally sub-10 min 3200m runner Inteus Schiavo moved to Bend, Oregon. What does that leave? Well they should be led by PreSeason All StanCo selection Moises Benavides. Additionally Rodrigo Aguilar (10:18) and Sammy Gutierrez (4:56), Christian Gutierrez (4:56), Lock Names (2:11), and Ryan Crisp (2:12) will round out  a team with both potential and limited varsity experience.

Bosquez will lead the Bulldogs

6. Turlock--The Bulldogs should be led by PreSeason All StanCo selections David Bosquez and Eric Alvarez. Add to that a very solid Jack Wooley (10:49), they should be tough up front. The big question mark is who will step into the void left by a huge graduating class to fill out the rest of the team.