Saugus girls first in cross country rankings
West Ranch boys cross country ranked seventh, area football teams also on respective lists
The Saugus girls cross team was ranked the No. 1 team by the CIF-Southern Section in Division 2 on Monday.
The governing body released its preseason rankings for both the boys and girls teams, and after winning their ninth state championship in 10 years last season it was no surprise to see the Centurions atop the poll.
“We’re always ranked first, but it’s not something to be envious about,” said Saugus girls and boys cross country coach Rene Paragas. “We always have a target on our back. It never makes things easier, it always makes things harder. We’re everyone’s goal.
“They want to beat us, but for us business as usual. We’ve been there for the last 10 years.”
For Paragas & Co., business as usual is to focus on the Cents’ training, being in the best shape they can be and not worrying about the other teams looking to knock them off a podium they are so used to being on top of.
The Saugus girls have won the last 10 Foothill League championships, and have taken the division crown in back-to-back years (2014, 2015).
“I’m going to coach the team the same way, there’s nothing you can do can do about what other teams do,” Paragas said. “Our goal is to run as fast as we can, and if that’s win state then that’s our goal. But it has to be what’s best for us.”
Looking to make a move to the top of Division 2 is the West Ranch boys cross country team.
After a seventh place finish at the 2015 state meet, the Wildcats received the No. 7 ranking in the CIF-SS D2 boys cross country preseason poll.
The CIF-SS also released its Week 1 polls for 11man football.
In the preseason rankings released last week there was only one Santa Clarita Valley squad
that made the list across all divisions: Santa Clarita Christian.
The Cardinals were still ranked No. 9 in Division 13 after a 20-13 road loss to Horizon Christian on Friday night in San Diego.
SCCS will try to rebound when it hosts South Pasadena at Canyon High on Saturday.
Despite a big win by Saugus over Santa Barbara, 35-7, and Golden Valley running over Antelope Valley, 28-0,
SCCS remained the only SCV prep football team to grab a ranking.
Although the Cards were the only prep squad to nab a spot in the polls, the SCV wasn’t left off all football lists.
College of the Canyons were tabbed as the No. 21 junior college football team in the state of California.
The Cougars finished its 2015 campaign with a 6-4 record and ranked 19th.
COC’s season begins when Antelope Valley College visits the SCV on Saturday at 6 p.m.