The IHSA 1A and 2A postseason is on the horizon, and the brackets for each individual sectional were released yesterday, May 7th. For a full look at the full 1A/2A playoff brackets, click HERE. 

Our staff is diving into all of the sectionals today that fall within our ‘Coverage Map’ today in 1A, highlighting a few teams to keep an eye on throughout the postseason, and we’ll do the same for the 2A teams in a different story. 

As a reminder, teams taken into consideration are those that fall into our ‘Coverage Map’, which includes all of Southern Illinois, the Metro East area, Springfield, and up as high as Mt. Zion. This does not mean that our staff won’t provide coverage to all areas of the state, as well as Missouri, but for the purposes of this article, and our rankings, we will stick to all teams in 1A and 2A that fall underneath the Mt. Zion line.

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ARCOLA SECTIONAL 

Gibson City-Melvin Sibley (12-9): The Falcons, who made a trip to the 1A state playoffs last year, are the top seed in their half of the sectional. They’re an experienced club led by star senior Brayden Elliott (2025; Illinois-Wesleyan), who’s slashing .507/.543/.775 with 14 doubles and has a 2.22 ERA over 34 ⅔ innings on the mound, punching out 47 while walking just nine. 

Mt. Pulaski (16-4): Seeded second on their side of the bracket, the Hilltoppers are having a strong season and have a quality win over Routt Catholic on their resume. They’re led by 1B/LHP Chance Payne (2025; Lake Land JC) and INF Luke Martin (2026). 

Arcola (18-0): A recent addition to our ‘Small School’ rankings, the Purple Riders are undefeated on the year and are the top seed on their side of this sectional. They have one of the top talents in all of 1A, and the state, with RHP/OF Tanner Thomas (2025), who’s homered eight times, has a 1.789 OPS, and has punched out 58 batters across 26 innings pitched with one earned run allowed. Brevyn Whisman (2026), Jackson Griffith (2026), and Brody Phillips (2027) are three talented names having strong seasons for Arcola. 

ALTAMONT SECTIONAL 

Stewardson-Strasburg (11-3): The Hatchets are the top seed on their side of the sectional and they have two different four game winning streaks on the season. 

Nokomis Redskins (15-12): Nokomis will be a team to watch in this bracket, as they’ve picked up a few quality wins on the year, and have played several of the teams we’ve highlighted throughout the season tough. 

Altamont (16-6): Last year’s 1A state runner-ups, Altamont has a club capable of making another strong run into the postseason, and they’ll be the three seed in their sub-sectional. They may have the best arm in the bracket in Kade Milleville (2026), who was a key part of last year’s club, and has struck out 80 batters with just four walks in 47 innings pitched with a 0.74 ERA. Dyson Wagner (2025) is another upperclassmen arm that’s having a strong season on the mound, and Keegan Schultz (2025; Kaskaskia JC) leads the offense with a .355 batting average and 1.075 OPS. 

North Clay (15-6): Another team that spent some time in our ‘Small School’ rankings this spring, the Cardinals are the top seed on their side of the sectional. Like Altamont, North Clay has a true top-of-the-line arm with Jack Compton (2026), who’s punched out 48 in 41 ⅔ innings of work to the tune of a 1.85 ERA. Ian Jones (2026) is another junior arm having success on the season, posting a 1.83 ERA in 30 ⅔ innings of work. Cody Zimdars (2026) leads the offense and is currently slashing .472/.574/.642 on the year. 

Neoga (14-7): The Indians will be a tough out in these playoffs, securing the second seed in their bracket. They have a handful of quality wins on their schedule, beating North Clay, Charleston, and Christ Our Rock this year. 

COBDEN SECTIONAL

Waltonville (11-5): The Spartans have a chance to make some noise here, as they have one of the top arms in the state with Brandon Menser (2025; Cincinnati), who’s capable of beating anyone on any given day. Aside from him, they’re a young bunch, but names like Reed Robinson (2028) and Witten Devor (2027) have impressed our staff in live looks this spring. 

Hardin County (10-6-1): Currently riding a five game win streak, the Cougars are the second seed in their sub-sectional. One name to know for them is sophomore Bryden Banks (2027), who’s a talented right-handed hitter that’s led their offense. 

Goreville (17-7): You can’t ever count out the Blackcats, as Goreville is a team that’s made their fair share of runs to the state playoffs, as recently as 2023. They’re the top seed in their sub-sectional and have multiple impressive wins on their resume – they swept a conference set with Johnston City, split with Zeigler-Royalton/Christopher, beat Salem, and took a game from Marion. 

