Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League
ConferencePennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
Founded1907
CommissionerAmy Scheuneman, Executive Director[1]
RegionWestern Pennsylvania
Official websitewww.wpial.org

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.

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:

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

  • 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): Washington
    • 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):

  • 2022: New Castle
  • 2021: Upper St Clair
  • 2020: Butler
  • 2019: Mt. Lebanon
  • 2018: Penn Hills
  • 2017: Pine Richland


Class AAAAA (5A):

  • 2021: New Castle
  • 2020: Laurel Highlands
  • 2019: Mars
  • 2018: Mars
  • 2017: Moon

Class AAAA (4A):

  • 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):

  • 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):

  • 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):

See also

References

  1. ↑ Emert, Rich (March 28, 2012). "HOME NEWS LOCAL SPORTS OPINION A & E LIFE BUSINESS VIDEO PHOTO Q&A: WPIAL Executive Director Tim O'Malley". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. ↑ Silver, Jonathan L. (2004). Approaching the Pinnacle of Privilege: The History of Shady Side Academy, 1883–Present (Ph.D.). Carnegie Mellon University. p. 132.
  3. 1 2 "History of the WPAIL". WPAIL. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
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