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National High School Girls Team Rankings - 11/9Published by
Flower Mound showcases full lineup for first time all season to win fourth consecutive Class 6A crown in Texas, Saratoga Springs produces best effort this fall to prevail at New York Section 2 meet, with Lucas Lovejoy, Jesuit, York, Wayzata and Cardinal Gibbons also building momentum toward regional competition By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor With a roster that returned its top five athletes from a sixth-place finish at Nike Cross Nationals, including All-Americans and senior twins Samantha Humphries and Nicole Humphries, Flower Mound High from Texas had aspirations to challenge for a podium spot in Oregon this season. But unfortunately for the Jaguars, they never had the opportunity to showcase that lineup once during the regular season, with last year’s Class 6A state champion Nicole Humphries injured and unable to race. Alexandra Fox, a junior, didn’t compete in the regional race for Flower Mound, creating even more uncertainty if the Jaguars would even be able to win a fourth consecutive Class 6A title or potentially qualify at the Nike South Regional to return to race Dec. 2 at NXN. But Flower Mound delivered when it mattered most Nov. 4 at the UIL State Championships, relying on returning Nicole Humphries finishing 23rd in her first competition in nearly five months, supporting Samantha Humphries placing fourth, Fox taking fifth, senior Natalie Spangher earning 15th and junior Ava Cole achieving 28th for the Jaguars to produce a 41-77 victory against Southlake Carroll at Old Settlers Park. The showdown that everyone in Texas anticipated happening at the beginning of the season now has an opportunity to materialize Nov. 18 at NXR South at Bear Branch Park, with four-time Class 6A champion Flower Mound squaring off against three-time Class 5A champion Lucas Lovejoy. Flower Mound’s resurgence also strengthens the region’s opportunity to earn one of four at-large berths to compete at NXN for the second year in a row, with Flower Mound, Lucas Lovejoy and Southlake Carroll all finishing in the top 15 last season at Glendoveer Golf Course. Another region that has an opportunity to earn an at-large berth is NXR Southwest, with Nov. 18 at Coyote Run Golf Course at Leisure World the venue for the eagerly anticipated matchup involving the nation’s top three teams in Colorado powerhouses Air Academy and Niwot, along with Lone Peak from Utah. Air Academy takes over the top spot after achieving the fastest team performance in Norris Penrose Event Center history to secure back-to-back Class 5A state titles. Niwot won a sixth consecutive Class 4A crown, but Air Academy prevailed against the Cougars by a 42-59 margin in a merge of all four girls championship races. Lone Peak decided not to compete Nov. 4 at the Pre-Foot Locker event at Pleasant Grove High in Utah, which did showcase another matchup involving the top two boys programs in the country in American Fork and Herriman. Saratoga Springs from New York, winner of the past two NXN championships, rebounded following a 13-point setback Oct. 28 against Bethlehem Central at the Suburban Council Championships to prevail by a 28-45 margin in the rematch against the Eagles at the Section 2 Championships in Queensbury. Eighth-grader Cora Conley emerged as the No. 5 scorer by finishing 11th for Saratoga Springs, supporting Emily Bush, Alycia Hart, Anya Belisle and Tong Ang all placing in the top 10. Jesuit atoned for a 32-point setback Oct. 7 against Lincoln at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational by achieving a 32-46 victory against the Cardinals at the Oregon Class 6A final at Lane Community College. The Crusaders, led by Class 6A state champion Emma Bennett, will look to hold off Lincoln again Nov. 11 at NXR Northwest at Eagle Island State Park in Boise, Idaho. York High stood up to the challenge of competing in one of the deepest classifications in the country by winning the Illinois Class 3A championship Nov. 4 at Detweiller Park by a 77-92 margin against Downers Grove North High, with Barrington taking third at 115 points and Prospect placing fourth with 140 points. York will rely on a spread of less than 25 seconds among its five scorers Nov. 12 at NXR Midwest at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., in pursuit of winning its second regional title in three seasons. York placed second at last year’s regionals to earn its first qualifying berth to race at NXN. Cardinal Gibbons halted Cuthbertson’s bid for a sixth consecutive state championship, including a third in a row in Class 4A, by winning the title Nov. 4 by a 60-105 margin at Ivy Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. Cardinal Gibbons relied on juniors Hannah Rae Shaffer and Addy Mitchell finishing in the top six to secure its first Class 4A crown since 2018, which was the last title during its run of nine straight years as a champion in either Class 3A or 4A. Despite returning only two athletes from last year’s Minnesota Class AAA state championship, Wayzata captured back-to-back titles Nov. 4 at Les Bolstad Golf Course with a 48-122 triumph against Prior Lake. The Trojans, who received a third-place finish at the state final from sophomore Jazleen Malherek-Osorio, are seeking consecutive NXR Heartland crowns Nov. 12 at Yankton Trail Park in South Dakota.
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