New schools drain area football programs

Image by Flickr user adobemacImage by 20080703football.jpg High school football is no field of flowers and high school coaches worry that new schools will dilute their talent pool.

High school football programs in Berkeley and Dorchester counties will likely suffer over the coming years as students flow to newly opened schools.

Ashley Ridge and Cane Bay high schools will draw students from areas traditionally served by Summerville and Stratford high schools.

The Post and Courier does some solid reporting, here's a sample:
Stackley [athletic director and football coach at Stratford] estimates he lost 40 rising freshman and sophomore football players to Cane Bay. Most of the players would have seen little or no action at Stratford this fall because of their inexperience. But now many will be starters for the Cobras. Their absence won't be noted by the casual fan until they are juniors and seniors.

The paper then goes on to discuss how past school openings have and are affecting school athletic programs.

The new schools are shown as green dots; click a dot for the school name:

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