The Season D all-state baseball teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches.

Player and coach of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.

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Class 5A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Radek Birkholz, Valor Christian

Coach of the year: Ron Quintana, Mountain Vista

Honorable mention:

• Tucker Buniger, UTIL, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Gerardo Caldera, C/P, Adams City, Senior
• Caleb Cancino, C, Castle View, Junior
• Benji Carrington, Rampart, Junior
• Reese Chapman, OF/RHP, Grandview, Junior
• Ty Chapman, SS, Grandview, Senior
• Cade Collins, 2B/SS, Dakota Ridge, Freshman
• Cory Cooper, Denver South, Sophomore
• Carter Dorighi, INF, Cherry Creek, Senior
• Braden Doumer, C/OF/1B, Legend, Junior
• Garrett Dykstra, LHP/1B, Arapahoe, Senior
• Jacob Frazzini, P/1B, Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Matt Glover, Denver South, Senior
• Nathan Gutierrez, LHP/OF, Douglas County, Senior
• Jacob Hill, P/2B, Ralston Valley, Senior
• Liam Hohenstein, OF/RHP, Rock Canyon, Junior
• Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B, Rock Canyon, Sophomore
• Brant Kragel, 1B/P, Valor Christian, Junior
• Cale Lansville, RHP/1B, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Dallas Macias, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Cort McDaniel, C, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Miguel Medina, CF/P/SS, Hinkley, Senior
• Adam Moser, Fairview, Senior
• Matthew Oberlander, OF/P, Fort Collins, Senior
• Brooks Rodarte, Castle View, Sophomore
• Camden Ross, Broomfield, Junior
• Jeremiah Sanchez, OF/LHP, Pueblo West, Junior
• Jace Schlegel, LHP/1B/OF, Pueblo West, Senior
• Landen Sehr, Legacy, Junior
• Luke Silverman, Fairview, Senior
• Danny Spence, INF/RHP, Pueblo West, Junior
• Tyler Stonebraker, OF/UTIL, Douglas County, Junior
• Tommy Valdez, Broomfield, Senior
• Will Vasseur, INF/RHP, Rocky Mountain, Junior
• Isaac Wachsmann, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Chris Wallace, Poudre, Senior
• Jacob Weaver, P/SS, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Kody Woods, P/C/3B, Palmer, Senior

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Class 4A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Dom Lopez, Ponderosa

Coach of the year: Bob Maloney, Ponderosa

Honorable mention:

• Tony Benko, D’Evelyn, Junior
• Bradley Blakemore, CF/LF/RHP, D’Evelyn, Junior
• Nate Bollinger, 3B, Palisade, Senior
• Nolan Boone, INF/P, Montrose, Senior
• Sammy Cabral, Thornton, Senior
• Jimmy Chastain, 1B, Windsor, Senior
• Connor Cooney, CF, Holy Family, Senior
• Derrick Domenico, 3B/SS, Pueblo County, Junior
• Nick Espinola, INF/RHP/OF, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
• Sage Ferguson, P/INF, Elizabeth, Senior
• Connor Frickey, 1B/RHP, Cheyenne Mountain, Junior
• Logan Gross, P/3B/SS, Rifle, Freshman
• Mason Hamlin, 2B/SS, Falcon, Junior
• Nolan Hertzke, RHP/3B, Severance, Sophomore
• George Hogan, SS/P, Evergreen, Senior
• Nolan Hydock, 1B/RHP, Greeley West, Senior
• Carson King, INF/P, Evergreen, Junior
• Cael Langford, Fort Morgan, Senior
• Derek Lukes, C/P/1B, Ponderosa, Junior
• Gage Mestas, Durango, Senior
• Westin Miller, SS, Wheat Ridge, Senior
• Nate Moorehead, INF/P/OF, Falcon, Senior
• Elijah Morales, OF/IF/P, Battle Mountain, Junior
• Isaiah Padilla, INF/P, Denver North, Sophomore
• Anders Page-Roth, SS, Golden, Sophomore
• Holden Pantier, SS/3B, Erie, Sophomore
• Melesio Perez, INF, Palisade, Junior
• Chase Prestwich, Frederick, Senior
• Dakota Pruitt, SS/P, Riverdale Ridge, Senior
• Caleb Ralph, RHP/INF, Lewis-Palmer, Senior
• Coletin Renn, INF/P, Canon City, Junior
• Rocco Salvatore, 1B, Roosevelt, Senior
• Clayton Sanger, 1B/LHP, Falcon, Senior
• Brock Saya, SS/RHP, Roosevelt, Junior
• Dylan Sayler, LF/SS/CF, Mesa Ridge, Senior
• Gavin Shary, INF/OF, Denver North, Junior
• Cole Simms, C/P, Canon City, Senior
• Nick Spidel, P/OF, Elizabeth, Senior
• Andrew Syverson, C/2B, Holy Family, Junior
• Nick Vilims, P/OF, Evergreen, Senior
• Cal Walsh, Durango, Senior
• Nick Weiderholt, OF/1B/LHP, George Washington, Junior
• Briggs Wheatley, Fort Morgan, Junior
• Noah Wicks, C/RHP, Golden, Sophomore
• Cruz Zamudio, C, Frederick, Sophomore

