There’s nothing quite as irrelevant as preseason rankings in any level of sports. But they’re fun. Like a reality show turned all the way up to stupid.
The Colorado High School Activities Association released their preseason rankings for boys’ soccer this past week. And for the most part, it was filled with the “expected,” a running list of year-in and year-out powers. But there also were a few rankings and possible snubs that deserve more attention.
For this week’s look at the sport, let’s dive into a couple of them from each classification.
Class 5A
No 1 Legacy: The Lightning, in a league with longtime powers in Boulder and Broomfield, and recent juggernaut Fairview, have certainly earned their due over the past handful of seasons.
A year ago, they won the Front Range League, earning the top seed in the state postseason before a ridiculous effort from Ralston Valley keeper Evan Bierman buried them in the quarterfinals. But this team will need some not-so familiar names to step up this fall if it wants to remain as one of the top powers in the state.
Gone from the 2022 team is its goalie, entire backline and star scorer Cooper Stephens, coach Tony Romano said.
Look for senior midfielder Lucas Montera to assert himself as one of the best players in the state. Last year, he had five goals and 10 assists.
Unranked Fairview: The Knights probably deserve better after reaching the state title game in two of the last three seasons.
True, they graduated a good bit of talent following their runner-up finish to Denver East last fall, including star goalie Shane Williams, who is now at Colgate. But there’s some nice returners back in their lineup. The likes of 5A first-team defender Cole Hamilton, and midfielder Tate Ruzzin, who was one of the big offensive contributors in last year’s postseason run, among them.
In their opener against Grandview Friday, senior Oscar Graycar scored twice and new starting goalie Sawyer Wells had 11 saves in a 4-1 victory.
Class 4A
No. 2 Silver Creek: The Raptors have never reached the state finals, but they’ve made a number of deep runs in the postseason since their last losing season in 2015.
This fall, they’re led by standout seniors in their leading scorer of the past two seasons, Kael Pacaro, and central midfielder Fabrizio Giovenzana, who coach Rob Johnson said everything runs through.
And they’re best talent might be sophomore Kaden Riedel. He’s proven himself as one of Colorado’s best young players on the club scene for Boulder County United.
No. 6 Battle Mountain: One way to turn heads — beat the defending 5A champs in Game No. 1 of the season.
The Huskies reached the state title game last year before falling to two-time champ Northfield, then opened this year with a strong statement in a 1-0 win over Denver East Friday.
Sophomore Jakob Methvin, after having six goals and five assists as a freshman, scored the winner.
Class 3A
No. 1 Jefferson Academy: The Jaguars will have a lot of questions to answer as their second coach in program history, Ryan Proctor, takes the helm.
From last year’s quarterfinals team, they graduated their top-three point-getters, who were all 3A first-teamers.
They open the season at Aurora West College Prep Academy Wednesday.
No. 4 Peak to Peak: Like placing artwork on a naked wall, the Pumas could make the case to be, “a little higher. Little higher.”
Last year, they lost to Metro League-mate Colorado Academy in the finals. From it, they returned nine of 11 starters, including 3A first-teamers Jorden Gyaltsen and Matthew Wolsko.
They’re 2-0 this season with shutout wins over No. 8 KIPP Denver Collegiate and The Pinnacle.
Class 2A
No. 4 Lotus School for Excellence: Fredy Peraza was just a junior last season when he scored the second-most goals in the state, netting 38, as the Meteors finished runner-up for a second straight season.
A lot more will be known about this year’s team when it travels to face defending champ No. 1 Vail Mountain Sept. 1. Two of LSE’s five losses in 2022 came to the Gore Rangers, including a 2-1 result in the finals.
No. 6 Bishop Machebeuf: The Buffaloes return their top goal scorer from last fall in Jorge Valdes, who had 22 of them as he helped the Denver program reach the state semifinals as 2A’s No. 2-seed.
Going 16-2, the Buffs outscored teams 118-11. Their two losses came to 3A Kent Denver in non-league play and the Lotus School for Excellence in the playoffs.
They open 2023 at No. 9 Manual Thursday.
