ASWA releases preseason rankings

Two local schools merited ranking on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason poll, released last week.

All seven of the Alabama High School Athletic Association state champs were picked by the 31-sportswriter panel to start the season on top in their respective classes, but two Franklin County teams also made the cut.

Russellville High School ranked No. 9 in Class 5A, just after Madison County and just higher than Calera.

“It’s always great for the kids to have that recognition,” said RHS Coach Mark Heaton. “It puts a target on your back, but I think it’s good to be recognized for what you’ve done and what people think you can do. Right now those rankings are very irrelevant because they change week to week.”

J.O. Johnson and East Limestone, region opponents for RHS, ranked in the top five in the class.

“J.O. Johnson and East Limestone are both really good teams,” Heaton said. “East Limestone has some key guys returning on defense, which was one of the best in the state last year. They have a couple of guys to replace on offense but I think they’ll be a good team again this year.”

Red Bay High School ranked No. 9 in Class 2A, just after Cleveland and just above Gaston and Pickens County.

The full list of rankings is included here. First place votes and 2014 record in parentheses.

Class 7A

1. Hoover (30)                       (12-2) 369

2. Central-Phenix City (1)    (10-2) 282

3. Prattville                            (11-3) 221

4. Baker                                  (9-2)   182

5. Oak Mountain                    (10-2)            161

6. Bob Jones                           (8-3)   152

7. Foley                                   (9-4)   116

8. Gadsden City                     (10-3)            106

9. Murphy                              (7-4)   56

10. James Clemens                (7-4)   49

Others receiving votes: Spain Park (6-4) 22, Buckhorn (6-5) 21, Auburn (4-6) 8, Fairhope (11-1) 6, Hewitt-Trussville (5-6) 6, Mountain Brook (3-7) 5, Smiths Station (5-5) 2, Vestavia Hills (3-7) 2, Tuscaloosa Co. (6-6) 1.

Class 6A

1. Clay-Chalkville (29)          (15-0)            365

2. Spanish Fort (2)                (12-2)            264

3. Saraland                             (13-2)            244

4. Opelika                               (9-2)   223

5. McAdory                             (12-1)            160

6. Florence                             (11-3)            138

7. Muscle Shoals                    (8-3)   102

8. Carver-Montgomery         (9-3)   96

9. Homewood                         (9-3)   49

10. Gardendale                      (8-5)   30

Others receiving votes: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (9-4) 24, Southside-Gadsden (9-3) 22, Hartselle (7-4) 15, Park Crossing (7-3) 11, Fort Payne (7-4) 7, Benjamin Russell (10-2) 5, Austin (2-8) 4, Wetumpka (6-5) 4, Bessemer City (5-6) 2, Decatur (9-4) 2.

Class 5A

1. St. Paul’s (31)                    (15-0)            372

2. Jackson                               (11-3) 270

3. Pleasant Grove                  (12-3) 200

4. J.O. Johnson                        (7-4)   132

5. East Limestone                  (12-1)            126

6. Etowah                               (6-5)   107

7. Guntersville                       (12-1)            100

8. Madison County                (10-4)            78

9. Russellville                         (8-3)   76

10. Calera                               (10-2)            69

Others receiving votes: Tallassee (8-4) 58, Vigor (5-5) 35, Parker (10-2) 32, Charles Henderson (8-4) 29, Mortimer Jordan (10-2) 27, Demopolis (8-3) 10, B.C. Rain (6-7) 9, Greenville (10-3) 9, Eufaula (5-6) 8, Lincoln (7-5) 7, Beauregard (7-3) 6, Ramsay (10-2) 5, Central Clay-Co. (8-4) 1, Sylacauga (7-4) 1.

Class 4A

1. Leeds (30)                         (14-1)            369

2. UMS-Wright (1)                (12-2)            278

3. Cordova                              (10-4)            204

4. Dadeville                            (7-5)   195

5. Fayette County                  (9-4)   155

6. Saks                                                (10-2)            129

7. N. Jackson                           (7-4)   91

8. Deshler                               (13-2)            87

9. Cleburne County               (9-3)   65

10. Straughn                          (10-2)            38

Others receiving votes: Oneonta (9-3) 34, Hamilton (7-4) 30, Andalusia (5-5) 27, West Blocton (10-2) 18, Brooks (5-5) 12, Cherokee Co. (4-6) 8, Haleyville (10-3) 7, W.S. Neal (7-4) 6, Locust Fork (8-3) 4, Munford (9-4) 4, Thomasville (5-6) 4, Clarke Co. (9-3) 1, Trinity (5-6) 1.