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Class 3A

(Nick Jurney)

Player of the year: Ryan Ure, Eaton

Coach of the year: Todd Hernandez, Eaton

Honorable mention:

• Daniel Alvarado, 1B/P, Strasburg, Senior
• Ty Blackmer, 2B/SS/RHP, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Tyler Bowdridge, CF/RHP, Pagosa Springs, Senior
• Elliot Bowen, RHP/C/CF, DSST: Montview, Junior
• Blake Buxton, OF/DH, Lamar, Senior
• Cade Carlson, 2B/INF, Bayfield, Senior
• Dylan Diorio, Sterling, Junior
• Jonah Ellis, Salida, Senior
• Carter Evans, Resurrection Christian, Sophomore
• Davis Evans, C/SS/P, Kent Denver, Senior
• Garrett Everitt, 1B/RHP, Faith Christian, Senior
• Greg Garza, INF, University, Junior
• Ben Greenberg, Colorado Academy, Junior
• Josh Greiving, Lutheran, Senior
• Ty Griffith, Brush, Sophomore
• Isaiah Elliot, CF/INF/RHP, The Academy, Sophomore
• Braden Hallman, C/DH/3B, Montezuma-Cortez, Sophomore
• Bryson Knapp, Resurrection Christian, Senior
• Alex Martinez, C, University, Senior
• Gabi Marmolejo, OF/P, Gunnison, Senior
• Alex Martinez, C, University, Senior
• Andrew Meick, Sterling, Junior
• Jonathan Monroe, LHP/OF/1B, The Academy, Junior
• Wish Moore, Basalt, Junior
• Aaron Morgan, Lutheran, Senior
• Ty Myers, 1B/P, University, Senior
• Ernie Padilla, CF/RHP/UTIL, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Zaymien Peteque, INF/P, La Junta, Senior
• Aaron Rice, Colorado Academy, Senior
• Luke Ruby, Junior, Resurrection Christian
• Cole Schumacher, Eaton, Senior
• Sam Sherry, Basalt, Junior
• Hunter Smilanich, Moffat County, Senior
• Evan Sowards, OF/P, Alamosa, Junior
• Coy Spitz, INF/P/C, Lamar, Junior
• Ryder True, Eaton, Sophomore
• Skylor Wild, Gunnison, Junior

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Class 2A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Kory Tacha, Limon

Coach of the year: Rocky Rockwell, Limon

Honorable mention:

