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Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

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Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League
ConferencePennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
Founded1907
CommissionerScott Seltzer, Executive Director[1]
RegionWestern Pennsylvania
Official websitewpial.org

The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL, pronounced /ˈwɪpiəl/) is an interscholastic athletic association in Western Pennsylvania. It is District 7 of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

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The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) was founded in 1907 by a group of educators from four public and private Pittsburgh schools who sought increased regulation and governance of student athletic eligibility and interscholastic athletic competition. The founding schools in the league included Shady Side Academy, Allegheny Prep, Pittsburgh Fifth Avenue High School, and Pittsburgh Central High School. William R. Crabbe of Shady Side Academy acted as a central force in the formation of the League and served as its first president.[2]

At its inception the league was poorly received by the public and the press, and found it difficult to enforce its rules. However, the league slowly spread throughout the Pittsburgh area. The league controlled the growth to small numbers that they could handle. As such, the only organization absorbed as a whole was the old Allegheny Valley League. Following the local success of WPIAL, the idea was brought to the whole state in 1914 when the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) was founded. Within PIAA, WPIAL has been designated as District 7, and since 1982, WPIAL/District 7. Although officially known as District 7, the WPIAL is grandfathered to keep the older name due to it predating the PIAA.[3]

Originally numbering three high schools, WPIAL had a high of 156 participating school as late as the 1981–82 school year. As of October 2012, there are 137 high schools and 148 junior high school members in the WPIAL.[3]

Member schools

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The league is responsible for administering the interscholastic athletic participation/competition of public school districts and private schools located in Allegheny (except Pittsburgh Public Schools), Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania.

Exceptions as of the 2022-23 school year include:

Sports

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Note: While some sports are dominated by one sex, there is no rule that mandates sex segregation in PIAA sports, even if a school has teams for each sex.

Fall: Football, Golf, Tennis (girls), Cross Country, Volleyball (girls), Field Hockey, Soccer

Winter: Rifle, Gymnastics, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Basketball

Spring: Lacrosse (girls), Tennis (boys), Softball, Baseball, Volleyball (boys), Track & Field

Football champions, 2016–present

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  • 2024
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Central Catholic
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Pine-Richland
    • Class AAAA (4A): Thomas Jefferson
    • Class AAA (3A): Avonworth
    • Class AA (2A): South Park
    • Class A (1A): Fort Cherry
  • 2023
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): North Allegheny
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Peters Township
    • Class AAAA (4A): Aliquippa
    • Class AAA (3A): Belle Vernon
    • Class AA (2A): Beaver Falls
    • Class A (1A): Fort Cherry
  • 2022
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): North Allegheny
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Pine-Richland
    • Class AAAA (4A): Aliquippa
    • Class AAA (3A): Belle Vernon
    • Class AA (2A): Steel Valley
    • Class A (1A): Union
  • 2021
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Mount Lebanon
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Penn-Trafford
    • Class AAAA (4A): Aliquippa
    • Class AAA (3A): Central Valley
    • Class AA (2A): Serra Catholic
    • Class A (1A): Bishop Canevin
  • 2020
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Central Catholic
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Pine-Richland
    • Class AAAA (4A): Thomas Jefferson
    • Class AAA (3A): Central Valley
    • Class AA (2A): Beaver Falls
    • Class A (1A): Jeannette
  • 2019
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Central Catholic
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Gateway
    • Class AAAA (4A): Thomas Jefferson
    • Class AAA (3A): Central Valley
    • Class AA (2A): Avonworth
    • Class A (1A): Clairton
  • 2018
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Pine-Richland
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Penn Hills
    • Class AAAA (4A): South Fayette
    • Class AAA (3A): Aliquippa
    • Class AA (2A): Steel Valley
    • Class A (1A): Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH)
  • 2017
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Pine-Richland
    • Class AAAAA (5A): Gateway
    • Class AAAA (4A): Thomas Jefferson
    • Class AAA (3A): Quaker Valley
    • Class AA (2A): Trinity
    • Class A (1A): Jeannette
  • 2016
    • Class AAAAAA (6A): Central Catholic
    • Class AAAAA (5A): West Allegheny
    • Class AAAA (4A): Thomas Jefferson
    • Class AAA (3A): Beaver Falls
    • Class AA (2A): Steel Valley
    • Class A (1A): Clairton

Boys' basketball champions, 2000–present

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Class AAAAAA (6A):

  • 2022: New Castle
  • 2021: Upper St Clair
  • 2020: Butler
  • 2019: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2018: Penn Hills
  • 2017: Pine Richland


Class AAAAA (5A):

