2026 Rankings: Way Too Early Boys

There is much to get to this off-season. State Final ratings, MITCA as well. Writeups of the championship teams. Perhaps some ideas of how teams and individuals could fare at NXN or Brooks. A look back at the speed and adjustments of courses. Finding who improved most in 2025. But first, I can’t help but look to 2026. The foundation of the following fall will be built now, the winter miles key toward a strong track season that could lead to a stronger cross season.

So what better than some early, way too early rankings? These are formed from the same rankings that were fairly predictive at the Regional and State levels (or led to mid-pack finishes at MITCA *shrug*), filtering out seniors, adding in projected improvements, then scoring it as a whole division XC meet. The projected improvements are based on the past five years of data, the formulas attempting to portray how much a runner at a certain grade and speed progresses in the next season. I do realize that there will be division changes, typically released in March. By then, I should have incoming freshmen added into the equation, and will edit the divisions as needed.

For now, a simple show of the returners. Use it as motivation.

DIVISION FOUR

Rank	Team	Score	Top-5 Avg.
1	Holland Calvary Christian	73	183.6
2	Maple City Glen Lake	124	180.5
3	Hillsdale Academy	208	168.3
4	Breckenridge	210	170.0
5	Leland	225	166.5
6	Whitmore Lake	260	164.3
7	Mesick	322	169.4
8	Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart	335	163.6
9	Petoskey St. Michael	362	159.1
10	Mason County Eastern	461	154.2
11	Grand Traverse Academy	487	152.4
12	Buckley	512	151.0
13	Gobles	519	149.4
14	Kalamazoo Hackett	539	148.5
15	Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary	545	148.9
16	Royal Oak Shrine	610	145.9
17	Fowler	631	144.2
18	East Jordan	689	140.2
19	Genesee Christian Academy	692	137.1
20	Novi Christian Academy	732	138.5
21	Cardinal Mooney Catholic	745	133.0
22	Unionville-Sebewaing	751	137.5
23	Martin	754	137.3
24	Central Michigan Homeschool Athletics	778	135.0
25	Hudson	824	132.5
26	Three Oaks River Valley	861	134.7
27	Tri-Unity Christian	866	131.6

Holland Calvary Christian returns everyone from their state title squad. Evidenced by their MIS performance, this is an experienced outfit that’s shown it has the tools to race well when necessary.

Maple City Glen Lake maybe didn’t have the day at MIS that they wanted, but that doesn’t undo the years of progress before. The Lakers only lose one from their MIS lineup, but return three freshmen.

Hillsdale Academy will have to replace the highly accomplished Grayson Rorick along with a few of his senior classmates. But the Colts are deep beneath, with 8 underclassmen getting under 19:00.

I’d watch for Breckenridge to move up once I add incoming freshmen.

But to make a short story long, the battle at the top looks to be between the two that vied for the trophy a few weeks back. The Crusaders with their long road on the podium and the Lakers who’ve quickly ascended to get there.

DIVISION THREE

Rank	Team	Score	Top-5 Avg.
1	Saugatuck	169	186.9
2	Charlevoix	236	188.2
3	Lansing Catholic	250	182.1
4	Hanover-Horton	335	180.1
5	Hart	392	176.1
6	Jackson Lumen Christi	424	177.3
7	Jonesville	466	176.5
8	Holland Black River	470	176.0
9	Caro	541	174.7
10	Traverse City St. Francis	561	171.1
11	The Potter’s House	601	169.7
12	Pewamo-Westphalia	613	170.0
13	Erie Mason	627	168.6
14	Pigeon-Laker	650	169.4
15	Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian	688	166.5
16	Blissfield	718	167.0
17	Buchanan	721	167.3
18	Midland Bullock Creek	743	166.3
19	Grand Rapids Covenant Christian	753	165.6
20	Montague	775	164.4
21	Rochester Hills Lutheran NW	794	167.0
22	Reed City	884	160.9
23	Plymouth Christian Academy	884	162.4
24	Muskegon Western Michigan Christian	898	160.9
25	Ann Arbor Greenhills	937	159.6
26	Leslie	951	159.2
27	Grayling	996	157.0

Many of the teams from November 1^st’s top ten have five, if not more returning from their varsity lineup.