• Anthony Aldretti, P/OF/C, John Mall, Senior
• Brenton Battista, OF/P/INF, Peyton, Senior
• Haden Camp, INF/P, Buena Vista, Sophomore
• JP Clune, C/RHP, St. Mary’s, Junior
• David Clutter, C/OF, Monte Vista, Junior
• Ben Compton, 1B/3B/RHP, Rye, Senior
• Liam Deming, Meeker, Junior
• Braydon Garcia, Meeker, Senior
• Michael Garza, CF/P, Dolores Huerta Prep, Senior
• Logan Glaser, 2B/3B, Calhan, Senior
• Matthew Gutierrez, Burlington, Sophomore
• Tyler Higgins, Limon, Senior
• Sam Hnizdil, INF/P, Highland, Junior
• Trevin Holland, INF/P, Swink, Junior
• Evan Larrick, County Line [Wiley/McClave], Freshman
• Val Leone, INF/P, Fowler, Senior
• Junior Lopez, 2B/INF, Monte Vista, Senior
• Garrett Oloman, SS/P, Custer County, Sophomore
• TJ Ortiz, 3B/P, Las Animas, Freshman
• Matt Pachl, INF/P, North Fork, Junior
• Nathan Paolucci, INF/P, Swink, Senior
• Dimitri Prisbrey, OF/P, Olathe, Senior
• Cole Reavis, OF, Buena Vista, Junior
• Rafael Ruiz Jr., SS/RHP, Lyons, Senior
• Colby Rupp, 1B/OF, Cedaredge, Senior
• Seattle Schuessler, CF/SS/P, Clear Creek, Senior
• Byron Shawcroft, P/SS, Centauri, Junior
• Cameron Stringfellow, SS/P/OF, Dolores Huerta, Freshman
• Yahir Trejo, SS/2B, Yuma, Junior
• Sam Uyemura, SS/P, Wray, Senior
• Michael Valdez, LF/3B/RHP, Rye, Senior
• Henry VanDenBerg, 1B/P, Denver Christian, Senior
• Bobby Wallace, INF/P/C, South Park, Senior
• Michael Wishowski, P/OF/1B, South Park, Senior

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Class 1A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Jose Magallanes, Holly

Coach of the year: Dayne Eaton, Holly

Honorable mention:

• Pavel Bernlohr, Evangelical Christian, Senior
• Jaxon Borchardt, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Noah Coddington, Evangelical Christian, Junior
• Dominic Coleman, P/SS, Granada, Junior
• Micah Dannelly, UTIL/RHP, Flatirons Academy, Sophomore
• Brayden Glover, Simla, Sophomore
• Bobby Larsen, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Maguire Lind, Pikes Peak Christian, Junior
• Hatch Nelson, Eads, Senior
• Kevin Purkat, SS/RHP, Dove Creek, Senior
• Tyler Reynolds, P/SS, Otis, Senior
• Gavin Rose, C, Elbert, Junior
• Colton Rowan, INF/RHP, Flatirons Academy, Freshman
• Logan Weimer, Nucla, Senior

The Season C all-state football teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches across the state.

Players were placed onto the first team, second team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-2A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.

CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created from the results of the coaches’ vote.

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(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Class 5A

Player of the year: Ja’Derris Carr, Vista PEAK Prep

Coach of the year: Tony Lindsay Sr., Far Northeast

Honorable mention:

• Robert Barron, MLB/P/RB, Westminster, Senior
• Jonah Buerk, RB, Denver South, Sophomore
• Michael Bufmack, CB/MLB, Rangeview, Junior
• Joseph Capra, QB/FS, Denver South, Sophomore
• Jaylen Carrizales, WR/DB, Vista PEAK Prep, Senior
• Joe Connor, RB/LB, Fort Collins, Senior
• Cyrus Goldsmith, DT/OL, Far Northeast Warriors, Senior
• Elijah Graham, Boulder, Senior
• Dre’Monti Jackson, RB/DB, Far Northeast Warriors, Sophomore
• Max Jones, RB/DB, Fort Collins, Junior
• Elijah Lopez, G/MLB, Denver South, Senior
• Garrett Manning, OLB, Denver South, Senior
• Dorion McGarity, WR/DB, Fort Collins, Junior
• Julian Mechels, WR, Boulder, Junior
• Chris Nguyen, G/DT/DT, Westminster, Senior
• Armani Patterson, RB, Rangeview, Sophomore
• Leonardo Ramos-valles, DE/TE, Far Northeast Warriors, Junior
• Isaai Rubio, ILB/OG, Hinkley, Senior
• Andrew Seest, QB/LB, Fort Collins, Junior
• Blake Smotherman, TE/DE, Fort Collins, Junior
• George West, CB/RB, Hinkley, Senior
• Demario Williams, WR/FS, Rangeview, Junior

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(Brad Cochi)

Class 4A

Player of the year: Avery Shunneson, Thomas Jefferson

Coach of the year: Mike Griebel, Thomas Jefferson

Honorable mention:

