MatchPoint
Active member
Any thoughts on front runners for next season? Seems obvious, but I’m thinking Ignatius and X (young talent with Ragon and Taggart) are the major players in D1, with McNick (Only losing one senior) the favorite in D2.
2025 HS Season
- Thread starter MatchPoint
- Start date
MyNameIsDoug?
Well-known member
In D1, I think Elder could get back into that top tier. Part of that is X and Moe rebuilding a bit, but the vast majority of their lineup returns and Brady Kelly got valuable time this year on Varsity in a 6-2. They need their MHs to make a leap, but you can’t discount experience. Iggy also has to be up there with their young guys they have coming back. X will be good with guys like Taggart, Schulte, Soloria, etc., but they have a lot to replace and I’m not sure who the next setter is? Dark horse is Walnut Hills. Their entire core is back from a solid season, but would like to see them schedule tougher OOC. They can’t help their conference, but can ratchet up the intensity outside of that.
In D2, it’s gotta be McNick and McNick’s to lose. Fenwick, St. Charles and Roger Bacon all lose a ton and those seemed to be the next teams after McNick (obvious on St. Charles). My dark horse in D2 is Chaminade-Julienne. Very young team this past year with underclassmen at almost every position and have an absolute stud in Blumenstok. Realistically, don’t think they get past McNick, but could give them a hard time and will face them twice in conference play
In D2, it’s gotta be McNick and McNick’s to lose. Fenwick, St. Charles and Roger Bacon all lose a ton and those seemed to be the next teams after McNick (obvious on St. Charles). My dark horse in D2 is Chaminade-Julienne. Very young team this past year with underclassmen at almost every position and have an absolute stud in Blumenstok. Realistically, don’t think they get past McNick, but could give them a hard time and will face them twice in conference play
MyNameIsDoug?
Well-known member
Counting on some off-season progression from all of those guys a bit to iron out inconsistencies and hitting smart despite being undersized. Libero is the most interesting position to me for them
MyNameIsDoug?
Well-known member
Some pretty big changes in divisional alignment this year. No teams moved from D2 to D1, but I’m counting 18 that moved from D1 to D2 for an even split between divisions at 62 apiece.
Some notable schools that moved to D2:
Loveland
Brecksville
Mount Vernon
Briggs
Walsh Jesuit
LaSalle
In the Central region, normally dominated by St. Charles, SFDS and Watterson, they now have to deal with Mount Vernon and Briggs. I’d expect MV to come out of the region this year.
In the Southwest, which already includes McNick, Roger Bacon, Chaminade, Badin, Taylor, Alter, Carroll and Fenwick, they now add in Loveland, Edgewood and LaSalle. This region is gonna be a bloodbath this year. McNick should still be the heavy favorite, but adding in LaSalle and Loveland along with Alter and CJ being improved should make things interesting.
In the Northeast, which has sent new programs to state the past 2 years in Independence, they now add Brecksville, Steele, Firestone and Walsh Jesuit. This feels like Brecksville’s to lose.
Some big initial changes and always a chance other schools will add programs this year too! Will be interesting to see who adds programs and if that’ll change divisional alignment at all. Exciting times!
Some notable schools that moved to D2:
Loveland
Brecksville
Mount Vernon
Briggs
Walsh Jesuit
LaSalle
In the Central region, normally dominated by St. Charles, SFDS and Watterson, they now have to deal with Mount Vernon and Briggs. I’d expect MV to come out of the region this year.
In the Southwest, which already includes McNick, Roger Bacon, Chaminade, Badin, Taylor, Alter, Carroll and Fenwick, they now add in Loveland, Edgewood and LaSalle. This region is gonna be a bloodbath this year. McNick should still be the heavy favorite, but adding in LaSalle and Loveland along with Alter and CJ being improved should make things interesting.
In the Northeast, which has sent new programs to state the past 2 years in Independence, they now add Brecksville, Steele, Firestone and Walsh Jesuit. This feels like Brecksville’s to lose.
Some big initial changes and always a chance other schools will add programs this year too! Will be interesting to see who adds programs and if that’ll change divisional alignment at all. Exciting times!
boothmark77
Well-known member
Whoa Whoa Whoa. Be careful with those words. 
Whoa. Very interesting shake up.
That's gotta sting for the LaSalle team from last year who probably could have gone to state in D2. LaSalle was D2 for a long time prior to OHSAA, then here comes the best team they've had in awhile and they have to play D1 for two years. Then after Hausfeld and the other seniors graduate, they're back to D2 again. lol
Similar to Mt. V, probably could have been a top contender in D2 last year.
MyNameIsDoug?
Well-known member
I think the issue is that there were schools the last 2 years that declared an intent to field a team, but then never did, so the cutoff number for D1/D2 was lower than it is now. That, and attendance numbers being different now. LaSalle still should compete, but they obviously lost a lot and McNick only lost 1 lol