Note: the NFCA released the rankings on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2025 and doesn’t account for games played this weekend.
Two losses knocked Gretna (Neb.) High from the ranks of the unbeaten and out of the top spot, clearing the way for East Coweta (Ga.) to reclaim the No. 1 position it held in the NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll for much of last season.
Reigning Nebraska state titlist Gretna (9-2) had its 44-game win streak snapped by then-No. 16 Blue Springs South, 7-5 at the Top Gun Invitational in Kansas City.
The Dragons lost their next game as well, 5-3 to Broken Arrow, before rebounding to blank then-No. 6 Broomfield, 3-0, and Chatfield, 10-0, the following day. Gretna defeated Elkhorn 9-1 on Tuesday,
East Coweta (12-0) moved up to the top spot without playing a game last week but expect that to change in the next rankings as the Indians lost two games on Friday to Eastside (8-0).
East Coweta was the No. 1 team in the rankings for nine of 12 weeks last season.
Buford (9-0) and Dale (8-0) both won two games to leapfrog back-to-back Iowa state Class 2A titlist Van Meter (34-2), whose summer season is complete, and complete the revised top three.
Blue Springs South’s season-opening win over Gretna and one-run ranked loss to Broomfield allowed the (3-2) Jaguars to gain two places to No. 14, while fellow Missouri school Helias Catholic (5-0) was the biggest mover of the week, going from 23rd to 11th after getting off to a perfect start.
Unbeaten Lakewood (6-0) is the lone newcomer to the rankings, debuting at No. 12.
State rankings submitted by the NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Five states play a fall fastpitch schedule, while Iowa recently completed its summer season:
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Rank | Team | 2025 Record | Previous |
1 | East Coweta (Ga.) | 12-0 | 2 |
2 | Buford (Ga.) | 9-0 | 4 |
3 | Dale (Okla.) | 8-0 | 5 |
4 | Van Meter (Iowa) | 34-2 | 3 |
5 | Gretna (Neb.) | 9-2 | 1 |
6 | Wesleyan (Ga.) | 11-0 | 7 |
7 | Broomfield (Colo.) | 8-2 | 6 |
8 | Owasso (Okla.) | 11-1 | 9 |
9 | North Cobb (Ga.) | 11-2 | 8 |
10 | Lincoln Southwest (Neb.) | 8-0 | 11 |
11 | Helias Catholic (Mo.) | 5-0 | 23 |
12 | Lakewood (Colo.) | 6-0 | NR |
13 | Papillion-LaVista (Neb.) | 8-2 | 10 |
14 | Blue Springs South (Mo.) | 3-2 | 16 |
15 | Millard North (Neb.) | 8-2 | 18 |
16 | Lutheran (Colo.) | 6-3 | 13 |
17 | Piedmont (Okla.) | 12-2 | 20 |
18 | Lafayette (Mo.) | 4-2 | 12 |
19 | Valor Christian (Colo.) | 5-4 | 14 |
20 | Caddo (Okla.) | 5-3 | 15 |
21 | Rock Bridge (Mo.) | 2-2 | 17 |
22 | Northwest (Iowa) | 34-4 | 19 |
23 | Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.) | 1-0 | 21 |
24 | Clarksville (Iowa) | 31-4 | 22 |
25 | Williamsburg (Iowa) | 35-7 | 24 |
Dropped out: Pella (Iowa).
NFCA High School Steering Committee
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
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