Wyoming High School Soccer Rankings: March 21, 2018

It's hard to tell which teams should be ranked in the first coaches/media rankings of 2018, because not every team played a full regulation game on opening weekend.

The Thunder Basin boys impressed the voters with 4 straight shut-outs, to be placed #1 in 4A at the start of conference play. The Bolts will open up the home part of their schedule this weekend, vs. the top 2 teams from last year...defending champ Cheyenne East and runner-up Cheyenne Central. #2 Rock Springs also impressed by beating #3 Cheyenne Central, for the 2nd time in as many years. The Tigers just survived a battle at home in OT vs. #4 Jackson earlier this week. As for the Broncs, they will head back to Casper to start conference play, first against #5 Kelly Walsh (who beat Laramie via last second goal CLICK HERE) and then unranked Natrona.

The Star Valley boys were last year's 3A Consolation Champs. This year they mean business. Beating defending champ Cody on the road, made a statement, and the Braves are now ranked #1. Worland was also impressive last weekend with a pair of home shutout wins vs. the Fremont County teams. They host Cody in a big quadrant game on Friday. Don't let #3 Buffalo's record fool you. The Bison normally start the season by playing a lot of 4A teams. It may result in L's, but the apply the lessons they learn to the 3A of their schedule when it comes around. #4 Torrington just started their season, and they have a big quadrant game on Friday at home vs. #5 Lander. The Tigers just lost home vs. Rawlins. The thing is, most of the votes had been cast, before the game was played.

Like the boys, the Thunder Basin girls are also 4-0 and have yet to give up a goal. The Lady Bolts are ranked #1 in 4A, but they hit the road to start conference play, and it isn't going to be easy. They visit #5 Cheyenne East and #2 Cheyenne Central in back-to-back games, and that's right after the Lady Thunderbirds and Lady Indians play each other. It's going to be a busy weekend in 4A, because there's also the title game re-match, when #3 Campbell County visits unranked Laramie on Friday. Rock Springs is the lone team from the west that is ranked, as the Lady Tigers have slotted at the #4 spot.

Friday is the day of title game re-matches because it's also happened in 3A Girls. Defending champ and #1 ranked Cody visits #2 Worland in a big northwest quadrant game. The Lady Warriors share the #2 ranking with Star Valley, who has already lost to the Fillies, but perhaps they can change that this weekend. #4 Buffalo has the week off, while #5 Douglas will try to see if they can move up the rankings, if they do well this weekend.

Disclaimer: The rankings have no official say on post-season positioning, and are only to be used as a measuring stick on the regular season. Please don't read too much into the rankings.