Preseason rankings are officially out for North Carolina, and Guilford County Schools are making a strong showing across the board. Click below to see which GCS schools made the list.
Football
Girls Golf
Boys Soccer
Girls Tennis
Girls Volleyball
Football
Two Guilford County Schools football programs will begin the 2026 season ranked among the top 25 teams in North Carolina.
Defending state champion Grimsley is No. 2 in the MaxPreps preseason North Carolina Top 25. The Whirlies completed a perfect 15-0 season in 2025 and captured the N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A state championship.
Only defending 8A champion Hough is ranked ahead of Grimsley entering the new season.
Northern Guilford also earned a place in the rankings. The Nighthawks are No. 24 after posting a 12-2 record last fall.
GCS teams in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25:
No. 2 Grimsley — 15-0 in 2025
No. 24 Northern Guilford — 12-2
The two programs combined to win 27 games during the 2025 season. Grimsley will enter the fall looking to defend its state championship, while Northern Guilford will attempt to build on a season in which it reached double-digit victories.
Their inclusion gives Guilford County Schools representation near both ends of a rankings list that includes defending state champions and perennial contenders from across North Carolina.
Girls Golf
HighSchoolOT has released their 2026 preseason Statewide Top 25 for girls golf. Guilford County Schools had two teams total in the top 25 with Northwest Guilford Girls Golf being the top team in WCPSS at No. 5.Â
No. 5 Northwest Guilford
No. 10 Northern GuilfordÂ
Boys Soccer
Two Guilford County Schools boys soccer teams will begin the 2026 season ranked among the top 50 programs in North Carolina. The highest ranked in Guilford County is Grimsley at No. 34.Â
No. 34 Grimsley (2-0-2)
No. 45 Northwest Guilford (3-1-1)
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Girls Tennis
HighSchoolOT has released their 2026 preseason Statewide Top 25 for girls tennis. Guilford County Public Schools had one team in the top 25 with Page Girls Tennis being the top team in GCS.
No. 14 Page (17-1)
Girls Volleyball
Two Guilford County Schools girls volleyball teams will begin the 2026 season ranked among the top 50 programs in North Carolina. The highest ranked in Guilford County is Grimsley at No. 3.Â
No. 3 Grimsley
No. 26 Southwest Guilford