After being virtually ignored last season, the Associated Press poll voters are including Ironton on their ballot this year.

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

After being virtually ignored last season, the Associated Press poll voters are including Ironton on their ballot this year.

Ironton finished 17th in last season’s final AP poll, then ran roughshod over four opponents en route to a Division IV state runner-up spot.

But in the first AP poll released Tuesday, Ironton (3-0) was listed 10th while defending state champion Sandusky Perkins grabbed the top spot.

Perkins racked up 21 first place votes and 276 points following three lopsided wins to open the season. Germantown Valley View, a team Ironton knocked off in the playoffs 37-29, was ranked second with 186 points.

Youngstown Urusline was third with 162 points followed by Coldwater with 136 points, Newark Licking Valley 127, Cleveland Villa-Angela St. Joseph 105, Akron Manchester 190, Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas 78, Coshocton 71, and Ironton 69.

Defending state champions Cleveland St. Ignatius in Division I, Amanda-Clearcreek in Division V, and Delphos St. John’s in Division VI also held leads in their respective divisions in the first poll.

In Division III, Orrville was first followed by Columbus Bishop Watterson, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne, and Portsmouth was fourth with 118 points, just two points out of third place.

Clearcreek had 20 first place votes and 254 points with St. Henry second with 196 points.

Another local team ranked in the poll was Portsmouth Notre Dame (3-0) in Division VI. The Titans were sixth behind Delphos St. John’s, Mogadore, Norwalk St. Paul, Maria Stein Marion Local, and Newark Catholic.

In Division II, future Ironton opponent Columbus St. Francis DeSales is the top-ranked team with 250 points and 10 first place votes.

Other teams of interest include Gallipolis ranked 26th in Division III, Columbus Bishop Ready third in Division V, and Glouster Trimble is tied for 14th in Division VI.

See a complete list of all teams in the six divisions on Page 9 in today’s Tribune sports section.