Wayne doubled runner-up Lima Senior (8-0) in receiving first-place votes, 10-5, and edged the Spartans 154-148 in overall voting.
“It’s a great honor,” Wayne coach Travis Trice said. “I don’t think anybody except the guys in our locker room or coaches expected this team to be as good as they are. The rankings aren’t all that important, but it’s important for the guys to get recognition. It’s well deserved and now here you are with that huge target on your back and you’ve got to fight through that every night.”
Trice said is was the first time Wayne had been ranked No. 1 in the state since he’s been the Warriors’ head coach.
Wayne is coming off a 65-58 defeat of No. 9 Cleveland St. Ignatius (7-2) on Saturday and will put an 18-game win streak on the line against visiting Meadowdale on Tuesday.
Wayne defeated No. 5 Westerville South (10-2) in the 2015 state title game, 65-57.
Unbeaten Wilmington (10-0) was No. 5 in D-I.
Chaminade Julienne (10-2) was the area’s highest rated D-II team at No. 4. The Eagles advanced to the D-III state semifinals last season and are at Thurgood Marshall on Tuesday. Trotwood-Madison (10-1) was No. 12 and Dunbar (7-4) was 15th. Trotwood is at Dunbar in a non-league matchup Tuesday.
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (9-2) was No. 1 in D-II.
D-III was packed with No. 4 Northridge (11-1), No. 7 Versailles (8-1) and No. 10 Miami East (10-1). Lima Central Catholic (11-0) was No. 1. LCC was the state runner-up last season.
Tri-Village (10-1) and Van Wert Lincolnview (12-0) each drew six first-place votes, but Lincolnview held a 143-99 advantage in total points. Tri-Village has lost only to Northridge.
Also ranking among the top 10 in D-IV was No. 6 Jackson Center (11-1), which had two first-place votes.
Weekly voting is done by media throughout the state and tabulated by the Associated Press. The girls state polls will debut today.
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