For some sports, mid-Michigan boasts the best competition in the state. For others, not so much. Here's my look at how area sports compare with each other when it comes to competing at the statewide level, heading into 2011-12. Sports 11-20 will be posted Wednesday, with 21-28 on Thursday.
1. Wrestling (6) -- For its size, mid-Michigan can boast with the state's best. St. Johns and Mason have won five of the last nine state championships in Division 2, and Nick and Andy Simmons and Taylor Massa are some of the biggest names this state has seen in wrestling -- ever.
2. Boys track and field (9) -- Area teams have won three of the last seven Division 2 titles with East Lansing, Sexton and Williamston regular powers, and Potterville and Pewamo-Westphalia holding up the area's rep in Division 4.
3. Boys basketball (6) -- Add in five state runners-up, and an area team has appeared in 25 percent of state finals beginning in 2000. The success ranges from big to small, with three Class A champions (if you include Waverly in 1999-2000), two B and two C champions, and two D runners-up.
4. Girls basketball (8) -- Girls hoops probably could've made a push for tops on this list a few years ago, when the area was still dominant in Class D and coming off its third Class A title in five years. Things have cooled of late. But you can usually plan for at least one area girls team at Breslin on finals weekend.
5. Gymnastics (5) -- Mid-Michigan teams have won five straight team and Division 1 individual state titles, although almost all of the damage has been done by Grand Ledge after Holt won the area's first team title ever in 2007.
6. Boys golf (7) -- DeWitt of late, and East Lansing, Lansing Catholic and Haslett have taken turns among the state's elite, with area teams also turning in eight runner-up finishes since 2000.
7. Boys cross country (6) -- The area also has five runner-up finishes, keyed by Williamston's three firsts and three seconds.
8. Girls track and field (6) -- The smallest schools are carrying the load. Area teams have won the last four Division 4 state titles and finished first-second the last three seasons.
9. Boys tennis (6) -- Again, Division 2 is what puts mid-Michigan among state powers. At one point, area teams won or shared six straight state titles in that division.
10. Girls tennis (3) -- Area teams also have four runner-up finishes during that time span, with Okemos and Williamston leading the way.
High school sports editor 