A few teams listed above have seven coming back from their state lineup, including Caro, Hart, and Traverse City St. Francis. The latter two had surprises at season’s end – Hart earning an upset win in Region 20 and St. Francis defying the percentages enroute to a 15^th place finish here.

2025’s contenders for a state title likely will be present once again. Charlevoix had four underclassmen accrue points, including their state champ, Hunter Eaton. Lansing Catholic pulled off the immaculate feat of hoisting a trophy but having zero boys grab All-State. That’s quality depth, which will return. Saugatuck didn’t have their best day, but will have a chance at redemption, same too with Hanover-Horton.

DIVISION TWO

Rank	Team	Score	Top-5 Avg.
1	Holland Christian	241	189.0
2	Parma Western	296	188.2
3	Pinckney	322	188.5
4	Alma	333	189.1
5	East Grand Rapids	372	188.3
6	Grand Rapids Christian	373	185.9
7	Shepherd	391	185.7
8	Flint Powers Catholic	395	188.2
9	Fenton	424	186.9
10	Otsego	492	182.2
11	Cedar Springs	513	181.1
12	Detroit Country Day	581	181.1
13	Owosso	640	178.0
14	Forest Hills Eastern	644	179.6
15	Chelsea	646	178.9
16	Spring Lake	654	179.0
17	Grand Rapids South Christian	687	177.2
18	Adrian	697	177.3
19	St. Joseph	712	178.1
20	DeWitt	718	176.7
21	Tecumseh	747	175.8
22	Haslett	790	174.9
23	Williamston	802	176.5
24	Petoskey	838	174.1
25	Freeland	840	173.7
26	Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard	860	173.6
27	Vicksburg	911	175.2

2025’s Final contenders were senior dominant, with half of the Flint Powers Catholic and East Grand Rapids boys being 12^th graders. The Chargers and Pioneers both have enough depth that they could find their way back to the podium. It’s from the youth-heavy teams that we find what may be 2026’s contenders. Holland Christian contained seven underclassmen under 17:00 and ran five of those at MIS in their 6^th place finish. Parma Western loses Edison Lopeman from their 4^th place finish, though the Panthers bring home three sub-17 freshmen and an All-State Ryan Good.

DIVISION ONE

Rank	Team	Score	Top-5 Avg.
1	Northville	252	198.6
2	Ann Arbor Skyline	283	194.1
3	Brighton	294	194.0
4	Lowell	301	197.1
5	Jenison	370	191.8
6	Midland	381	192.3
7	Saline	470	191.8
8	Salem	473	191.3
9	Ann Arbor Pioneer	492	193.5
10	Traverse City West	505	189.8
11	Caledonia	521	189.7
12	Kalamazoo Central	529	190.7
13	Grand Blanc	541	189.5
14	Highland-Milford	555	189.6
15	Grand Ledge	572	189.1
16	Saginaw Heritage	732	184.7
17	Portage Central	739	185.7
18	Romeo	786	184.3
19	Howell	809	187.1
20	Rockford	812	184.1
21	Holland West Ottawa	820	183.8
22	Brownstown Woodhaven	848	183.3
23	Holly	848	184.5
24	Traverse City Central	853	183.2
25	Detroit Catholic Central	864	183.4
26	Dexter	876	184.7
27	Novi	951	182.0

We’ll have to wait until summer (after track and incoming freshmen are added), however it appears that Northville will again be the #1 team entering the season. The Mustangs Ben Hartigan, Ethan Hertza, Colton Blackburn, and Ryan Stojov, much loss. On the other hand, they return frontrunner Brandon Cloud and kids with much potential such as Lucas Mullan and Ashton Kashat.

The gap is much smaller than in previous years, with three teams standing out as early contenders – Ann Arbor Skyline, Brighton, and Lowell. The Red Arrows produced one of the better freshman combos in Tyler Bromley and Avi Elabed, the latter hitting All-State along with upcoming senior Marshall Huhn. Skyline showed its potential early in the year, winning at Holly against many state-qualifying teams. The Bulldogs had numbers this past year, over 50 boys donning the black n’ orange. From that half a hundred, five underclassmen were able to slip under 16:30 on the Brighton squad that was able to nab a regional crown.