ESPNrise.com has launched, joining the fray of high school sports sites battling for attention. Unlike many local high school sports efforts, ESPNrise.com takes a broader approach, focusing on states and regions instead of drilling down on individual high schools and all the rich data that comes with it. But it comes with all the usual community functionality, from discussion to user blogs, and soon you’ll be able to upload video, too.
Meanwhile, many local high school sports efforts are entering their second full football season: HSGameTime.com (Belo), HighSchoolPlaybook.com (Hearst), FoxHiLites (Fox) and High School Football (Cox). Gannett is entering its first full season with HighSchoolSports.net, and it’s been a year and half since CBS bought MaxPreps. Certainly a very crowded, competitive space.