Fairfield, Mid-Prairie ranked

The first rankings of 2021 by Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association are out. Two local boys teams are prominent with a third receiving votes.

Various coaches around the state follow guidelines established by the association to aid each of the voting coaches in consistency.

Mid-Prairie is ranked 10th in Class 1A and Fairfield is 13th in 2A with some votes for Washington. There are 16 teams ranked in each class. In 2A there are another 15 teams receiving votes.

The Trojans opened the season at Pella, which is ranked fifth in 2A with a first-place vote, winning in overtime. It was Fairfield’s first win since 2013.

“I wasn’t aware we got ranked, and I’m sure the team doesn’t know either or it would have been mentioned at practice (Wednesday) night,” Trojans head coach Felisto Guezimane said. “This is definitely huge for us. It will help us getting better seeding in the substate brackets.”

The rankings are used to create the postseason playoff pods and hopefully separate the better teams and create balance within the pods. Only 16 teams a week are ranked with others receiving votes. Rankings change weekly based upon team-oriented results.

The Golden Hawks defeated Mediapolis, ranked 13th in 1A, Tuesday, 3-0.

“If our team gets ranked, we relay the information to our student athletes,” Mid-Prairie coach Pat Cady said. “We discuss how getting ranked and winning helps to create our own destiny for postseason play.

Ideally, the Golden Hawks are not in a pod with a Top 3 team before reaching Des Moines for the state tournament.

“There have been several years where local teams have been knocked out in a substate final by a top-ranked team but could have finished in the top four if they didn’t have to play a potential state championship before state,” Cady said.

Some conferences are known for powerhouse soccer programs and the records of close matches usually show in the weekly scores. Also playing within these conferences can put blemishes on an overall record as well if a team doesn’t show up to play and lose.

“I’m sure the boys will be excited when I tell them (Thursday),” Guezimane said. “It does put Fairfield on the list of the best teams in Iowa.”

Class 3A Ranking

Rank Team (First Place Votes) Record

1. Waukee (9) 2-0

2. Iowa City West 2-0

3. Johnston (1) 3-0

4. West Des Moines Valley 1-0

5. Cedar Rapids Prairie 2-0

6. West Des Moines Dowling 2-0

7. Ankeny Centennial 1-1

8. Pleasant Valley 1-0

9. Linn-Mar 1-1

10. Cedar Rapids Washington 1-1

11. Muscatine 2-1

12. Bettendorf 0-0

13. Ankeny 1-1

14. Iowa City High 1-1

15. Dubuque Senior 1-0

16. Norwalk 1-0

Receiving votes: SC West; North Scott; Marshalltown; Davenport North; Des Moines Roosevelt; Waterloo West; Ottumwa; Cedar Falls; Urbandale; Des Moines Lincoln.

Class 2A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier (4) 0-0

2. Dallas Center-Grimes (1) 1-0

3. Gilbert 1-0

4. Storm Lake (1) 0-0

5. Pella (1) 1-1

6. ADM 0-0

7. Vinton-Shellsburg 1-0

8. Bondurant-Farrar (2) 1-0

9. Dubuque Wahlert 0-1

10. Newton 2-1

11. Marion 0-2

12. Hudson United 0-0

13. Fairfield 1-0

14. Nevada 1-0

15. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 1-0

16. Decorah 0-0

Receiving votes: Denison-Schleswig; Sioux City Bishop Heelan Catholic; Knoxville; Waverly-Shell Rock; Grinnell; Charles City; Clear Creek Amana; Central DeWitt; Perry; Davenport Assumption; Washington; Humboldt; BHRV; South Tama; Harlan; Glenwood

Class 1A

1. Notre Dame (1) 1-0

2. Solon (3) 3-0

3. Greene County 1-1

4. (tie) Iowa City Regina (1) 0-0

4. (tie) West Liberty 0-1

6. Waterloo Columbus 0-0

7. Treynor 1-0

8. (tie) Denver 0-0

8. (tie) West Central Valley 1-0

10. Mid-Prairie 1-0

11. Albia 0-0

12. AHSTW Avoca 1-0

13. Mediapolis 2-1

14. (tie) Dyersville Beckman 0-0

14. (tie) Pella Christian 1-0

16. Postville 1-0

Receiving votes: Panorama; Atlantic; West Sioux; Wapello; PCM; North Polk; Center Point-Urbana; GCGR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Council Bluffs St. Albert