After a state finals appearance last season, but graduation departures of some of the team’s top players, the Alexandria Senior High Trojans still have statewide respect reflected in the preseason top 10 Class 5A poll conducted by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
ASH is ranked No. 9 in Class 5A, the only Rapides Parish team to receive votes in any of the five classifications from 11 LSWA members representing all regions of the state.
Area teams Bunkie, Jena and Leesville did receive votes in their classifications.
ASH opens the season at home Friday night against West Feliciana.
LSWA top 10 polls announced Monday:
Class 5A
School (1st place votes received), points
1. Karr (11), 132
2. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 114
3. Neville, 102
4. Ruston, 91
5. Central, Destrehan (tie), 75
7. Acadiana, 50
8. St. Augustine, 43
9. Alexandria Senior High, 40
10. John Curtis, 36
Others receiving votes: Zachary 25, West Monroe 17, Evangel Christian 11, Airline 9, Southside 6, Carencro 5, Terrebonne 5, Ouachita 4, Brother Martin 6, Archbishop Rummel 5, Jesuit 2, St. Paul’s 1.
Class 4A
1. St. Thomas More (4), Franklin Parish (3), (tie), 108
3. E.D. White, 97
4. Archbishop Shaw (1), 93
5. Franklinton (1), 87
6. North DeSoto (2), 81
7. Plaquemine, 65
8. Cecilia, 54
9. Lakeshore, 45
10. Lutcher, 34
Others receiving votes: Teurlings Catholic 31, Westgate 26, Leesville 17, St. Charles 10, Iowa 5.
Class 3A
1. St. James (6), 126
2. Sterlington (3), 121
3. University (1), 109
4. Amite, 86
5. Church Point, 73
6. Madison Prep (1), 65
7. Lake Charles College Prep, 49
8. Jewel Sumner, 42
9. John F. Kennedy, 39
10. Jennings, 37
Others receiving votes: Bunkie 34, Iota 29, Jena 26, Erath 11, Northwest 6, L.B. Landry 1, Parkview Baptist 1.
Class 2A
1. Lafayette Christian Academy (5), Dunham (4), (tie) 122
3. Ouachita Christian (1), 106
4. Catholic-New Iberia (1), 97
5. Union Parish, 79
6. Calvary Baptist, 76
7. Newman, 47
8. Notre Dame, 39
9. Episcopal-Baton Rouge, 37
10. South Plaquemines, 35
Others receiving votes: Oak Grove 32, Kinder 22, Mangham 13, Lafayette Renaissance Charter 7, Ferriday 6, Loreauville 4, Northlake Christian 4.
Class 1A
1. Haynesville (5), 121
2. Vermilion Catholic (4), 119
3. Kentwood (1), 104
4. Covenant Christian, 89
5. Opelousas Catholic, 86
6. Southern Lab (1), 82
7. Logansport, 53
8. Ascension Catholic, 48
9. Riverside, 44
10. Hamilton Christian, 37
Others receiving votes: St. Frederick 21, Westminster-Lafayette 19, General Trass 7, West St. John 6, North Iberville 5.