South Carolina’s Boys HS league starts up this weekend with a full slate of games.

Among the notable matchups, Chapin takes on defending state champion South Greenville. South Greenville was an experienced squad last season, and remains so this year, although several seniors have graduated. Chapin, as always, is a contender.

Wando, runner-up in 2015, will face Aiken, and Greenville HS plays Irmo.

Wando Coach Tod Shepherd said his team is talented and experienced. Outside center Jon Cummins scored 19 tries in ten games last year and runs a sub 4.5 40-yard dash. There senior is a big part of Wando’s offense. His younger brother, Josh, will step in at inside center as the only back not returning from last season. Flyhalf and captain Kane Waterbury directs an effective offense. Wando did graduate their 2015 back row, and will need returners such as lock Joseph Griffin and hooker Jake Morris to step up.

Greenville HS and South Greenville were formed last year when Greenville HS decided to go single-school. The rest of the old Greenville club went with coach Phil Weston to South Greenville, and some of the longtime players from Greenville HS also stayed with South Greenville. That made for an experienced team and a championship team. But several of the South Greenville players have graduated, and while they retain the likes of Jackson Clark, they need to reload.

Greenville HS needed to, as well, but last year’s team was mostly sophomores. As many as 13 starters are back as juniors. Head Coach Lawson Ballard will look to huge prop/No. 8 Avery Crouch and smart scrumhalf Connelly Mitchell to get them going. Mitchell was the team’s flyhalf last year, but has switched to scrumhalf.

“His game knowledge has really developed,” said Ballard.

Ballard will run the backs and new forwards coach Darius Samii has done wonders with the forwards. Greenville HS has more players now and their depth is impressive.

But it all starts now, with a league that is as competitive as it’s been in a while.