As just a fan...

The straight meritocratic approach is:

Harding, Fristoe, and Macleod

MacLeod is barely hanging on. Bednar and B Smith are knocking on the door. Sims is Ace relief.

When it comes Cerantola, even Dakota Hudson needed two full years in the program before he became an Ace. Even Ethan small had two years, a Freshman and TJ year. Some midweek, relief, and Cape Cod...EC is dominant next year.