HS: Winter FAB 50 rankings, Jan. 15

by Sheldon Shealer

January 15, 2019

The revolving door continues in the FAB 50 Winter No. 1 position.

San Luis Obispo (Calif.) makes its debut in the top position, making it the third different No. 1 team in the past three weeks.

San Luis Obispo, ranked No. 2 last week, inched into the top spot following a loss by Central Catholic (San Antonio, Texas).

The big winner this week, though, is Houston Episcopal (Bellarie, Texas), which jumped to No. 3 from No. 18 following the win over Central Catholic. In fact, Episcopal might be in the best position of any Top 5 program to eventually net the No. 1 spot since it has the easiest run of competition remaining during the regular season. SLO will need to win section, region and state titles to stay at the top -- a tough task in a strong California scene. Current No. 2 Flower Mound (Texas) is only three matches into what could be a 30-match season, so the Jaguars have a lot of major challenges remaining. No. 4 Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) could make a case for No. 1 if it continues its hot start. Now, if all current frontrunners falter, No. 1 could end up right back in Florida at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), the preseason No. 1 team that confirmed the first two of what will be 20+ college commitments from this year's senior class.

JSerra (Calif.) continues to cruise through its campaign to keep a lock on the FAB 50 No. 1 girls ranking.

Now, on with the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Houston Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas). For the second straight week, a Texas private makes a major jump into the national title chase. This week, Episcopal vaults to No. 3 after knocking off former FAB 50 No. 1 Central Catholic (San Antonio, Texas). ... GIRLS: Mountain View (Calif.). Mountain View, led by one of the nation's top prospects jumps 21 spots this week to check in at No. 22 in time for a clash with another undefeated FAB 50-ranked opponent.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 4 Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), No. 32 Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas), No. 39 McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.), No. 41 Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, Calif.), No. 42 Fullerton (Calif.), No. 43 Downey (Calif.), No. 44 El Segundo (Calif.), No. 50 Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii). ... GIRLS: No. 14 Midlothian Heritage (Midlothian, Texas), No. 30 Arlington Martin (Arlington, Texas), No. 40 [John H. Guyer tx-w] (Denton, Texas), No. 41 Frisco Independence (Frisco, Texas), No. 42 Mililani (Hawaii), No. 44 Vandegrift (Austin, Texas), No. 46 Los Gatos (Calif.), No. 47 Aptos (Calif.), No. 48 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.), No. 49 St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.), No. 50 St. Scholastica (Covington, La.).