2A Boys  Rankings

By: Bryan Garcia, H.B. Plant High School, [email protected]           

Team Rankings:

Commentary: Cross country season is once again upon us! I took into account cross country and track times when evaluating how to rank teams. 2A has changed a great deal in a year, but Trinity Prep is the one consistent as they look to win their 3rd team state championship in a row. TP could be looking at one of the best teams to ever walk through it's hallowed halls and is the favorite in Region 2. However, Satellite will definitely make things interesting with the addition of Coach Butler and crew. With the team SHS has put together, they will be a strong runner-up contender. Pine Crest looks like they will be fighthing them for the runner-up trophy this season and also turning Region 4 into an all out war. Labelle is the top team in Region 3 with a solid 1-2 punch up front. Bishop Kenny and Bolles will be a in a similar fight as SHS and PC in Region 1. This year promises to be a good one!

Rank. (Previous Rank) Team, Region = Comments

1.    Trinity Prep, Dist. 8; Reg. 2 = The clear favorite, TP looks ready for a state championship run. They have 3 sub 9:40/3 state medalists in the 3200m from the spring leading the team and are 10:08 at 5.

2.    Pine Crest, Dist. 15; Reg. 4 = PC will be in position for a podium run in 2015. Won the 2A 4x8 state title, which returns 3 individuals including a 3200m state medalist, plus a seperate 3200m state medalist.

3.    Satellite, Dist. 13; Reg. 4 = By far the most intriguing team in 2A. Satellite has not made it to the State Meet since 2008 which will inevitably, this year will be different as they will compete for a podium finish.

4.    Labelle, Dist. 12; Reg. 3 = Labelle has 2 top 20 returners from cross country last season, which includes 1 state medalist in the 1600m in the spring. Another top 5 finish seems likely.

5.    Bishop Kenny, Dist. 4; Reg. 1 = At the State Meet in the fall, they had the best 1-5 time split at 27 seconds. Their top 5 3200m times were seperated by 16 seconds (9:58-10:14). BK is one to watch.

6.    Bolles, Dist. 4; Reg. 1 = Possibly the youngest team in the state, experience will not deter Bolles. They had 6 guys sub 11 in the 3200 and a frontrunner that looks to make them one of the best in the state.

7.    Calvary Chr., Dist. 13; Reg. 4    = It doesn't hurt to have the defending state champion on your team. Along with Joel Lacy, this team has a good, young core of runners. Look for back to back to 10 finishes.

8.    Ransom Ever., Dist. 16; Reg.4 = With senior Gabriel Correa leading RE, look for a top 10 finish. They are bringing back 5 sub 5 minute 1600 guys back from the spring and will look for a top 10 finish.

9.    West FL. TC., Dist. 1; Reg.1    = West Florida Tech was 16th at the State Meet last season. They had a meet Saturday with 4 guys under 18 minutes to start the season. This is a core that will look for the top 10.

10.    Immokalee, Dist. 12; Reg. 3 = Immokalee is bringing back a strong core of runners. What seems to be an endless run of individual front runners, Alejandro Ruiz will hope to lead this team to another top 10 finish.

11.    Lemon Bay, Dist. 11; Reg. 3 = Coming off the 2014 cross country season, Lemon Bay will be in contention for a top 10 finish. They will be fighting it out with Lely and Immokalee in Region 2.

12.    Lely; Dist. 12; Reg. 3    = Moving in from 3A, Lely was 8th in a tough 3A Region 3. This team had a great track season and will be in a tight fight for with Lemon Bay and Immokalee.

13.    Titusville, Dist. 13; Reg. 4 = Returning 2 time state medalist Mason Jones, Titusville will be looking for a strong 2015 season. Their in a competitive Region 4 and will have to be on their game late in the season.

14.    Astronaut, Dist. 13; Reg. 4 = With a solid mix of veteran experience, Astronaut is looking for their first return to the State Meet since 2010. This team will have a top 15 shot if they can get out of a crazy Region 4.

15.    Lake High. Pr., Dist. 8; Reg. 2 = After a 2014 top 15 finish, this team looks like it could be headed back their in 2015. With Anderson Bobo upfront, this team looks to be the next best team in Region 2 after TP.

Individual Rankings:

Commentary: When it comes to the 2A individuals, more things could not be up in the air. With Joel Lacy and Gabriel Correa, I have to assume they will be 1-2 in some order. But Trinity Prep's Big 3 cannot be counted out. Caleb Pottorff had a great track season and will ride that momentum into a top 5 spot. With the progress Satellite has made, it's hard to say that any of those guy's couldn't medal. State medals will be hard to come by in 2015!

Rank. (Previous Rank) Name, Grade – Team = Time / Comments

1.    Joel Lacy, 12th - Calvary Christian = Lacy brings another 2 state medals from track the last since 2014. With the number 2 best returning time (15:45), watch for Lacy to win another state title.

2.    Gabriel Correa, 12th - Ransom Everglades = The fastest returner (15:42), Correa medaled with a 3rd place finish. He was the runner-up last year, but expect him to be all up in it in November.

3.    Jesse Millson, 12th - Trinity Prep = Millson's insane track season has to at least place him 3rd. He was 7th last year at the State Meet in 2014, but went 9:27 in the 3200m in the spring to finish 2nd.

