Girls Basketball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the 2022-2023 preseason Girls Basketball rankings. Last year’s State Champions were Bishop Garrigan (1A), Dike-New Hartford (2A), Estherville Lincoln Central (3A), Xavier (4A), and Johnston (5A).
For Class 1A, Bishop Garrigan comes in ranked first after last year’s state championship followed by Newell-Fonda and North Linn. Burlington Notre Dame is ranked 14th after last year’s 23-1 record with their only loss coming in the State Quarterfinal to Bishop Garrigan. Winfield-Mt. Union rounded out the top 15 as they finished last year with a 19-5 record falling to the Nikes in the Regional Semifinal.
Dike-New Hartford remains on top of the rankings for Class 2A with Central Lyon following in second. Mediapolis finished last year 21-3, losing in the Regional Championship to Regina Catholic, and they are currently ranked 12th. West Monona anchors the top 15.
Keeping with the pattern, last year’s Class 3A State winner is tops in the poll with Estherville-Lincoln Central finishing last year with a 26-2 record. Unity Christian comes in ranked second with Davenport Assumption being ranked third. Grinnell and Solon are ranked 12th and 13th, respectively; moreover, Dubuque Wahlert (ranked 15th) is one of three teams in all classes ranked in the top 15 after finishing with a losing record last year.
Class 4A has a new team ranked number one in Sioux City Bishop Heelan as they fell to Xavier in the State Championship 54-40 last year. Xavier is ranked second followed by Dallas Center-Grimes. North Scott comes in ranked 5th after a 14-9 record last year. Mason City is ranked 14th as they are the second of three teams who finished last year with a losing record.
Class 5A follows Class 4A’s lead as they rank the runner-up from last year, Waterloo West, in first place. Johnston is placed in second place after their undefeated record last year. Ankeny Centennial is ranked in third. Iowa City Liberty snatched 13th place, Waukee takes 14th despite finishing last year with an 11-12 record, and Linn-Mar rounds out the top 15.