The Virginia High School League has announced the 2024-25 National Guard Cup winners, presented by the Virginia Army National Guard for year-long athletic success.
Familiar faces returned to claim more trophies. Western Albemarle in Class 3 led the way, earning its 10th overall Cup and fourth in a row, while Auburn in Class 1 claimed its seventh consecutive Cup and eighth overall. Atlee in Class 4 earned its second straight Cup, and Robinson in Class 6 earned its second Cup in three years and fourth overall. Schools claiming Cups for the first time include Floyd County in Class 2 and Kellam in Class 5.
Locally, Glenvar finished tied for third in Class 2 with 375 points, tied with Poquoson and 40 points behind champion Floyd County, who had 415. The Three Rivers District had three schools in the top five as Radford was fifth overall with 305 points.
Glenvar scored 107.5 points in the fall and a Class 2 high 145 points in the winter. At that point they trailed Floyd by just 17.5 points but the Buffaloes outscored Glenvar, 145-122.5, in the spring despite the Highlanders’ boys’ soccer championship while Clarke County posted 162.5 spring points to pass Glenvar for second place. A total of 43 schools scored points in Class 2.
In Class 4 Salem was 12th out of 44 schools to score with 175 points. The Spartans had 57.5 in the fall, 62.5 in the winter and 55 points in the spring, paced by the boys’ lacrosse state championship. Atlee High ran away with the championship with 722.5 points, 172.5 more points than runner-up Blacksburg.
First awarded in 1990, the Cup represents 36 seasons of excellence. Six Cups are awarded for academic activities and athletics in each of the VHSL’s six enrollment classifications.
A point system determines the winners based on overall performance in VHSL state championship competitions. In athletics, first place earns 50 points, second place earns 45 points, third place earns 40 points, fourth place earns 35 points, fifth place earns 30 points, sixth place earns 25 points, seventh place earns 20 points, and eighth place earns 15 points. Schools earning the League’s Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award earn 50 points each.