• Daniel Ameyaw, HB/LB, George Washington, Senior
• Brian Chairez, OLB, Skyview, Junior
• Nolan Favreau, Falcon, Senior
• Jacob Nelms, MLB, Falcon, Sophomore
• Octavio Paredes, K, Kennedy, Senior
• Carlos Serrano, ILB, Kennedy, Senior
• Tre’Shawn Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
• DaVonn Stevens, RB/LB, Harrison, Senior
• Owen Thornton, ILB/HB, George Washington, Senior
• Nestor Torrez, OL/DL, Harrison, Senior
• BJ Weatherford, WR/OLB, Aurora Central, Junior
• Jesse Weber, OL/DL, Harrison, Junior
• RJ Webster, RB/FB/LB, Gateway, Senior
• Blake Wilson, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
• Eddie Zygowicz, OLB/FS, Centaurus, Senior

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(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

Class 3A

Player of the year: Kaden Wolf, Rifle

Coach of the year: Todd Casebier, Rifle

Honorable mention:

• Noah Akin, WR/CB, Aspen, Senior
• Trevin Beckman, RB/LB, Basalt, Sophomore
• Ty Blackmer, QB/SS, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Garrett Dollahan, RB/SS, Glenwood Springs, Senior
• Isaiah Eliot, QB/SS, The Academy, Sophomore
• Almorion Germany, SS/RB, Sand Creek, Senior
• Ryan Hansen, OT/DE, Steamboat Springs, Senior
• Teddy Huttenhower, Glenwood Springs, Junior
• Dylan Kohlbrenner, MLB/FB, The Academy, Senior
• Kyler Krob, SS/WR/WR, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Embrey Marantino, RB/DB, Rifle, Senior
• Sam Sherry, WR/LB, Basalt, Junior
• Storm Silich, Aspen, Senior
• Charlie States, RB/OLB, The Academy, Senior

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(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Class 2A

Player of the year: Joah Armour, Manitou Springs

Coach of the year: Cory Archuleta, Manitou Springs

Honorable mention:

• Rai-zohn Bell, WR/RB/DB, Manual, Senior
• Tate Christian, , Manitou Springs, Junior
• Joshua Garduno, RB/FS, Ellicott, Senior
• JD McCown, WR/DT, Estes Park, Senior
• Kaden McFee, FB/OLB, Buena Vista, Senior
• Rylan Norton, , Buena Vista, Senior
• Jacob Phelps, RB/DE, Buena Vista, Sophomore
• Elijah Quinonez, C/DL, Manual, Senior
• Noah Rumbyrt, OL/DL, Flatirons Academy, Senior
• Isaac Sternhagen, OL/DL, Flatirons Academy, Senior
• Blake Thomas, RB/QB/OLB, Roaring Fork, Junior
• Elijah Josiah White, WR/LB, Manual, Junior

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(Marcus Hill)

8-man

Player of the year: Grant Arellanes, Hoehne

Coach of the year: Gabe Dasko, Hoehne

Photos from the Liberty Bell track and field meet.

PUEBLO — The final Season C football championships were claimed as Far Northeast and Rifle left the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl with titles.

Coverage

• 3A: Rifle erases the clock to beat TCA for state title | Bracket
• 5A: Anderson does it all as Far Northeast beats Boulder for state title | Bracket

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Rifle 35, TCA 34

• Link to gallery

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

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Far Northeast 34, Boulder 0

• Link to gallery

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

PUEBLO — With the way Cade Palmer was running all over the field, Rifle needed a new defensive game plan. What the Bears settled on was that the best defense is a good offense.

The Bears possessed the ball for all 12 minutes of the third quarter and used that ability to run the ball and convert big plays – and hope the defense can create a timely turnover – to get a 35-34 win over The Classical Academy to claim the Season C Class 3A football championship.

It was no surprise that for a Todd Casebier-led team, the Bears (7-2 overall) were going to be reliant on the running game. They are designed to sustain long drives while TCA has been much more of a quick-strike offense this season. That was obvious when Palmer a pair of long touchdown runs in the first half, the first of which gave the Titans (6-1) a quick lead.

“Cade is an amazing runner, there is no doubt about it,” Bears running back Embrey Marantino said. “He’s so good. He deserved this game. We just needed to wrap him up and tackle him and I don’t think we did that to the best of our ability.”

The Bears got on the board with some craft play calling as Gavin Peterson took a pitch from Trey Caldwell and hit Kade Bishop for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Marantino added a rushing touchdown but Ethan Aragundi had scored as had Palmer, to send the game to halftime with TCA holding a 20-13 lead.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

And that’s when the Bears were unintentionally methodical and slow on offense. They chewed up nearly 10 minutes of clock before Toto Fletchall scored and Caldwell found Peterson on the 2-point conversion to give the Bears a one-point lead.

