Girls Pre-State Rankings (Team)

Team Rankings Post-Regionals

Hilliard Davidson - Mirroring the situation in our boys' rankings, the Wildcats, our previous #1 team, suffered a loss at Regionals but still hold the top spot in our rankings. Although a 23-point loss is significant, it’s worth noting that usual #2 scorer Celia Schulte finished in 50th and as the team’s 7th runner on the day. Sophia Tartaglia also faced challenges, ending as Davidson’s 4th scorer. Despite these struggles, their depth allowed them to secure the runner-up spot, keeping them within striking distance of the Golden Gales. If they can align all performances at once, this team has the potential to be among the best in the nation.
Lancaster - The Regional Champion Golden Gales remain ranked second, even after their upset win. The main concern holding them back is a lack of depth; both their 6th and 7th runners finished outside the top 100 at Regionals, meaning they’re vulnerable if one of their top 5 falters. However, Lancaster’s top five are performing at an elite level, with two in the top 20 and three in the top 40. It’s practically a 1A and 1B scenario between Lancaster and Davidson, with both teams among the nation’s top 50 on paper
Dublin Jerome - The Celtics are solidly the 3rd-best team in the region, led by steady low-stick Natalie Fouts. While they have too much of a gap to bridge to the top two teams, they hold a strong advantage over the rest of the field. Jerome’s depth is also impressive, with their 7th runner finishing 65th, providing coverage in case of an off day from any of their top 5. While a state title seems out of reach, they’re well-positioned for a top 10 finish and could challenge for the top 5 with a strong showing.
Gahanna Lincoln - Despite placing 5th at Regionals, the Lions rank 4th here. Though they couldn’t quite match Olentangy Orange’s formidable 1-2 punch (a feat few teams in the state can), their depth offsets that disadvantage. Just one point short of beating Orange last weekend, the Lions’ back-end scorers should give them an edge at State. If frontrunner Ruby Lewis and a rising Olivia Smeck keep their momentum, the Lions could contend for a top-10 finish.
Olentangy Liberty - The Patriots, despite finishing 6th at Regionals, land 5th in our rankings, ahead of 4th-place Olentangy Orange for similar reasons as Gahanna Lincoln. With all seven runners finishing ahead of Orange’s 5th, this depth could prove pivotal at State. They’re led by defending 3200m state champion Elena Aldrik, who consistently scores low. With strong depth and a reliable top runner, the Patriots aim to challenge the Lions and possibly sneak into the top 10 at Fortress Obetz.
Olentangy Orange - Though they have the best duo in the region, possibly the state, the team is still losing too many points for us to have full confidence heading into State. Brooke Chapman and Bella Conforti are dominant up front, essentially acting as “no scores,” but the back three accumulated 171 points, a tally that would place them 4th on its own. While we trust their star duo will continue to deliver, the weak back-end keeps them as our lowest-ranked Central Ohio qualifier.
Bishop Watterson - Led by standout freshman Kaityln Van Zandt, who finished in the top 10 and secured a State berth, the Eagles rank as our top non-qualifying team. Their 2nd-5th scorers packed tightly, with finishes between 47th and 63rd. While their 2nd scorer ranked 4th worst, their 5th scorer was 6th best of the day.
Teays Valley - Finishing 15th, Teays Valley’s ranking jump may raise eyebrows, but the reasoning is clear. With star runner Katy Zang injured midway through the race, they missed an opportunity to cut 107 points from their score and add 5 points to each team ahead of them. This calculation would place them 7th, just 20 points shy of qualifying. On a brighter note, Reese Galinger had a strong race and qualified individually. Teays Valley will be a formidable team to watch next season.
Upper Arlington - A strong showing from the Golden Bears saw them climb to the 9th spot. Although they finished 7th at Regionals as the highest non-qualifying team, their season lacked the consistency needed for a higher ranking. Leading the way was Josie Cox, who earned a State berth with a 20th-place finish, grabbing the last individual qualification spot.
Marysville - The Monarchs, led by the talented duo of Marguerite Foust and Bailey Gross (both state qualifiers), capped off a strong season with a 10th-place Regional finish. While Foust and Gross propelled the team forward all year, they lacked support from back-end scorers, which kept them out of team qualification.