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Because in the U15 group CESA Premier and DSC were the 1-2 finishers in the state cup.

Only if you finish in the top two can you play Premier, Occasionally a 3rd representative will be allowed depending on the representation from individual states

For R3PL East - you have NC, GA, SC, FL and eastern Tn.

Although Bridge did not exist before this year, The team in The U17 div was made up of the players that finished in the top two in the state.

Pretty.... your post needs a bit more explanation.

Challenge teams in CESA terminology means B team in the age group. Therefore

CESA Premier = A (which = Bridge Gold = CSC Navy)
CESA Challenge = B (which = Bridge Red = CSC White)
CESA Classic I = C
CESA Classic II = D

kick... for a complete list of the teams in the SC challenge league for this season slick ->SCSCL teams 2005 Fall

Sorry about that. I thought he was asking about club's "b" or "challenge" teams. So, I didn't see the need to elaborate any further. However, I did fail to mention that in the younger age groups Bridge has some very good "challenge" teams. I don't know about CESA or any other club because I haven't done the research. But, again, I have seen several of Bridge "b" teams play.

And basically it is a numbers game... CESA enjoys high turn out in their system and are able to field multiple teams for an age group. And to their credit they have always stayed with the Premier and challenge team labels in the challenge league and the classic label in the classic league.

Bridge on the other hand has stated from the beginning (see bear or bridge posts in the past) that they will only field Challenge level teams (and I believe the max was 2) per age group. So if the numbers are there they would field a team (presumably the talent is there as well)

Many other clubs with multiple teams in an age group usually have 1 representative in Classic and one in Challenge.

Also in the younger ages, it is common practice (I do not know why) that a team plays classic in the fall and Challenge in the spring

Each state has a number of clubs that have teams that play in a league where once the state champion is crowned are eligible to play in the regional cup and national cup.

In SC only the Challenge league champion can play in the subsequent tourneys. No long ago a league was created for the number 1s and 2s of each state to create a highly competitive environment. this is caleed the R3PL which is divided geographically into east, south, north, west.

This the clif notes version, there are other national and regional series for classic cup winners, etc.. but the bottom line is the highest level are the ones you have been reading in these forums
I might be wrong but examples
SC it is the Challenge league
Ga is Classic 1
NC it is the premier league (no relation to R3PL)

I believe the top NC soccer league is called the Classic League, which is then broken down into:
1) Premier Division (statewide)
2) First Division (statewide)
3) Second Division (East and West conferences)

Below that is the Challenge League; not sure how that is broken down.

For NC standings, see:

http://www.ncsoccer.org/Classic/records.shtml

I think it's way too early to judge Bridge. I also think that any expectation that Bridge would be highly competitive in every gender and age bracket immediately ignores a great deal of history.

From 1998 (the earliest records I can find) to spring 2004 (the last state challenge cup before CESA was created), there were 208 South Carolina challenge cup finalists. Teams from clubs that eventually merged into CESA filled 103 of these slots. Teams from clubs that eventually agreed to participate in Bridge (SSC and JIYSC) filled 12 of these slots. Even if Bridge had been able to get MPSC and CUSC/CGSA to participate, then the count would have gone to 42 (23 MPSC, 7 CUSC/CGSA).

I will make this my final(yeah right!)statement concerning my 'Dream' for a club merger of midlands teams.....and what I think what would be in the best interest of SC club soccer and benefit the many soccer players in SC at all various levels. The 'Dream' is to have 3 major competitive clubs geographically located in the state -
Upstate - CESA/Spartanburg/Rock Hill area
Midlands - NECSA/CSC/LCSC/Aiken area
Lowcountry - Bridge/MPSC/CUSC/Coastal area
Can you imagine the wars the big 3 would have? Beating each other up and creating a more competitive soccer environment in SC. With this geographical arrangement, all players in those areas would travel only at most 90 min. to the central club. You could have the classic/rec level clubs competing at their own level in a separate league; or have the classic level teams remain under the auspices of the major clubs as is now the case.
Its just a 'Dream' ..............
OK, Shearer, I am ready for your drunken barbs and about my 'Dream.'