Event: 2016 WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championship Summary

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, January 9, 2016 | 10:51 PM

Neshannock (A), Hopewell (AA) and North Allegheny (AAA) used near-flawless execution despite high levels of difficulty to claim 2016 WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championships on Saturday at Hempfield High School.

For North Allegheny, the victory is their first in the four-year history of the sport at the WPIAL and PIAA level. It also means that the Tigers qualify for the PIAA Championships for the fourth consecutive season. Butler High School finished second in AAA for the third straight season.

While winning Competitive Spirit titles is a new concept to North Allegheny, Neshannock and Hopewell are not strangers to trophies. The Lancers and Vikings both last took home Class A and AA titles in 2013, the first year of sanctioned competition.

In Class A, the win by Neshannock breaks a two-year reign by Chartiers-Houston, which did not participate in this season’s competition. Neshannock High School’s rival, Laurel, placed second in the Class A field.

In AA, Highlands saw their two-year run as Champions end as well, with the Golden Rams placing second behind Hopewell. The Vikings’ victory follows an impressive showing last year that earned them a runner-up trophy.

Though the WPIAL uses the three classifications (A, AA, AAA) based on female enrollment, the PIAA bases competition and qualification on the size of competing squad. District 7 is allowed 15 participating schools in the PIAA Championships, which will be held on January 21-22 at the GIANT Center in Hershey.

In the small classification (15 squad members or less) participants from the WPIAL will include Mars, Pine-Richland, Bethel Park, Franklin Regional and Butler.

The medium classification (16-20 squad members) qualifiers were Neshannock, Shaler and North Allegheny.

The large classification (21 or more squad members) qualifiers were Baldwin and Hopewell.

Additionally, the WPIAL receives five at-large bids, with Elizabeth Forward, Norwin, Hampton, Derry and Penn-Trafford qualifying for the PIAA Championships.

For more on this year’s event, CLICK HERE.

WPIAL RESULTS

A
Neshannock (Champion)
Laurel (Runner-Up)

AA
Hopewell (Champion)
Highlands (Runner-Up)

AAA
North Allegheny (Champion)
Butler (Runner-Up)

PIAA QUALIFIERS

Small Squad:
Butler, Franklin Regional, Bethel Park, Pine-Richland and Mars

Medium Squad:
North Allegheny, Shaler and Neshannock

Large Squad:
Hopewell and Baldwin

At-Large Qualifiers:
Elizabeth Forward, Norwin, Hampton, Derry and Penn-Trafford