Great story about blind high school cross country runner

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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This is just one of those stories that makes you smile.  USA Today's website posted a story about 13-year old  Luke Fortner, who is blind and runs cross country for his Fairport High School (New York) team.

Philadelphia-area girls wants to wrestle on boys' high school team

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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16-year old Amanda Leve is waiting patiently to hear from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on whether she'll be allowed to wrestle on the Archbishop Ryan (Pennsylvania) wrestling team.  Right now the junior isn't allowed on the team, because it considers wrestling a full contact sport that is only open to boys.

Here's a statement from the Archdiocese on the matter:

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Catholic high schools currently designate wrestling as a full contact sport open to boys only. The majority of sports in our high schools are designated by gender with separate teams for boys and girls. These measures are taken to ensure an appropriate playing environment that is safe for all participants. They also reflect the Catholic teaching that gender differences are important and play a role in the development of mature Christian identity while serving the distinct differences between male and female athletes. Representatives from both Archbishop Ryan High School and the Office of Catholic Education have met with a female student who wishes to wrestle on the school’s newly formed team. At that time, the current rule and the reasoning behind it was relayed clearly. The situation will be reviewed moving forward. There is no definitive timetable for a final decision. All possible factors will be taken into account to ensure that sports programs in our high schools foster an enjoyable and safe atmosphere to supplement academic pursuits and provide for proper human formation with Christian dignity and maturity.

According to CBS 3 in Philadelphia, the Archdiocese will consider Amanda's request to wrestle on the boys' team, but hasn't set a timetable for making its decision.

Unionville (PA) moves to the top spot in XCNation.com Girls' Cross Country National Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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There's a new #1 in high school girls' cross country, according to the latest XCNation.com/ NHSCA Power Rankings.

Unionville (Pennsylvania) ascended to the top spot after an incredible regular season that saw the Indians defeat seven-time national champion Fayetteville-Manlius (New York) twice, plus easily capture the PIAA District I championship.  Last week's top team, Seaholm (Michigan) falls to #2.

XCNation.com Girls' National Cross Country Rankings
...rankings through October 26, 2013

1. Unionville (Pennsylvania)
2. Seaholm (Michigan)
3. Davis (Utah)
4. Simi Valley (California)
5. Fayetteville-Manlius (New York)
6. Wayzata (Minnesota)
7. Carmel (Indiana)
8. Northville (Michigan)
9. Bozeman (Montana)
10. Pennsbury (Pennsylvania)

Click here to see the entire Top 25.

Click here to listen to last week's NHSCA Sports Hour radio show with XCNation.com co-founder David Taylor.

Listen to October 24th NHSCA Sports Hour on-demand

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

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If you missed last night's radio show, don't fear, it's right here.  Just click here and you can listen whenever the time is right for you.

Guests on the show are: Austyn Cuneo of Eastern High School (New Jersey), America's all-time leading goal scorer in field hockey and David Taylor of XCNation.com, discussing boys' and girls' cross country.

Minnesota high school girls' tennis team wins 17th straight state title

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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Congratulations to the Edina High School girls' tennis team on winning its 17th straight Minnesota state tennis championship on Thursday.  Edina won the Class 2A title with a 5-2 victory of Minnetonka.

Edina is coached by Steve Paulsen who has led the school to 18 state titles in 22 years. Paulsen was named the NHSCA National Girls' Tennis Coach of the Year in 2007.

Eastern's Austyn Cuneo sets new high school field hockey record

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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Courtesy Eastern High School

Congratulations to Austin Cuneo of Eastern High School (New Jersey) who broke America's high school field hockey record for goals in a career on Wednesday.

Cuneo, who is only a junior, scored three goals in her team's 11-0 shutout of Cherry Hills East to move past Lexi Smith of Florence High School's mark of 191 career goals.  Cuneo now has scored 193 goals with plenty more games to play for her school that is currently ranked 6th in the nation.

St. Benedict's (NJ) boys' soccer win streak ends at 71

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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After 71 straight wins, top-ranked St. Benedict's Prep's (New Jersey) streak came to an end Tuesday with a 1-0 loss in overtime to Salesianum (Delaware), which is ranked in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25.

The most amazing things about the SBP streak is it began after a 1-0 loss to Salesianum on October 2, 2010.  The streak goes down as the third longest all-time in boys' high school soccer history.

All-Time Longest Boys' Soccer Win Streaks

74 Duxbury (Massachusetts) 1981-85
72 Springdale (Pennsylvania) 1968-72
71 St. Benedict's Prep (New Jersey) 2010-2013
69 Shenendehowa (New York) 1990-92
69 Thomas Jefferson (Washington) 1983-87
67 Jesuit (California) 2009-2010
65 Ben Lippen (North Carolina) 1963-1970
64 Blacksburg (Virginia) 1998-2001
61 Leland (California) 1987-90
59 La Canada (California) 1994-97

Click here to listen to an interview I did with St. Benedict's Prep head soccer coach Jim Wandling on October 3rd on the NHSCA Sports Hour.

