Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

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.

Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

Conference	Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
Founded	1907
Commissioner	Scott Seltzer, Executive Director[1]
Region	Western Pennsylvania
Official website	wpial.org

History

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

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:

• Slippery Rock Area School District and Moniteau School District in Butler County participate in District 10 and District 9 respectively.
• Wilmington Area School District in Lawrence and Mercer counties participates in District 10.
• Since 2012, four high schools from Pittsburgh Public Schools in Allegheny County, which makes up PIAA District 8, compete in the WPIAL for baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, golf, and cross country.
• Indiana Area School District, despite being located in Indiana County, which is part of District 6, competes in the WPIAL.

Sports

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

• 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

Class AAAAAA (6A):

• 2025: Upper St. Clair
• 2024: Upper St. Clair
• 2023: Central Catholic
• 2022: Fox Chapel
• 2021: Upper St Clair
• 2020: Butler
• 2019: Mt. Lebanon
• 2018: Penn Hills
• 2017: Pine Richland

Class AAAAA (5A):

• 2025: Chartiers Valley
• 2024: Moon
• 2023: Penn Hills
• 2022: Laurel Highlands
• 2021: New Castle
• 2020: Laurel Highlands
• 2019: Mars
• 2018: Mars
• 2017: Moon

Class AAAA (4A):

• 2025: Belle Vernon
• 2024: Lincoln Park
• 2023: Lincoln Park
• 2022: Quaker Valley
• 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):

• 2025: South Allegheny
• 2024: Deer Lakes
• 2023: Deer Lakes
• 2022: Shady Side Academy
• 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):

• 2025: Jeannette
• 2024: Aliquippa
• 2023: Aliquippa
• 2022: OLSH
• 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):

• 2025: The Neighborhood Academy
• 2024: Imani Christian Academy
• 2023: Imani Christian Academy
• 2022: Bishop Canevin
• 2021: Bishop Canevin
• 2020: Vincentian Academy
• 2019: Nazareth Prep
• 2018: Vincentian Academy
• 2017: Monessen
• 2016: North Catholic
• 2015: Monessen
• 2014: Lincoln Park
• 2013: Vincentian Academy
• 2012: Lincoln Park
• 2011: Vincentian Academy
• 2010: Sewickley Academy
• 2009: Sewickley Academy
• 2008: Serra Catholic
• 2007: Leechburg
• 2006: Clairton
• 2005: Duquesne
• 2004: Sewickley Academy
• 2003: Union Township
• 2002: Monessen
• 2001: Monessen
• 2000: Cornell

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

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

• Chuck Heberling, long-time executive director of WPIAL