NXN-Northwest Pre-Season Regional Outlook

Boys Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 259 North Central WA (#7), 323 Gig Harbor WA (#15)
2010: 186 North Central WA (#6), 339 Lewis & Clark WA (#15)
2009: 201 Joel Ferris WA (#2), 239 North Central WA (#7)
2008: 134 North Central WA (#1), 305 Jesuit OR (#13)
2007: 220 North Central WA (#6), 312 Central Catholic OR (#13)

At-Large Teams:

(None)

2012 Boys Pre-Season Rankings:

1. North Central WA – 2011 NXN Nationals seventh place squad, NXN-Northwest Champion and Washington 3A State Champion returns all seven

2. Seattle Prep WA – 2011 NXN-Northwest third place squad and Washington 3A State Runner-up returns six of seven

3. Summit OR – 2011 NXN-Northwest eighth place squad returns five of seven

4. Central Catholic OR – 2011 NXN-Northwest 14^th place squad and Oregon 6A State Runner-up returns all seven

5. Gig Harbor WA – 2011 NXN Nationals 15^th place squad, NXN-Northwest Runner-up and Washington 4A State Champion returns three of seven

Honorable Mention:  Eisenhower WA, Garfield WA, Henry M. Jackson WA, Hermiston OR, Jesuit OR, Kamiakin WA, Mt. Spokane WA, Rocky Mountain ID, Siuslaw OR

 

Synopsis: North Central has won every single NXN-Northwest title to date and has never finished outside the top seven at Nationals during that stretch. This year, they return all but one runner on their entire team, including their entire varsity and JV team. In most years, that might be enough to earn them the US#1 ranking going into the season, but with so many teams looking so incredible this year, will it be enough? Seattle Prep just missed out on a trip to Portland last year, and returns most of their lineup and would probably be considered a heavy pre-season favorite to make their first trip to Portland this fall, but with as many strong teams in the region this year, will it be enough? Summit brings back a very strong four that might be the best Oregon has seen outside its top classification… in previous years, at least. Summit also had a coaching change over the summer, so questions remain how well the team will respond to the new woman at the helm. Central Catholic has been a powerful program in the past, including producing a recent Olympic Silver Medalist some might have heard of (Galen Rupp). The Rams return all their varsity of what was a very young team last year, will the sophomore-dominated squad be ready for the race to Portland this November? Gig Harbor return an absurd front group: the #1, #2 and #3 non-senior scorers at the Washington 4A State meet last year. Their on-paper #4/5 are not bad at all (a 10:05 and 16:45 as a freshman, or 10:09 and low 17’s as a sophomore), but will the traditionally strong program be even stronger? Will they be deep enough to stay in contention? Siuslaw has a strong front quartet and went untouched in Oregon’s 4A class last year, but will they rise to the challenge on the bigger playing field in Boise come November? Or will strong programs like Kamiakin or Jesuit overtake all of the above and punch their ticket? The Northwest is chock-full of potential this year with eight teams that could look like legitimate at-large candidates by the end of the season.

 

 

 

Girls Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 368 Summit OR (#15), 376 Glacier Peak WA (#16)
2010: 227 Jesuit OR (#4), 297 Bozeman MT (#11)
2009: 318 Jesuit OR (#11), 395 Bishop Kelly ID (#18)
2008: 316 Jesuit OR (#15), 485 Eastlake WA (#21)
2007: 295 St. Mary’s Academy OR (#10), 304 Jesuit OR (#12)

At-Large Teams:

(None)

 2012 Girls Pre-Season Rankings:

1. Glacier Peak WA – 2011 NXN Nationals 16^th place squad, NXN-Northwest Runner-up and Washington 3A State Runner-up returns six of seven

2. Camas WA – 2011 NXN-Northwest fourth place squad and Washington 3A State Champion returns five of seven

3. Bozeman MT – 2011 NXN-Northwest third place squad and Montana 2A State Champion returns six of seven

4. South Eugene OR – 2011 NXN-Northwest fifth place squad and Oregon 6A State Champion returns five of seven

5. Coeur d’Alene ID – 2011 Idaho 5A State Runner-up returns all seven

Honorable Mention:  Bellarmine Prep WA, Cheney WA, Henry M. Jackson WA, Jesuit OR, Mountain View ID, Sunset OR, Tahoma WA, West Anchorage AK

 

Synopsis: The great battle in Washington for the 3A title last year will unfortunately not be repeated, as Camas moves up to 4A this year. Both teams could meet again in Boise with tickets to Portland on the line, but they aren’t going to be the only ones in the race. Bozeman qualified in 2010, almost always seems to be right in the mix and with six of their top seven from last year back to try again, are a very dangerous squad. So are the defending Oregon 6A Champions, South Eugene, who feature among the best 1-2 punches in the nation but have questions at #4/5. Coeur d’Alene isn’t exactly a home-town team in Boise, but having nearly missing out on a state title there last year they should know the course. Mountain View, Jesuit, and Bellarmine Prep are three traditionally strong programs that just happen to be lurking very nearby as well, and all could certainly challenge for a spot in the top five if not a trip to Portland.