When your program is ranked year in and year out it doesn't have anything to do with the 1A 2A 3A or 4A. I agree 4A is always going to be stronger because of the amount of students they have to pull from.But for example: Emerald 2A has had a 5 or 6 year run of good teams and have been very competative against some 3A and 4A teams. No they couldn't beat Irmo, Riverside ,Spring valley,or Northwestern but they can compete with most other high classicfications.And Bishop England can compete with any of the classes because they bring kids in from everywhere. No matter what the Rank of the class its boils down to where all the better club players play and go to HS. That's why Irmo, Spring Valley is so strong and Riverside, southSide Christian is so strong, you are looking at the best from CUFC and CESA.
And then the other HS teams have only a few of the Elite players.There's no way 2 elite players along with 4 classic , can compete with 11 elite players.
4A Best teams:Irmo, Spring Valley, NorthWestern, Wando
3A Riverside ,Chapin, Eastside, Greenville
2A Bishop England, Emerald, Waccama,
1A SouthSide Christian, Christ Church, Acad.Magnet
These are all programs that are in the State Championship race every year.