The San Diego Section power rankings have been released for boys and girls soccer and girls water polo for the 2022-23 winter sports season. These are the official rankings that will be used to determine playoff seeding. East County teams are well represented in these initial rankings, including several ranked near the top of their respective divisions. The soccer playoffs will include six divisions, including the Open Division, while the water polo playoffs will feature four divisions, including the Open Division. Each league champion will be guaranteed a berth in the playoffs, including any possible play-in games. One important note about the power rankings is that they remain fluid, with teams changing positions with each win or loss. They should be viewed as something trending rather than final, particularly at this point of the season.
GETTING THEIR KICKS
The Division I soccer rankings include 20 teams – the top eight qualify for the Open Division and the remaining 12 teams will contend for the Division I championship. The top 12 teams in the power rankings for Division II, Division III, Division IV and Division V qualify for postseason play. Among boys teams entering this week, Eastlake (14-1- 2) topped the Division I power rankings while La Costa Canyon (7-4-3) was the top team in the Division II power rankings. Crawford (9-1-3) topped the Division III power rankings while La Jolla Country Day (9-3-1) topped the Division IV power rankings. The Preuss School (9-2-1) topped the Division V power rankings. Among East County kickers, Steele Canyon (7-4-2) was ranked third among Division II schools while Helix (6-5-0) was ranked ninth. Santana (6-4-4) was ranked fifth among Division III schools while Monte Vista (9-7-2) was ranked 10th and Granite Hills (3-4-3) was ranked 12th. Mt. Miguel (8-6-3) was ranked 13th in the Division IV field in a bid to make the top 12 playoff cut. El Capitan (9-10-1) was ranked third among Division V teams while El Cajon Valley (5- 11-2) was ranked 10th. Among girls teams entering this week, Cathedral Catholic (11-4-1) topped the Division I power rankings while Canyon Crest Academy (9-4-2) topped the Division II power rankings. Pacific Ridge (10-4-1) topped the Division III power rankings while Kearny (10-1-1) topped the Division IV power rankings. Madison (8-4-0) topped the Division V power rankings. Among East County teams, West Hills (10-7-1) was ranked 15th in the Division I field while Christian (2-8-1) was 19th and Helix (2-8-4) was 20th. Santana (6-2-1) and Granite Hills (8-4- 1) were ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, among Division II teams while Foothills Christian (9-4-2) was ranked fourth among Division III teams alongside No. 8 Monte Vista (5- 5-2), No. 10 El Capitan (7-5-3) and No. 11 Valhalla (3-6-4). Mt. Miguel (7-3-0) was ranked fifth among Division IV schools while River Valley (1-1) was ranked third among Division V schools along with No. 8 El Cajon Valley (5-5-1).
MAKING A SPLASH
The girls water polo Open Division could include as many as three East County teams among the eight qualifiers. Helix (15-4) entered the week ranked second among Division I teams while Grossmont (11-5) was seventh and Valhalla (11-7) was eighth, with both of those also making the top eight cut for the elite division should the playoffs start now. Santana (7-8) and Granite Hills (4-9) were ranked 12th and 14th, with both of those schools guaranteed spots in the reduced Division I field after the Open Division cut. Clairemont (20-5) held down the top spot in the Division I rankings. Eastlake (11-4) topped the Division II power rankings entering the week while Mt. Carmel (19-5) topped the Division III power rankings. Among East County teams, El Capitan (10-4) and Steele Canyon (9-6) were ranked 11th and 12th, respectively in the 20-team Division II field while West Hills (10-12) was ranked 15th. Mt. Miguel (2-9) was ranked 14th among the 22 Division III teams. Power rankings for boys and girls basketball will be released at a later date.