What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 4, 2025: WPIAL titles up for grabs in Competitive Spirit

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, January 4, 2025 | 12:00 AM

As the clock struck midnight early Wednesday, most Americans showed off their spirit in ringing in 2025.

The first championship of the new year comes days later with the WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championships at Hempfield on Saturday.

A total of 30 district schools will battle for championships in five categories: Class 3A large and small varsity, 2A large and small varsity and co-ed with overall champions crowned in 3A and 2A.

The event returns to Hempfield where it was held from 2014-2023. Last year’s championships took place at Chartiers Valley.

The reigning champions are Hempfield in 3A large, North Hills in 3A small, Neshannock in 2A large, Central Valley in 2A small and Butler in co-ed. All but North Hills were repeat district winners.

Hempfield has won four straight overall 3A titles, and the 2A overall crown for Neshannock last season was its second in four years.

Besides the battle for WPIAL gold, 17 district teams will try to qualify for the PIAA championships at Santander Arena in Reading on Jan. 30-31.

The top 10 scoring teams in 3A, the top six in 2A and the next highest-scoring team in either classification will qualify for the state finals.

Performances will begin at 10 a.m. for 2A schools and 12:45 p.m. for 3A teams.

Saturday hoop events

‘Tis the season for district basketball teams to participate in one-day events that are prominent on Saturdays throughout January.

There are two annual events taking place on this first Saturday of 2025.

• The annual Chuckie Mahoney Classic takes place at Burgettstown. The event features five boys and four girls games at the schools two gyms.

The boys schedule is:

Neighborhood Academy (10-0) vs. Beaver (8-3) at 11 a.m.

Washington (2-7) vs. Fort Cherry (3-6) at 1 p.m.

Weir (WV) (2-4) vs. Quaker Valley (6-2) at 3 p.m.

Hopewell (4-5) vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (6-3) at 5 p.m.

Avella (5-5) at Burgettstown (3-7) at 7 p.m.

The girls slate of games:

Washington (4-5) vs. Fort Cherry (8-2) at 1 p.m.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (9-1) vs. West Allegheny (6-3) at 3 p.m.

Weir (WV) (3-6) at Burgettstown (4-7) at 5 p.m.

McGuffey (7-3) vs. Chartiers-Houston (7-1) at 7 p.m.

• The Don Graham Classic at North Catholic:

This event features a Pine-Richland at North Catholic doubleheader with the girls tipping off a 2 p.m. and the boys hitting the court at 4 p.m.

County wrestling tournaments

There are two big wrestling tournaments taking place Saturday involving district schools from the south and northwest part of the WPIAL.

Starting Friday and concluding Saturday is the Tri-County Coaches and Athletic Directors Association tournament involving 20 schools from Washington, Greene, Fayette and Southern Allegheny County. The event is being held at West Greene.

The annual Ed Driscoll Midwestern Athletic Conference one-day wrestling tournament has 15 schools from Beaver, Lawrence and Western Allegheny County. That event will take place at Laurel.