National Champs finish on top of the polls
Garden City, KS-On Saturday, Garden City claimed their first ever national championship. On Monday, the polls confirmed what everyone already knew.
The Broncbusters garnered nine first-place votes en route to a runaway No. 1 ranking in the final-regular season poll released by the NJCAA on Monday.
"Words can't describe winning the national championship," Head Coach Jeff Sims said. "We did it."
Garden City's ascension to the top dog began following an opening-week victory over Ellsworth. That win pushed Garden City to 14th. From there, they jumped to 12th; then fifth after knocking off then No. 6 Hutchinson 16-14; third on Oct. 3 before grabbing the No. 1 spot on October 17 after beating Iowa Western. It was a position they never relinquished; closing as the top team for the final six weeks of the season.
East Mississippi, who took down Kilgore in the Mississippi Bowl, finished as No. 2, followed by national runner-up Arizona Western. Trinity Valley was fourth and Mesa fifth. Dodge City came in at No. 15; Highland 16 and Butler 17.