  • 2021: New Castle
  • 2020: Laurel Highlands
  • 2019: Mars
  • 2018: Mars
  • 2017: Moon

Class AAAA (4A):

  • 2021: Lincoln Park
  • 2020: Highlands
  • 2019: New Castle
  • 2018: New Castle
  • 2017: New Castle
  • 2016: Pine-Richland
  • 2015: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2014: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2013: New Castle
  • 2012: Gateway
  • 2011: Gateway
  • 2010: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2009: Peters Township
  • 2008: Pittsburgh Central Catholic
  • 2007: Bethel Park
  • 2006: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2005: Upper St. Clair
  • 2004: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2003: Penn Hills
  • 2002: Uniontown
  • 2001: Chartiers Valley
  • 2000: Penn Hills

Class AAA (3A):

  • 2021: Ellwood City
  • 2020: North Catholic
  • 2019: Lincoln Park
  • 2018: Lincoln Park
  • 2017: North Catholic
  • 2016: Beaver Falls
  • 2015: Indiana
  • 2014: Central Valley
  • 2013: Montour
  • 2012: New Castle
  • 2011: Montour
  • 2010: Chartiers Valley
  • 2009: Hampton Township
  • 2008: Blackhawk
  • 2007: West Allegheny
  • 2006: Moon
  • 2005: Moon
  • 2004: Moon
  • 2003: Blackhawk
  • 2002: Steel Valley
  • 2001: Brownsville
  • 2000: Blackhawk

Class AA (2A):

  • 2021 OLSH
  • 2020 OLSH
  • 2019 OLSH
  • 2018 Sewickley Academy
  • 2017: Sewickley Academy
  • 2016: Aliquippa
  • 2015: Aliquippa
  • 2014: Seton-LaSalle
  • 2013: Beaver Falls
  • 2012: Beaver Falls
  • 2011: Monessen
  • 2010: North Catholic
  • 2009: North Catholic
  • 2008: Jeannette
  • 2007: Aliquippa
  • 2006: Aliquippa
  • 2005: Beaver Falls
  • 2004: Aliquippa
  • 2003: Aliquippa
  • 2002: Sto-Rox
  • 2001: Sto-Rox
  • 2000: Aliquippa

Class A (1A):


Girls' basketball championship games, 2001 - present[4]

