Teams across Massachusetts found out where they stand in their respective sports after the first month of the season as the MIAA released its initial power rankings of the fall season on Friday.
As a reminder, the top 32 teams in each division secure a spot in the state tournament at the conclusion of the regular season. Teams not ranked in the top 32 but with a .500 or above record will also earn a spot in the dance. Football is the only sport that is different, with the top 16 teams in each division making the playoffs. However football teams must have at least three wins in order to qualify.
Below is where each Hampshire County team stands in the MIAA’s first edition of the rankings. (Note: each team record listed is from the MIAA website.)
In Division 2, Northampton holds the highest ranking in the county at No. 43 with a 6-1-1 record. Holyoke (2-6) and Amherst (2-3) fall in behind the Blue Devils at Nos. 51 and 52, respectively. The lone team in Division 3 is Belchertown, as the Orioles check in at No. 45 after a strong 5-1-1 start to the year. Frontier (No. 26, 2-3-3), Hampshire (No. 43, 2-4), and Smith Academy (No. 48, 1-7) are all eager to climb up the Division 4 ladder with the Redhawks currently standing as the only bunch to crack the top 32 out of all the area’s field hockey teams.
Despite a perfect 4-0 start, Amherst finds itself with some work to do. The Hurricanes are No. 29 in Division 4, with rival Northampton (0-2) sliding in at No. 38. The Blue Devils are one spot ahead of Holyoke (0-3), who round out Hampshire County teams in the division at No. 39.
Belchertown (2-0) used a strong start to the season to earn the No. 25 ranking in Division 5, while Easthampton (2-1) checks in at No. 23 in Division 7. Alongside the Eagles in D7 is South Hadley (2-1) at No. 25. The two teams in Division 8 are Frontier (2-1) and Smith Vocational (3-0). Both the Redhawks and the Vikings have been impressive thus far, and it’s earned them the No. 16 (the final playoff team in) and No. 27 spots in the first power rankings.
Northampton (5-2-1) cracked the top-10 at No. 8 in Division 2, while Amherst appeared at No. 20 with a 1-7-0 record. In Division 3, Belchertown’s strength of schedule along with its respectable 5-3-1 record boosted the Orioles up to No. 3. Holyoke (0-7-1) finds itself at No. 51.
The county’s four Division 4 teams are led by Hampshire’s (6-0-1) No. 1 ranking. Behind the Raiders are Frontier (7-1-0) at No. 3, Easthampton (2-2-0) at No. 15, and defending state champion South Hadley (3-4-0) at No. 16.
The packed Division 5 field is headlined by a No. 6 spot for Smith Vocational (4-1-1). PVCICS (7-2-1) is next at the No. 12 slot, and Smith Academy (4-0-4) remains undefeated and checks in at No. 18 with rival Granby (5-1-3) right behind them at No. 19. Hopkins (1-3-3) and Gateway (1-4-1) round out the list for Hampshire County teams at No. 39 and No. 45, respectively.
Once again leading off are the Hurricanes and Blue Devils. Amherst (5-2-1) is four spots ahead of Northampton (3-4-0, No. 36) at No. 32 in Division 2. Belchertown finds its way inside the top-10 with a No. 6 ranking in Division 3, and Holyoke (5-1-2), despite a solid record, checks in at No. 46.
As expected in Division 4, South Hadley snagged the top spot with a strong 6-1 record. Hampshire (2-6-0) is behind the Tigers at No. 14, Easthampton (5-2-0) next at No. 28, and Frontier (3-4-1) rounding out the division at No. 37. No Division 5 team landed a ranking higher than Granby’s (2-5-0) No. 20, although Smith Academy is No. 21 with an undefeated 5-0-0 record. Hopkins (No. 24, 5-0-1), Smith Vocational (No. 57, 3-2-0), and Gateway (No. 64, 1-4-1) round out the county’s teams in Division 5.
Holyoke, the lone team in Division 2, earned a No. 38 spot with its 6-3 record. In Division 3, Amherst (6-3) slid into the top-5 at No. 4, and Belchertown fell not far behind the ‘Canes at No. 9 sitting at 6-2.
Frontier (6-2) moved up a rung into Division 4 this year, and still managed to land the No. 1 ranking in the first power rankings. South Hadley (7-3) cracked the top-32 at No. 23. In Division 5, Easthampton (7-3) used its strong start to boost up to No. 7, while Smith Vocational (4-2) checks in at No. 21 and Granby (1 -8) sits at No. 56.
