CHAPEL HILL — The N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) named Mount Airy the winner of the 2023-24 Wells Fargo Cup for the 1A Division on June 21.
The award recognizes the schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state’s four competitive classifications.
Mount Airy is the first traditional public school to win the 1A State Cup since 2016-17. The team that won the award in 2016-17 was…also Mount Airy. Before that, the most recent public 1A school to win the award was Hendersonville for the 2007-08 school year.
In the six years between Mount Airy’s Wells Fargo Cup victories, the highest finish by a traditional public 1A school was third; this was accomplished by Mount Airy in 2017-18 and East Surry in 2018-19. Mount Airy and East Surry also combined to claim the highest spot by a traditional public 1A school in four of those six years. In addition to their back-to-back third place finishes, East Surry finished fourth in 2019-20 and Mount Airy took fifth in 2021-22.
Mount Airy is one of only 35 schools to win multiple State Cups since the annual award was first handed out in 1979-80.
The only other Surry County team to win a State Cup was Surry Central in 1995-96.
Joining Mount Airy as Wells Fargo Cup winners this year were: Seaforth in 2A, Croatan in 3A and Marvin Ridge in 4A.
About the State Cup
Via the NCHSAA website, the Wells Fargo State Cup award is the symbol of overall sports excellence among high schools in North Carolina. Since 1979, the State Cup has been awarded 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 presented by the NCHSAA in conjunction with one of its corporate supporters, Wells Fargo.
State Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state championship events or dual team state playoffs. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. Points are awarded for all sports as follows: 50 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. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school makes the postseason.
2023-24 1A State Cup Standings
1. Mount Airy 352.5
2. Swain County 330
T-3. Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School 305
T-3. Christ the King Catholic High School 305
5. Mountain Island Charter 267.5
6. Corvian Community 230
7. Elkin 225
8. Uwharrie Charter 205
9. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy 202.5
10. Robbinsville 197.5
All they do is win
Mount Airy’s 2023-24 school year was highlighted by two 1A State Championship repeats. The football team finished 16-0 to win its second-consecutive state title, while the girls tennis team finished 25-0 to win its third-consecutive state crown.
Mount Airy racked up more than 40% of its 352.5 total points in the fall. In addition to the two state titles, the Bears reached the 1A West Regional Semifinals in boys soccer — only falling to the eventual state champs.
Four other fall teams qualified for the postseason, but finished outside the top eight: volleyball, girls golf, and both boys and girls cross country.
The winter was highlighted by the Bears’ wrestling programs. The boys team reached the Dual Team 1A West Regional Semifinals before falling to the eventual state runner-up, while also finishing fourth as a team at individual states. No dual team playoffs were held for girls wrestling, but Mount Airy’s team finished tied for seventh overall in the open classification at individual states; the Bears had the highest score of any 1A school at states.
Four other winter teams qualified for the postseason, but finished outside the top eight: boys basketball, boys swimming, girls swimming and boys indoor track.
Highlighting Mount Airy’s spring sports were the school’s boys golf, baseball and boys tennis teams.
The Granite Bears finished state runner-up in golf, 1A West Regional Runner-up in baseball and reached the 1A West Regional Semifinals in tennis.
Three other spring teams qualified for the postseason, but finished outside the top eight: girls soccer, boys outdoor track and girls outdoor track.
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