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Route 30 Rankings: Last year's champions remain on top of 2022 preseason poll

jake furr, mansfield news journal
·5 min read
Route 30 Rankings Logo
Route 30 Rankings Logo

The second annual Route 30 Rankings are officially here.

The media outlets along Route 30 (Wooster, Ashland, Mansfield and Bucyrus) got together to vote on the best teams in the area. They ranked them from best to worst with the lowest score earning first place and the highest earning last place. Think of it like a golf score.

The schools were separated by size with Division I-IV going in the big school pool and Division V-VII in the small school. In all, there are 11 schools in the big school poll and 22 in the small school.

Let's see how the preseason rankings shook out.

West Holmes' Sam Williams-Dixon has the Knights at No. 1 in the Route 30 Rankings.
West Holmes' Sam Williams-Dixon has the Knights at No. 1 in the Route 30 Rankings.

Big School

Team: score (first place votes)

1. West Holmes Knights: 15 (7) − The Knights finished the year 14-1 last season winning the OCC title and advancing to the state semifinals. They drop down to Division IV this season and open up on the road at Triway.

2. Mansfield Senior Tygers: 22 (3) - The Tygers finished the year 9-3 last season taking second in the OCC. They travel to Norwalk in Week 1.

3. Clear Fork Colts: 35 - The Colts went 6-5 last season and were a playoff team. They open up on the road at Lucas in Week 1.

4. Wooster Generals: 48 - The Generals finished 7-6 advancing all the way to the regional semifinals in Division II. They host Orrville in Week 1.

5. Shelby Whippets: 49 - The Whippets ended the year 9-3 with a playoff win in 2021. They host Madison in Week 1 in the final game at WW Skiles Field, home of Shelby football for nearly 100 years.

6. Triway Titans: 62 - The Titans managed to go 7-2 last season and made the playoffs. Moving down to Division V, they host Wooster in Week 1. They will be in the small-school division next week.

7. Ashland Arrows: 67 - The Arrows went a disappointing 3-7 last season and missed the playoffs. Moving up to Division II, the Arrows travel to Norwayne in Week 1.

8. Galion Tigers: 79 - The Tigers manages a 4-7 record last season making the playoffs again. They host McComb in Week 1.

9. Ontario Warriors: 88 - The Warriors went 3-7 last season and return all but four players from last year's team. They open up at home against Lexington.

10. Lexington Minutemen: 95 - The Minutemen made the playoffs and ended with a 4-7 record last season. They travel to Ontario in Week 1.

11. Madison Rams: 104 - Madison went 0-8 in 2021, but went out and found a new, experienced coach to lead the program. They travel to Shelby in Week 1.

Crestview High School’s Adison Reymer advances the ball during the Div. VI, region 22 quarterfinal playoff game against Colonel Crawford High School at Crestview High School Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. LIZ A. HOSFELD/FOR TIMES-GAZETTE.COM
Crestview High School’s Adison Reymer advances the ball during the Div. VI, region 22 quarterfinal playoff game against Colonel Crawford High School at Crestview High School Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. LIZ A. HOSFELD/FOR TIMES-GAZETTE.COM

Small School

Team: score (first place votes)

1. Crestview Cougars: 13 (6) - The Cougars went 12-1 last season winning the Firelands Conference championship before falling to the eventual state champs. They host Loudonville in Week 1.

2. Lucas Cubs: 23 (1) - The Cubs finished the year 10-2 making it to the regional semifinals in Division VII. They host Clear Fork in Week 1.

3. Dalton Bulldogs: 30 - The Bulldogs finished the season 11-3 in 2021 playing for a regional championship before falling to Warren JFK in overtime. They move up to Division VI this season and travel to East Canton in Week 1.

4. Colonel Crawford Eagles: 45 - The Eagles finished the year 10-2 last season. They travel to Riverdale in Week 1.

5. Norwayne Bobcats: 31 (2) - The Bobcats went 8-4 in 2021 and host Ashland in Week 1 after moving to Division V this season.

6. Hillsdale Falcons: 54 - The Falcons went 7-5 a season ago and host Black River in Week 1.

7. Waynedale Golden Bears: 77 - The Golden Bears went 6-6 last season and travel to Tuscarawas Valley in Week 1.

8. Black River Pirates: 80 - The Pirates went 8-4 last season and start off 2022 with a trip to Hillsdale in Week 1.

9. Plymouth Big Red: 80 - The Big Red ended the year 5-5 and fell in the first round of the playoffs. They travel to Oberlin in Week 1.

10. South Central Trojans: 96 - The Trojans managed a 3-7 record in 2021 and travel to Willard in Week 1.

11. Chippewa Chipps: 101 - The Chipps went 4-6 last season and travel to Mapleton in Week 1.

12. Wynford Royals: 102 - The Royals went 4-7 last season and open 2022 with Otsego at home in Week 1.

13. Orrville Red Riders: 114 - The Red Riders went 2-8 last season and travel to Wooster in Week 1.

14. Northwestern Huskies: 131 - The Huskies went 3-7 last season and travel to Keystone in Week 1.

15. Bucyrus Redmen: 133 - The Redmen went 3-7 last season and open up 2022 with Mississinawa Valley at home.

16. Mapleton Mounties: 139 - The Mounties ended the year 3-7 and will look to rebound with a trip to Chippewa in Week 1.

17. Smithville Smithies: 149 - The Smithies went 2-8 last season and host Cleveland Central Catholic in Week 1.

18. Loudonville Red Birds: 152 - The Redbirds finished 1-9 last season and travel to No. 1 Crestview in Week 1.

19. Rittman Indians: 169 - Rittman went 2-7 last season and starts off 2022 with Strasburg-Franklin on the road in Week 1.

20. Buckeye Central Bucks: 169 - The Bucks went 2-8 last season and host Crestline in Week 1.

21. Tuslaw Mustangs: 183 - The Mustangs went 1-9 last season and host Conotton Valley in Week 1.

22. Crestline Bulldogs: 194 - The Bulldogs went 0-9 last season and travel to Buckeye Central in Week 1.

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Route 30 Rankings: Crestview Cougars, West Holmes Knights top preseason rankings