4.    Chas Cook, 12th - Trinity Prep = Cook went back to back with Millson at the State Meet in the spring in the 3200m (9:28). Went 15:41 in May on the track and is a contender for a state title.

5.    Caleb Pottorff, 11th - Lincoln Park = Pottorff brings back both the best 1600m (4:19) and 3200m (9:26) time in 2A. After placing 4th at the State Meet in the spring, he too is in the state title run.

6.    Trent Mandato, 11th - Trinity Prep = Placing 4th last year (16:00), Mandato went 9:39 in the 3200m in the spring and then later medaled to place 7th. Could be headed for another top 5 finish in November.

7.    Mason Jones, 11th - Titusville = Picked up 6th place finishes last fall (16:10) and in the 3200m in the spring (9:41). Jones is capable of running with just about anyone in the state on any given day.

8.    Michael Kennedy, 11th - Pine Crest = After finishing 9th last fall (16:21), Kennedy had a great track season going 9:36 for 3200m. He placed 5th in the spring and will look for a similar result in the fall.  

9.    Trevor Kattenberg, 11th – Satellite = The most intriguing runner in 2A, Kattenberg went 5th in 1A (16:12) and went 15:51 at Foot Locker last fall. 9:39 3200m in 2014; 9:56 to place 8th this past spring.

10.    Antonio Gomez, 10th – Frostproof = The only returner to double at the State Meet in the spring, Gomez was 5th in 1600 (4:29) and 12th in 10:02 3200. Look for the sophomore to add another state medal.

11.    Ryan Welch, 12th - Pine Crest = Welch had one of the biggest break outs of anyone in 2A in the spring. He finished 32nd last fall before picking up his first state medal in the 3200m in 9:43.  

12.    Omar Figueroa, 12th – Labelle = Finished 5th in the spring in the 1600m in 4:29. Figueroa started cross country last year finishing 18th (16:31) and he could very well be in the top 10 in 2015.

13.    Sidney Perry, 12th - Satellite = Perry didn't qualify for the State Meet last year, but busted out a 9:49 3200m performance this spring. He is another guy that is one great day away from a state medal.

14.    Charles Hicks, 9th – Bolles = The only freshmen to find the top 25, Hicks ran 9:56 in the spring as an 8th grader to finish 10th in the 3200m at the State Meet. He has a great shot at the top 15.

15.    Alejandro Ruiz, 12th – Immokalee = Finshed 17th last fall (16:30) and then placed 11th in the 3200 at the State Meet (9:59). Ruiz will be in the hunt for a top 15 finish in November.

16.    Trevor Foley, 10th – Hernando = The defending Region 2 champion (16:34). He placed 13th in the 1600m in the spring to qualify that saw his freshmen year include PR's of 4:26 and 9:53 in the 3200.

17.    Austin Camps, 11th - West Shore = Camps finished 8th last fall in 16:16, following that up with a 16:12 at Foot Locker. With a 10:07 3200m PR, you cannot count this kid out of a shot at a state medal.

18.    Leonal Ochoa, 11th - Berkeley Prep = With a 16th place in the fall (16:30), Ochoa will be looking for another top 20 finish. He went 10:01 in the spring in the 3200m and will be a guy to watch in Region 3.

19.    Preston Copenhaver, 11th - Trinity Prep = With a big Foot Locker race last fall (16:28) and a 10:08 3200m PR in the spring, Copenhaver is looking to make big strides (pun intended) toward a top 20 finish.

20.    Jake Gilbert, 12th - Pine Crest = Finishing 28th last cross country season (16:46), Gilbert had a great track season going 10:01 for the 3200m. The senior will make a big push for the top 20 in 2015.

21.    Patrick Salas, 11th - Trinity Prep = Wrapping up one of the deepest Trinity Prep team's ever, Salas went 16:49 last fall. He followed that up with a 10:05 3200m and ran 16:38 for the 5,000 in the spring.

22.    Egan Kattenberg, 11th – Satellite = Finishing 15th in 1A last year, Kattenberg has a PR of 16:15. He went 10:01 in the 3200m in the spring. He will be aiming for a top 20 finish again this fall.

23.    Nic Jacobsen, 12th - St. Andrews = Jacobsen ran 16:16 last fall and then went 4:27 in the 1600m and 9:58 in the 3200m in the spring. The senior will be vying for a top 20 position in November.

24.    Anderson Bobo, 12th - Lake Highland Prep = Bobo had a strong track season with PR's of 4:34 in the 1600m and 9:56 in the 3200m. He ran 16:27 last fall and should be in the top 25 by seasons end.

25.    Enrique Jimenez, 12th – Labelle = Jimenez is coming off of his first cross country season that saw him finish in 16:31 at the State Meet to place 19th. His second year should see the senior finish in the top 25 once again in 2015.

    Notable name(s) left off:

John Caccitore transferred to Satellite High School for the fall. The junior ran 9:47 in the spring for the 3200m and placed 18th in the fall in 1A (16:53). He followed that up with a 16:16 finish at Foot Locker. He had an up and down track season, but could bust it out under Coach Butler and be a top 20 guy in 2015.    

Danny Ferro was 14th at the State Meet last fall. He had a good track season running 4:40 for the 1600 and 10:24 for the 3200, but we will have to see if that translates into another top 15 finish this season.