Meanwhile, there were no changes this week to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America boy's Top 10 that was released on Tuesday. 

Below are the latest rankings for both the boys and girls.

NSCAA Boys' High School Soccer Rankings

1. St. Benedict's Prep (New Jersey) LW: #1
2. Mason (Ohio) LW: #2
3. Jesuit (California) LW: #3
4. Arlington (New York) LW: #4
5. Hinsdale Central (Illinois) LW: #5
6. Troy Athens (Michigan) LW: #6
7. Salesianum (Delaware) LW: #7
8. Greenwich (Connecticut) LW: #8
9. Upper St. Clair (Pennsylvania) LW: #9
10. McDonogh (Maryland) LW: 10

Click here to view entire boys' Top 25.

NSCAA Girls' High School Soccer Rankings

1. Exeter (New Hampshire) LW: #1
2. Northern Highlands (New Jersey) LW: #5
3. Houston (Tennessee) LW: #T2
4. Northport (New York) LW: #T2
5. Maria Carillo (California) LW: #4
6. Rocky River (Ohio) LW: #6
7. Central Catholic (Massachusetts) LW: #7
8. Cumberland Valley (Pennsylvania) LW: #8
9. Sacred Heart (Kentucky) LW: #10
10. Twinsburg (Ohio) LW: #11

Click here to view entire girls' Top 25

New XCNation.com Boys' High School Cross Country Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow
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XCNation.com has released its new high school boys' cross country rankings, and once again, there's a new #1...or should I say and old #1.

Arcadia (California) has returned to the top spot after York (Illinois) held the top perch for the last two Top 25 polls.  York falls to #4 this week.

Here's the Top 10...

XCNation.com Boys' Cross Country Rankings
released October 20, 2013

1. Arcadia (California)
2. American Fork (Utah)
3. Christian Brothers Academy (New Jersey)
4. York (Illinois)
5. Madera South (California)
6. Brentwood (Tennessee)
7. North Allegheny (Pennsylvania)
8. Gig Harbor (Michigan)
9. Ogden (Utah)
10. Hinsdale Central (Illinois)

Click here to view the entire Top 25.

The girls' rankings will be released on Thursday.  Also on Thursday, XCNation.com editor David Taylor will join me on the NHSCA Sports Hour to discuss what should be an exciting finish to the 2013 high school cross country season.

You can learn what goes into the XCNation.com Power Rankings, by clicking here.

Eastern's Austyn Cuneo moves within one goal of all-time field hockey record

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHCSA Sports Hour
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There's no change in the latest Top of the Circle Top 10 Field Hockey national rankings, but  there will be a change at the top of America's all-time field hockey goals list sometime this week...probably tomorrow.

Austyn Cuneo of #6 Eastern (New Jersey) scored five more goals last Thursday in a 12-2 win over Washington Township, moving her one away from the all-time mark of 191 career goals by Lexi Smith of Florence (New Jersey). Cuneo could tie and then break the record in upcoming games against Cherry Hill East (Wednesday) or Moorestown (Thursday).

In Massachusetts, Watertown is now second on the all-time consecutive games without a loss list.  Watertown passed former #2 Casady School (Oklahoma), placing the school behind Eastern, which owns the all-time mark at 153 straight games without a loss.  Watertown's unbeaten streak is now at 108

1. Villanova Academy of Notre Dame du Namur (Pennsylvania) 13-0, LW: #1
2. First Colonial (Virginia) 10-0, LW: #2
3. Watertown (Massachusetts) 15-0, LW: #3
4. Lower Dauphin (Pennsylvania) 17-1, LW: #4
5. Episcopal Academy (Pennsylvania) 16-0, LW: #5
6. Eastern (New Jersey) 14-0-1, LW: #6
7. Emmaus (Pennsylvania) 20-0, LW: #7
8. Farmingville Sachem East (New York) 13-0, LW: #8
9. Shrub Oak Lakeland (New York) 15-0, LW: #9
10. Palmyra (Pennsylvania) 17-1, LW: #10

High School Football America Top 25 (Week 8)

by Jeff Fisher

Follow @HSFBamerica

 

There’s still a lot of chatter about whether Allen (Texas) should be ahead of Booker T. Washington (Florida) in the High School Football America Top 25 presented by The Debris Inhibitor Razur. 

 

A couple of interesting numbers – 1) both teams have outscored their opponents by an average of 30 points a game 2) Allen’s opponents (coming into this week’s games) have won 65% of their games, while Booker T’s opponents have won 63% of their games.

