A pair of Adams County rivals is ranked 1-2 among small schools in the season’s first high school wrestling poll featuring teams divided by school enrollment.

 The Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association (IHSWCA) has released its first classed power poll of Hoosier high school mat squads, based on school size.

Adams Central and South Adams, which sit about eight miles apart in Adams County, hold the top two spots in the Class A (small school) rankings.

Representative coaches across the state vote in the classed poll, using dual-meet strength as their criteria.

The classed poll is sent out in addition to the Top 20 rankings that were released earlier.

Another Adams County school, Bellmont, is ranked No. 7 in Class AA (medium-sized schools), meaning that every school in that county is receiving recognition from the coaches association.

Yorktown is ranked No. 1 in Class AA, while defending state champion  Perry Meridian holds the top spot in Class AAA (large schools).

The IHSAA ended its dual-meet state team tournament last February following a 17-year run. The coaches association is hoping to revive the tournament with a three-class competition of its own on Dec. 22 at Westfield High School.

Many teams in this week’s rankings will participate in the Dec. 22 tourney.

Though Evansville Mater Dei technically qualifies as a medium-size school, the Wildcat program is so strong that Mater Dei is classed into the large-school category. The Wildcats will compete in 3A at the Dec. 22 tournament.

CLASS 3A (Large Schools)
1.  Perry Meridian; 2. Evansville Mater Dei; 3. Indianapolis Cathedral; 4. Merrillville; 5. Crown Point; 6. Penn; 7. Bloomington South; 8. Franklin; 9. Hamilton Southeastern; 10. Warren Central.

Others receiving votes: Center Grove, Elkhart Memorial, Fishers, Jeffersonville, Lake Central, Mishawaka, Evansville Reitz, Indianapolis Roncalli.

CLASS 2A (Medium-Size Schools)

1. Yorktown; 2. Evansville Memorial; 3. Jimtown; 4. Danville; 5. Heritage Hills; 6. Muncie South; 7. Bellmont; 8. Culver Academies; 9. Leo; 10 (tie). Hanover Central; 10 (tie). Delphi.

Others receiving votes: Garrett, Indian Creek, Jasper, New Prairie, North Montgomery, South Dearborn, Southmont, Western Boone.

CLASS 1A (Small Schools)

1. Adams Central; 2. South Adams; 3. Churubusco; 4. Lewis Cass; 5. North Miami; 6. Milan; 7. Prairie Heights; 8. Bremen; 9. South Putnam; 10 (tie). Fremont; 10 (tie). Alexandria.

Others receiving votes: Clinton Central, Culver Community, Fountain Central, Paoli, Southridge, South Spencer, Union County, Winamac.