Lone Peak and Nook Canyon play for the 6A soccer championship at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Lehi Excessive College gamers have fun successful the 5A soccer championship sport in opposition to Springville Excessive College at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Lehi received 35-6. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
The one month countdown is on for the 2022 highschool soccer season, and based mostly on the voting within the Deseret Information’ annual coaches preseason class-by-class rankings, the chase for state titles is as extensive open because it’s been in years.
Solely two of the six defending state champions start the yr ranked No. 1 of their respective classification, whereas at the very least three groups acquired first-place votes in 4 of the six classifications.
All of that ought to make for a really thrilling season, which formally will get underway on Thursday, Aug. 11.
Being ranked first within the preseason is not any assure of success, as solely considered one of final yr’s preseason No. 1s — Duchesne — ended up successful the state title.
6A projections
All six of Lone Peak’s Deseret Information first crew all-staters final yr had been seniors, however coaches round 6A totally count on the Knights to reload and be nice but once more.
Lone Peak narrowly edged area foes Skyridge and Nook Canyon to assert the highest preseason spot in 6A this yr. All three colleges acquired at the very least 4 first-place votes.
It’s solely becoming these three groups start the yr on the prime of the 6A rankings as they shared the Area 4 title a yr in the past. Within the playoffs although, Lone Peak dominated the trenches en path to the title, however it can rely on new faces in 2022 in its quest to repeat.
American Fork and Bingham spherical out the highest 5 in 6A.
5A projections
Lehi was the shock winner of Class 5A final yr because it ran the tables within the playoffs as a No. 7 seed, however there’d be nothing stunning a few repeat title in 2022.
The Pioneers are loaded with returning expertise, together with reigning 5A Participant of the 12 months Isaac Terrell after which Colorado State commit QB Jackson Brousseau. Sprinkle in a handful of different starters and it’s straightforward to see why coach Ed Larson’s crew acquired 19 of 21 first-place votes of the coaches who voted.
Lehi’s largest assessments might come from inside its personal area, as Timpview checks in at No. 2 within the preseason rankings adopted by Orem at No. 3.
Springville and East spherical out the highest 5.
4A projections
Desert Hills received the Area 10 title a yr in the past however bowed out of the playoffs a lot sooner than anticipated within the quarterfinals. A yr later, the Thunder return seven offensive starters from that group as they’ll start the season because the preseason favourite in 4A.
Main the best way is three-year beginning quarterback Noah Fuailetolo and operating again Tyden Morris.
Ridgeline went an ideal 13-0 final season, however it graduated some main items from final yr’s crew and opens the season ranked No. 2 in 4A.
Snow Canyon, Dixie and Inexperienced Canyon spherical out the highest 5 in 4A, however all three acquired one first-place vote because the classification seems to be extensive open with 5 totally different groups garnering first-place votes.
3A projections
A yr in the past in 3A, 4 groups had successful data — Juab, Juan Diego, Grantsville and Morgan — whereas the opposite eight groups all had sub-.500 data.
Primarily based the coaches voting, those self same 4 groups are anticipated to be the category of 4 but once more, with an enormous drop off after that.
Morgan was the 3A runner-up a yr in the past, however it acquired seven of 10 first-place votes and can start the yr ranked No. 1. Juab checks in at No. 2, adopted by defending champion Grantsville and third, Juan Diego at fourth and Richfield in fifth.
Grantsville returns a great chunk of starters again from final yr’s dominant defensive crew, a unit it can look to journey to a different deep playoff run this yr.
2A projections
San Juan was head and shoulders above everybody else in 2A final season as almost each starter returned from the earlier season. This yr the defending champion Broncos are breaking in a complete new crew of contributors because the chase in 2A figures to be rather more extensive open because of this.
Beaver, which received state titles the earlier two seasons, narrowly edged San Juan within the preseason coaches ranks because it begins the season No. 1. Like San Juan, it has loads of query marks because it wants to exchange an enormous chunk of starters from final yr’s runner-up crew.
South Summit, Summit Academy and Emery spherical out the highest 5 in 2A.
1A projections
A yr in the past Duchesne edged Layton Christian in a decent and tense 1A state title sport, however in 2022 it’s Layton Christian that opens the season because the crew to beat.
With eight turning starters again on either side of the coach, coach Ray Stowers’ crew is loaded with top-end expertise that can give the remainder of 1A suits. Whereas Layton Christian snagged seven first-place votes, Duchesne and its six returning starters grabbed the opposite three first-place votes as it can very a lot nonetheless be a pressure in 1A.
Kanab, Enterprise and Milford spherical out the highest 5.
2022 preseason highschool soccer rankings
Annually, the Deseret Information asks each soccer coach within the state to vote for the highest 5 groups of their classification. The votes are tallied, and 5 factors are assigned for a first-place vote, 4 for a second-place vote, and so on. Coaches aren’t allowed to vote for their very own crew. The next are the outcomes from the coaches who elected to take part (first-place votes indicated in parenthesis):
Class 6A
Group ’21 file
1. Lone Peak (4) 10-2.
2. Skyridge (4) 11-2.
3. Nook Canyon (6) 12-2.
4. American Fork (1) 7-4.
5. Bingham 7-5.
Others receiving a number of votes: Weber, Mountain Ridge, Riverton, Syracuse, West.
Class 5A
Group ’21 file
1. Lehi (19) 11-3.
2. Timpview 9-3.
3. Orem (2) 7-6.
4. Springville 11-2.
5. East 5-7.
Others receiving a number of votes: Brighton, Olympus, Stansbury, Wasatch, Alta, Bountiful, Spanish Fork.
Class 4A
Group ’21 file
1. Desert Hills (5) 9-2.
2. Ridgeline (3) 13-0.
3. Snow Canyon (1) 5-5.
4. Dixie (1) 9-4.
5. Inexperienced Canyon (1) 7-3.
Others receiving a number of votes: Sky View, Crimson Cliffs, Pine View.
Class 3A
Group ’21 file
1. Morgan (7) 9-4.
2. Juab (2) 10-2.
3. Grantsville (1) 10-3.
4. Juan Diego 8-3.
5. Richfield 4-7.
Others receiving a number of votes: North Sanpete, Canyon View, Ogden, Manti.
Class 2A
Group ’21 file
1. Beaver (5) 11-2.
2. San Juan (3) 12-1.
3. South Summit 11-1.
4. Summit Academy (2) 7-5.
5. Emery 6-6.
Others receiving a number of votes: Delta, Millard.
Class 1A
Group ’21 file
1. Layton Christian (7) 9-5.
2. Duchesne (3) 11-1.
3. Kanab 9-3.
4. Enterprise 6-4.
5. Milford 7-5.
Others receiving a number of votes: North Summit, North Sevier.
Lehi Excessive College gamers have fun successful the 5A soccer championship sport in opposition to Springville Excessive College at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Lehi received 35-6.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information