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When West Deptford players step on to the gridiron at the start of September in defense of its fifth sectional title, they’ll do so in a revamped Group 2.
Gone are former playoff threats like Point Pleasant Boro, Barnegat, Bridgeton and Camden, which all bumped up to Group 3 under the NJSIAA's new five-group system.
Some familiar foes—Haddonfield, Sterling, Buena, Cinnaminson and Collingswood—remain, and a pair of former Group 1 teams—Cedar Creek, which opened only two years ago, and Maple Shade—both join the retooled Group 2.
West Deptford will be the fifth-largest school in the group, behind Willingboro, Woodstown, Pemberton, Lower Cape May and Sterling.
Sterling and Pemberton, with 727 and 726 students for group classification purposes, were just shy of the cutoff for Group 3, which has three teams—Point Boro, Bridgeton and Barnegat—all within 12 students more in enrollment.
The full list of schools in the new Group 2, with enrollment figures:
- Buena—606
- Cedar Creek—619
- Cinnaminson—565
- Collingswood—576
- Haddonfield—547
- Lower Cape May—718
- Maple Shade—536
- Middle Twp.—636
- Overbrook—539
- Pemberton—726
- Pleasantville—612
- Sterling—727
- West Deptford—627
- Willingboro—685
- Woodstown—549
And the remaining groups in South Jersey:
Group 5
- Absegami—1364
- Atlantic City—1496
- Cherokee—1792
- Cherry Hill East—1504
- Eastern—1550
- Egg Harbor—1913
- Jackson Memorial—1291
- Lenape—1449
- Millville—1424
- Rancocas Valley—1392
- Southern Regional—1496
- Toms River North—1713
- Vineland—1966
- Washington Twp.—1986
- Williamstown—1278
Group 4
- Cherry Hill West—1166
- Clearview—1193
- Hammonton—1030
- Kingsway—1034
- Lacey—1073
- Mainland—1100
- Oakcrest—976
- Seneca—971
- Shawnee—1205
- Timber Creek—1068
- Toms River East—1239
- Toms River South—1105
- Triton—1147
- Winslow Twp.—984
Group 3
- Barnegat—736
- Bridgeton—738
- Burlington Twp.—939
- Camden—816
- Central Regional—932
- Cumberland—905
- Delsea—861
- Deptford—755
- Highland—856
- Manchester Twp.—792
- Northern Burlington—884
- Ocean City—942
- Pinelands—841
- Point Pleasant Boro—733
- Woodrow Wilson—867
Group 1
- Audubon—438
- Clayton—230
- Gateway—390
- Glassboro—466
- Gloucester—465
- Haddon Hts.—487
- Lindenwold—338
- Paulsboro—293
- Penns Grove—376
- Pennsville—375
- Pitman—329
- Salem—283
- Schalick—404
- Wildwood—186
- Woodbury—353
julia donahue
6:07 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
More of a question than a comment: does anyone know the "formula" they use to make the groupings? In the "old days" they used the male population of the schools to determine grouping... and does it vary for each sport? My son's school just changed divisions in Varsity Soccer this year, though I see Triton listed still as group 4...also how is the grouping adjusted for girls sports?? Anyone???
Bryan Littel
9:19 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
For the general classifications, the NJSIAA uses the total student population in grades 10 through 12 - that applies to soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and tennis. Football's one of the sports done outside the general classification, and it's the only one with five groups.