What does 5A look like for 2009? What teams are going to be up? What teams are going to be down? What team may surprise some people?

For those expecting CovCath to again really struggle, the Colonels will be a surprise. I'm not saying they will win state, but they will have improved considerably over last year.

We've heard how great Cov Cath is going to be for 2 straight years and it never materialized. They are not a top 10 team at this point IMO.

We've heard how great Cov Cath is going to be for 2 straight years and it never materialized. They are not a top 10 team at this point IMO.

 

What is your Top 10 to start the year?

 

CCH has been down the past two years, but that means nothing going in to this year. CCH has been an "Elite" team over the last decade. Almost every school is going to have some down years.

 

Can't believe I'm defending CCH.:ohbrother:

CovCath is definately a top 10 5A school....

We've heard how great Cov Cath is going to be for 2 straight years and it never materialized. .

 

WHo have you heard that from?

I wouldn't say that someone told Blockbuster that, but every year, in threads such as this one, Covington Catholic is always considered one of the top 10 if not top 5 teams. They are considered one of the "elite" teams of the last decade. We'll see what they have this year after a year of change.

 

I am assuming that Highlands is a strong favorite to repeat, correct? Who in 5A will challenge them, if that is at all possible and will Bowling Green be good enough to make it to the state finals?

What is your Top 10 to start the year?

 

CCH has been down the past two years, but that means nothing going in to this year. CCH has been an "Elite" team over the last decade. Almost every school is going to have some down years.

 

Can't believe I'm defending CCH.:ohbrother:

 

What makes CovCath an elite team in the last decade. I just went through the Rihards scoreboard checking the AAA and recently AAAAA championship game and didn't see them involved in many of those contests. Saw a lot of Highlands, Boyle, and then Bowling Green. perhaps those are the elite teams in their respective classes in the last 10 years. As far as the 09 season. Well, I'll pick Highlands to threepeat for the 2nd time in a a decade.

I think Owensboro and Johnson Central will be pretty strong..

Once again it's Highland's to lose. Maybe a fresh redistricting will provide some challengers en route.

In Harlan County we believe our Black Bears will earn some respect in 5A. Go Bears!

What makes CovCath an elite team in the last decade. I just went through the Rihards scoreboard checking the AAA and recently AAAAA championship game and didn't see them involved in many of those contests. Saw a lot of Highlands, Boyle, and then Bowling Green. perhaps those are the elite teams in their respective classes in the last 10 years. As far as the 09 season. Well, I'll pick Highlands to threepeat for the 2nd time in a a decade.

 

While we can get into a semantics debate over "elite" I don't buy your argument that you have to play in a state championship game to be elite. In many years, HHS and CCH represented 2 of the top 3 to 5 teams in the state in their division. However, only one gets to move on. HHS had a very strong team in 06 but CCH went onto to win the championship. That doesn't diminish HHS' ability in 06. In 04, CCH had a top 2 to 5 team but couldn't get past the Birds stellar defense. Again, it doesn't diminish their year or status.

 

Unless the state starts seeding using the finals teams as the basis for "elite" will be misleading.

While we can get into a semantics debate over "elite" I don't buy your argument that you have to play in a state championship game to be elite. In many years, HHS and CCH represented 2 of the top 3 to 5 teams in the state in their division. However, only one gets to move on. HHS had a very strong team in 06 but CCH went onto to win the championship. That doesn't diminish HHS' ability in 06. In 04, CCH had a top 2 to 5 team but couldn't get past the Birds stellar defense. Again, it doesn't diminish their year or status.

 

Unless the state starts seeding using the finals teams as the basis for "elite" will be misleading.

Also, you have to consider that in the recent past, there haven't been many teams to get in the old 3A/current 5A finals, let alone win titles.

 

Recent 5A (or old 3A) finals:

 

2008: W: Highlands L: Christian County

2007: W: Highlands L: Bowling Green

2006: W: Covington Catholic L: Bowling Green

2005: W: Lexington Catholic (now 4A) L: Bowling Green

2004: W: Highlands L: Boyle County (now 4A)

2003: W: Boyle County (now 4A) L: Highlands

2002: W: Boyle County (now 4A) L: Rockcastle County (now 4A)

2001: W: Boyle County (now 4A) L: Rockcastle County (now 4A)

2000: W: Highlands L: Owensboro

1999: W: Highlands L: Owensboro

1998: W: Highlands L: Waggener

1997: W: Covington Catholic L: Hopkinsville

1996: W: Highlands L: Hopkinsville

1995: W: Bowling Green L: Highlands

 

As you can see, not too many teams currently in 5A have been represented. CovCath has been down some in the last two years, but they won state as recently as 2006... they definitely have to be considered an "elite" 5A program.

Oldham County could surprise some people. While they lose some GREAT kids, there is talent in the wings for Coach Brown to let loose.

 

South Oldham should get some wins this year. They have talent this year that they have been waiting to mature and get ready for this year. The schedule change will help get some wins, I think that they should get a couple of district wins as well. OC and Anderson should be tough for SO, but I think they should be able to get J-Town and Grant County. They should get back to the playoffs.

On another site we were discussing how you don't really hear a lot about teams from the western part of the state why is that? I think it's hard to get info from news media, websites, etc. in the eastern/northern part of the state. But from a previous post it looks like they have been represented in the state championship game quite a bit. I didn't see any eastern KY teams in there (I hope that changes soon!).