Greensburg Central Catholic returns to top of Class A Trib Cup standings

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 7:06 PM

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A year after their three-year run of winning the Class A Trib Cup ended, Greensburg Central Catholic is back on top.

With another win, the Centurions are alone in third place overall after winning the school’s 10th Sports Cup, trailing only North Allegheny (21) and Sewickley Academy (13).

“It means so much,” Greensburg Central Catholic athletic director Dan Mahoney said. “Catholic high schools are struggling with enrollment in recent years, and this is great PR for younger kids to come and follow in the footsteps of past students who have done so well.

“We have great parents and kids that work hard in the classroom and on the fields and courts. It makes for a great atmosphere that feeds into all the sports.”

The Trib Cup is a yearlong competition in 25 team sports to determine the top WPIAL sports program in each classification. It awards points for section or conference championships, district and state playoff berths and district and state championships and runners-up.

Greensburg Central Catholic earned points in 11 sports to finish 75 points ahead of runner-up Serra Catholic.

A big part of the GCC Cup run was once again fueled by the Centurions girls golf team. This fall, they cruised to a ninth straight WPIAL Class 2A team golf championship, winning in the finals by 24 strokes over both Central Valley and Mt. Pleasant.

“A lot of credit goes to the Zambruno family,” Mahoney said. “Mrs. Zambruno was very energetic and helped start this program. Her twin daughters (Meghan and Ella) did so well and the program had so much success. Now that has spun to where girls want to be a part of the program and it has rolled since.”

The golf team wasn’t the only Centurions squad to bring home gold. The Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball team defeated Serra Catholic in the Class 2A title game, 61-42, to win the program’s first basketball crown since 2007.

“We had great leadership with the three seniors,” Mahoney said. “Erica Gribble is outstanding and that sophomore class she is part of is very tight. Chemistry was a big thing and coach (Chris) Skatell did a great job. We are looking forward to greater things down the road.”

Those two championships, plus big years by the GCC boys basketball and boys track teams, allowed the school to return to first place after finishing in second place behind Union a year ago.

Rounding out the Top 5 were Bishop Canevin in third place place, Union in fourth and Sewickley Academy in fifth.

Final 2023-24 Trib Cup standings

Class A

1. Greensburg Central Catholic – 345

2. Serra Catholic – 270

3. Bishop Canevin – 225

4. Union – 205

5. Sewickley Academy – 195

6. Eden Christian Academy – 170

7. Burgettstown –155

8. Riverview – 150

9. Winchester Thurston – 145

10. Imani Christian – 140

11. Northgate – 115

12. Carmichaels – 100

12. South Side – 100

14. Aquinas Academy – 95

15. California – 80

15. Frazier – 80

15. Monessen – 80

18. St. Joseph’s – 75

18. West Greene – 75

20. Carlynton – 70

20. Jeannette – 70

22. Rochester –65

23. Springdale – 60

24. Clairton – 55

25. Neighborhood Academy – 45

26. Avella – 40

26. Leechburg – 40

26. Western Beaver – 40

29. Beaver County Christian – 30

29. Ellis School – 30

29. Jefferson-Morgan – 30

29. Trinity Christian – 30

33. Cornell – 10

33. Geibel Catholic – 10

33. Hillel Academy – 10

33. Nazareth Prep – 10

33. Summit Academy – 10

38. Propel Andrew Street – 0

38. Propel Braddock – 0

38. Propel Montour – 0

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