Editor’s Note: Some of the information included in this article came from a press release directly connected with USA Today.
The Booker T. Washington Tornadoes, the defending Class 4A state champion, will start the season at the top of the USA Today Super 25, a national rankings list that enters its 31st season this year.
The Tornadoes will bring back over a dozen starters for the 2013 season and are a high pick to repeat as state champions.
Other Florida teams representing on the USA Today Super 25 Preseason rankings include defending Class 6A state champion, Miami Central (#7), defending Class 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (#11) and defending Class 8A state champion Apopka (#22).
With all the teams representing Florida, all four again have excellent chances of repeating as state champions this season.
Here is the entire USA TODAY Super 25 preseason rankings with 2012 records in parenthesis and Florida teams in BOLD.
1. Booker T. Washington, Miami (13-1)
2. Trinity, Louisville (13-1)
3. John Curtis, River Ridge, La. (14-0)
4. Paramus Catholic, Paramus, N.J. (10-2)
5. Allen, Texas (15-1)
6. Norcross, Ga. (15-0)
7. Miami Central, Miami (12-2)
8. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (15-0)
9. Katy, Texas (12-1)
10. Junipero Serra, Gardena, Calif. (14-2)
11. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale (13-2)
12. Hoover, Ala. (15-0)
13. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-5)
14. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (11-2)
15. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (9-3)
16. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (14-2)
17. Steele, Cibolo, Texas (14-1)
18. Ensworth School, Nashville (13-0)
19. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (11-1)
20. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (15-0)
21. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-1)
22. Apopka, Fla. (13-2)
23. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (16-0)
24. Jenks, Okla. (12-2)
25. Colerain, Cincinnati (12-1)