Salem 31st in Group AA, Glenvar 10th in A for Wachovia Cup
Frank W. Cox, Blacksburg, George Mason and Radford claimed the top spots in VHSL athletic competition for the 2009-10 school year, winning the coveted Wachovia Cup for Group AAA, AA and A.
In Group AAA, Cox captured its fifth consecutive title, while in Group AA Blacksburg won its second straight, and in Group A George Mason and Radford tied for the crown, with Mason claiming its second straight Cup. It was the second time in athletics Cup history two schools tied for the overall lead. Blacksburg and Tabb tied for the Group AA title in 1991.
Locally Glenvar, a previous Wachovia Cup winner in 1994, tied for 10th in Group A. The Highlanders scored 120 total points, including 22.5 each in the spring for girls’ soccer and baseball. Glenvar is in the Three Rivers District, as is co-champion Radford.
Salem finished tied for 31st in Group AA with 67.5 points. The Spartans scored 45 points in the spring with state appearances in boys lacrosse and softball. Blacksburg and Hidden Valley, the top two scoring teams in Group AA, are fellow members of the River Ridge District with Salem.
The Wachovia Cup goes to the school in each group classification that has achieved the best overall record in VHSL state-level competition in 27 sports – the state champions’ state champion.
In Group AAA, Frank W. Cox now has 12 Cups, five in a row and six of the past seven. Cox was the first Cup winner in 1990 and earned subsequent Cups in 1993, 1996-97, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2006-10. Blacksburg claimed its second straight Group AA title, its third in four years and its seventh overall. In Group A, George Mason earned a repeat and its third overall, while Radford also won its third Cup.
Cups are presented for athletic and academic activities to the top school in each of the League’s enrollment groups. Westfield (AAA), Salem(Salem) (AA) and Madison County (A) were announced earlier as 2009-10 winners for academic activities.
The winner of the Wachovia Cup is determined by a point system based on performance in state championship events. Points are awarded for all sanctioned sports in the following manner: First place 50; Second place 45; Third place 40; Fourth place 35; Fifth place 30; Sixth place 25; Seventh place 20; Eighth place 15. In the event of a tie, the schools received an equal number of points based on the number of schools that tie and the number schools that finish higher in the standings. For example, the baseball quarterfinal losers equally divide total points for fifth through eighth place (22.5 points each) while semifinal losers split third and fourth place (37.5 points each).
Schools earning the League’s Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award earn 50 points each.
Blacksburg kept the Group AA Cup earning 405 points to claim its seventh Cup overall. The Bruins were VHSL champions in boys cross country, girls indoor track, girls outdoor track and boys soccer; finished second in golf, girls cross country and boys indoor track; reached the semifinals in girls soccer and also earned points in boys outdoor track.
Runner-up Hidden Valley earned 372.5 points and was the champion in girls cross country, girls swimming and girls tennis; finished second in boys swimming and boys soccer; reached the semifinals in girls soccer and boys tennis and picked up points in girls volleyball, cheer and girls outdoor track. Rounding out the top five are Western Albemarle, champions in girls lacrosse with 362.5 points, Jamestown, champions in golf and boys tennis with 320 points and Cave Spring, champions in boys basketball, with 252.5 points.
In Group A, defending Cup champion George Mason and Radford tied with 397.5 points. Mason completed a strong spring season winning VHSL championships in boys and girls soccer and boys tennis as well as a third place finish in girls outdoor track and reaching the semifinals in girls tennis. The Mustangs also won VHSL championships in girls cross country and girls basketball, while earning points in boys cross country and sportsmanship.
Radford claimed runner-up finishes in football, boys and girls soccer and boys tennis, while picking up additional points in girls and boys cross country, girls volleyball, wrestling, boys and girls outdoor track and sportsmanship. Clarke County, champions in boys cross country and boys outdoor track, with 230 points finished third. Gate City, champions in girls volleyball and girls tennis, finished fourth with 222.5 points, while Appomattox County (195) rounded out the top five.
Cox athletes scored a total of 340 points in AAA, with Western Branch finishing 2.5 points behind with 337.5 points. The Falcons won VHSL championships in field hockey, wrestling and boys soccer and reached the state semifinals in girls volleyball and girls soccer, while picking up points in golf, boys swimming, boys tennis and received 50 points for the Claudia Dodson Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award. Western Branch, tied for 46th place after the fall season, used strong winter and spring seasons to nearly claim its first Cup title.
The Bruins won VHSL championships in boys and girls indoor track and girls outdoor track; were runners-up in boys outdoor track and reached the semifinals in baseball while also scoring points in gymnastics and boys cross country, along with earning 50 points for the Claudia Dodson Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award. Langley, champions in boys lacrosse and runners-up in boys and girls swimming, scored 260 points to finish third. Loudoun Valley, champions in girls volleyball, finished fourth with 252.5 points, while Battlefield earned 217.5 points to round out the top five.
“We congratulate all the schools who competed in this year’s VHSL championship events,” said Ken Tilley, VHSL executive director. “We especially congratulate the best of the best, Frank W. Cox, Blacksburg, George Mason and Radford, and we thank Wachovia for supporting this important recognition.”
The Wachovia Cup winners will be recognized during VHSL Day at a University of Virginia football game in the fall.
