Neshannock captures 3rd straight Class 2A Trib Cup title

Neshannock has discovered the key to capturing the Trib Cup — perfection.

The Lancers claimed their third straight Class 2A Trib Cup on the coattails of a second perfect season in the last three years by the Neshannock softball team.

“We are very proud of all of our athletes and coaches who worked extremely hard to once again receive the Trib Cup in 2A,” Neshannock co-athletic director Bob Burkes said. “It is an award that represents our entire athletic program. We are aware of how many hours our student-athletes sacrifice to achieve on the athletic fields and courts. We appreciate the recognition.”

The HSSN Trib Cup is a yearlong competition in 25 team sports to determine the top WPIAL sports program in each classification. It awards points for section or conference championships, district and state playoff berths and district and state championships and runners-up.

Schools earn points for playoff berths, section championships, PIAA playoff berths and for winning WPIAL or PIAA championships or for a district or state runner-up.

For the third straight year, the Lancers softball team led the way, scoring a max 130 points with another perfect season that included WPIAL and PIAA gold.

Coach Jackie Lash’s team has won three straight WPIAL softball titles and two state championships with only one loss over the last three years.

“I am not sure what is left to be said about three years of 78-1, three WPIAL crowns and two PIAA state championships,” Burkes said. “I will say great players who are committed and buy into the process will always succeed. Jackie Lash and her coaches are elite, knowledgeable and passionate about the game and their players. These players over the past two summers went to a camp that helped handicapped children play ball. The quality of these human beings matches their record.”

The Lancers also garnered points in eight other sports, including football, boys golf, girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball and baseball, plus championship winning seasons in competitive spirit and PIHL hockey.

“Our cheer program is so consistent,” Burkes said. “Sometimes in coaching you have special athletes that get you to the top. There is no end in sight for the talent and Colleen Daughtry is excellent as their coach. Just like hockey, they are just very competitive and consistent.”

Neshannock scored the exact same number of points, 365, as it did in winning the 2A Trib Cup a year ago.

The Lancers finished 65 points ahead of the runner-up, Aliquippa, which garnered all of its points in only three sports — football, boys basketball and girls basketball.

Rounding out the Top 5 in Class 2A was Fort Cherry in third place, Mohawk in fourth and Seton LaSalle in fifth place.

Class 2A Trib Cup standings in 2023-24

1. Neshannock – 365

2. Aliquippa – 300

3. Fort Cherry – 270

4. Mohawk – 245

5. Seton LaSalle – 190

6. Chartiers-Houston – 140

6. Freedom – 140

6. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart – 140

9. Bentworth – 135

10. Charleroi – 130

11. Waynesburg Central – 110

12. Ellwood City – 100

13. Shenango – 85

14. Washington – 80

15. Riverside – 75

16. Laurel – 60

16. Ligonier Valley – 60

18. Steel Valley – 55

19. Beth-Center – 40

20. Apollo-Ridge – 20

20. Brentwood – 20

22. Brownsville – 10

22. New Brighton – 10

22. Sto-Rox – 10

25. Propel Braddock Hills – 0

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