ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT: WACHOVIA CUP

The Wachovia Cup has become one of the great traditions the symbol of overall sports excellence among high schools in North Carolina.

Since 1979 the Cup has gone to the schools which have the best overall interscholastic sports programs in each of the four classifications: 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. The program is sponsored by the NCHSAA and one of its long-time corporate sponsors, Wachovia Bank, N.A.

The Wachovia Cup is reputed to be the longest continuous corporate sponsor program with a state high school association in the country.

Each Wachovia Cup winner receives an engraved silver cup and a banner for permanent display at the school. The Wachovia Cups are presented at NCHSAA Day at a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football game.

All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) in an NCHSAA state championship event receive Wachovia Cup points. In events where 1A, 2A, 3A and/or 4A schools compete together, such as women’s soccer, points are awarded on a school’s standing against other schools in its classification.

In Cup competition, points are awarded for all sports on the basis of 50 points for first, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, the schools receive an equal number of points, based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

In the 2009-10 academic year, Cary Green Hope maintained its lead after winter sports to capture the Cup in the final 4-A standings. Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, which moved up the 3-A ranks this year, took the top spot in that classification. Salisbury was the Cup winner among 2-A schools while Kernersville Bishop McGuinness captured first place in 1-A.

More information can be found elsewhere on the NCHSAA site, by going to the drop down menu Scholarships/Awards and clicking on the Wachovia Cup link.