The Wells Fargo Cup for Athletics is all about an athletic program’s across-the-board performance. A measuring stick of the accomplishments of the entire department.
And once again, Western Albemarle is near the top of the Group AA heap.
A strong winter and spring boosted Western Albemarle to a second place finish behind title-winner Blacksburg in the Group AA Cup race. Western finished with 337.5 points behind Blacksburg’s 350 points. The Warriors’ state championship in girls swimming and state tournament berths for the Western girls lacrosse and tennis teams were big factors. Throw in points from boys swimming, girls basketball, boys and girls indoor track and boys and girls cross country. The school also earned 50 points for the Claudia Dodson Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity award.
Western last won the cup in 2008. They’ve won three total over the years and no other local school has won the award in their classification since its inception in 1990.
Monticello came in 26th in Group AA despite not putting anyone into the state tournament in spring. The Mustangs lived on a strong winter highlighted by the girls basketball team’s final four run. Charlottesville was tied with Fauquier for 39th with field hockey’s state semifinal appearance leading the way. Louisa County took 45th overall and Fluvanna County finished 66th.
In Group A, Goochland’s football title and a state final appearance by the school’s softball team boosted the Bulldogs to a 13th place finish. Not far behind was William Monroe in 18th, leaning on a state title for the golf team back in fall, a state semifinal berth for the boys basketball team and a state quarterfinal berth for the baseball squad. Madison tied for 44th by virtue of the softball team’s state championship appearance.
In Group AAA, Albemarle placed 40th, scoring 45 of their 67.5 points in the spring. A boys lacrosse state tournament berth as well as boys tennis getting in was a big boost for the Patriots. Orange tied for 60th on the strength of the softball team’s state final four berth.
