Class 1 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1 has been an interesting one to start the year. Three teams are still undefeated but Advance will stay the crème of the crop at this point. Winning the Dig for Life Tournament has sealed the Hornets in the top spot.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Advance Hornets 14-0-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You go in and win the Dig for Life Tournament knocking off bigger schools while doing so then you stay on top. At this point, I don't think there is a Class 1 school in the state that can stop the Hornets. Repeat Class 1 Champions is in the works.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Galena Bears 18-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the year the Bears make their first final four. [player_tooltip player_id='234465' first='Kaesha' last='Walter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='234466' first='Melanie' last='Rice'] have been unstoppable in the middle. Very possible they could hit the playoffs without a loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Jasper Eagles 17-0-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles are having one of the best seasons in program history having won the first 17. They knocked off a good Class 2 Diamond program 2-0 in the finals of the Lamar Classic. [player_tooltip player_id='234361' first='Crystal' last='Smith'] is a ridiculously good middle for the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Northwest Mustangs 10-1-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only loss is to Class 4 Warrensburg and when you can go on the road and sweep Santa Fe then you are doing something right. Rumor has it that's the first time Northwest has beaten Santa Fe on the road and they did so convincingly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>St. Joseph Christian Lions 9-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Led by 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='490137' first='Scarlett' last='Ott'] the Lions have been on fire early. The only loss is to Class 4 Savannah and has two wins over East Atchison.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Leopold Wildcats 9-2-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leopold has been a Class 1 power for decades and makes a return to the rankings with a great start to their season. Currently 9-2-2 they have only lost to Advance and Perryville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Clarkton Reindeer 11-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarkton has a couple of big wins against Class 1 teams in sweeps of Bell City and Lesterville. Gideon, Valle, Dexter, and Saxony are the only defeats. [player_tooltip player_id='234483' first='Bree' last='Winchester'] is the top kill leader.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Appleton City Bulldogs 10-3-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='237005' first='Olivia' last='Engeman'] and Kaylee O'Farrell are a tough duo to stop for Appleton City. The only losses have come to El Dorado Springs, Sherwood, and Buffalo all schools at least twice Appleton City's size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. <strong>East Atchison Wolves 9-3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Joseph Christian owns two wins over the Wolves and the other loss is to South Holt. [player_tooltip player_id='737692' first='Lizzie' last='Schlueter'] and Tommi Martin do a lot of damage for the Wolves and look to make a return trip to the final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. <strong>Bell City Cubs 3-5-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cubs have some tough losses early in the season and more than last year, but they've not lost to crème puffs. Woodland, Advance, Clarkton, Saxony, and [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] Central are the defeats. They beat Lesterville 2-0 and the loss to [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] Central was 13-25, 29-31. A rematch with Clarkton and then a match with Gideon will determine if they can right the ship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->