12 chosen to all-state teams

Horry and Georgetown counties are represented by 12 players on the 2008 all-state soccer teams chosen by the S.C. High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Waccamaw, which saw both its boys and girls team advance to the Class AA Lower State finals, are represented by a total of seven players. The boys all-state picks are forwards Justin Blomdahl and Miles Clemons, midfielder Rhyne Garrity and defender Michael Gilligan. The girls picks are forwards Callie Dennis and Taylor Player and midfielder Shelby Averett.

Socastee, the Region VI-AAA boys champion, had three representatives, and, not surprisingly, it was the team's deadly triumvirate of scorers: forwards Orlando Clarke and Justin Watson and midfielder Bobby Belair.

Myrtle Beach, Region VI's girls champion and boys runner up, had the other two picks. Defender Gradey Grumman was chosen from the boys team, and defender Michelle DiBartolo represents the girls team.

Blomdahl, Clarke, Grumman and DiBartolo are the only seniors from the area to make all-state, so the quality of soccer along the Grand Strand shouldn't change too much in the coming years. The rest of the area selections are juniors with the exception of Player, who is just a sophomore.

Area all-state selections
Class AA boys
Justin Blomdahl SR F Waccamaw
Miles Clemons JR F Waccamaw
Rhyne Garrity JR M Waccamaw
Michael Gilligan JR D Waccamaw
Class AAA boys
Bobby Belair JR M Socastee
Orlando Clarke SR F Socastee
Gradey Grumman SR D Myrtle Beach
Justin Watson JR F Socastee
Class AA girls
Shelby Averett JR M Waccamaw
Callie Dennis JR F Waccamaw
Taylor Player SO F Waccamaw
Class AAA girls
Michelle DiBartolo SR D Myrtle Beach

To see the entire list of all-state teams, download this PDF file: Download 2008_schssca_allstateteams.pdf