Greensburg, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) opened the 2026 winter championship season on Saturday with the 14th Annual WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championships at Hempfield Area High School. Hempfield Area and Ambridge claimed the league’s overall titles, with the Spartans winning Class 3A and the Bridgers repeating as Class 2A champions.

Hempfield Area earned its Class 3A championship with a score of 92.0, finishing atop a 21-team field. Ambridge captured the Class 2A title for the second consecutive season, scoring 80.3 to lead a 12-team classification.

In addition to its overall champions, the WPIAL also awarded plaques to winners in five divisions: Class 3A Large Varsity, Class 3A Small Varsity, Class 2A Large Varsity, Class 2A Small Varsity, and Co-Ed Varsity.

Hempfield Area’s championship came from the Class 3A Large Varsity division, where the Spartans also secured the division title. Norwin placed third overall and finished as the Large Varsity runner-up, while Baldwin, North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Fox Chapel, and Armstrong rounded out the Large Varsity competitors.

Canon-McMillan claimed the Class 3A Small Varsity division titlefor the first time in school history and finished second overall in the classification. South Fayette followed closely in fourth overall, while Penn-Trafford, Thomas Jefferson, Mars, Plum, Mt. Lebanon, Pine-Richland, Shaler, Franklin Regional, Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, and Penn Hills also competed in the Small Varsity group.

In Class 2A, Ambridge earned its overall championship from the Small Varsity division. Elizabeth Forward, Hampton, North Catholic, Laurel, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Burrell, Belle Vernon, Highlands, and Serra joined the Bridgers in the division.
Neshannock captured the Class 2A Large Varsity division title and finished as the overall runner-up, while Central Valley placed third overall.

Butler continued its dominance in the Co-Ed Varsity division, earning its ninth consecutive Co-Ed title and finishing eighth overall in Class 3A.

A total of  17 schools qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Competitive Spirit Championships. Class 3A produced 12 qualifiers: Baldwin, Butler, Hempfield Area, Mars, North Allegheny, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Plum, Seneca Valley, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, and Canon-McMillan. Class 2A qualifiers included Ambridge, Central Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Hampton, and Neshannock.