Cardinal Gibbons won a state championship in volleyball and is in the hunt for the inaugural MaxPreps Cup.
Photo by Randy Rimland
MaxPreps' annual ranking of the top high school athletic programs in the country has a new name, a few twists and a few new members.
The MaxPreps Cup will be released on July 16, celebrating the top high school athletic programs in the country. Besides listing the Top 10 overall programs, MaxPreps will also list the top boys programs, the top girls programs, the top medium and small school programs as well as the top program in every state.
In order to determine the top athletic programs in the country, MaxPreps has developed the MaxPreps Cup ranking system. The system takes into account a school's success in 10 sports: Football, boys/girls basketball, baseball/softball, boys/girls volleyball, wrestling, boys/girls lacrosse, boys/girls track and field, boys/girls swimming, boys/girls cross country, and boys/girls soccer. School programs receive points for state championships, state runner-up finishes and inclusion in national rankings for each sport.
Of course not all sports and not all states are created equal. A state championship in football in the state of Texas is different than a state championship in soccer in the state of Rhode Island. So steps have been taken to weight each state championship based on the size of the state, the popularity of the sport and the champion's enrollment classification.
That being said, here's an early look at 10 schools contending for the 2011-2012 MaxPreps Cup:
Bentonville (Ark.)Five state championships and runner-up finishes in football and softball have Bentonville in the Top 10. It won state crowns in boys and girls swimming, boys cross country, girls track and field and girls volleyball.
Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.)The Crusaders have five state titles in North Carolina, including boys swimming, girls and boys cross country, boys soccer and girls volleyball. They also finished second in the boys lacrosse state championship game.
Summit (Bend, Ore.)Excellence in track and field and cross country have Summit in the hunt for the MaxPreps Cup. It won state titles in both the boys and girls divisions of both sports and also won boys and girls swimming, and girls volleyball.
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.)California doesn't have state championships in every sport, but La Costa Canyon has racked up a number of section championships in San Diego this year, including baseball, and boys and girls soccer. It has also been ranked nationally in boys lacrosse, girls soccer, boys track and field and girls cross country.
Punahou (Honolulu) A past winner of the No. 1 ranking, Punahou has once again racked up an impressive total of state championships, including titles in girls track and field, boys and girls volleyball, girls swimming, wrestling and boys basketball.
Southlake Carroll celebrates a Texas
5A state football championship.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
The Dragons have won five state championships this year and they were ranked nationally in four sports, including football, boys and girls cross country and girls soccer. Carroll also picked up state titles in boys and girls swimming.
American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)The Patriots had a tremendous spring, making the national rankings in boys and girls track and field and baseball while winning state championships in all three sports. Add in a state title in softball and a state championship in boys soccer and the Patriots will be a tough school to beat.
Union (Tulsa, Okla.)The Redskins picked up state titles in softball, football, boys basketball and boys swimming. They also finished second in wresting, girls track and field and boys cross country.
Carmel (Ind.)The Greyhounds have won five state championships this year, including football, girls cross country and girls soccer, all of which they were ranked nationally. State titles in boys basketball and girls swimming will also help.
La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.) Perhaps a surprise to some coming from the nation's smallest state, but La Salle Academy is ranked nationally in girls soccer and it has won six state championships this year, including girls track and field, girls swimming, boys and girls soccer, girls basketball and boys lacrosse.