 

From my perspective it is hard to separate the two, but again this week, based on strength of schedule, the Eagles hold a razor’s edge lead over the Tornadoes.

 

This Saturday’s Garden State showdown between #9 St. Joseph Regional (New Jersey) and Paramus Catholic lost a little bit of luster when then #16 PC lost 20-13 to Don Bosco Prep this past weekend.  Paramus Catholic, which dropped out of our national rankings, was the only Top 25 team to lose last week.

 

There will be a Top 25 showdown when #15 Manatee (Florida) squares-off with in-state rival #21 University.

Archbishop Moeller of Ohio is the only new team in this week's poll. The Crusaders enter at #23.

 

High School Football America Top 25
presented by The Debris Inhibitor Razur

 

1. (1) Allen (Texas)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Plano West  (Texas) 77-37

Fast Forward: Friday, Boyd (Texas)

 

2. (2) Booker T. Washington (Florida)

Overall: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Gulliver Prep (Florida) 41-7

Fast Forward: Thursday, Norland (Florida)

 

3. (3) Katy (Texas)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Seven Lakes (Texas) 17-12

Fast Forward: Saturday, Strake Jesuit (Texas)

 

4. (4) Colerain (Ohio)

Overall Record: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Mason (Ohio) 63-14

Fast Forward: Friday, Middletown (Ohio)

 

5. (5) DeSoto (Texas)

Overall: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Midlothian (Texas) 62-42

Fast Forward: Friday, Duncanville (Texas)

6. (6) De La Salle (California)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Logan (California) 49-7

Fast Forward: Friday, Amador Valley (California)

 

7. (7) Miami Central (Florida)

Overall Record: 6-1

Rewind: defeated Northwestern 44-13

Fast Forward: Friday, Carol City (Florida)

 

8. (8) St. John Bosco (California)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Orange Lutheran (California) 42-24

Fast Forward: Friday, JSerra (California)

 

9. (9) St. Joseph Regional (New Jersey)

Overall Record: 5-0

Rewind: defeated St. Peter’s Prep (New Jersey) 56-28

Fast Forward: Saturday, Paramus Catholic (New Jersey)

 

10. (10) Ensworth (Tennessee)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: Idle

Fast Forward: Friday, Baylor (Tennessee)

 

11. (11) Hoover (Alabama)

Overall: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Minor (Alabama) 41-9

Fast Forward: Thursday, Tuscaloosa County (Alabama)

 

12. (12) Northwestern (South Carolina)

Overall Record: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Fort Mill (South Carolina) 42-20

Fast Forward: Friday, York (South Carolina)

 

13. (13) Bellevue (Washington)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Mount Si (Washington) 52-13

Fast Forward: Friday, Liberty (Washington)

 

14. (14) North Gwinnett (Georgia)

Overall: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Habersham Central (Georgia) 41-0

Fast Forward: Friday, Collins Hill (Georgia)

 

15. (15) Manatee (Florida)

Overall Record: 8-0

Rewind: defeated St. Petersburg 51-13

Fast Forward: Friday, #21 University (Florida)

 

16. (17) Serra (California)

Overall: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Chaminade (California) 36-0

Fast Forward: Friday, Cathedral (California)

 

17. (18) Miramar (Florida)

Overall: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Flanagan (Florida) 22-13

Fast Forward: Friday, Cypress Bay (Florida)

 

18. (19) Byrnes (South Carolina)

Overall: 7-1

Rewind: defeated Gaffney (South Carolina) 61-20

Fast Forward: Friday, Mauldin (South Carolina)

 

19. (20) Mallard Creek (North Carolina)

Overall Record: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Vance 41-0

Fast Forward: Friday, A.L. Brown (North Carolina)

 

20. (21) Mountain Pointe (Arizona)

Overall: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Corona del Sol 63-0

Fast Forward: Idle, 11/1 Dobson (Arizona)

 

21. (22) University (Florida)

Overall: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Glades Central 48-13

Fast Forward: Friday, #15 Manatee (Florida)

 

22. (23) Mater Dei (California)

Overall: 7-0

Rewind: defeated JSerra (California) 38-14

Fast Forward: Friday, Santa Margarita (California)

 

23. (NR) Archbishop Moeller (Ohio)

Overall: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Indianapolis Cathedral (Indiana) 35-14

Fast Forward: Saturday, St. Edward (Ohio)

 

24. (24) Jenks (Oklahoma)

Overall: 7-0

Rewind: defeated Westmore (Oklahoma) 24-0

Fast forward: Friday, Muskogee (Oklahoma)

 

25. (25) Highlands (Kentucky)

Overall Record: 8-0

Rewind: defeated Holmes (Kentucky) 71-14

Fast Forward: Friday, Elder (Ohio)

Dropped-out: #16 Paramus Catholic (New Jersey)