The Virginia High School League has announced the 2025-26 winners of the National Guard Cup, presented by the Virginia Army National Guard for year-long athletic success and Glenvar has done it again. Fueled by a big spring, the Highlanders won their fourth National Guard Cup in Class 2 while Salem High finished 11th in Class 4.
Glenvar was in a tight race after winter sports but the Highlanders scored 135 points in the spring to finish with 430, 50 more than second place Poquoson. Bruton wasn’t far behind with 372.5 and Floyd County of the Three Rivers District took fourth with 360.
The Highlanders scored 95 spring points in soccer, 50 for the boys’ state championship and 45 for the girls’ runner-up finish. Glenvar also scored 22.5 points in girls’ tennis and 17.5 in boys’ track.
Salem finished with 187.5 points in Class 4, two and a half points behind 10th place Grafton. Atlee won the cup with 515.
The Spartans’ big sport in the spring was lacrosse. Salem was state runner-up in boys’ lacrosse, good for 45 points, and the girls’ made the state tournament and earned 22.5.
Familiar faces returned to claim more trophies. Western Albemarle in Class 3 led the way, earning its 11th overall Cup and fifth in a row, while Auburn in Class 1 claimed its eighth consecutive Cup and ninth overall. Atlee in Class 3 earned its third straight Cup, and Robinson in Class 6 earned its third Cup in four years and fifth overall. In Class 5 Kellam earned its second straight Cup while Glenvar claimed a fourth Cup.
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.
