The 7AAAA Profile: Anoka is in position to repeat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are questions everywhere which could make this fun but Anoka was the clear top team last year and they look to have the most talent, this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7AAAA Power Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Anoka </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Andover</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Blaine</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Forest Lake </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Duluth East </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Centennial </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cambridge-Isanti</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Coon Rapids</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Section 15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>First Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shiloh Ayotey of Blaine (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121367' first='Dre' last='Ellis'] of Anoka (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'] of Anoka (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560850' first='Tristan' last='Hanson'] of Centennial (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560767' first='Ty' last='Nyberg'] of Duluth East (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Second Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2381649' first='Eddie' last='Miles'] of Andover (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2382253' first='Colton' last='Miller'] of Andover (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560745' first='DJ' last='Westman'] of Forest Lake (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2835657' first='Jameson' last='Epple'] of Cambridge (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2486564' first='Kolden' last='Johnson'] of Anoka (Fr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Third Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1936143' first='Caden' last='Roessler'] of Andover (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joseph Mapson of Andover (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tulla Gemta of Blaine (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1874903' first='Kevin' last='Ndirangu'] of Forest Lake (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2814089' first='Eddie' last='Lundeen'] of Cambridge-Isanti (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One Thought Per Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andover. Andover lost their top two scorers from a team that won 11 games. But when you look at the returning players and their value, Andover has a lot more than the rest of the league. And this is a league that lost a lot of senior talent. Because of that Andover, who has just about everything back from that 11 win team, is our favorite. And [player_tooltip player_id='2382253' first='Colton' last='Miller'] is a guy that has taken a monster step forward this off-season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anoka. The majority of Anoka's rotation is gone but their ace in the hole is having a top scorer/player in [player_tooltip player_id='2121367' first='Dre' last='Ellis'], the best big in the league in [player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'], and the best up and coming players in the section, [player_tooltip player_id='2486564' first='Kolden' last='Johnson']. There are a ton of holes to fill from a good team that went to state, but Anoka is in a better position than most because of Ellis, Gaustad, and Johnson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blaine. Blaine was one of the most surprising teams in Class AAAA last year and that was because their seniors emerged and had a great year as a unit. Can they do it again? It could be tough but having Shiloh Ayotey back is a huge plus, and Tulla Gemta returns as well. Those two have us thinking they can contend for the section title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cambridge-Isanti. The Jackets are an interesting team that has a lot of good juniors that will make them competitive including two returning starters. They are a team that did well in their league last year but had a tough time with section opponents. To take the next step they need to continue be a good team in their section while also knocking off some of the teams in this section in their schedule non league games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial. The Cougars were a surprise team a season ago winning 15 games. Unfortunately they lost a lot of valuable seniors but is it possible for them to surprise again? Having [player_tooltip player_id='1560850' first='Tristan' last='Hanson'] helps a ton in that matter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coon Rapids. Coon Rapids was a six win team last year and they lost some very good player. You automatically assume it's going to be a rough season and yes it could be tough, but when we saw them last weekend there were some eye opening moments. Kieran Wymore is a player to watch and I believe it was him who did some impressive things at Fall League. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duluth East. [player_tooltip player_id='1560767' first='Ty' last='Nyberg'] might be the section's top player and I think a huge season is coming from him. He had some big games with [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] this 17u season. With two or three other rotation players back with him East should improve from the 10 wins of last year, but how much is tough to know. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forest Lake. The Rangers are having a hell of a football season right now and while I don't expect them to be top three in state like football, I do think they are a team that could win the section. They have four starters returning to the team and with so much graduated from the section, Forest Lake will be one of the most experienced teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->