“We took care of the ball and we finished drives,” Casebier said. “That’s what you have to do if you’re going to be a state champ.”

But that wasn’t good enough. The Bears saw an opening on the kickoff and went for the onside. Kicker Javier Diaz fell on it, giving the ball back to Rifle. The drive ended with a short touchdown run from Fletchall, his second of the game, giving the Bears a 28-20 lead.

On their first possession of the second half, the Titans continued to show they can move the ball and score. A big run from Palmer setup a touchdown pass from Sam Guilez to Jake Jennings. The Titans couldn’t convert the 2-point conversion and still trailed by a couple of points.

Then Marantino broke free. He broke for a 70-yard touchdown run on 4th and 1 to push the lead to 35-26 with 6:15 left in the game.

Palmer got his third rushing touchdown of the day and the Titans again went for two, this time converting it to make it a one-point game. But slowing down the running game was the key.

The TCA onside kick was unsuccessful, but on 1st down the Bears opted for a deep pass rather than leaning on the running game that had been so successful.

“They were loading up so much that I thought we’d run right by them,” Casebier said.

The next play was disastrous. Caldwell fumbled and suddenly the quick-strike TCA offense had the ball down one with about two minutes left.

As they moved downfield, it became evident that a big play was needed for a championship to be won. That’s when Josh Avila just decided he wanted the ball. Avila ripped it away from Palmer, giving the Bears the ball and the state title.

“No emotion was going through me,” Avila said. “I just had to grab the ball.”

He grabbed the ball for himself, but also ripped the title out of the Titans hands and back to the Bears.

(Brad Cochi)

More photos. (Alan Versaw)

A showdown is set for the Season C Class 3A football title as Rifle and The Classical Academy will meet at the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl on Saturday.

Each team battled through tough semifinal matchups but emerged victorious and will advance to next weekend. The 3A football title game is set to kickoff on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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(4) Rifle 20, (1) Glenwood Springs 17 (OT)

If the Western Slope teams are in the habit of playing in exciting football games, next week will be a treat for the fans as the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl. Top-seeded Glenwood Springs had every bit of hope of reaching the 3A title game, but had to get through a talented and well-coached Rifle team.

It turned out to be too tough a task.

The Demons fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter, but quickly tied the game. The two teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter and then the defenses clamped down in the second half as neither team was able to break the tie. Regulation ended with the two teams still locked in a 14-14 stalemate.

The Rifle defense held Glenwood to just a field goal attempt and then the offense rewarded the effort by scoring a quick touchdown to send the Bears to Pueblo next Saturday.

It was a satisfying win for the Bears after they had lost to Glenwood 22-15 back on April 16. The Bears were ranked No. 1 in the state at the time and the Demons propelled themselves into that position after that win. But with the Bears getting even, they maintain a chance to end the season as a champion, the definitive accomplishment of a No. 1 team.

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(2) The Classical Academy 39, (6) Sand Creek 13

Sand Creek took an early lead on a fumble recovery from Greg Garnett, but TCA’s explosive offense eventually showed up and allowed the Titans to take control.

Cade Palmer rushed for three touchdowns and helped TCA build a 32-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. TCA eventually added another score to complete the win.

It was an odd feeling for the Titans as they hadn’t trailed at any point this season and found themselves playing from behind after the first quarter.

They went 4-0 in the regular season and and gave up just 19 total points in that span. Sand Creek officially gave the Titans their toughest challenge of the season. The Scorpions were ahead after the first and they scored more points than any other opponent that TCA has faced this season.

In the final coaches poll of the Season C regular season, Denver South, Thomas Jefferson, Glenwood Springs, Buena Vista and Hoehne were voted No. 1 in their respective classifications.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

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CHSAANow.com Football Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing bcochi@chsaa.org. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.

Football’s 2021 state playoff bracket for Class 3A.

2021 CHSAA Football Championships (Spring) Class 3A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

In the latest poll, three new teams – Denver South, Glenwood Springs and Buena Vista – took over at No. 1.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

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CHSAANow.com Football Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing bcochi@chsaa.org. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.

The Classical Academy and Flatirons Academy moved up to the No. 1 spots in 3A and 2A, respectively.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Football Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.