Power rankings: Which teams make our way-too-early Top 10?

Macy Watts of Dexter Southfield defends Autumn Christian of Phillips Andover in last year's Prep Cup. (Dexter Southfield Athletics)

It’s been more than six months since the last prep school games were played, and there are still more than three months before the new season opens.

So it’s a perfect time for some way-too-early power rankings.

These rankings are largely framed through the lens of college-committed players on rosters and recent history, and could certainly change between now and when our official season preview drops in March.

Which teams make our way-too-early Top 10? Let’s take a look.

1. SACRED HEART-GREENWICH

2025 result: 16-3, lost to Phillips Andover in Prep Cup final

In terms of volume, no team in the region touches Sacred Heart when it comes to commitments – 11 overall, including 10 headed to Division 1. Seniors Mackenna Kelly (Richmond), Casey Smith (Boston College) and Torin Witek (Syracuse) anchor what should be a terrific defense, and attack Peyla Carcaterra is a sophomore to watch these next few seasons.

2. NOBLE AND GREENOUGH

2025 result: 20-3, won ISL championship

Nobles graduated another outstanding senior class, one that had a hand in four straight ISL titles, but there’s enough talent back – seven committed players – to make it the team to beat again. A particular strength should be in the midfield, with players like junior Presley Upton (Princeton), senior Ava Newman (Notre Dame) and senior Bea Trinque (Richmond).

PREP SPOTLIGHT: Is ‘one more’ in the cards for ISL champ Nobles?

3. DEXTER SOUTHFIELD

2025 result: 13-6, lost to Phillips Andover in Prep Cup semifinals

This Dexter team looks like it’s constructed to be a winner. Midfielder Maggie Keyes (Dartmouth) and defender Macy Watts (UMass) are the senior headliners, while middie Cecilia Evans (Florida) leads a robust junior class. In all, there are five Division 1-committed players, enough talent to turn some of last season’s close losses into wins.

4. GOVERNOR’S

2025 result: 14-3, lost to Nobles in ISL tournament final

Govs handed Nobles its first ISL loss in six years last spring, one highlight of a season that had many. There’s no reason to think that success won’t continue. Even after graduating a 10-player senior class, there’s talent back. Senior Molly Vana (Harvard) may be the most dangerous attacking player in the league, and a strong junior class features three D-1 commits – goalie Brea Barker (Southern Cal), and midfielders Alex Hughey (Southern Cal) and Elizah Martin (Oregon).

PREP SPOTLIGHT: Can Governor’s take the final step in the ISL?

5. PHILLIPS ANDOVER

2025 result: 21-2, won Prep Cup

Everything came together for a senior-led Andover team last spring, culminating with wins over Holy Child (22-2), Dexter Southfield (9-4) and Sacred Heart-Greenwich (11-6) in the Prep Cup. The journey may be a little choppier this spring, and it will be up to players like seniors Quiana Bell (Middlebury), Lola Aguirre and Maddie Greenwood; junior Autumn Christian (Holy Cross); and sophomore Ashley Dimnaku to navigate it.

6. HOTCHKISS

2025 result: 14-3, won Founders League championship

The Bearcats stayed atop the Founders League last spring despite a strong challenge from Choate, and will again head into the new season as the favorite. Attack/midfielder Addison Kosiewicz is one of five committed players in the senior class, and the junior class has a strong goalie in Quinn Hall (Oregon).

7. DEERFIELD

2025 result: 10-8, lost to Sacred Heart-Greenwich in Prep Cup quarterfinals

This will be the fourth season for former UMass coach Angela Serpone at Deerfield, and this could end up being her best team. Senior midfielders Rose Manning (Middlebury), Ilsa Borgen (Middlebury) and Chloe Cleaves form a strong unit, and the goals will come from standout senior Lily Woods (UConn) and exciting junior Ryan Rodgers (North Carolina).

8. GREENWICH ACADEMY

2025 result: 13-3, won FAA championship

The Gators enjoyed some success under first-year coach Tee Ladouceur, but must replace a senior class that was the heart of the team. Returning players to watch include senior defender Reese Quinn (Richmond), senior midfielder Maggie Whidden (Bowdoin) and junior midfielder Delaney Enright (Cornell).

9. MILTON ACADEMY

2025 result: 6-13, lost to Governor’s in ISL tournament quarterfinals

Milton should charge into the new season, after some outstanding summers on the club circuit led to four of its juniors committing to D-1 programs. Those players are the core of a team that hopes to challenge Nobles in the ISL – defenders Bridget Hunt (Notre Dame) and Sara Callahan (Stanford), attack/midfielder Lexi Garrity (Harvard) and goalie Mckenna Ruland (UAlbany).

PREP SPOTLIGHT: Talented juniors make Milton Academy a threat

10. HOLDERNESS

2025 result: 9-6-1, lost to St. Paul’s in Lakes Region League final

Is it finally time for a changing of the guard in the Lakes Region? Perhaps. This looks like a strong Holderness team, with a pair of high-profile commits in senior defender/midfielder Maeve Rhatigan (Johns Hopkins) and junior midfielder Riley Davis (Northwestern). Add in All-NEPSAC selections Maggie Higgins (Tufts) and Lissa King (Trinity) and it looks like a winning foundation.

ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: BB&N, Loomis Chaffee, Phillips Exeter, Pingree, St. Paul’s, Thayer, Williston Northampton

@MikeZhe603
mzhe@laxjournal.com