The VHSL has announced the 2022-23 National Guard Cup winners, presented by the Virginia Army National Guard for year-long athletic and academic success. First awarded in 1990, the Cup represents 34 seasons of excellence, with six Cups 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.
For the five academic activities involving team champions — scholastic bowl, creative writing, debate, theatre, forensics, and robotics — points are awarded on the following basis: first place, 50; second place, 45; third place, 40; fourth place, 35; fifth place, 30; sixth place, 25; seventh place, 20; and eighth place, 15.
In athletics Auburn High was the Class 1 winner with 310 points, edging George Wythe by just five points in the closest race among the six VHSL classifications. Glenvar won in Class 2 for the second year in a row. This year the Highlanders recorded 582.5 points, the most among the six champions in the athletic competition.
James River High School was 21st among 38 schools that scored points in the Cup competition. The Knights scored 85 total points, with 40 in the fall and 45 in the spring with a state runner-up finish in softball.
In Class 3 Abingdon was the winner with 442.5 points. Lord Botetourt High was 15th overall among 45 schools that scored. The Cavaliers had 135 total points with 22.5 in the winter and 112.5 in the spring.
Western Albemarle was the Class 4 champ. Deep Run won the Class 5 championship and, in Class 6, James Robinson High of Fairfax was the winner.
In the academic competition winners were Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in Class 1, Marion High in Class 2, Charlottesville in Class 3, Jefferson Forest in Class 4, Princess Anne in Class 5 and Thomas Jefferson S&T in Class 6.
