2A Numbers- How many does your team have out?
- Thread starter Wow71
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Oak Grove had 110. I think they are the sleeper in the CCC this year.
Agree. Best coach in the conference, huge turnout, finally have a senior class. Ledford and North Davidson with huge losses due to graduation. I think Oak Grove will contend for the CCC.
MaxPreps roster shows Thomasville with 55, but today’s newspaper says 46 at first practice. 25 on varsity and 21 jv.
As a comparison, in 1970 (with a smaller school district), Thomasville had over a thousand students. Routinely had 100-140 kids out for football.
Today, roughly 640 students and 46 football players.
Certainly, the drop in popularity of football has affected numbers in most places. And the loss of furniture jobs took its toll, though there are more jobs now than then.
All in all, the last fifty years have not been kind to the Thomasville City School system, even with the State championships in football, men’s and women’s basketball and soccer. Something needs to change. But there is way too much self interest in Davidson County, politically and financially for anything to happen.
As a comparison, in 1970 (with a smaller school district), Thomasville had over a thousand students. Routinely had 100-140 kids out for football.
Today, roughly 640 students and 46 football players.
Certainly, the drop in popularity of football has affected numbers in most places. And the loss of furniture jobs took its toll, though there are more jobs now than then.
All in all, the last fifty years have not been kind to the Thomasville City School system, even with the State championships in football, men’s and women’s basketball and soccer. Something needs to change. But there is way too much self interest in Davidson County, politically and financially for anything to happen.
Right now SWO lists 30 players on Varsity. I'm sure that number is LOW. But looks like the line will average 6'1'' and 295 lbs. Biggest RB is listed at 210 and some at around 170. Probably some still out for summer vacation with family, jobs, ect. Will see what/who shows up in first game with Jacksonville.
Football has gotten more popular, it's just kids are lazy and the parents are even lazier for not pushing their kids to do something with themselves.
Two neighborhoods within a mile of the school that attend Ledford and East with hundreds of houses n them. Both are served by city water, fire and police. Somebody needs to stand up for the kids in town and go to Raleigh and get the district fixed. THS has kids that can play in the halls. They choose other activity over sports and walk off campus at 3:15 to go do those things. Kids on the roster minus a few new ones are the core group that has played since middle school. That is what they have and coaches will get them ready.
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Should have clarified by saying that youth and high school football are attracting less players in most communities. More popular for fans, but not for young players. There are many reasons, but true none the less.
It took a local legislative bill to freeze the district lines and that’s what it would take to repeal it. There is zero appetite among the three local state legislators and even less among the county commissioners to change things. Not to mention the uproar from residents who want city services, but bought their house specifically to avoid the city system.
I feel sure there are kids in the halls who should be on the field. And I’m comfortable that the coaching staff works hard to get them out there. And that they’ll do a great job with what they have. It’s just unfortunate that a few powerful folks forty years ago managed to create an environment that makes it extremely difficult to be successful academically and athletically.
Question about ND.. I was recently there for an American legion all star softball game. Are the buildings where the stadium is the school? How old is it if it is? I know the school use to be 4A, it just seemed very small compared to other schools and I wondered how they got 4a numbers in that building .
Well put OC. I was told by a higher up county person that LHS, ND, OG, CD and ED didn’t want to be in conference with THS/Lex/Salisbury anyways and plan to be separate next time. The competition in minor sports offers them no interest or challenge. And none of those three travel well in minor sports.
NDHS opened, in I believe, around 1952. The buildings you saw are the high school and they did a good job over the years of getting 4A size numbers into that space. It is true that North Davidson and Ledford were beyond capacity and that is why Oak Grove middle and high schools were built.
Really? I'm almost positive that ALL of the current Davidson County schools in the CCC went to bat for Thomasville to get them to be in the CCC. Why would they do that if they didn't want to be in a conference with them? Also, NO WAY was Lexington going to be left out of the CCC. Salisbury, I can see it, but T-ville and Lexington I don't.
It was built to maybe get up to 3A in size, they built trailers and a building called "the pod" while I was in school to accommodate 4A numbers.
I think all of you are right.
It’s true that Thomasville’s inclusion was supported by all of the other schools. And folks in the Chair City appreciate it. But sadly, it’s also true that in most sports, Thomasville offers little competition and little in the way of a gate. From that perspective, I suspect those other schools would really rather we weren’t there. But to their credit, they stuck by us when it counted.
Thomasville is in a bad spot either way. However they do the realignment the options are play on a league with schools that have 900-1100 kids or travel in a 1A league like the YVC. I guess we will see in a year or so when the process of realignment comes out and the breakdown.
THS, Trinity, Lexington, West Davidson, East Davidson, HP Andrews and Wheatmore is a good mix. All are between 650-850 or so and close to one another. LHS, ND, CD, OG moves on to another league or 3A depending on how they realign. Salisbury and S Rowan go to the Rocky River 2A.
THS, Trinity, Lexington, West Davidson, East Davidson, HP Andrews and Wheatmore is a good mix. All are between 650-850 or so and close to one another. LHS, ND, CD, OG moves on to another league or 3A depending on how they realign. Salisbury and S Rowan go to the Rocky River 2A.
Numbers for football are down for a number of reasons. Some are parents who either force or encourage their child to specialize and play only one sport. This is especially bad for 1-A schools. Some is lose of pride or loyalty to one’s community. Schools sponsoring more sports teams. Football is a physical sport and many students are just soft! Some schools just richer than other schools and can provide better salaries and get better coaches. Colleges now playing on Friday nights and not caring about taking revenue from the small rural high schools. Charters and parents recruiting for their travel ball teams taking athletes from the small traditional public high schools.
