Academic Team Ranked #1 Before Nationals

With all stats from all sectionals completed this morning the JCTC Academic Team is currently ranked # 1 in the nation!  We will be competing at Nationals in Chicago in early March.  Our A team went 9-0 to win our 7th straight sectional, while our B team went 6-3 to finish 2nd in our regional, and they currently rank 23rd in the nation.  The top 24 teams statistically get bids to nationals, so the B team will also get a bid.  This is the first time JCTC has been ranked # 1 before nationals.  In 2016 when Jefferson won the national championship we were ranked 4th going into the championship tournament.

The numbers from this past weekend were astonishing – our A team put up 505 points per game - our previous high at sectionals was 369 points per game in 2015.  We also became only the 2nd CC to average over 20 points per bonus at a sectional – we averaged 21.39 PPB – only Chipola in 2013 was able to break 20 ppb.  We had 31 powers in 9 matches.

While these numbers are great, the # 1 ranking does little but put a big target on our backs at Nationals, as the previous 2 teams entering at #1 did not win.  And this year’s field is the strongest I’ve ever seen.  Before this year there had never been a CCCT with more than 3 teams averaging above 17 PPB – this year there will be 7 community college teams above 17!  And California had never qualified a team before – this year they have 3 in the top 10!  So we have our work cut out for us.   But we have over a month to keep practicing and get better.

Captain Tim Ellis took scoring honors at the Kentucky Sectional with 84 points per game, followed by Alex Akridge at 73 ppg in his very first match! Morgan Williamson was 3rd with 40 ppg, Aaron Parker (6th), Jessica Fetz (7th) Juan Mancilla (9th), Ben Poe (10th), Francisco Casal (11th) and Luke Gipperich (12th) all contributed while scoring at least 9 PPG.  

Look at the detailed stats with our number 1 ranking and who the other teams may be at nationals in Chicago.

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