Carmel is No. 1 behind the strength of swim teams, which don't actually begin competition until winter.
Carmel (Ind.) hasn't even started its swim season but high rankings for the boys and girls teams along with a nationally-ranked girls soccer team puts the Hoosier State school in first place of the MaxPreps Cup September standings.
Carmel does not compete in swimming during the fall season but since Swim Cloud includes teams from other seasons in its rankings, the Greyhounds receive points for a No. 2 ranking in girls swimming and No. 9 in boys swimming. The girls soccer team is ranked No. 14 to give Carmel 492 points over the three rankings.
The MaxPreps Cup is an award that endeavors to name the No. 1 overall
high school sports program in the nation. The algorithm used includes state
championships and runner-up finishes along with placement in national
rankings. Points are weighted based on size of state, popularity of
sport, size of enrollment division and number of teams competing within
an enrollment division. No state championships were included in the
September rankings.
Teams are ranked based on their placement in top 25 rankings for
football, girls volleyball, field hockey, girls soccer, boys soccer,
girls flag football, boys swimming and girls swimming. Boys and girls
cross country and boys and girls golf will be added as rankings for
those sports appear during the fall season.
Camryn Love has three goals and three assists in 13 matches this season for Carmel's nationally-ranked soccer team. (Photo: Julie L. Brown)
comes in at No. 2 with 396 points. The Eagles are ranked No. 5 in girls swimming, No. 10 in boys swimming and No. 6 in girls flag football.
Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) and
JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) are tied for third with 381 points. The Dragons are ranked No. 6 in boys cross country, No. 7 in boys swimming and No. 14 in girls swimming. The Lions are No. 18 in football, No. 8 in girls cross country and No. 11 in girls flag football.
New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.) comes in at No. 5 with a No. 6 ranking in girls swimming, No. 3 in girls field hockey, and No. 11 in girls swimming.
MaxPreps Cup September standings
2.
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), 396
3.
Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 381
3.
JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), 381
5.
New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 351
6.
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 350
7.
Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), 300
8.
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 291
8.
St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.), 291
10.
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 290
11.
Niwot (Colo.), 285
12.
Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 255
12.
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), 255
14.
North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.), 243
15.
Edina (Minn.), 237
16.
Downers Grove North (Downers Grove, Ill.), 225
16.
Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 225
16.
Hinsdale Central (Hinsdale, Ill.), 225
19.
Noblesville (Ind.), 219
19.
Hudson (Ohio), 219
21.
Minnetonka (Minn.), 210
22.
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 196
23.
Ventura (Calif.), 192
23.
Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.), 192
23.
Milton (Ga.), 192
