Captain Brinn's Pre-Pre-Season Rankings: D2

Here are my early thoughts on D2:
1. Tipp City Tippecanoe (D2 will be wide open, but Tippecanoe was impressive at state last season and return enough to be a title contender so I am giving them the pre-pre-season target, though we will see how they perform over the summer. They lost a heartbreaker (16-14) to Bishop Hartley in the state semi last year and that bitter taste could propel them.)
2. Salem (Another team with a bitter taste in their mouth after they lost a close and tight battle to the eventual state champion, Toledo Central Catholic, 15-13 in five games in the state semi-final. Revenge will be my motivation for the top two in my early rankings!)
3. Columbus Bishop Hartley (Impressive team that finished as runners-up last year. Even more impressive coaching. This team should be even better this coming season.)
4. Bexley (They burst onto the radar last season and lost in three close games to Bishop Hartley in regional finals. They were young and they will threaten this season, but will have to get through Hartley once again probably.)
5. Kettering Alter (A tough schedule will prepare them once again for tourney and they should be better than last season. You can never count out this traditional powerhouse.)
6. Toledo Central Catholic (Probably way too high, but the title of defending state champions will get them the #6 spot. They lose an incredible array of talent from last years team and will have to rely on new players to keep the momentum going. Probably will be good, just nowhere near what they were last season.)
7. Mansfield Madison Comprehensive (This program is always on the radar and they showcased some momentum in last season's tourney, almost upending TCC in regional finals when they pushed the eventual champions to five games. May threaten again this season.)
8. Parma Padua Franciscan (Padua was a sleeper all season and almost awoke when they pushed Salem in the regional finals.)
9. Cincinnati McNicholas (A GGCL team which means they will be tested in the regular season. Last season they proved worthy and almost knocked Tippecanoe out in regional semi-finals. Could they finally breakthrough this season?)
10. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (Had an up-and-down season last year after their 2006 season dominance. They recovered for a strong tourney run, where they lost 17-15 to Salem in regional semi's. I have to believe they will be stronger this season.)
The rest:
11. Hubbard
12. Cincinnati Wyoming
13. Bellbrook
14. Tallmadge
15. Beaumont School for Girls
16. Unioto
17. John Glenn
18. Celina
19. Mentor Lake Catholic
20. Warsaw River View
21. Ottawa-Glandorf
22. Kenston
23. LaGrange Keystone
24. Lakeview
25. Sunbury Big Walnut
26. Urbana
27. Wooster Triway
28. Canal Winchester
29. Millersburg West Holmes
30. Akron SVSM

The Class of D2: Tippecanoe, Salem, Bishop Hartley, Bexley, Alter
Sleepers: Madison Comp., McNicholas, Toledo Central Catholic, Parma Padua, Walsh Jesuit
Don't be Suprised If: The top five teams stay steady all season and the final four includes at least three returnees from last season.

Last Five State Champions:
2007: Toledo Central Catholic
2006: Kettering Alter
2005: Roger Bacon
2004: Roger Bacon
2003: Kettering Alter