OHSAA Division VI Preseason Rankings: Watchlist

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our OHSAA Preseason Rankings will cover a top 10 from each Division as OHSAA expands to a seven-division format for this upcoming season. We also want to spotlight some teams that just missed the cut from our top 10 that we will be keeping a close eye this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Columbia</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After going 16-8 last season, Columbia returns [player_tooltip player_id='2569377' first='Justin' last='Smith'] who should be one of the best players in the conference. Also after starting 2-4 last season, Columbia ended up winning 14 of their final 18 games and could keep that momentum into this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Colonel Crawford</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a program that just flat out wins. They've graduated some incredibly talented pieces over the past five years and [player_tooltip player_id='2800788' first='Payne' last='DeGray'] is back for their program to get elevated into the spotlight but this team is one I'm not betting against. Last season going 18-7 was viewed as a 'down' year based on their recent success, a sign of a great program. In fact, Colonel Crawford has won at least 18 games every season since 2016.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Convoy Crestview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another program that wins and produces college talent on a consistent basis is Convoy Crestview. [player_tooltip player_id='1837239' first='Wren' last='Sheets'] is their star player for this winter and I expect another successful season for the Knights. Northwest Ohio is absolutely loaded in Division VI so it'll be interesting to see how they fare come playoff time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ashland Crestview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fitting to put these two next to each other, Ashland Crestview was one of the longest unbeaten teams in Ohio last year. [player_tooltip player_id='2203931' first='Justice' last='Thompson'] is back after an all-Ohio campaign and he has the talent to put the team on his back. Hoping to see Crestview establish themselves early this season, they play Colonel Crawford early this season after beating them by just one point last year. Good test for both teams, the winner could find themselves in our top 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Malvern</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malvern spent a ton of time in our top 10 for Division III last season but with J'Allen Barrino and and Mitch Minor graduated, it'll be a new look team. Luckily, Malvern returns Rodney Smith who will be looked upon to be a senior leader this season. The upside is considerably lower this year for Malvern but they won't be an easy out in the east district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->