Way-too-early 2023-24 high school sports rankings

Hermantown will again field elite teams Lake Superior Conference boys and girls sports in 2023-24, the Duluth Times opines with a great deal of knowledge and confidence.

The mighty Hawks boys will be conference preseason favorites in football, hockey, boys basketball and baseball next season. Hermantown will also again field conference-contending teams in volleyball and softball, and the Proctor-Hermantown Mirage will continue to be the dominate team in regional girls hockey.

Grand Rapids will contend for LSC championships in most sports, including again in boys hockey and baseball

Here's our LSC preseason rankings and players to watch for the various sports:

FOOTBALL

1. Hermantown. The Hawks finished 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference (tie 2nd, behind Grand Rapids) and were upset by North Branch 28-20 in a Section 7AAAA semifinal at Corey Veech Field a year ago. Hermantown returns starting junior quarterback Alex Schott, a Duluth Times 2023 All-Preseason First Team selection. Junior RB/LB River Freeman is another All-Preseason First Team pick. WR/DB Brody Summers, a senior and returning impact starter, is elite player to watch.
2. Grand Rapids. Finished 8-1, 6-0 (1st), and suffered a major Section 7AAAA semifinal home loss against Cloquet, 42-15.
3. North Branch. Finished 8-3, 4-2 (tie 2nd), defeating Cloquet 34-6 in the 7AAAA final
4. Cloquet. Finished 7-4, 3-3 (3rd).
5. Duluth Denfeld. Finished 3-6, 2-3 (tie 4th)
6. Rock Ridge. Finished 1-8 and 0-6 (last).
7. Duluth East. Finished 4-6 and 2-4 (tie 4th).

VOLLEYBALL

1. Hermantown
2. Cloquet
3. Grand Rapids
4. Rock Ridge
5. Duluth Denfeld
6. Duluth East

BOYS SOCCER

1. Duluth Denfeld
2. Duluth East
3. Grand Rapids
4. Cloquet
5. Rock Ridge
6. Hermantown
7. Duluth Marshall

GIRLS SOCCER

1. Hermantown
2. Cloquet
3. Duluth Marshall
4. Cloquet
5. Rock Ridge
6. Grand Rapids
7. Duluth East

BOYS HOCKEY

1. Hermantown
2. Grand Rapids
3. Hibbing
4. Rock Ridge
5. Cloquet
6. Duluth East
7. Duluth Marshall
8. Duluth Denfeld

GIRLS HOCKEY

1. Proctor-Hermantown
2. Grand Rapids
3. Duluth Marshall
4. Cloquet
5. Rock Ridge
6. Hibbing
7. Duluth

BOYS BASKETBALL

1. Hermantown
2. Grand Rapids
3. Duluth Denfeld
4. Superior
5. Duluth East
6. Cloquet
7. Rock Ridge
8. Hibbing
9. Duluth Marshall

GIRLS BASKETBALL

1. Grand Rapids
2. Superior
3. Rock Ridge
4. Cloquet
5. Duluth East
6. Duluth Denfeld
7. Duluth Marshall
8. Hibbing