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The MWPA has released the Boys Week 5 top ten polls after another entertaining week amongst ranked teams in the MWPA.
A breakdown of the week that was for each team is below.
#1 Hudsonville Eagles
They inched a little further backwards from the edge of unanimous number one this week, albeit, against some great competition. The offending game for the Eagles was a 10-8 shootout victory that was a 6-6 regulation tie with #3 Ann Arbor Pioneer last weekend, Josh Ahrendt's Eagles escaped unscathed. In their other three games (two vs. top ten teams) they scored 15 or more and didn't give up more than five in wins over #6 Birmingham Groves and #9 East Grand Rapids. Hudsonville gets upset-minded #5 Jenison this week before a MONSTROUS tournament slate next weekend in what should be one of the best tournament's of the year - including a date with both #2's in Pioneer and Ann Arbor Skyline.
T-#2 Ann Arbor Skyline Eagles
They remain unbeaten, and this week should be where they'll truly test that mettle. Their closest margin of victory last week? Nine. This week? Ashley Hower's Eagles get the team they're tied with in #2 Ann Arbor Pioneer. They also draw #1 Hudsonville, #5 Jenison and #9 Grand Haven. This is a week where we all stand to learn about who could contend for the State Championship, and the Eagles have intentions of making their voice heard in what promises to be a blockbuster of a week.
T-#2 Ann Arbor Pioneer Pioneers
They may not be unbeaten, but they did just push #1 Hudsonville to the limit in a game decided by a shootout (10-8 Hudsonville victory). But after regulation, it was a 6-6 tie, proving loud and clear that Don Packard's Pio's have no intention of bowing to anyone. They have one of the State's best records vs. top ten teams (7-2), and are 13-2 against Michigan opponents (2-2 vs. out-of-staters) this season. The Pioneers get the team they're tied with, #2 Skyline, as well as #8 ELHL, #1 Hudsonville (again!), #4 Rockford (whom Pioneer beat 13-3 last week), and #9 Grand Haven. Buckle. Up.
#4 Rockford Rams
In a six-game week the Rams picked up four top-ten wins. Certainly by no means, easy to do. They beat #9 Grand Haven at home, then required sudden death OT at #5 Jenison (a 6-5 Rockford win), handled #8 East Grand Rapids and #6 Birmingham Groves. Craig Peterman's crew gets the gauntlet this week - Okemos and East Kentwood come to town back-to-back days, followed by a slate including #5 Jenison and #2 Ann Arbor Pioneer, whom the Rams are looking to avenge a loss to from last week.
#5 Jenison Wildcats
Man, the J-Cats were inches from a poll leap. Jason Sweedyk's bunch took down #7 East Grand Rapids by five, and then showed everyone just how much they've improved in a year. They took #4 Rockford to Sudden Death overtime at home. In a 6-5 loss, Jenison stayed steady at #5 in the polls, but it was certainly a good showing. They'll need more of that this week - #1 Hudsonville, #4 Rockford, and #2 Ann Arbor Skyline loom in the very near future for Jenison.
#6 Birmingham Groves Gators
The Gators didn't get positive results on teams ahead of them in the polls, but did gain some good experience out west taking on #4 Rockford and #1 Hudsonville amongst others. They sprung for a win over Troy United early in the week going deep into the bench. The key for the Gators and Steve Curry and Bob Sala's squad is to lock down the top seed in District 3 at the seeding tournament this upcoming week. Good news, they host it. Better news, they're unbeaten against district foes this year, of whom, they've seen four and probably the most competitive two of that group.
#7 ELHL Co-Op
The mid-Michigan gang only played twice this week, but picked up a pair of wins vs. district foes in Mason, and a seed-game-win over Okemos. ELHL is up a spot in large part because they haven't really lost much of anything. Their one big margin loss came to #1 Hudsonville, but apart from that, it's been an all-around solid go this year for Madi Zink's ELHL Co-Op. They get #3 Ann Arbor Pioneer this week, Rockford, Ann Arbor Skyline and Okemos in the next two. It should be a good measuring stick of how far ELHL has truly come.
#8 East Grand Rapids Pioneers
It was a true test of a week for East Grand Rapids, who fell early in the week to #5 Jenison, before rebounding for a nice win over West Ottawa. Raheem Brown's group played #4 Rockford closely in a 7-4 loss, but then fell 9-8 to Ann Arbor Huron to cap the tournament. Still, East Grand Rapids has quality wins on their resume, and has shown good development this season. They get cracks at East Kentwood (tonight) and Rockford (next week) as they head for the postseason.
#9 Grand Haven Buccaneers
They played once last week, a loss at Rockford, but have golden shots at getting rolling again. Bill Hamm's crew heads for West Ottawa for their district seed game (tonight), and then draws the Panthers again this weekend, while also seeing both state #2's in Skyline and Pioneer, before closing it out against Zeeland. The Buccaneers have been shorthanded at times, but if they can get back to full strength, they'll have plenty to say about the final result in District 1.
#10 Birmingham Seaholm Maples
The Mapes are ranked for the first time this season after a really strong week of action. They opened with a win at Walled Lake, who had held Birmingham Groves within three goals earlier this year. They fell to #2 Skyline but turned around and snagged their first top ten victory of the year over #10 Dexter, and rolled their way to a 4-0 tournament (Zeeland, Okemos, Saline). Josh Stephens' bunch got off to a slow start in heavy competition, but are now right back in the thick of it going into the District Seed Weekend.
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On the Line: Ann Arbor Huron (90), Dexter (74), Okemos (39)
Understanding the Poll: The poll, open to all MWPA Head Coaches, is ranked via a point-percentage scoring model. The points column is percentage of points scored by voters against the maximum total, which is based on number of voters. The period that would signify percentage has been dropped off the beginning of each number. Unanimous first place ranking nets a score of 1,000 points. Polls will be updated Monday's at 11 am (Girls) and noon (Boys) ET. Inquiries on the poll can be directed to the chat feature on the MWPA website. Answering times may vary.
What is On the Line?: On the Line is the first three teams outside of the MWPA Poll. Coaches vote weekly during the season.
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