FAB 50: Gateway Legacy is on the move

by Sheldon Shealer

September 17, 2019

Gateway Legacy Christian (Mo.) finally has found a home -- in more ways than one -- at least for now.

Gateway Legacy made a splash on the high school soccer season in 2018, defeating eventual Illinois 2A runner-up Peoria Notre Dame (Ill.) and Kansas 1A-4A state champion Bishop Miege (Kan.). In addition, Gateway, located in Illinois, lost a narrow 2-1 decision to eventual Missouri Class 4 state champion and perennial FAB 50 member Christian Brothers College (Mo.). It all added up to Gateway Legacy deserving some state, region and/or national ranking. There was only one problem -- where? Gateway Legacy was not a member of any state high school association at the time and the number of international players called into question if Gateway should be considered for the FAB 50 high school rankings or the Prep School rankings. The differentiating point would be the age/eligibility/post-grad allowances provided by the Prep School programs. A conversation with the coach last season resulted in Gateway Legacy being considered a prep school, and the soccer program found a home in the Prep Top 10, alongside such powers as Berkshire School (Mass.) and South Kent School (Conn.).

Fast forward to 2019.

Gateway Legacy received affiliate membership in the Illinois High School Association, and has such, was primed for a move to the FAB 50 since it is in compliance with IHSA rules. When the 2019 Fall FAB 50 was set up during the summer, Gateway Legacy was listed in the Illinois preseason Top 10 and the corresponding regional rankings. Then something odd happened. The school relocated -- to another state. After an option in Illinois fell through due to zoning issues, Gateway Legacy moved its high school ages to a vacated school facility in Florissant, Mo., near St. Louis Mo. The lower school remains in Illinois, just over the Mississippi River, in the greater St. Louis area.

The moved prompted the obvious question -- should Gateway Legacy be ranked in Illinois or Missouri? If the intention is for Gateway Legacy to return to Illinois after what could be considered a temporary relocation, there is precedence to leave the school ranked in Illinois despite its physical location. An example of this happening in the fall soccer season is the Truckee and Tahoe, Calif., schools, which have appeared in the Nevada state rankings. There are other examples in the winter and spring seasons. In any case, a conversation with a Gateway Legacy school official has put the issue to rest. Gateway Legacy has become an affiliate member of the Missouri State High School Athletic Association and signed a three-year agreement with the facility. Therefore, starting this week, Gateway Legacy, which already has been in the FAB 50, is now considered a Missouri school and part of the Missouri state and corresponding regional rankings.

Now, on with the rest of the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: [Gateway Legacy mo-m] (Florissant, Mo.). Gateway Legacy vaulted from No. 50 to No. 18 in this week's FAB 50, powered by a 3-0 win over then FAB 50-ranked Christian Brothers College (Mo.). ... GIRLS: Cibola (Albuquerque, N.M.). Cibola's perfect start has this New Mexico program up to No. 42 in this week's FAB 50 rankings.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 36 Dublin Scioto (Dublin, Ohio), No. 37 Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), No. 38 Emmaus (Pa.), No. 39 Charlotte Latin (N.C.), No. 40 Lincoln-Sudbury (Sudbury, Mass.), No. 42 Anthony Wayne (Whitehouse, Ohio), No. 44 Boise (Idaho), No. 45 Arapahoe (Centennial, Colo.), No. 46 Amityville (N.Y.), No. 47 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), No. 49 Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) and No. 50 Fordham Prep (Bronx, N.Y.). ... GIRLS: No. 26 Bridgewater-Raritan (Bridgewater, N.J.), No. 30 Mercy (Baltimore, Md.), No. 32 Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.), No. 44 Arbor View (Las Vegas, Nev.), No. 45 Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, Nev.), No. 48 Madison (Mansfield, Ohio) and No. 49 Andover (Minn.).