Familiar faces usher in a new season of rankings, plus one division appears wide open early in the Week 1 WVCA Coaches Poll.

Divine Savior Holy Angels ran the table at the prestigious Milwaukee-area Joust over the weekend, recording a strong debut in its  pursuit for back-to-back Division 1 gold balls. Defending runner-up Oconomowoc--also runner-up at the Joust--took home No. 2, followed by Appleton North, Arrowhead, and unbeaten Manitowoc Lincoln.

Xavier was knocked out of the Joust's gold division semifinal by the champion Dashers, but secured its spot atop Division 2 in Week 1. Pewaukee's runner-up finish in silver not only amped up its early-season strength of schedule, it also placed the Pirates at No. 2. Fox Valley Lutheran had an impressive fifth place finish at Beast of the Northeast to come in at No. 3, ahead of UW-Whitewater Warhawk Invitational champion Bloomer and Luxemburg-Casco.

Howards Grove dominated most of Division 3 last season, and returned to the top spot in 2023's Week 1--however, it was far from unanimous. St. Croix Falls ran the table at the 40-team Menomonie Sprawl over the weekend to land right behind the Tigers at No. 2, just ahead of a crowded field. Perennial power Lake Country Lutheran battled at the Joust alongside HG at No. 3, ahead of defending Division 4 champion McDonell Central whose enrollment pushed it into D3. Unbeaten St. Mary Central enters at No. 5.

With no McDonell around, Division 4 appears pretty wide open in 2023. It was the Buccaneers of Prentice who claim the initial top spot in D4, barely eking out Wabeno/Laona at No. 2. Pittsville slid in at No. 3, ahead of fellow north central Wisconsin foes Columbus Catholic and Athens--both of which put forth strong showings (fourth and 13th place respectively) in Menomonie over the weekend.