New England West 2023

[NNELax]

I believe it was canceled before the season started because of scheduling conflicts....that is what I was told. Would have been a great battle! Loomis had a good year. Hopefully they can make it work in 2024.

[Sportin' Life]

NELJ's estimation of the top prep teams in the region this season: https://www.laxjournal.com/power-rankin ... al-top-10/ (paywall)

1) Brunswick (13 - 4)
2) Taft (15 - 2)
3) Salisbury (11 - 3)
4) Nobles (17 - 4)
5) Choate (14 - 3)
6) Holderness (17 - 0)
7) Belmont Hill (15 - 1)
8) Loomis Chaffee (13 - 5)
9) Deerfield (10 - 8)
10) Exeter (15 - 6)

Hard to quibble with the top four although Taft could make an argument that it deserved the top spot having defeated 'wick 10 - 9. Things start to get strange at 5 with CRH (aside from its commendable victory over Salisbury the rest of its wins were against mediocre teams), Holderness at 6 (weak schedule as discussed above) and Belmont Hill at 7 (hard to envision the Sextants losing to the Wild Boars or the Bulls). LC at 8 is another head scratcher as the Pelicans beat Choate twice within the span of three days, first on the road to finish the regular season and second in the Founders League semi-final. My ranking below.

1) Taft (15 - 2)
2) Brunswick (13 - 4)
3) Salisbury (11 - 3)
4) Belmont Hill (15 - 1)
5) Loomis Chaffee (13 - 5)
6) Nobles (17 - 4)
7) Choate (14 - 3)
8) Deerfield (10 - 8)
9) Holderness (17 - 0)
10) Exeter (15 - 6)

[b1w7o9y7h]

Interesting and obviously atypical season as a DA homer. Congrats to the various programs having great seasons. Enjoy summer!

[Gshep40]

I think your rankings make more sense than NELJ’s.

[Laxxal22]

I like your rankings better as well, but from an ISL perspective I'd keep Nobles higher than Belmont Hill. I thought their ceiling was higher all season and finally hit it going into the playoffs when a couple of players got back to healthy. I'd also put St. Seb's in over Exeter for the 10 spot. Similar results but Seb's had the win over Taft. Only significant win for Exeter was Pingree.

[Superlite]

Definitely move Exeter out. Sebs or Pingree there. Pingree was missing their FOGO (Bucknell) in first game against Exeter and handled them with him in the rematch….they and Sebs deserving of that spot. Deerfield an amazing program but tough year. Best league win was Loomis who then beat Choate twice..Holderrness should be above DA and Choate. Not saying on a given Saturday one might beat the other but you play the teams you play and deal at the end of the season…What Deerfield might do next year shouldn’t be part of their end of season ranking…
Take out Brunswick, Salisbury and Taft and then rank them

[Laxxal22]

Posted this in the ISL thread as well. I know they used to do the East/West game but I think this is the first time the All-NEPSAC designation has been announced. https://assets-rst7.rschooltoday.com/rs ... crosse.pdf

[Sportin' Life]

Interesting - and suspect - that not one Taft player was deemed to merit inclusion. Lot's of talent on these lists but they're also kind of a cattle call. Would prefer to see first, second and HM teams comprised of 3A, 3M, 3D, 1G, 1SSDM, 1 LSM and 1FOGO but understand how difficult it would be to reach consensus.

[Laxxal22]

Yeah, it's a bit bizarre. I have no idea how players were nominated/selected. Perhaps the coaching transition at Taft played into an absence of Rhinos. I'd love to see the East/West game come back, especially now that the East would be less of a punching bag than back in my day.

[NNELax]

Rumor is Rosner to take over after Bell...

[b1w7o9y7h]

Yeah, it's a bit bizarre. I have no idea how players were nominated/selected. Perhaps the coaching transition at Taft played into an absence of Rhinos. I'd love to see the East/West game come back, especially now that the East would be less of a punching bag than back in my day.

Prompted me to look back through the photo archives. This is from the East-West Senior All-Star Game, Spring 1981. We (West) were coached by Stu Lindsay of Kinswood-Oxford. I forget which school this was at. I think it was an ISL school. I recall we won, although I was a bit fuzzy after graduation. Anyways, fun day!