100 high school sports teams to watch in 2020-21

One thing the 2020-21 season provides is hope. While high school athletes look forward to getting back to the playing field during the upcoming school year, these are the teams we are looking forward to following. Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque, N.M.), boys tennis
The Chargers have won 17 straight state championships — the longest active streak in the nation. They will have to win No. 18 without longtime coach Ray Jaramillo, who retired after the 2020 season.

Alvin (Texas), softball
Alvin was 20-1 when the season ended due to the coronavirus. Eight of the team's top 11 hitters return in 2021.

Andover (Minn.), girls ice hockey
Andover ended Edina's three-year run as Class AA state champions in 2020 and they return a number of starters from the championship team.

Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), girls basketball
The Monarchs lose one player that saw substantial playing time from a squad that went 26-3 and won the NorCal regional championship.

Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), boys basketball
Long a football and baseball powerhouse, the Crusaders have established themselves as a hardwood stronghold as well with 75 wins in their last 76 games.

Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), baseball
Baylor has two of the nation's top juniors in Vito Valincius (1B/3B) and Daniel Corona (SS) and won a state title in 2019.

Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), girls tennis
Winners of nine straight state championships, Baylor didn't play for a state title this spring, but they will go for No. 10 in 2021.

Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose, Calif.), boys cross country
Look for the Bells to improve on their third-place finish at the CIF meet last year thanks to the return of two of the nation's top runners in Colin Peattie and Nolan Topper.

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), boys basketball
The Gaels have a strong core of players returning next year in search of a 10th straight state championship.

Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.), boys wrestling
The Bucs finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation by Intermat and return six wrestlers ranked among the top 10 in the nation in their weight class.

Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), boys swimming
Ran its state championship win streak to 32 in a row, edging the runner-up by nearly 130 points last fall.

Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), girls swimming
Bolles won its 29th straight state championship last year and looks like they will be the favorite again next fall after winning the 2019 championship by over 200 points.

Boston College High (Boston), boys ice hockey
Winners of state championships in 2018 and 2019, Boston College owns six state titles in the Super Eight state tournament.

Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), boys wrestling
The Bears have become a powerhouse in California and finished No. 3 in the Intermat national rankings. They also return six wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in their weight class.

Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), girls track
The Bears won the California state meet in 2019 and return one of the state's top distance runners in freshman Sydney Sundgren and hurdler in Alexa Dandridge.

Buford (Ga.), baseball
Two of the nation's top sophomore pitchers could be found on Buford's roster this year in Dylan Lesko and Riley Stanford.

Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), volleyball
While National Player of the Year Paige Flickinger has graduated, All-Americans Payton Chamberlain and Charitie Luper return for the state champions.

Caledonia (Minn.), football
The Warriors haven't lost since the 2014 season, claiming 67 straight wins and five straight Class AA championships.

Calvert Hall (Baltimore), boys lacrosse
Unable to play in the spring of 2020, Calvert Hall is still the three-time defending MIAA champion under reigning USA Lacrosse Coach of the Year Bryan Kelly.

Camden (N.J.), boys basketball
Seven of the team's top eight scorers return next year, highlighted by rising freshman standout Dajuan Wagner Jr.

Carmel (Ind.), boys swimming
The Greyhounds won their sixth straight state championship in 2020 and set five state records and two public school national records in the process.

Carmel (Ind.), girls swimming
The Greyhounds won the Indiana state championship by over 218 points in 2019, collecting their 34th straight state championship — the longest state championship winning streak in the nation.

Carroll (Southlake, Texas), football
Sophomore of the Year Quinn Ewers gives Carroll one of the top quarterback prospects in Texas for the next two years.

Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.), girls soccer
Catholic Memorial won its 11th state title in 2019, but didn't get the chance to play in 2020. They Crusaders shoot for No. 12 in the spring of 2021.

Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), boys track
Chaminade returns one of the state's top sprinters in Patrick Ize-Iyamu Jr. and hurdlers in Xayvion Perkins.

Chandler (Ariz.), football
Quarterback Mikey Keene returns along with defensive standout Brandon Buckner to lead Chandler to a fifth Arizona state championship.

