WAY too Early 5A Rankings 1-5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may only be June but high school programs are beginning their summer leagues and preparing for team camps. Let's take a look at who we think will be the top 5 in class 5A this upcoming season. For context, A few assumptions: There is no shift in teams that we don't already know about, there are no transfers that we don't already know about and that we keep the same playoff format. Also, these are just our guesses on how the season pans out. We will happily be proven wrong or proven right depending on how your season pans out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5- Claremore</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claremore went 28-8 for the second straight season. The Zebras have made it to back to back state tournaments. They only graduated two seniors last season but both, Claire Hardage and Ella Ramsey, were All State selections. It is the first time in school history to get two in the same season. They are returing a solid core of players such as [player_tooltip player_id='666302' first='Addison' last='Doyle'], [player_tooltip player_id='285769' first='Grace' last='Baughman'], [player_tooltip player_id='774418' first='Maise' last='Stagner-Speer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='285770' first='Doshia' last='Bittner']. They also have [player_tooltip player_id='741599' first='Ava' last='Tanner'], [player_tooltip player_id='741597' first='Ella' last='Hardage'], [player_tooltip player_id='741598' first='Alivia' last='Payne'], [player_tooltip player_id='747217' first='Tayvn' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='747216' first='Madison' last='Berger'] who all got reps on varsity to prepare them. Claremore also had [player_tooltip player_id='736675' first='Madison' last='Godding'], [player_tooltip player_id='734803' first='Bella' last='Hoisington'], Addison Bridges and [player_tooltip player_id='740699' first='Faith' last='Caffey'] all transfer in. Add in the talented freshman class with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='750961' first='Alexis' last='Freeman'], [player_tooltip player_id='750962' first='Jackie' last='Hinojosa'], [player_tooltip player_id='750960' first='Addison' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='787303' first='Lakyn' last='Fuller']. This may be the deepest Claremore has been in some time. Mind you, only two seniors again this season. If they can get the team chemistry built and find a way to replace the offense, the could be a dangerous crew at the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4- Booker T. Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BTW finished the season with an impressive 30-5 record. Their only losses came to OKC Storm, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Edmond North and finally to MSM in the state championship. This is the second straight year they met the private school out of OKC in the finals. Losing two really good players in Brenna Weaver and Allison Dotolo will make it hard to make it three straight trips. However, they have plenty of players still left on the roster than can get after it. The obvious is UNLV commit and #1 player in the class of 2027, [player_tooltip player_id='286287' first='Arriana' last='Brown']. She can will her team to a win almost single handedly at times. She won't have to though, she will have [player_tooltip player_id='573387' first='Kaidyn' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='740637' first='Lauren' last='Pero'], [player_tooltip player_id='740833' first='Brooklyn' last='Dalgarn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='741359' first='Paisley' last='Leyva'] all to chip in and help out. They figure out the setting void and have role players tep up, they have a chance to return to the ship!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3- Bishop McGuinness</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Irish havent missed a playoff in, well im not even sure. Head Coach Kelli Miller has this program reloading year after year and always in the title conversation. A relaticley small senior class last season is going to spell good news for how much court experience is returning. The have a some top tier prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='741588' first='Elise' last='Grim'], [player_tooltip player_id='284929' first='Charlotte' last='Nelson'], [player_tooltip player_id='283004' first='Merritt' last='Fuller'], [player_tooltip player_id='748672' first='Arielle' last='Yapi'], LBSU Commit [player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner']. Dont overlook players like [player_tooltip player_id='752755' first='Margaret' last='LoPorto'] and [player_tooltip player_id='752471' first='Abby' last='Buckelew'] who had really solid club seasons. [player_tooltip player_id='773617' first='Amelia' last='Metz'] and Christina Kunnath are very young rising stars that could add even more deptch to the mix. Bishop McGuinness is always in the mix for a title and this year will be no different.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2- Oklahoma Christian School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints of OCS went 25-12 last season. They fought through a tough schedule all season long and it paid off in the end. They handily ran through their regional and comfortably won the first round of state. Unfortunately they just ran into the buzzsaw that is MSM. However this season could be different with the pure amount of production they return. They only lose 1 starter from last year's squad and return a huge senior group that includes multiple college commits. They will return players like [player_tooltip player_id='746969' first='Piper' last='Stitt'], TU commit Rachel Megan, UT Tyler Commit [player_tooltip player_id='505685' first='Miley' last='Myers'], Ava Burns, Ava Wilson, and [player_tooltip player_id='301379' first='Rylee' last='Roof']. They also have the #1 MB in the 2028 Class with [player_tooltip player_id='739808' first='Marley' last='Robbins']. [player_tooltip player_id='752749' first='Reese' last='Harjo'] had a great club season and will find herself getting some quality minutes this season. If there is a season to do something special, it's this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1- Mount St. Mary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MSM went 39-1 on the year with its only loss to the #1 team out of Texas down at Volleypalooza. This program has won the state championship every year they have been in 5A since 2020. That was the final year of Victory Chrsitian's 5 peat. Good news for the rest of class 5A is they will graduate Washington State commit and Gatorade Player of the Year for Oklahoma, Liv Ward. They also graduate Georgia Ahlert and Mackenzie Bass, both of which were starters. That senior group had a 155-12 record. Bad news is they are still loaded with players like [player_tooltip player_id='697434' first='Isabella' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='741335' first='Anna' last='Spurlock'], [player_tooltip player_id='750189' first='Emma' last='Fudickar'], [player_tooltip player_id='281202' first='Annabell' last='Headrick'], [player_tooltip player_id='752538' first='Cheyenne' last='Denwalt'], and oh yeah D1 commit [player_tooltip player_id='253948' first='Ella' last='Hale']. They have a standard to meet, they have done it many times before and "Big Game James" always finds a way to get the most out of his team. They will be the favorites until someone can dethrone them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good luck to all the players and programs on the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->