2022 Boys 2A Pre-Season Predictions

Newsome – The Wolves finished 2021 with an impressive 16-3 record – with all three losses coming from Plant. Newsome has been and continues to be one of the best teams in the Tampa area. They lost six players from last year, some of which were stat leaders in the area. Either way, Newsome always finds players to step in right away and contribute.
Lakeland – The 14-6 Lakeland squad lost some major players on offense in 2021, but still has some weapons ready for 2022. While we don’t see them at the same level as Newsome, few teams are. Lakeland will be a very strong #2 here and should enjoy a good season regardless.
Bartow – The Lakeland / Bartow rivalry will likely continue in 2022 with both teams ready to build upon their successes from 2021. Bartow falls just below Lakeland in our predictions due to the loss of 11 seniors. Bartow impressed a lot of people last year. Let’s hope their success continues in 2022.
Winter Haven – 6-10 last year, TLR has Winter Haven in the #4 spot in District 9. They will have the benefit of utilizing the combined experience and talent of 14 seniors in 2022 while not losing a single senior from 2021. Our expectations are high for Winter Haven in 2022. A better record than 2021 is certainly their baseline for success.

Mitchell – The Mustangs had a breakout season in 2021, finishing an impressive 13-2. Since they only lose two seniors from last season, it’s not far-fetched to expect an even better season from them this year. Watch their game against Steinbrenner for a real-world indicator of how they are doing.
Steinbrenner – Steinbrenner finished 12-4 last season, splitting their games with Mitchell. The Warriors lost a fair chunk of their offense output due to graduating seniors, but retain 20 players from 2021. Both Steinbrenner and Mitchell are well-coached teams that always seem to get the most out of their players.
East Lake – With East Lake finishing 2021 with an 11-5 record, this district is proving to be a tight one. The Eagles lose eight seniors, including big playmaker Jadon Morini. East Lake graduated more seniors than both Mitchell and Steinbrenner combined, so it will likely be tough for the Eagles to continue to go toe-to-toe with them in 2022.
Wharton – 6-8 last season, the Wildcats should easily take the #4 spot in 2022. With seven seniors lost due to graduation, Wharton will be relying on 11 seniors in 2022. We expect a good battle between them and East Lake this year.

Plant – The Panthers enjoyed a record-breaking season in 2021, advancing all the way to the State Semi-Finals. Their only two losses coming from Ponte Vedra and eventual state champion Jupiter. Plant loses eight seniors, but none harder to fill than current Cornell goalie Wyatt Knust. If the Plant defense can stay on top of things, the Panthers may be eyeing another run into the playoffs.
Alonso – The Ravens started 2021 1-4, but finished 13-7. They graduated eight seniors, with six being goalies, leading scorers, and starting poles. With big shoes to fill in 2022, we expect Alonso to perhaps again start slow while they figure out where everyone fits. They should still be competing for the middle spots in the district.
Lakewood Ranch – With a 7-5 record in 2021, the Mustangs could very well be in a good position to take the #2 spot from Alonso in 2022. Their losses in ’21 came against big names like Cardinal Mooney, Plant, Riverview, as well as two loses to Alonso.
Palm Harbor University – The Hurricanes split their games in 2021, finishing 7-7. Unfortunately, PHU graduated 11 seniors in 2021. This will certainly force them to rebuild a little and put extra weight on the shoulders of their seven seniors in 2022.