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No one is surprised that Neuqua Valley is good.
But no matter what they do this weekend, the Wildcats deserve a lot of credit for what they've done this year.
From the Best of the West title to the postseason competition it has faced just to get to this point, should Neuqua Valley be No. 1 in the final Sun-Times Top 10 rankings no matter how it does this weekend in Naperville?
Even if they lose in the quarterfinals, semifinals or title game, there isn't another team in the final eight that has played the schedule coach Jim Johns' squad has faced this season.
Thoughts?
FYI - here was the Sun-Times preseason Top 10:
1. Lincoln-Way Central: Phil Galounis, Tim Garland, Jason Obermeier, Dave Sayre and Matt Ducci are back, which puts a smile on coach Dan Radz's face. (Lost in sectional semis)
2. St. Charles North: Coach Eric Wilson believes the North Stars are ''ready to bring it this year.'' (Lost in sectional semis)
3. Wheaton Warrenville South: Will be tested off the bat in Barrington Tournament and Pepsi Showdown. (Lost in sectional semis)
4. Neuqua Valley: Just one of the loaded teams in Naperville. (State quarterfinals)
5. New Trier: Will be fresh for playoffs with only 12 games on schedule, but will team be truly battle-tested? (State quarterfinals)
6. Naperville Central: Defender Tim Zimmer leads a cast of players with three years of varsity experience. (Lost in sectional final)
7. Naperville North: Without three studs to start the season but watch out come October. (Lost in sectional semis)
8. Glenbrook North: Eight of 11 starters return from 20-win team. (Lost in sectional semis)
9. Downers Grove South: Junior Brett Petricek named top goalie at ODP Championships. (Lost in sectional semis)
10. Geneva: The Vikings edged out Hinsdale Central for final spot. (Lost in supersectional)
-Joe Trost
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While whatever happens to Neuqua Valley this weekend certainly won't change the great season they've had, there is NO WAY that if some team wins a game or two more than NV, or the whole thing for that matter, that they couldn't and shouldn't be ahead of NV in the final rankings. Just as one example, hasn't Barrington had solid wins over Wheaton Warrenville South (3-1), Lake Zurich (4-2), Marquette, WI (1-0), Conant (1-0), Schaumburg (3-0), Marmion Academy (6-0) etc. They have lost 2 games, both in PK's, and have no other losses or ties outside of those two shootouts. That is a pretty credible season and worthy of being considered for the #1 spot too I think.
Joe, I know you think all the Pepsi teams, and Naperville's are everything as well to you, but you are quite a bit ahead of things with that statement. As usual, I imagine you just said it to stir the pot, as usual.
The good news anyway is that it will all play itself out this weekend! Good luck to the teams. Hopefully we will see some good high school soccer.
If the New England Patriots go un-defeated until the Super Bowl but lose they would not be Wold Champions. How could you argue that a team deserves to be ranked number one at the end of the season if they don't win it all. Isn't the purpose of the State Tournament to crown the over all champion??? If strength of schedule means more then the tournament then why have it at all? Claiming the number one team in the state could be anybody but the state champion seems seems like a ridiculous claim!!
TROST RESPONDS: Let's be frank - this is a geographical tournament. If New England only played East Coast teams until the Super Bowl, would that change your thoughts? Neuqua Valley, who I picked to lose to Geneva, has played more Top 10 teams (according to all papers) in the postseason than any team left. Just as the IHSA's drawing peas out of a cup to see who plays one another in the state quarters is old school, so is the thinking the state tournament crowns a "true" state champion.
First, I agree that there may be issues with the way the tournament is designed and that spreading out the top teams in the state might be good thing but let's be honest…this will never happen because it would require to much travel, student athletes would miss even more school, and this would cost to much money.
While the beginning of the Tournament is clearly geographical, the State Semi-Finals and Finals include the teams that have played well enough to advance out of their "area" tournaments. While I would agree that some teams have easier roads to the finals then others, any team that wins the state crown will have had to beat three great teams back to back. Minimizing the accomplishments of the state champion by talking about who they played or didn't play earlier in the year is unfair and unwarranted. Just like it would unjust to minimizing the great year a team has had just because they lost to another great team in the semi-finals or finals. However, any team that is capable of winning 8 straight playoff games including the three grueling games over the state finals weekend deserves the title of the best team in the state no matter how they got there.
Adding: Trost this is a great conversation that should be had. I think it is only comming up because there are so many really good teams in the state and I know that is not a bad thing!!
TROST RESPONDS: Agree with you 100 percent.