Well, might as well get this thread started. Sure, we still have an entire offseason for possible coaching changes, transfers, etc but as of this moment here would be my predictions for the 2023 IVC season:
South
I think the South has the potential to be a fun division next year. Garaway loses a bunch and will come back to the pack but will still be pretty good. I think the south could be as competitive (maybe not as good but balanced) as it was in 2020.
1. Indian Valley - They were a "year away" heading into this year and they had a lot of young talent.
2. Garaway - They do lose a lot but once again they still had a bunch of good players returning.
3. Sandy Valley - Almost all of their IVC awards winners return and Petro, Davis and Gilland are a great skill trio.
4. Ridgewood - You know they will be well coached but where will the offense come from?
5. Claymont - Things were exponentially better in Mustang land this season but still a challenge to get to the top half of the South.
6. Tusky Valley - They seem to be getting worse by the year and they lose their only productive player. Massive rebuild ahead. Strange they are this bad.
North
As a division, the North was absolutely brutal in 2022. Hopefully the league will be much improved in 2023.
1. Newcomerstown - Breakthrough 2022 with almost all underclassmen. The playoffs showed how far away we still are but in the North we are the favorites IMO.
2. Malvern - Once again, they return several key players and Malvern always seems to have good athletes. Malvern @ Newcs will be game of the year.
3. Buckeye Trail - Let's hope Trail has lightened up the schedule a bit in 2023. They weren't great in 2022 but the schedule was brutal.
4. East Canton - When I watched them play the last two years I felt like their talent was better than the results. Am I wrong?
5. Strasburg - Every player who got an IVC award returns. If they can get a organized, responsible coach they can win 2-3 games maybe.
6. TCC - 2022 was a total disaster for the Saints and I'm not sure they are going to be any better in 2023. Just having a team might be a success.
South
I think the South has the potential to be a fun division next year. Garaway loses a bunch and will come back to the pack but will still be pretty good. I think the south could be as competitive (maybe not as good but balanced) as it was in 2020.
1. Indian Valley - They were a "year away" heading into this year and they had a lot of young talent.
2. Garaway - They do lose a lot but once again they still had a bunch of good players returning.
3. Sandy Valley - Almost all of their IVC awards winners return and Petro, Davis and Gilland are a great skill trio.
4. Ridgewood - You know they will be well coached but where will the offense come from?
5. Claymont - Things were exponentially better in Mustang land this season but still a challenge to get to the top half of the South.
6. Tusky Valley - They seem to be getting worse by the year and they lose their only productive player. Massive rebuild ahead. Strange they are this bad.
North
As a division, the North was absolutely brutal in 2022. Hopefully the league will be much improved in 2023.
1. Newcomerstown - Breakthrough 2022 with almost all underclassmen. The playoffs showed how far away we still are but in the North we are the favorites IMO.
2. Malvern - Once again, they return several key players and Malvern always seems to have good athletes. Malvern @ Newcs will be game of the year.
3. Buckeye Trail - Let's hope Trail has lightened up the schedule a bit in 2023. They weren't great in 2022 but the schedule was brutal.
4. East Canton - When I watched them play the last two years I felt like their talent was better than the results. Am I wrong?
5. Strasburg - Every player who got an IVC award returns. If they can get a organized, responsible coach they can win 2-3 games maybe.
6. TCC - 2022 was a total disaster for the Saints and I'm not sure they are going to be any better in 2023. Just having a team might be a success.