Notable changes to the 2025-26 WPIAL track and field alignment

By: Bill Hartlep
Monday, September 23, 2024 | 2:15 PM

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The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall.

This summer, TribLive will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports.

Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL track and field season:

2024 WPIAL championships

Class 3A boys: Butler

Class 3A girls: North Allegheny

Class 2A boys: Quaker Valley

Class 2A girls: Quaker Valley

Notable changes

There were few changes to the WPIAL boys and girls track and field alignment for the next two-year cycle.

• In Class 3A, five teams moved up in class — Derry (Section 1), Knoch and Valley (Section 4), West Mifflin (Section 6) and Hopewell (Section 8).

• In Class 2A, North Catholic dropped down and will compete in Section 4.

In addition, Riverview moved over to Section 4 from Section 3, and Carlynton moved from Section 3 into Section 5.

New teams

• There will be four new teams competing in the WPIAL during the next two-year cycle, all competing in Class 2A.

Beaver County Christian will join Section 2, Nazareth Prep will compete in Section 3, Hillel Academy will be in Section 7 and Calvary Chapel Christian will slot into Section 8.

Past champions

• Butler has won three of the past four WPIAL Class 3A boys titles and now has 11 in its history, trailing only North Allegheny (13) among district teams.

• Others with five or more boys championships include Riverside (7), Mohawk (6), Hempfield (5) and Washington (5).

• Quaker Valley’s boys team has four WPIAL championships after winning last spring.

• North Allegheny and Quaker Valley each have won three straight WPIAL team championships on the girls side. The Tigers tied Butler for most girls team titles in WPIAL history with 14. Quaker Valley is next with 10, followed by Hempfield, with six.

Key dates

March 3: First practice date

March 8: First scrimmage date

March 14: First play date

March 27: First section dates

April 29: WPIAL team semifinals

May 6: WPIAL team finals

May 14: WPIAL individual championships

May 23-24: PIAA championships

2025-26 alignment

Class 3A (56 teams)

Section 1: Derry, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Indiana, Latrobe, Norwin, Penn-Trafford

Section 2: Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Uniontown

Section 3: Butler, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Shaler

Section 4: Armstrong, Hampton, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Mars, Valley

Section 5: Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic, Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport, Penn Hills, Plum, Woodland Hills

Section 6: Baldwin, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin

Section 7: Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley, Montour, Moon, South Fayette, Trinity, West Allegheny

Section 8: Ambridge, Avonworth, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Hopewell, New Castle

Class 2A (66 teams)

Section 1: Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Laurel, Mohawk, Neshannock, Riverside, Shenango, Union

Section 2: Aliquippa, Beaver Country Christian, Freedom, New Brighton, OLSH, Rochester, South Side, Western Beaver

Section 3: Aquinas Academy, Cornell, Eden Christian Academy, Nazareth Prep, Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, Sto-Rox

Section 4: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Leechburg, North Catholic, Riverview, Springdale

Section 5: Brentwood, Burgettstown, Carlynton, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, South Park, Washington

Section 6: Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, California, Charleroi, Monessen, Waynesburg Central, West Greene

Section 7: Clairton, East Allegheny, Ellis School (girls), Hillel Academy, Neighborhood Academy, Serra Catholic, South Allegheny, Trinity Christian, Winchester Thurston

Section 8: Calvary Chapel Christian, Frazier, Geibel Catholic, Greensburg Central Catholic, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Yough

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Butler, North Allegheny, Quaker Valley