That's where the spin began, comparing R3PLE to ECNL as if it is relative to where CESA'96 will play next year. For CESA'96 next year it's ECNL or State Challenge League, they wouldn't qualify for R3PLE as #4 from SC.
Even if it was relative, the R3PLE vs. ECNL spin continued with how you were using CESA results to compare the two leagues. You left out the u-18 results where CESA'93 was 2w/3d/4l in R3PLE (weakest CESA result) and 9w/1d/5l in ECNL (strongest CESA result). Stronger league based on results? Further, in u-16 next year yes CESA '96 will play what you are calling the "A" teams from CASL and CSA next year, but you left out the results from this Fall where they played both "A" and "B" teams from those clubs. According to posted results CESA'96 tied both teams from CASL. No apparent difference in strength based on results there. Against CSA they lost 2-0 to the "A" team in ECNL, but they lost 4-0 to the "B" team in R3PLE. It seems the R3PLE competition from CASL/CSA was a touch stronger with the "B" teams in R3PLE than with the "A" teams in ECNL, if you are using results to compare leagues.
Maybe CSA needs to re-evaluate which team is "A" and which is "B", but they'll eventually become known as the USYSA team and the ECNL team leaving speculation to determine which is the stronger. I guess ECNL as "more games against higher level" is a matter of individual club perspective and spin for its members. The same weekend next year CSA and CASL u-16 "A" teams are playing the #4 team from SC in ECNL the CSA and CASL "B" teams could be playing the #1 and #2 teams from SC in R3PLE. Would be interesting to hear CSA/CASL's ECNL vs. R3PLE spin to members that weekend.
You had no disagreement from me that CESA'96 competing in ECNL next year is their best opportunity to continue playing more games against higher level competition, although they don't seem to be lacking competition in-state. I still think you will find similar levels of competition capable of providing all the competition any SC team including CESA's can handle through either organization, but to get to the higher levels of USYSA the individual team needs to prove itself first. As for this year's u-15 GSA and Concorde you are correct that they will play u-16 ECNL next year, but you may be a little off on where the other teams from GA will be playing. This Fall u-15 teams from NASA and Norcross were already playing up in R3PL rather than R3PLE. GA, NC and FL also already had teams invited up and playing R3PL this year rather than R3PLE in the other age groups as well.
If CESA is moving its ECNL rosters out of USYSA league play I think it's great. It creates an opportunity for another SC team in each age group to pick up higher level play in R3PLE (or higher), improving the general pool of experience in SC. And who knows, in a couple of years CESA may have teams back in the thick of R3PLE and the hunt for state and regional championships.
BTW, congratulations to both the SCUMP u-15 as well as the CESA u-17 teams for winning R3PLE as well as the state championships. With 2 State/R3PLE champions headed to Regionals next summer, maybe we'll finally see an SC girls' team break the long drought on getting past the quarters.
