COMPLETE GATEWAY CITY SOCCER CLASSIC COVERAGE

Ever wonder how one of the nation’s top high school teams would fare against one of the nation’s top prep school team?

Wonder how elite teams from the East would fare against the Midwest, or West?

The Gateway City Soccer Classic provides those answers.

Sixty-two high school boys programs representing 11 states descend on the St. Louis area this weekend for the annual showcase that does more to shape the SIMA FAB 50 national rankings than any other single event.

Five SIMA FAB 50 teams — No. 4 Milwaukee Marquette (Wis.), No. 7 Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.), No. 29 St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), No. 39 Cherry Creek (Colo.) and No. 44 Washburn Rural (Kan.) — and two of the Prep Top 10 teams — No. 1 South Kent School (Conn.) and No. 8 Kiski School (Pa.) — highlight the highly competitive field. In addition to the seven teams listed above, 10 other Gateway City participants have been in the SIMA FAB 50 this season — several with a chance to SIMA FAB 50 with a strong showing this weekend.

Some of the intriguing Gateway matchups include SIMA FAB 50 No. 4 Milwaukee Marquette (Wis.) against Prep Top 10 No. 1 South Kent School (Conn.). It is possible that Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.) and Christian Brothers (Mo.), teams that started the year in the SIMA FAB 50 Top 10, could meet in the Bracket A semifinals. Cherry Creek (Colo.) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), a pair of undefeated nationally ranked teams, could see each other in the Bracket B event. Also, South Kent School is taking on Kiski School (Pa.) in what was a Prep No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup when it was scheduled. A season-opening loss by Kiski School, however, dropped the team from the No. 2 spot, but still this rare meeting between NEPSAC (South Kent) and PAISAA (Kiski School) title contenders could have a significant influence on the Prep Top 10 for the balance of the season.

This year, for example, Barrington (R.I.) is making the trip to Gateway where it will face SIMA FAB 50-ranked Washburn Rural (Kan.) and Lee’s Summit West (Mo.). At home, Barrington will take on state No. 1 La Salle Academy (R.I.), which lost last week to New York No. 3 St. Anthony's (N.Y.). Add to that St. Anthony’s recently defeated the No. 2 team in Maryland, which has played teams in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and it quickly comes obvious how the Gateway City Soccer Classic connects the country and make sense of the national rankings.