Greenbrier climbs in rankings before match

Soccer season started Friday for the Greenbrier boys team, but even before the results came in the Wolfpack were already moving up in the state rankings.

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Greenbrier's boys, who entered the season ranked No. 2 in the Class AAAA preseason poll, jumped to a tie for No. 1 in Tuesday's state rankings despite not yet playing a game. The move up in the rankings came because previously No. 1 ranked Marist started the season with a tie and a loss.

Tuesday's state rankings dropped Marist to fifth place and bumped Greenbrier and Starr's Mill (preseason No. 6) up to the No. 1 ranking.

"With us having winter break we backed the season up a little bit. Other teams have played, and I think them losing is what moved us up," Greenbrier boys soccer coach Chip Warren said. "It's good to see we're getting respect from the folks in Atlanta which we hadn't gotten in the past."

The Wolfpack will begin region play early this season with games against region rivals Evans and Lakeside this week.

Greenbrier will go to Evans on Tuesday and will face Lakeside at home on Friday.

Lakeside, in addition to its region game at Greenbrier, will face Richmond Academy at home in another region meeting on Tuesday. Evans' second region game of the week will take place at Statesboro on Friday.

The girls soccer state rankings saw much less movement from the preseason poll to Tuesday's poll. Greenbrier's girls remained ranked No. 7 in the state while the Lakeside Lady Panthers also stayed put at No. 8.

Lakeside's girls entered the weekend's play with two wins already under their belts. The Lady Panthers beat Harlem 2-0 in their season opener and knocked off Cedar Shoals 9-0.

New state rankings will be released on Tuesday.