Valley squads listed 3rd in ASAA’s first release of WPI rankings

WASILLA — The Alaska Schools Activities Association released its Winning Percentage Index rankings for the first time this season, and a pair of Valley squads are listed at third in their respective class.

Two-time defending state champion Wasilla is ranked third in the 4A girls’ class, while Colony is third among the 4A boys. The ASAA WPI, which takes into account a team’s winning percentage and the winning percentage of its opponents within the same class, is used to seed ASAA’s 3A and 4A state tournaments. It also determines the two at-large bids in both the 4A girls’ and boys’ state tournament.

The Wasilla girls are 5-0 against 4A teams this season, but their opponents are a combined 10-18, the worst winning total winning percentage for opponents within the top seven teams listed. The Warriors, have spent the early portion of the season working to rebound from the loss of six players to graduation last year.

“We’re trying to find our way, mix and match three returning varsity players with a bunch of junior varsity kids,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said recently.

Wasilla is also one of three Valley squads listed among the top 6 girls teams. Colony is fifth and Palmer is ranked sixth. Colony is 5-1 against 4A foes, as of Jan. 24, and Palmer is 5-2.

Dimond, the 2017 runner-up, and Ketchikan hold the top 2 spots on the list.

Colony, 8-1 against 4A opponents, sits at third in the first official release of the rankings this season. Wasilla, 5-2 against 4A teams, is fourth. The Knights have a WPI rating of .647, ahead of Wasilla’s .602. Palmer is ranked ninth.

Defending state champion Dimond and West Anchorage holds the top two spots on the 4A boys’ list.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

ASAA WPI

Released Jan. 24

4A girls (top 10).

1. Dimond .700; 2. Ketchikan .695; 3. Wasilla .678; 4. East Anchorage .675; 5. Colony .619; 6. Palmer .614; 7. West Valley .583; 8. Soldotna .520; 9. West Anchorage .520; 10. Juneau-Douglas .513.

4A boys (top 10):

1. Dimond .727; 2. West Anchorage .669; 3. Colony .647; 4. Wasilla .602; 5. Chugiak .592; 6. West Valley .574; 7. East Anchorage .569; 8. Eagle River .557; 9. Palmer .544; 10. Thunder Mountain .531.

3A girls (top 10):

1. Anchorage Christian .769; 2. Valdez .768; 3. Sitka .734; 4. Barrow .697; 5. Galena .627; 6. Nikiski .561; 7. Bethel .546; 8. Mt. Edgecumbe .491; 9. Kotzebue .479; 10. Hutchison .478.

3A boys (top 10):

1. Monroe .773; 2. Anchorage Christian .759; 3. Grace Christian .653; 4. Valdez .622; 5. Delta Junction .609; 6. Bethel .6038; 7. Eielson .6034; 8. Mt. Edgecumbe .554; 9. Homer .527; 10. Barrow .525.