Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

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. 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. 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. ==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: • Slippery Rock Area School District and Moniteau School District in Butler County participate in District 10 and District 9 respectively. • Wilmington Area School District in Lawrence and Mercer counties participates in District 10. • Since 2012, four high schools from Pittsburgh Public Schools in Allegheny County, which makes up PIAA District 8, compete in the WPIAL for baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, golf, and cross country. • Indiana Area School District, despite being located in Indiana County, which is part of District 6, competes in the WPIAL. ==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 • 2025 • Class AAAAAA (6A): Central Catholic • Class AAAAA (5A): Peters Township • Class AAAA (4A): Aliquippa • Class AAA (3A): Avonworth • Class AA (2A): Seton LaSalle • Class A (1A): Clairton • 2024 • Class AAAAAA (6A): Central Catholic • Class AAAAA (5A): Pine-Richland • Class AAAA (4A): Thomas Jefferson • Class AAA (3A): Avonworth • Class AA (2A): South Park • Class A (1A): Fort Cherry • 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): Trinity • 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): • 2025: Upper St. Clair • 2024: Upper St. Clair • 2023: Central Catholic • 2022: Fox Chapel • 2021: Upper St Clair • 2020: Butler • 2019: Mt. Lebanon • 2018: Penn Hills • 2017: Pine Richland Class AAAAA (5A): • 2025: Chartiers Valley • 2024: Moon • 2023: Penn Hills • 2022: Laurel Highlands • 2021: New Castle • 2020: Laurel Highlands • 2019: Mars • 2018: Mars • 2017: Moon Class AAAA (4A): • 2025: Belle Vernon • 2024: Lincoln Park • 2023: Lincoln Park • 2022: Quaker Valley • 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): • 2025: South Allegheny • 2024: Deer Lakes • 2023: Deer Lakes • 2022: Shady Side Academy • 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): • 2025: Jeannette • 2024: Aliquippa • 2023: Aliquippa • 2022: OLSH • 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): • 2025: The Neighborhood Academy • 2024: Imani Christian Academy • 2023: Imani Christian Academy • 2022: Bishop Canevin • 2021: Bishop Canevin • 2020: Vincentian Academy • 2019: Nazareth Prep • 2018: Vincentian Academy • 2017: Monessen • 2016: North Catholic • 2015: Monessen • 2014: Lincoln Park • 2013: Vincentian Academy • 2012: Lincoln Park • 2011: Vincentian Academy • 2010: Sewickley Academy • 2009: Sewickley Academy • 2008: Serra Catholic • 2007: Leechburg • 2006: Clairton • 2005: Duquesne • 2004: Sewickley Academy • 2003: Union Township • 2002: Monessen • 2001: Monessen • 2000: Cornell Girls' basketball championship games, 2001 - present ==See also==