There are 20 area teams in position to make the high school football playoffs, according to the latest "unofficial" playoff matrix as we head into Week 9 of the regular season.
Freedom and Little Chute in Division 4 and Shiocton in Division 7 are among the top four teams in their respective divisions and are in position to earn a No. 1 seed. The unofficial playoff matrix standings in all seven divisions and top teams can be found at https://andylavoy.com/football/.
The official 11-player football playoff qualifying field and pairings will be revealed during an hourlong show Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. The show can be watched live on WIAA state tournament network stations and on the WIAA Sports Live app.
The top 32 teams in each division reach the postseason as determined by win point values. Here's a listing of those teams by division with placement and record heading into Week 9.
Division 1: 18, Neenah (5-3); 21, Appleton North (5-3); 26, Kimberly (4-4); 32, Hortonville (3-5).
Division 2: 9, Kaukauna (6-2); 13, Menasha (6-2).
Division 3: 8, Winneconne (8-0); 11, Fox Valley Lutheran (6-2).
Division 4: 1, Freedom (8-0); 2, Little Chute (7-1); 20, Xavier (5-3); 24, Wrightstown (3-5); 29, Seymour (4-4).
Division 5: 8, Brillion (7-1); 13, Chilton (4-4).
Division 6: 13, St. Mary Catholic (6-2); 21, Weyauwega-Fremont (5-3).
Division 7: 4, Shiocton (7-1); 14, Hilbert (5-3); 28, Manawa (3-5).
Appleton-area girls volleyball rankings
* RECORDS THROUGH OCT. 13
1, Kimberly (33-4): The Papermakers strengthen their hold on the Fox Valley Association with a 3-1 victory over Neenah on Oct. 8. Team earns No. 1 seed in Manitowoc Sectional and finishes regular season at Hortonville on Oct. 15.
2, Xavier (24-11): The Hawks move up a few spots in the rankings after 3-1 victory over previous No. 2 Fox Valley Lutheran. Team earns No. 1 seed in Seymour Sectional. Junior hitter Rose Kendall leads the team in kills (264).
3, Fox Valley Lutheran (27-4): Foxes lose Bay Conference title matchup with Xavier but still earn No. 1 seed in D2 Seymour Sectional. Team closes out regular season with match vs. Oconto Falls on Oct. 15.
4, Neenah (23-6): Rockets suffer 3-1 setback to Kimberly last week and are given No. 3 seed in Manitowoc Sectional. Lilly Romjue leads team in kills (266).
5, Brillion (25-5): Lions earn No. 1 seed in D3 Clintonville Sectional and are the Eastern Wisconsin Conference champs. Team is on 14-match win streak and is led by Ava Van Camp and Emma Schuh in kills with 203 and 197, respectively.
Others: St. Mary Catholic (27-3), Shiocton (24-2), Hortonville (17-14), Appleton East (16-11), Freedom (18-12), Winneconne (17-13), Weyauwega-Fremont (17-10), Chilton (17-16), Little Chute (19-18).
Appleton-area boys soccer rankings
* RECORDS THROUGH OCT. 13
1, Hortonville (12-1-1): Polar Bears are new No. 1 and are on seven-game win streak. Team defense has allowed just three goals in that stretch. Fenton Hirschi leads team in scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists (33 points). Team is No. 2 seed in Division 1 D.C. Everest Sectional.
2, Freedom (16-0-1): The Irish move up a spot after finishing regular season as North Eastern Conference champs. Team is outscoring its opponents by an average of 6-1. Team is No. 1 seed in D3 Notre Dame Sectional.
3, Fox Valley Lutheran (12-1-4): FVL's lone loss was to Division 1 Appleton East. Team earned No. 2 seed in D2 Kaukauna Sectional.
4, Appleton North (10-4-2): The Lightning has won three of its last four and closes season at Hartford on Oct. 15. Team is No. 4 seed in D.C. Everest Sectional.
5, Neenah (12-2-2): Rockets on three-game win streak and team is led in scoring by Ian Baetke (18 goals, 8 assists). Team is No. 3 seed in D1 Neenah Sectional.
Others: New London (13-3-1), Appleton East (9-5).
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Freedom, Little Chute lead area teams in football playoff matrix