THE WMHS field hockey team was ranked No. 31 in the latest MIAA power rankings. The top 32 ranked teams automatically qualify for the state tournament. Wakefield travels to Wilmington today at 4:15 p.m. (File Photo)
WAKEFIELD — The MIAA’s latest power rankings have plenty of representation from Wakefield High fall sports teams.
There are five fall sports that are power ranked by the MIAA. As of their latest release this week, three Warrior teams are currently in position to make their respective state tournaments with the other two just a few spots away.
The top 32 ranked teams automatically qualify for the tournament in soccer, volleyball and field hockey. Teams who finish with a record of .500 or better also automatically qualify.
In football, the top 16 ranked teams make the playoffs.
Wakefield’s top-ranked squad this week is the volleyball team, which is No. 8 in Div. 3. The Warriors moved to 8-4 with a 3-0 win over Reading (No. 23 in Div. 2) on Tuesday. It was one of multiple impressive victories for the Warriors so far, which also includes wins over Woburn (No. 13 in D2), Burlington (No. 15 in D2) and Arlington (No. 31 in D1). Wakefield has eight games remaining and can officially qualify for the tourney with two more wins.
The boys’ soccer team is ranked No. 9 in Div. 2 with a record of 7-3-1 after their 3-0 win over Reading last night. Wakefield’s rival, Melrose, is ranked No. 6 in D2 with a record of 7-2-1. The two teams will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. at Fred Green Field with the Middlesex League’s Freedom Division title on the line. Wakefield won the first matchup, 2-1. Additional key results include a 2-0 win in the home opener over Arlington, the first regular season loss for the Spy Ponders since 2020 and a 1-1 tie against Winchester (No. 18 in D1) on Monday. The team has seven games remaining and can punch their ticket with two more wins.
The field hockey team is currently in position to make the tournament, ranked No. 31 in Div. 3. The Warriors have dropped five games in a row during a brutal part of their schedule but still have five games remaining and are currently 4-8-1. Wakefield has a couple of big wins over Burlington (No. 21 in D2) and Melrose (No. 34 in D2). Their next game is a big one against Wilmington (No. 21 in D3) today, 4:15 p.m. at Wilmington High. The Wildcats beat the Warriors 1-0 in the first matchup on Sept. 13.
The football team is currently the first team out of the playoffs in Div. 4 with a ranking of No. 17. Wakefield (3-2) started 3-0 before falling to Burlington (No. 8 in D4) and Woburn (No. 6 in D3) in back-to-back weeks. Wakefield’s strongest win was against Greater Lawrence who is currently in the playoff picture, ranked No. 16 in Div. 5. The Warriors will host Watertown (1-4, No. 29 in D5) on Friday at 6 p.m. and travel to Wilmington (4-1, No. 9 in D5) next Friday at 6 p.m. Rival Melrose (4-1) is currently occupying the last spot in the playoffs in Div. 4 at No. 16, ranked one spot ahead of Wakefield.
The girls’ soccer team is ranked No. 36 in Div. 2. The Warriors improved to 3-6-2 with a 2-0 win over Reading last night, a victory that could move them closer to the top 32 in the next rankings. The Warriors will have a big rematch in Wilmington on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Wildcats (4-4-3) are ranked No. 21 in Div. 3. The two teams tied their first matchup 1-1 on Sept. 19. A win for Wakefield would go a long way towards improving their ranking.