GREENVILLE SECTIONAL

Father McGivney (26-2): The Griffins should be viewed as the favorites in 1A, as their roster is as talented as several of the 3A and 4A schools across Illinois. They haven’t lost a game since March 21st, and they haven’t fallen to an in-state opponent all season, riding a 24 game winning streak at the time of this publication. Names like Kannon Kamp (2025; SIUE), Drew Kleinheider (2025; St. Louis), Justin Terhaar (2025; UMSL), Isaac Wendler (2026), Ben Sink (2026), Omar Avalos (2027), and several others make up one of the more complete teams we’ve seen in some time. 

Metro-East Lutheran (13-9): The Knights are a competitive bunch that have played their opposition tough this spring, sweeping Marquette Catholic, beating Christ Our Rock, and they’re the closest team to beat Father McGivney this spring, dropping a conference matchup to them 5-4. Drake Luebbert (2026) has been excellent at the plate for the Knights, slashing .493/.557/.795 in 73 at-bats, homering four times with eight doubles. Sam Huber (2026) is another junior that’s swinging it well, as he’s hitting .456 on the year with a 1.147 OPS. 

Marissa (11-4): The Meteors have won eight straight games here, earning the two seed in their sub-sectional. Ryne Rhodes (2025) is a physical right-handed hitter that’s paced their offense, while Landon Sabo (2025) leads the way on the mound. 

Christ Our Rock Lutheran (11-8): This Stallions’ group is always tough and they’ve made for a tough out year over year for all of the teams in this sectional. Currently riding a four game winning streak, the Stallions are the three seed on their side of the bracket. 

New Athens (11-6): New Athens earns the top seed on their side of the sub-sectional. They’ve won seven of their last eight games and are getting excellent production from two upperclassmen: Wil Mulholland (2026) and Brett Miller (2025). In 52 at-bats, Mulholland is hitting .500 with a 1.312 OPS that includes four triples and two doubles. Miller leads the way on the mound, punching out 52 in 38 ⅔ innings pitched with a 1.81 ERA. 

Calhoun (16-5): The Warriors earned the second seed on their side of this bracket and are having a strong year, picking up 16 wins at the point of this publication. They started the season rattling off nine straight wins, beating Jacksonville, Brown County, and Routt Catholic in that span. Jack Zipprich (2026) leads the offense, driving in a team-high 20 runs with a .424 batting average in 66 at-bats, and he’s also struck out 39 in 26 ⅓ innings on the mound with a 2.66 ERA. Jack Goode (2026) is another junior throwing the ball well, punching out 33 over a 26 ⅔ inning sample with a 2.62 ERA. 

Gibault Catholic (6-16): Regardless of their overall record, you can’t ever count out Gibault Catholic, as they regularly challenge themselves from a scheduling standpoint. They won the 1A state championship two years ago without an impressive record and are the three seed in their sub-sectional. 

Valmeyer (7-15): The Pirates are another team without the most impressive record that have the potential to make some noise in these playoffs. They’re led by Luke Blackwell (2026), who’s a highly talented upper-80s arm that’s also been swinging the bat well, slashing .469/.570/.797 on the year with 10 doubles and three home runs. Landon Roy (2025) and Chase Snyder (2026) are two other upperclassmen to keep an eye on for this club. 

JACKSONVILLE SECTIONAL

Monmouth United (22-4): The Red Storm earned the top seed in their sub-sectional after an impressive season that includes two five-plus game winning streaks. Offensively, the Red Storm are led by Ian Leffler (2026), who’s homered eight times this spring and is batting .481 on the season with a 1.444 OPS. Leffler’s been dynamic on the mound as well, punching out 71 in 44 ⅓ innings of work, walking 15 with a 2.05 ERA. Chance Stewart (2027) is another name having a strong season at the plate, batting .446 in 83 at-bats with nine extra-base hits. Tanner Rogers (2025) is a live-armed senior left-handed arm to know on this pitching staff as well.

Routt Catholic (15-9): A powerhouse at the 1A level the past few years, Routt Catholic checks in as the two seed on their side of the bracket. They don’t have as much experience as they’ve had in the past with this year’s club, but they’re still plenty talented, with names like Jace Lautemann (2025), Brock Runyon (2025), Eli Olson (2025), Brady Turner (2026), and Talon Thompson (2026) leading the charge. 

Brown County (20-8): The Hornets are having a strong season and have two different win streaks of five-plus games on the year, including nine straight at one point. They’re the third seed on their side of the bracket.