By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

We purposely waited two weeks to release our initial Power 25 Team Rankings due to the finicky spring weather and wanting to allow more teams to get games under their belts. It’s still really early, and thus hard to say an undefeated team is truly better than a team with one or two losses that has played a quality schedule. The good thing about several of our teams in the Power 25 is that most of the debates will be settled on the field at some point this spring.

CLICK HERE to view updated Power 25 Team Rankings

Climbing

+ St. Rita – Climbed to No. 1 after starting the year 8-1. Their only loss so far came against Independence High School 8-7 on their trip to South Carolina.

+ Sacred Heart Griffin – From unranked all the way up to No. 4 after an 8-1 start to the season. The Cyclones had a 6-3 statement win over preseason No. 5 Mount Carmel.

+ Jacobs – A 6-1 record and a convincing 3-0 win over preseason No. 1 Plainfield North led to their rise to No. 6.

+ St. Laurence – Now No. 7 their only two losses have come to perennial powerhouse Bishop Gorman HS from Nevada.

+ Nazareth – Started the year off with seven straight wins. Now No. 9.

+ Naperville Central – Three wins over preseason Top 25 teams; Lincoln-Way North, O’Fallon and Joliet Catholic.

+ Sandburg – Big win over Lemont to open the year. 3-0 record.

+ Oak Forest – Three wins over quality opponnents; Jacobs, Andrew and Homewood-Flossmoor.

+ Mahomet Seymour – Seven straight wins to start the year.

Sinking

+ Providence – Tough loss to fellow preseason Top 25 Oak Park.

+ Waterloo – Got swept by Oakville (MO) 12-2 and 12-11.

+ Joliet Catholic – Up and down to start the year. Wins over Brother Rice and Lincoln-Way North but losses to Homewood-Flossmoor, Naperville Central and Marmion.

+ Lincoln-Way North – Losses to Joliet Catholic and Naperville Central. Now No. 23

New to the Top 25

+ No. 4 Sacred Heart-Griffin
+ No. 18 Naperville Central
+ No. 20 Sandburg
+ No. 22 Oak Forest
+ No. 25 Mahomet-Seymour

Dropped Out

+ Prairie Ridge
+ Minooka
+ Alton
+ Highland
+ St. Joseph-Ogden
+ Rockford Christian

Just Missed the Cut

+ Normal (7-1)
+ St. Francis (5-0)
+ Peoria Richwoods (5-1-1)
+ Niles Notre Dame (3-1)
+ Quincy (4-1)

CLICK HERE to view updated Power 25 Team Rankings

2016 SEASON

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2017 Rankings

+ Complete Illinois High School Schedules