An early preview of 2017 18 & over 3.5 Nationals - Current top teams in the country

It is April, and I did a preview of what appear to be the top teams in the 40 & over division, so it is now time to look at the 18 & over division.

As usual, I'll be using my Estimated Dynamic NTRP Ratings to calculate the average dynamic rating for the top-8 players on the teams' rosters.  And I'll show the section/district/flight to let you know where the teams are from, but omit the team name to keep it a little mysterious.  Contact me if you are wanting more details on your team or what the actual teams are, or if you are interested in your own report, or a team or sub-flight report.

To start, we'll take a look at the 18 & over division 3.5 level for men and women.

First, the top-30 and ties men's teams.

Rank	Location	Average
1	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.71
1	SOUTHERN / TENNESSEE / TN - MEMPHIS	3.71
3	TEXAS / SAN ANTONIO	3.70
4	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - BIRMINGHAM - 2017	3.67
5	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.64
6	TEXAS / FORT WORTH	3.63
6	TEXAS / DALLAS	3.63
6	TEXAS / DALLAS	3.63
9	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - CLARKE OCONEE - COTA - 2017	3.61
9	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	3.61
9	TEXAS / FORT WORTH	3.61
12	NEW ENGLAND / NORTHERN CONNECTICUT	3.60
12	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	3.60
12	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - HUNTSVILLE - 2017	3.60
15	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.59
15	FLORIDA / REGION_3 / HILLSBOROUGH	3.59
17	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - BIRMINGHAM - 2017	3.58
17	SOUTHERN / SOUTH CAROLINA / SC - LEXINGTON-LATA	3.58
17	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.58
17	NEW ENGLAND / NORTHERN CONNECTICUT	3.58
21	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2017	3.57
21	NORTHERN / NORTHERN / TWIN CITIES - 2017	3.57
21	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - CHEROKEE - CCTA - 2017	3.57
21	MIDWEST / OHIO VALLEY / COLUMBUS	3.57
21	MISSOURI VALLEY / ST. LOUIS	3.57
21	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.57
27	MISSOURI VALLEY / ST. LOUIS	3.56
27	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	3.56
29	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2017	3.55
29	SOUTHERN / TENNESSEE / TN - MEMPHIS	3.55
29	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.55
29	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - MACON -2017	3.55
29	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.55
29	PACIFIC NW / EASTERN WASHINGTON	3.55
29	SOUTHWEST / GREATER EL PASO	3.55

Yes folks, these are 3.5 teams, all with top-8 averages of 3.55 or higher and several at 3.70 or higher!  And four of top-five spots are represented by different sections, although the Southern and Texas Sectionals appear like they will be hotly contested.

Whether there is sandbagging going on, or 18+ just has players that are improving more rapidly, these teams are rated a lot higher than the 40+ 3.5 were where the top team was at 3.60 and the last of the top-30 was at 3.50.

Then the top-30 and ties women's teams.

Rank	Location	Average
1	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.61
2	NO. CALIFORNIA / Women's 3.5 - MP	3.58
3	MIDWEST / NORTHERN ILLINOIS	3.57
4	SOUTHERN / SOUTH CAROLINA / SC - LEXINGTON-LATA	3.56
4	NEW ENGLAND / SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT / Southern CT	3.56
4	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2017	3.56
4	SOUTHWEST / CENTRAL ARIZONA	3.56
4	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.56
9	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.55
9	NORTHERN / NORTHERN / TWIN CITIES - 2017	3.55
9	TEXAS / DALLAS	3.55
9	TEXAS / AUSTIN	3.55
9	SOUTHERN / TENNESSEE / TN - MEMPHIS	3.55
9	FLORIDA / REGION_3 / HILLSBOROUGH	3.55
9	SO. CALIFORNIA / SO.CALIFORNIA / SAN GABRIEL VALLEY	3.55
9	MIDDLE STATES / PHILADELPHIA	3.55
17	MIDDLE STATES / NEW JERSEY	3.54
17	NEW ENGLAND / NORTHERN CONNECTICUT	3.54
19	FLORIDA / REGION_7 / LEE/CHARLOTTE	3.53
19	NEW ENGLAND / SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT / Southern CT	3.53
19	MIDWEST / OHIO VALLEY / COLUMBUS	3.53
19	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	3.53
23	NEW ENGLAND / NORTHERN CONNECTICUT	3.52
23	MIDWEST / NORTHERN ILLINOIS	3.52
23	SOUTHWEST / SOUTHERN ARIZONA	3.52
23	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.52
23	NO. CALIFORNIA / Women's 3.5 - EB	3.52
23	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - TUSCALOOSA	3.52
29	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.51
29	NO. CALIFORNIA / Women's 3.5 - SB - 2	3.51
29	MIDWEST / OHIO VALLEY / COLUMBUS	3.51
29	SOUTHERN / LOUISIANA / LA - BATON ROUGE	3.51
29	TEXAS / DALLAS	3.51
29	NEW ENGLAND / SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT / Southern CT	3.51
29	MISSOURI VALLEY / ST. LOUIS	3.51
29	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.51
29	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2017	3.51
29	EASTERN / NEW JERSEY REGION / North Jersey Day	3.51
29	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2017	3.51

The women are not as high as the men, but are deeper with a full 39 teams comprising the top-30 and all fitting in the range of 3.51-3.61 and a bunch of sections represented at the top.

It looks like there is going to be some good competition this year!