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Year Class Winner Defeated Score Location
2024 6A Norwin North Allegheny 56 - 41 Petersen Events Center
5A South Fayette Armstrong 70 - 63
4A North Catholic Blackhawk 40 - 37
3A Shady Side Academy Avonworth 52 - 45
2A Greensburg Central Catholic Serra Catholic 62 - 41
1A Union Area St. Joseph 50 - 43
2023 6A North Allegheny Upper St. Clair 71 - 45 Petersen Events Center
5A South Fayette Oakland Catholic 64 - 49
4A North Catholic Blackhawk 51 - 35
3A Avonworth Laurel 48 - 40
2A Shenango Freedom Area 44 - 34
1A Union Area Aquinas Academy 52 - 35
2022 6A Mt. Lebanon Upper St. Clair 55 - 44 Petersen Events Center
5A South Fayette Chartiers Valley 57 - 48
4A Blackhawk Knoch 55 - 35
3A North Catholic Freedom Area 48 - 43
2A Neshannock OLSH 55 - 31
1A Bishop Canevin Aquinas Academy 59 - 40
2021 6A North Allegheny Upper St. Clair 70 - 36 Peters Twp. High School
5A Chartiers Valley Trinity 62 - 40
4A Beaver Area Quaker Valley 45 - 29
3A Mohawk North Catholic 54 - 48 North Allegheny High School
2A Neshannock Serra Catholic 54 - 44
1A Rochester West Greene 71 - 41 Peters Twp. High School
2020 6A North Allegheny Bethel Park 54 - 40 Petersen Events Center
5A Chartiers Valley Trinity 58 - 40
4A North Catholic Southmoreland 61 - 44
3A Mohawk Beaver Area 44 - 26
2A Bishop Canevin Laurel 50 - 41
1A Rochester West Greene 59 - 43
2019 6A Peters Township North Allegheny 43 - 40 Petersen Events Center
5A Chartiers Valley Thomas Jefferson 50 - 44
4A North Catholic Central Valley 75 - 57
3A Neshannock Shady Side Academy 47 - 42
2A OLSH Brentwood 50 - 48
1A Rochester West Greene 62 - 56
2018 6A North Allegheny Peters Township 79 - 48 Petersen Events Center
5A Gateway Oakland Catholic 29 - 27
4A North Catholic Beaver Area 50 - 49
3A Bishop Canevin East Allegheny 56 - 52
2A Vincentian Academy Chartiers-Houston 62 - 47
1A Winchester Thurston West Greene 76 - 57
2017 6A North Allegheny Bethel Park 50 - 39 Petersen Events Center
5A Chartiers Valley Oakland Catholic 52 - 36
4A North Catholic Blackhawk 65 - 36
3A Bishop Canevin Neshannock 65 - 36
2A Charties-Houston Vincentian Academy 47 - 35
1A Winchester Thurston Cornell 52 - 41
2016 4A Norwin North Allegheny 63 - 57 Petersen Events Center
3A South Fayette Trinity 59 - 52
2A Bishop Canevin Greensburg C.C. 53 - 33
1A Vincentian Academy North Catholic 68 - 54
2015 4A Norwin Penn Hills 54 - 34 Petersen Events Center
3A Blackhawk South Fayette 65 - 54
2A Seton LaSalle Bishop Canevin 51 - 35
1A Vincentian Academy North Catholic 74 - 35
2014 4A Penn-Trafford Hempfield 56 - 45 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A Blackhawk South Park 62 - 55
2A Seton LaSalle Burrell 55 - 34
1A Vincentian Academy Serra Catholic 66 - 46
2013 4A Bethel Park Chartiers Valley 48 - 34 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A South Park Elizabeth Forward 50 - 32
2A Bishop Canevin Seton LaSalle 56 - 47
1A Vincentian Academy Serra Catholic 53 - 46
2012 4A Mt. Lebanon Oakland Catholic 58 - 49 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A Hopewell South Park 50 - 34
2A Seton LaSalle Bishop Canevin 73 - 60
1A Vincentian Academy North Catholic 54 - 50
2011 4A Shaler Mt. Lebanon 41 - 35 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A Blackhawk Ambridge 63 - 49
2A Seton LaSalle Jeanette 74 - 29
1A North Catholic Fort Cherry 49 - 43
2010 4A Mt. Lebanon Baldwin 59 - 43 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A New Castle Hopewell 66 - 61
2A Jeannette Seton LaSalle 39 - 36
1A Vincentian Academy North Catholic 57 - 31
2009 4A Mt. Lebanon Fox Chapel 50 - 24 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A New Castle West Mifflin 54 - 47
2A Sto-Rox Seton LaSalle 51 - 34
1A North Catholic Mt. Alvernia 48 - 44
2008 4A Upper St. Clair Peters Township 69 - 40 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A Hampton West Mifflin 45 - 41
2A South Park OLSH 47 - 37
1A Mt. Alvernia Monessen 74 - 68
2007 4A New Castle Oakland Catholic 46 - 44 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A Hopewell Montour 44 - 26
2A Greensburg C.C. Ford City 47 - 37
1A North Catholic Vincentian Academy 61 - 35
2006 4A Oakland Catholic Mt Lebanon 49 - 36 Petersen Events Center
3A Hopewell Moon Area 43 - 26
2A Greensburg C.C. OLSH 46 - 26
1A Monessen Serra Catholic 40 - 34
2005 4A Oakland Catholic Bethel Park 58 - 49 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A Moon Mountour 33 - 29
2A Avonworth Greensburg C.C. 58 - 52
1A Serra Catholic Clairton 56 - 31
2004 4A New Castle Oakland Catholic 36 - 32 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A North Catholic Mars 68 - 40
2A Carlynton Freeport 42 - 20
1A Monessen Serra Catholic 63 - 47
2003 4A Upper St. Clair Oakland Catholic 55 - 45 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A North Catholic Moon Area 51 - 42
2A Greensburg C.C. Carlynton 49 - 40
1A Serra Catholic Monessen 68 - 54
2002 4A Oakland Catholic Upper St. Clair 63 - 50 Charles L. Sewall Center
3A Moon North Catholic 54 - 44
2A Vincentian Academy Greensburg C.C. 55 - 48
1A Clairton Mt. Alvernia 52 - 49
2001 4A Oakland Catholic Ambridge 66 - 48 A. J. Palumbo Center
3A West Mifflin Blackhawk 63 - 53
2A Vincentian Academy Washington 62 - 55
1A Clairton Monessen 64 - 50

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Erhard, Ethan (November 17, 2023). "Scott Seltzer plans to stay as WPIAL Executive Director". The Yellow Jacket. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Silver, Jonathan L. (2004). Approaching the Pinnacle of Privilege: The History of Shady Side Academy, 1883–Present (Ph.D.). Carnegie Mellon University. p. 132.
  3. ^ a b "History of the WPAIL". WPAIL. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "WPIAL Girls' Basketball Champions". wpial.org. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
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