CORRESPONDENT

The Indiana Football Coaches Association released its preseason polls this week and to no one’s surprise, Hamilton County teams were all over the lists.

But this year’s preseason rankings are more impressive than ever. In the girls Class 3A slate, local teams have claimed the top four spots. State champion Noblesville is ranked first, while longtime Sectional 8 and Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Hamilton Southeastern is ranked second.

Carmel, last year’s section champion, is ranked No. 3. Westfield is fourth; the Shamrocks’ program has been on a steady rise for years. Both teams are playing in Section 9 again this season.

In Class 2A, defending state champion Guerin Catholic is rightfully ranked No. 1. The Golden Eagles won their first state title last season with a 1-0 win over Leo. Hamilton Heights is ranked No. 17 in 2A.

Meanwhile, Hamilton County Class 3A boys soccer teams hold exactly one-fourth of the ranking spots in the preseason poll: all five teams are in the top 20. Leading the way is Noblesville, the highest-ranked team and three-time state champion. Carmel is ranked No. 2 in the 3A boys preseason poll. The Millers and Greyhounds are grouped in the same division (#9) this season.

Fishers is ranked No. 4 in the 3A poll, while Mudsock rival Hamilton Southeastern is ranked No. 14. Both of those schools are in Section 8. Westfield is ranked No. 20, while the Rocks play in Section 9.

In the smaller classes, Guerin Catholic’s boys are ranked No. 2 in 2A, while Hamilton Heights is ranked No. 16. The varsity boys are ranked No. 15 in 1A.

Here is the full list of preseason rankings.

GIRLS CLASS 3A

1. Noble Village
2. Hamilton Southeast
3. Caramel
4. West Area
5. Castle
6. Crown Point
7. Cathedral
8. Penn
9. Fort Wayne Carroll
10. Evansville Monument
11. Brownsburg
12. Bloomington South
13. East Center
14. Evansville Reitz
15. Chesterton
16. North Ridge
17. Zionville
18. farm house
19. Central Grove
20. Munster

BOYS CLASS 3A

1. Noble Village
2. Caramel
3. Zionville
4. Fishermen
5. Central Grove
6. Cathedral
7. Central Lake
8. Bloomington South
9. Pike
10. Columbus North
11. North Ridge
12. Fort Wayne Carroll
13. Goshen
14. Hamilton Southeast
15. Harrison
16. Crown Point
17. Brownsburg
18. Castle
19. Munster
20. West Area

GIRLS CLASS 2A

1. Guerin Catholic
2. Bishop Dwenger
3. Mishawaka Marian
4. Bell coat
5. Brebeuf Jesuit
6. Bishop Chatard
7. Lawrenceburg
8. Gibson South
9. West Lafayette
10. Three-West
11. Heritage Hills
12. Bishop Noll
13. Washington
14. North Forest
15. Hanover Center
16. Tudor Park
17. Hamilton Heights
18. Silver Creek
19. Danville
20. Fort Wayne Canterbury

BOYS CLASS 2A

1. Evansville Monument
2. Guerin Catholic
3. Illiana Christian
4. Bishop Luers
5. Race track
6. Concordia Lutheran
7. Christian heritage
8. Heritage Hills
9. West Lafayette
10. Bishop Dwenger
11. Washington
12. Cascade
13. Bishop Noll
14. Culver Academies
15. Tudor Park
16. Hamilton Heights
17. Lion
18. South Ridge
19. Western Noble
20. Hanover Center

GIRLS CLASS 1A

1. Divine Providence
2. Evansville Mater Dei
3. Christian heritage
4. Evansville Christian
5. Oldenburg Academy
6. Faith Christian
7. Triple
8. Andrean
9. Bremen
10. Forest Park
11. West view
12. Southmont
13. Slang
14. Tipton
15. Green Castle
16. Switzerland District
17. Wheelwright
18. Bethany Christian
19. Testament Christian
20. Bethesda Christian

BOYS CLASS 1A

1. Bethany Christian
2. Divine Providence
3. Testament Christian
4. Faith Christian
5. West view
6. Greenwood Christian
7. Fort Wayne Canterbury
8. Forest Park
9. Wheelwright
10. Oldenburg Academy
11. Covington
12. Southwest Shelby
13. Black Hawk Christian
14. Muncie Burris
15. University
16. Carroll
17. Northwest Dubois
18. North Putnam
19. Rock Creek Academy
20. Triple