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), girls tennis
After losing the state championship in 2016, Cherry Creek is back on track with three in a row. COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season, but Cherry Creek has won 22 of the past 23 state championships.

Chino Hills (Calif.), softball
The Huskies return a pair of All-American candidates in Kayla Chavez and Kiki Estrada.

Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, N.J.), boys cross country
The Colts have not lost a cross country dual meet since 1974, racking up over 370 consecutive wins. CBA also won the New Jersey Meet of Champions for the ninth time in 10 seasons and collected their 24th overall TOC title.

Cooper City (Fla.), softball
The Cowboys are a team on the rise as they were a Top 10 team in the national rankings when the 2020 season ended and they have seven of the top nine players returning.

Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta, Calif.), softball
Ranked No. 6 in the nation when the coronavius hit, the Falcons lose two players from this year's squad including All-American pitching candidate Dee Dee Hernandez.

Culver Academies (Culver, Ind.), boys lacrosse
The Eagles had one loss in 2019 and were undefeated at the start of the 2020 season when the coronavirus hit. Culver has been one of the nation's top programs for the past decade.

Cypress Creek (Houston), girls basketball
The Cougars finished one game short of a perfect season at 41-1 record and a loss in the state finals. They return two of the state's best players in Kyndall Hunter and Rori Harmon.

De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), baseball
The Spartans have been one of the top programs in the nation the past five seasons. At least four starters return, including potential All-American Blake Burke (P/OF).

De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), football
The Spartans haven't lost a game to a Northern California opponent since 1991 and that doesn't seem likely to change in 2020. De La Salle has also won 28 straight North Coast Section championships.

Desert Vista (Phoenix), girls cross country
Behind the sister duo of Grace and Lauren Ping, Desert Vista could be the team to beat in Arizona in 2020.

DeSoto (Texas), girls basketball
Injuries hurt DeSoto in 2020, but one player graduates from a team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation for part of the season and finished 32-3 overall.

DeSoto (Texas), girls track
DeSoto has one of the state's top hurdlers in Jalaysiya Smith and long jumper in Mia Abraham. DeSoto also had the state's top relay teams in 2020.

Duncanville (Texas), girls basketball
Duncanville went 40-3 with a state championship and finished the year ranked No. 5 in the nation. The Pantherettes will seek to win their 12 state crown in 2021.

Eastern (Voorhees, N.J.), field hockey
Eastern has won 21 straight Group 4 state championships in New Jersey and has gone 512-14-6 during that time. They will have to do it next year without longtime coach Danyle Heilig, who retired last fall.

Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.), girls basketball
Winners of 42 straight games, including 28-0 in 2020, Ensworth should be a powerhouse in 2021 with all but one player returning.

Episcopal (Baton Rouge, La.), boys cross country
Episcopal won its 24th straight Louisiana Class 2A state championship last year and has won 33 titles in the past 35 years.

Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), baseball
The Class 3A state champion in 2019, Farragut has four starters back from 2020, including pitcher Hunter Merrick and shortstop Angus Pence.

Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), football
Multiple Division 1 recruits and talented transfers could put Grayson back on top in 2020.

Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.), boys cross country
Great Oak has won six straight CIF state championships and posted the third best Division 1 time in meet history last year.

Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), boys golf
The seven-time state champions return all but two golfers from last year's team that won the Arizona Class 6A state championship last year.

Hawken (Gates Mills, Ohio), girls swimming
Hawken won its 22nd straight state championship during the winter season, defeating the second-place team by over 217 points.

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), boys basketball
The Ascenders struggled a bit this past season after winning a national title in 2019. However , multiple key returners put IMG Academy back in the national rankings mix in 2021.

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), football
An excellent sophomore class moves up to help a rising junior class that includes the likes of All-American candidates JC Latham and Tunmise Adeleye.

'Iolani (Honolulu), boys tennis
The team that stopped Punahou's 26-year state championship win streak has won three straight state crowns, but didn't get the chance to make it four in a row due to the coronavirus.

Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), girls soccer
The Crusaders have won three straight Class 6A state titles and went 19-0-1 last year. Jesuit has a 58-game unbeaten streak.

Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), baseball
Undefeated when the 2020 season ended (9-0), Jesuit is expected to return five starters from a team that won the Class 6A state championship in 2019.

JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), baseball
JSerra could start the season at No. 1 in 2021 thanks to three players ranked among the top 13 in California by Perfect Game.

La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), boys golf
Led by the nation's top-ranked golfer in Luke Potter, La Costa Canyon was the top-ranked team in the nation in 2019, but did not have the chance to compete in the spring of 2020.

La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), boys basketball
Three starters return from a team that finished No. 8 in last year's MaxPreps Top 25 final national rankings.

Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.), girls basketball
The Highlanders return eight of 10 players from a roster that went 29-2 and finished the year ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps computer rankings.

Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.), girls lacrosse
Under former McDonogh coach Chris Robinson, Lake Highland Prep has emerged as a powerhouse in Florida, winning the 2019 state championship. COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season, but the Highlanders lose only five players from this year's squad.

Lake Mary Prep (Lake Mary, Fla.), girls golf
Lake Mary Prep finished the fall season ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation and returns two players ranked in the top 25 in Ellen Dong and Karoline Tuttle.

Lander Valley (Lander, Wyo.), boys swimming
The Tigers continue to dominate in Wyoming, winning their 24th straight state championship, topping the second-place team by 176 points.

Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.), boys basketball
Led by National Player of the Year Emoni Bates, Lincoln looks to claim the state title in 2021 that it was denied in 2020 by the coronavirus.

Los Alamitos (Calif.), softball
Ranked No. 1 in the nation by the MaxPreps computer rankings when the 2020 season was canceled, Los Alamitos returns seven of the team's top hitters from that squad.

Martinsburg (W.Va.), football
While coach Dave Walker has moved on to a college coaching opportunity, Martinsburg begins the 2020 season with 56 straight wins and four straight AAA state championships.

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), football
The Monarchs fell short of winning a third straight Southern Section Division 1 championship, but returning standouts like Raesjon Davis and Kyron Ware-Hudson make Mater Dei a favorite to battle St. John Bosco for the section crown, and possibly a national title, in 2020.

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), girls basketball
The Monarchs return four all-league players and lose only two seniors from a team that went 30-3 and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the MaxPreps computer rankings.

McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.), girls lacrosse
McDonogh saw a 198-game win streak end during the 2018 season, but it bounced back to post a 21-0 record in 2019. The coronavirus wiped out the 2020 season, but McDonogh has a strong junior class returning.

Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), volleyball
All-state middle hitter Charli Atiemo is one of six of the team's top seven leaders in kills returning next year along with all-state setter Julia Bishop from a team that went 57-1.

Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), boys basketball
With a 25-0 record and a national championship in 2020, Montverde Academy likely returns as the preseason No. 1 team in 2021 thanks to a strong returning lineup and several key transfers.

Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), girls soccer
Won back-to-back Class 4A state championships in 2018 and 2019 and then finished the winter season ranked No. 1 with a 12-0 record.

Mount Anthony (Bennington, Vt.), wrestling
After finishing with six individual state champions and a state title in 2020, Mount Anthony aims for a 33rd straight state championship in 2021.

Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), girls basketball
MND went 28-0 last winter and has won 44 games in a row. All but two players return from a team ranked No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps.

New Castle (Ind.), volleyball
Three of the team's top four leaders in kills return including all-state picks Mabrey Shaffmaster and Laila Smith. New Castle must replace coach Sarah Roush, who resigned to spend more time with her family.

North Shore (Houston), football
Winner of back-to-back state championships and three titles in the past five seasons, North Shore could be the favorite again in 2020 with potential Player of the Year candidate Dematrius Davis Jr. at quarterback.

Punahou (Honolulu), boys swimming
The Buff ‘N Blue are closing in on 50 state championships in boys swimming, winning their 49th crown in 2020, including their seventh in a row.

Punahou (Honolulu) girls swimming
Punahou ran its state championship total to 53 including five in a with a state crown in 2020.

Punahou (Honolulu), girls tennis
The coronavirus prevented Punahou from taking the court this spring, but the Buff ‘N Blue have won 17 straight girls tennis state championships.