Class 3A

1. Madison Academy (30)    (14-1) 369

2. Gordo (1)                           (13-1)            272

3. Piedmont                           (8-4)   232

4. Opp                                     (9-4)   211

5. Colbert County                  (8-5)   165

6. Slocomb                              (7-5)   130

7. T.R. Miller                           (10-2)            106

8. Pike County                       (7-4)   72

9. Walter Wellborn               (8-4)   56

10. Oakman                           (10-2)            54

Others receiving votes: Dale Co. (14-1) 36, Lauderdale Co. (9-3) 21, Glencoe (13-1) 19, Pisgah (6-5) 10, Montgomery Acad. (12-1) 9, Fultondale (6-5) 3, Hillcrest-Evergreen (4-7) 1, Sylvania (4-7) 1.

Class 2A

1. Fyffe (15)                          (15-0)            316

2. Elba (8)                              (14-1)            296

3. Tanner (8)                         (10-3)            284

4. Reeltown                            (10-2)            205

5. G.W. Long                           (11-1)            176

6. Flomaton                            (9-4)   134

7. Ranburne                           (12-1)            106

8. Cleveland                           (9-3)   99

9. Red Bay                              (9-2)   35

10t. Gaston                             (8-4)   33

10t. Pickens County              (7-4)   33

Others receiving votes: Washington Co. (13-1) 17, Mobile Chr. (3-7) 13, Sweet Water (8-4) 7, Cold Springs (8-3) 4, LaFayette (1-9) 4, Lanett (4-5) 3, Woodland (9-4) 2.

Class 1A

1. Maplesville (31)                (14-0) 372

2. Brantley                             (12-1)            234

3. Hubbertville                      (12-1)            208

4. Linden                                (7-4)   201

5. Notasulga                           (9-4)   148

6. Spring Garden                   (7-4)   141

7. Cedar Bluff                                    (7-6)   138

8. Billingsley                           (10-3)            97

9t. Loachapoka                      (3-7)   65

9t. Marion County                 (8-6)   65

Others receiving votes: Ragland (11-2) 47, McKenzie (9-2) 8, Brilliant (1-9) 7, Wadley (7-4) 5, A.L. Johnson (5-6) 4, Berry (7-4) 4, Donoho (11-1) 4, Hackleburg (10-2) 4, Red Level (2-8) 3, Fruitdale (9-3) 2, Marengo (6-4) 2, Millry (7-4) 2, Appalachian (1-9) 1, J.U. Blacksher (6-5) 1, Phillips (10-2) 1, R.A. Hubbard (6-5) 1, Talladega Co. Central (6-5) 1, Valley Head (5-5) 1.

AISA

1. Edgewood Acad. (29)       (13-0)            366

2. Bessemer Acad.                 (12-1)            265

3. Escambia Acad.                  (11-1)            241

4. Monroe Acad. (1)              (11-2)            221

5. Marengo Acad.                   (10-2)            190

6. Tuscaloosa Acad.               (8-3)   137

7. Pike Liberal                        (8-4)   110

8. Abbeville Chr. (1)             (10-4)            99

9. Autauga Acad.                    (8-3)   90

10. Clarke Prep                     (6-5)   37

Others receiving votes: Sparta Acad. (6-5) 7, Lee-Scott (4-5) 2, Patrician Acad. (8-5) 1, S. Choctaw Acad. (9-3) 1.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are Paul Beaudry (Chairman), Alabama Media Group; Josh Bean, AL.com; Brandon Miller, Anniston Star; Jonathan Deal, Athens News Courier; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke County Democrat; Rob Ketcham, Cullman Times; Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Justin Graves, Decatur Daily; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Will Gaines, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Jeremy Smith, Freelance (Demopolis); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; J.J. Hicks, Gadsden Times; Daniel Boyette, Huntsville Times; Ben Thomas, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Will Sammon, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Jason Bowen, Scottsboro Daily Sentinel; Daniel Evans, Selma Times-Journal; Baker Ellis, Shelby County Reporter; Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home; Griffin Pritchard, Tallassee Tribune; Joey Chandler, Tuscaloosa News; Cory Diaz, Wetumpka Herald.