Assigning points based on teams’ final rankings in their Fab 50 National aggregate, ESPN RISE has announced their top 50 high school programs of the 2008-2009 season—two Long Beach high schools, Poly and Wilson, were honored with top 15 spots.

The Jackrabbits cracked the top ten at number six, thanks to high national rankings in football, girls’ basketball, and the number one national ranking in girls’ track.

The Bruins came in at twelfth, thanks in large part to the efforts of Susan Pescar and her boys’ and girls’ volleyball program.  A top ten boys’ program and a top 25 girls’ squad, coupled with a top 40 girls’ track program, earned Wilson the high spot.  ESPN astutely pointed out that Wilson would be a perennial high-finisher if they began including aquatics sports rankings (which we hope they will next year).

16 of the top 50 were from California—other notable teams include Mater Dei at two, Loyola at four, and Concord De La Salle at fifteen.