Riverside Military Academy (Gainesville, Ga.), boys golf
The Georgia school has three players ranked among the top 50 in the country and three of the top six players in the state.

Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.), girls track
With two of the top sprinters in the state in Naomi Johnson and Jessica Boyd, East Roosevelt could be the team to beat in California in 2021.

Saratoga Springs (N.Y.), girls cross country
The No. 1 ranked team in 2019 by Dye Stat, Saratoga Springs has four returning runners ranked among the top 60 runners in the nation.

Shoreham-Wading River (Shoreham, N.Y.), boys lacrosse
Ranked No. 10 by Inside Lacrosse this spring, SWR returns three of the nation's top recruits in the Class of 2021.

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), boys basketball
Bronny James begins his sophomore season and leads a strong group of returning players from a team that went 30-4.

Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), football
Southern Columbia Area was one of the top small school teams in the nation last year, finishing with a 48-game win streak capped by a 74-7 win in the Class AA state championship game.

Southridge (Miami, Fla.), girls track
Freshman sprinter Somiyah Braggs and multi-event standout Alyssa Jones could make Southridge the favorite in 2021.

St. Anthony's (Melville, N.Y.), boys lacrosse
St. Anthony's, ranked No. 2 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, loses the No. 1 player in the Class of 2020 in Brennan O'Neill, but it returns the No. 1 player in the Class of 2021 in Drew McAdorey.

St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), boys soccer
The Gray Bees return the top two scorers from a team that went 19-0-1 last year and has a record of 186-8-4 over the past decade, according to Top Drawer Soccer.

St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), football
With a 44-3 record over the past four seasons, St. Frances has emerged as one of the nation's top programs. Multiple Division 1 candidates, including Aaron Willis and Clinton Burton Jr., should have the Panthers among the nation's best.

St. Ignatius (Cleveland), boys soccer
The Wildcats played to a draw with St. Benedict's Prep last fall and won the ninth state championship in school history.

St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), football
The MaxPreps 2019 national champions lose All-American quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, but they gain sophomore quarterback Pierce Clarkson, son of premier quarterback coach Steve Clarkson.

St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia), football
Home to a pair of sons of former NFL players in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Marvin Harrison Jr., St. Joseph Prep is looking to win its third straight class 6A championship.

St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), baseball
The top team in the midwest, St. Mary Prep has four Division 1 recruits returning next year, led by All-American candidate Alex Mooney (SS).

St. Paul's (Covington, La.), boys soccer
The Wolves went 26-0-0 in winning the Louisiana Division 1 state championship. The title is the seventh in 10 straight state championship appearances.

St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), football
Could the Raiders repeat as state champions? It's possible, considering starting quarterback Zion Turner and leading rusher Anthony Hankerson were just sophomores last season.

St. Xavier (Cincinnati), boys swimming
The AquaBombers captured their 12th straight state championship last winter. St. Xavier has also won 11 national dual-meet championships over the past 22 seasons.

St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.), boys swimming
No school has more swimming state championships than Saint Xavier with 54. They've also won 32 in a row.

Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), boys basketball
The Buffaloes made their move into the Top 5 for the first time in 2020. They could challenge for the top spot in 2021 thanks to the return of players like Kendall Brown.

Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.), baseball
The Warriors have a strong junior class that includes Jonathan Cymrot and Trevor Haskins, both potential draft picks in 2021.

Wakeland (Frisco, Texas), boys soccer
One of the top programs in the state, Wakeland was off to a 19-0-2 start in 2020 when the season came to an end due to the coronavirus.

Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.), girls tennis
Webb has won 24 state championships in its history, but didn't get the chance to play for a crown in 2020 due to the coronavirus. Webb takes a 12-year state championship streak into next season.

Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.), girls basketball
Four of the top six scorers return for a team that went 30-2, including leading scorer Ta'Niya Latson.

Windward (Los Angeles), girls basketball
Windward loses just two players from a team that went 27-6 and ended the year ranked No. 18 in the Xcellent 25 rankings.

Wyoming Seminary College Prep (Kingston, Pa.), girls wrestling
The No. 1 girls team in the nation in 2020, Wyoming Seminary returns eight wrestlers who found a spot in the national rankings this year.