STEVE CARPENTER
HutchCC Sports Information
For the 13th-straight season, the Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team is part of the NJCAA Division I Preseason Rankings.
The Blue Dragons were ranked No. 21 on Monday when the NJCAA released its preseason national rankings. The two-time defending Jayhawk West champions open their season on Tuesday, November 2 against the Bethany College Junior Varsity at the Sports Arena.
Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes begins his 15th season at Hutchinson with a record of 394-82.
Ontjes has four returning players from a 19-5 team that won the Jayhawk West outright. But Blue Dragons’ season came to an end in the Region VI Tournament semifinals.
Hutchinson is one of three KJCCC teams ranked in the Top 25. Defending Jayhawk East champion Butler starts at No. 17. Defending Region VI champion opens at No. 25.
Northwest Florida State is the preseason pick at No. 2 for the 2021-22 season. Tyler is second, Chipola third, Jones fourth and New Mexico Junior College is ranked fifth.
NJCAA DIVISION I PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RANKINGS
1. Northwest Florida State (8) 200
2. Tyler JC 192
3. Chipola 184
4. Jones 176
5. New Mexico JC 168
6. Shelton State 160
7. South Plains 152
8. Three Rivers 144
9. South Georgia Tech 136
10. Casper 128
11. Trinity Valley 120
12. Georgia Highlands 112
13. Wabash Valley 104
14. Western Nebraska 96
15. Weatherford 88
16. Eastern Arizona 80
17. Butler 72
18. Hill 64
19. Florida Southwestern State 56
20. Moberly Area 48
21. Hutchinson 40
22. Walters State 32
23. Southern Idaho 24
24. Eastern Oklahoma State 16
25. Independence 8