Greensburg, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) opened the 2024-25 winter championship season this past Saturday with the WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championships at Hempfield Area High School. For the first time in five years, all overall champions were first-time winners as South Fayette captured Class 3A and Ambridge took home Class 2A.
 
South Fayette previously won the Small Varsity division in 2014 at Class 2A and 2021 at Class 3A before this year’s triumph. Ambridge was the Class 1A Medium Varsity champion in 2020. The Lions and Bridgers are the 16th and 17th different WPIAL schools to win their classification’s overall title since the league started crowning champions in the sport in 2013.
 
In addition to its overall champions, the WPIAL also bestowed plaques to winning schools in five different divisions – Class 3A Large Varsity, Class 3A Small Varsity, Class 2A Large Varsity, Class 2A Small Varsity, and Co-Ed Varsity.
 
In Class 3A Large Varsity, North Allegheny won its first division title since 2016 and its fourth overall, topping reigning champion Hempfield Area. The Tigers and Spartans made up an eight-team field in the Class 3A Large Varsity division, with Baldwin, Seneca Valley, Norwin, Franklin Regional, Mt. Lebanon, and Fox Chapel also competing.
 
South Fayette’s overall championship was part of the Class 3A Small Varsity division, which saw Penn-Trafford as its runner-up and fourth overall in the classification. The Small Varsity group had nine teams take the floor, with Thomas Jefferson, Plum, Mars, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, West Allegheny, and Penn Hills also participating.
 
Neshannock was victorious in the Class 2A Large Varsity division for the fourth time in five seasons, and placed third overall. The Lancers were joined in the group with Belle Vernon and Burrell.
 
Ambridge’s overall title was from the Class 2A Small Varsity division, with overall runner-up Central Valley coming in behind the Bridgers. Four other teams competed in the division – Hampton, Elizabeth Forward, North Catholic, and Ringgold.
 
Butler won its eighth consecutive Co-Ed Varsity title and finished 11th overall at Class 3A.
 
A total of 17 schools earned qualification to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Competitive Spirit Championships with their performances. In Class 3A, there were 12 qualifying schools: Baldwin, Butler, Franklin Regional, Hempfield Area, Mars, North Allegheny, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Plum, Seneca Valley, South Fayette, and Thomas Jefferson. Class 2A produced five qualifiers: Ambridge, Central Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Hampton, and Neshannock.
 
The PIAA Competitive Spirit Championships will be held on Jan. 30-31 at Santander Arena in Reading.
 
PIAA PREVIEW
Championship Dates & Location: Jan. 30-31 at Santander Arena (Reading, Pa.)
Total Champions from WPIAL: 13
- Previous Champions: Butler (4), Bethel Park (2), Hempfield Area (2), Neshannock (2), South Fayette (2), Shaler (1)
Last Class 3A Large Varsity Champion: Hempfield Area (2023)
Last Class 3A Small Varsity Champion: South Fayette (2021)
Last Class 2A Large Varsity Champion: Neshannock (2023)
Last Co-Ed Varsity Champion: Butler (2023)
 
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