I haven’t laid eyes on the JV team picture, but the Varsity team picture that was taken this morning had 42 players in it.
96 is a good number! That should give them some depth for both V and JV squad.
You are correct. The school was built to initially accommodate around 700 kids. But with the addition of the new wing and gym in 1991, the official capacity became more like 1200. However, the school was already larger than that when the construction was completed. The high water mark came at around 1650 students.
Ledford was the same situation. 700 student capacity... but they were sporting around 1300 kids. Even the new wing they built couldn’t give them close to what they needed. 13 teachers at one point roaming around on a cart without a classroom. Classes taking place in the cafeteria. Not enough parking spaces for all the junior class. It was a mess. Ledford High didn’t have enough land to even consider building more.
I saw a picture of the JV and counted 39 players for them. Now, I'm no math major by any means, but 39 + 42 = 81 all day where I come from
. Now, it could be that they have 15 more players who just weren't there at the time the pictures were taken for various means. Happens every year. BTW, the JV team has some really good size on it. By the time some of those kids are juniors and seniors they are going to be stout.Not trying to start an argument but I didn't see anywhere near that many on the first day of practice. Hope I'm wrong which I usually am.
For me I think it's just a feeling that the longer Holcomb has to work, the better they are going to get. Also, not having a senior class last year likely pushed some kids up to varsity that would have been JV kids, leaving the JV to play kids that may not have played otherwise. That doesn't account for the middle school, but middle school ball is not always the best indicator of success going forward in high school.
TVille was much improved last year, and I expect them to be improved this year also.
ND and Ledford lost so much that they are total crap shoot. They may have had kids sitting the last couple of years that will show off once they get the chance this year, or they may show their lack of experience. We shall see. I don't think it is a given that these two finish on top this year.
I saw a picture of the JV and counted 39 players for them. Now, I'm no math major by any means, but 39 + 42 = 81 all day where I come from
Here is just my $0.02 on Oak Grove. Yes, they have a very good head coach as we at North Davidson know all too well. Yes, the Grizzlies will improve pretty much every year as long as he is there. Now, I know teams can make major improvements from one year to the next, it happens across the state every single year. I do expect Oak Grove to be improved this year as well, they should be because of another year under Holcombs guidance. Could they be a sleeper? Sure, why not, as others have stated ND and Ledford took massive losses to graduation, especially on both defenses.
Look at some of last years games for instance. Oak Grove was a Jekyll and Hyde team all year last year. Understandable in a first year varsity program. Two games where this was true was the games against Central Davidson and Ledford. Central Davidson was downright terrible last year and have been for several years now. Oak Grove barley won this game against the Spartans and if not for a late turnover by CD, the Spartans would have taken the victory. Central was terrible, I can't say this enough because everyone who saw them will agree with me. Now the Ledford game. Ledford eventually won the CCC and had a VERY good defense with just enough offense to keep winning games. Oak Grove went to Ledford and gave the Panthers ALL they could handle for four quarters. If not for a few things here and there the Grizzlies could have pulled off that major upset.
Then you have games like Lexington where I had some friends at that game who told me that OG acted as if they didn't even want to be on the field. They seemed disinterested. Now, I can tell you this, you won't see a Holcomb coached team act like that but once.
Is the CCC up for grabs this year? Of course it is, this league is as wide open among my top 5 teams (ND, T-ville, Salis, OG and Led) as it probably ever will. The one thing that I don't like about OG's opening two games is that I'm really surprised Holcomb didn't try to challenge his team to start the season. Maybe it is just that hard to get teams scheduled, I don't know, but Trinity and Jordan-Matthews aren't really going to test you. Maybe he just wanted to get his second varsity year started with a couple of easy wins to get his team some positive momentum heading into the conference. By the time OG and ND play each other, North Davidson will have already played 3A Parkland and 4A Davie County. Ledford opens with 4A Glenn and a strong 2A Randleman squad. Does that mean anything? Who knows with high school kids.
Look at some of last years games for instance. Oak Grove was a Jekyll and Hyde team all year last year. Understandable in a first year varsity program. Two games where this was true was the games against Central Davidson and Ledford. Central Davidson was downright terrible last year and have been for several years now. Oak Grove barley won this game against the Spartans and if not for a late turnover by CD, the Spartans would have taken the victory. Central was terrible, I can't say this enough because everyone who saw them will agree with me. Now the Ledford game. Ledford eventually won the CCC and had a VERY good defense with just enough offense to keep winning games. Oak Grove went to Ledford and gave the Panthers ALL they could handle for four quarters. If not for a few things here and there the Grizzlies could have pulled off that major upset.
Then you have games like Lexington where I had some friends at that game who told me that OG acted as if they didn't even want to be on the field. They seemed disinterested. Now, I can tell you this, you won't see a Holcomb coached team act like that but once.
Is the CCC up for grabs this year? Of course it is, this league is as wide open among my top 5 teams (ND, T-ville, Salis, OG and Led) as it probably ever will. The one thing that I don't like about OG's opening two games is that I'm really surprised Holcomb didn't try to challenge his team to start the season. Maybe it is just that hard to get teams scheduled, I don't know, but Trinity and Jordan-Matthews aren't really going to test you. Maybe he just wanted to get his second varsity year started with a couple of easy wins to get his team some positive momentum heading into the conference. By the time OG and ND play each other, North Davidson will have already played 3A Parkland and 4A Davie County. Ledford opens with 4A Glenn and a strong 2A Randleman squad. Does that mean anything? Who knows with high school kids.
I figured that was what was going on. The coach who told me about the 96 players is a good guy. Go Knights!
