The Independence Tigers, defending Virginia Class 5 champions, led this year’s preseason rankings despite undergoing heavy roster turnover and having no seniors on the team.
The Tigers haven’t missed a beat during their title defense, outscoring opponents 48-7 and storming to a 10-0 start. Independence has lost just once since the start of 2023, and that continued dominance keeps the Tigers atop The Washington Post’s midseason rankings.