Here is the preseason Prep Writers Poll. The poll is compiled by The State newspaper's Prep Sports Editor Steve Wiseman. The poll has expanded its voting members this year to include several non-McClatchy newspapers in the state including Spartanburg, Greenville and Aiken as well as added a voter from the Charlotte Observer who covers a lot of S.C. teams.
Here are the voters in the poll:
Steve Wiseman (The State), Barry Byers (Rock Hill Herald), Justin Jarrett (Beaufort Gazette/Hilton Head Island-Packet), Bob Castello (Greenville News), Langston Wertz (Charlotte Observer), Shane Bowen (Myrtle Beach The Sun News), Kevin Melton (Spartanburg Herald-Journal), Kenton Makin (Aiken Standard)
With only a few teams invovled in week 0 games, the next poll will be out Aug. 31 and every Monday afterwards for the rest of the season.
Only two area teams made the top 10. Myrtle Beach was ranked No. 2 in Class AAA, which is ahead of region foe Lake City. Chester, who the Seahawks beat in the AAA state championship game last season, was the No. 1 team in AAA, but they weren't unanimous. First-place votes weren't given, so I don't know who else got first-place votes.
Carvers Bay made it into the Class A poll at No. 7. I hate to say it, but the Bears don't look like a top-10 team right now. Injuries and so much youth, even for the traditionally reloading Bears, have this year's team starting further behind the past three squads that have made it to the Class A, Division I state title game.
In reality, the initial poll is a lot of guessing. Most of the time the teams that fared well last year will be the team's at the top of the poll. Although, it's pretty easy to pick Byrnes as the top AAAA team. It was kind of surprising to see Manning so far down in Class AA.
Conway region foe Sumter was picked No. 2 in AAAA. The Tigers made it on the honorable mention list. Those two were the only teams from that region to earn a mention.
Class AAAA
1. Byrnes 80
2. Sumter 58
3. Rock Hill 56
4. Dorman 55
5. Northwestern 44
6. Gaffney 28
7. Clover 26
8. South Pointe 24
9. Goose Creek 20
10. Beaufort 18
Others receiving votes: Summerville 10, Irmo 7, Boiling Springs 4, Spartanburg 2, Conway 2, Aiken 2, Laurens 2, Berkeley 1, North Augusta 1.
Class AAA
1. Chester 76
2. Myrtle Beach 65
3. Marlboro County 57
4. Lake City 53
5. Daniel 43
6. Greer 41
7. Camden 30
8. Lugoff-Elgin 13
9. Wilson 12
10. (tie) Crestwood and Fairfield Central 10
Others receiving votes: Greenville 8, Belton-Honea Path 8, Clinton 6, J.L. Mann 5, Airport 2, Midland Valley 1.
Class AA
1. Central Pageland 65
2. Strom Thurmond 64
3. Dillon 58
4. Woodruff 56
5. Manning 47
6. Timberland 40
7. Cheraw 30
8. Silver Bluff 27
9. Abbeville 20
10. Batesburg-Leesville 16
Others receiving votes: Woodland 11, Broome 2, Chesnee 2, Southside 1, Hanahan 1.
Class A
1. Chesterfield 80
2. Calhoun County 59
3. Bamberg-Ehrhardt 49
4. Blackville-Hilda 48
5. Scott’s Branch 46
6. Allendale-Fairfax 37
7. Carvers Bay 33
8. Lake View 31
9. Williston-Elko 18
10. Lamar 16
Others receiving votes: Christ Church 8, Lewisville 6, Baptist Hill 6, Hemingway 2, Ninety Six 1.
