Notable changes to WPIAL cross country alignment for 2024-25 seasons

By: Giustino Racchini
Monday, July 29, 2024 | 9:45 AM

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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, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports.

Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL cross country season.

2023 WPIAL boys champions

Class 3A individual champion: Drew Griffith, Butler, 15:05.2

Class 3A team champion: North Allegheny

Class 2A individual champion: Ryan Pajak, Ringgold, 15:04.0

Class 2A team champion: Hampton

Class A individual champion: Jaxon Schoedel, Mohawk, 15:40.9

Class A champion: Riverview

2023 WPIAL girls champions

Class 3A individual champion: Logan St. John Kletter, Mt. Lebanon, 17:47.4

Class 3A team champion: North Allegheny

Class 2A individual champion: Madeline Meeuf, North Catholic, 19:01.1

Class 2A team champion: North Catholic

Class A individual champion: Lexi Fluharty, Riverside, 18:54.5

Class A team champion: Mohawk

Notable changes

WPIAL cross country is a little different than other sports alignments, in that schools are slotted into two divisions, as well as sections by geography for the regular season. Then, teams compete in the championship meet based on their enrollment size as part of classifications.

With the exception of a few new teams this season, there were very few changes to the section alignment.

• Division I will keep the same 52 teams that were members of the classification the last two seasons.

• Section 1, made up mostly of Westmoreland County schools, had a few classification changes. Ligonier Valley’s boys and girls moved up to Class 2A designation, and Latrobe’s boys bumped up to 3A.

• In Section 2, the Connellsville, McKeesport and Thomas Jefferson boys moved up to 3A, along with the Albert Gallatin and McKeesport girls. The TJ girls dropped down to 2A.

• Oakland Catholic girls dropped down to 2A in Section 3.

• Section 4’s changes include Kiski Area’s boys and both Woodland Hills teams moving up to 3A.

• In Section 5, both West Allegheny teams moved up to 3A, along with the Chartiers Valley boys and Montour girls.

• Division II will include 57 teams this season. The only team that changed sections was South Side, which moved from Section 3 to 2.

• Ellwood City moved up to 2A in Section 1.

• In Section 3, the boys teams from McGuffey, Seton LaSalle and Waynesburg bumped up to 2A.

• Section 4’s lone change was Shady Side Academy’s boys team dropping to Class A.

• And, Section 5 includes a move up to 2A for both Steel Valley teams and Brownsville’s girls dropping to Class A.

New teams

Three new schools joined the competition for this season, all in Division II.

• Beaver County Christian will join Section 1, which will have 12 teams the next two years.

• The Mighty Mikes of Carmichaels will compete in Section 3.

• East Allegheny added a boys team that will compete in Section 4.

Key dates

Aug. 12: First practice date

Aug. 17: First scrimmage date

Aug. 23: First play date

Sept. 10: First section date

Oct. 24: WPIAL championships

Nov. 2: PIAA championships

2024-25 alignment

Division 1 (52 teams)

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

Section 2: Albert Gallatin, Connellsville, Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson, Uniontown, West Mifflin

Section 3: Butler, Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic, Mars, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Shaler

Section 4: Armstrong, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Kiski Area, Penn Hills, Plum, Woodland Hills

Section 5: Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Chartiers Valley, Hopewell, Montour, New Castle, West Allegheny

Section 6: Baldwin, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Moon, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, South Fayette, Trinity, Upper St. Clair

Division II (57 teams)

Section 1: Beaver County Christian, Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Freedom, Laurel, Mohawk, Neshannock, New Brighton, Riverside, Rochester, Shenango, Union

Section 2: Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton, Eden Christian Academy, The Ellis School (girls only), Hillel Academy, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Quaker Valley, Redeemer Lutheran, Sewickley Academy, South Side, Winchester Thurston

Section 3: Avella, Burgettstown, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, Seton LaSalle, Washington, Waynesburg Central, West Greene

Section 4: Aquinas Academy, Avonworth, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Hampton, Highlands, Knoch, North Catholic, Riverview, Shady Side Academy

Section 5: Belle Vernon, Brownsville, California, Calvary Chapel Christian, East Allegheny (boys only), Greensburg Central Catholic, Serra Catholic, South Allegheny, South Park, Southmoreland, Steel Valley