The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, TribLive will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports.
Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys soccer season.
2023 WPIAL champions
4A: Norwin
3A: South Fayette
2A: South Park
A: Bentworth
Notable changes
The total number of teams decreased by one, going from 107 to 106 for the 2024-25 alignment.
• Class 4A went from two sections of eight teams to three sections with six teams each. That’s an increase from 16 to 18 teams in the classification.
Three teams from Section 4-3A moved into Section 1 in 4A. Plum, which won Section 4 last season, Gateway and Penn Hills moved up to compete with Central Catholic, Hempfield and Norwin. Norwin was the 4A champion a season ago.
In Section 2-4A, two teams moved up: Connellsville from 3A and Woodland Hills all the way from 2A. They will join Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair.
The teams from Section 1 the past two years moved over to Section 3: Butler, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley.
• In Class 3A, the same number of teams (31) remains.
Section 1 features a couple of new teams. Shaler moved down from Class 4A, Obama Academy switched from Section 4 and Knoch moved up from Class 2A.
Section 2-3A features a multitude of teams that moved over from Section 3: Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity. McKeesport is the one team joining Section 2 from Section 4.
Section 3 had numerous changes. Allderdice moved down from 4A, and Washington, West Mifflin and Belle Vernon moved up from 2A. A trio of teams also moved over from Section 4-3A: Franklin Regional, Latrobe and Penn-Trafford.
Much of Section 4-3A is made up of teams previously in Section 2: Ambridge, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Montour, Moon and West Allegheny. Baldwin also was added, dropping from 4A.
• Class 2A went from 31 teams to 33.
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The most movement was in Section 1. Highlands and North Catholic moved down from 3A, Burrell moved up from Class A and a slew of teams switched 2A sections. Deer Lakes, Freeport, Leechburg and Shady Side Academy came in from Section 2. Valley also joins the section after being independent the past two seasons.
Section 2 is made up mostly of teams moving from Section 4: Avonworth, Beaver, Ellwood City, Hopewell, Mohawk, Quaker Valley and Riverside. Keystone Oaks came over from Section 1, and Central Valley dropped from 3A.
Section 3 has the lone team that did not move from the last two seasons: McGuffey. Multiple teams from Section 1 moved over, including East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, South Allegheny, South Park and Steel Valley. Ligonier Valley and Seton LaSalle are newcomers to the section.
In Section 4, Brownsville, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Waynesburg and Yough moved over from Section 3, and Charleroi, Derry and Greensburg Salem moved in from Section 2.
• The least chaotic classification is Class A. The classification went down from 26 teams to 24.
Section 1 remains similar to the past few years, losing only OLSH.
Section 2 added one team from Section 4: Chartiers-Houston. The section also welcomes Geibel, which is new to WPIAL competition this season.
Section 3 is made up of a majority of teams from Section 4: Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton and Serra Catholic moved in to join Aquinas Academy. OLSH came in from Section 1.
Section 4 is made up mostly of teams moving from Section 3: Riverview, St. Joseph, Springdale, Trinity Christian and Winchester Thurston. Jeannette also was added after moving down from Class 2A.
Key dates
Aug. 12: First practice date
Aug. 17: First scrimmage date
Aug. 23: First play date
Aug. 27: First section date
Oct. 19: WPIAL playoffs start
Oct. 31-Nov. 2: WPIAL championships
Nov. 5: PIAA first round
Nov. 15-16: PIAA championships
2024-25 alignment
Class 4A (18 teams)
Section 1: Central Catholic, Gateway, Hempfield, Norwin, Penn Hills, Plum
Section 2: Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills
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Section 3: Butler, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley
Class 3A (31 teams)
Section 1: Armstrong, Hampton, Indiana, Kiski Area, Knoch, Mars, Obama Academy, Shaler
Section 2: Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Ringgold, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity
Section 3: Allderdice, Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, Uniontown, Washington, West Mifflin
Section 4: Ambridge, Baldwin, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Montour, Moon, West Allegheny
Class 2A (33 teams)
Section 1: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Leechburg, North Catholic, Shady Side Academy, Valley
Section 2: Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Hopewell, Keystone Oaks, Mohawk, Quaker Valley, Riverside
Section 3: East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, Ligonier Valley, McGuffey, Seton LaSalle, South Allegheny, South Park, Steel Valley
Section 4: Brownsville, Charleroi, Derry, Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Waynesburg Central, Yough
Class A (24 teams)
Section 1: Beaver County Christian, Eden Christian Academy, Freedom, Neshannock, Sewickley Academy, South Side
Section 2: Bentworth, Beth-Center, California, Chartiers-Houston, Geibel, Greensburg Central Catholic
Section 3: Aquinas Academy, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Serra Catholic
Section 4: Jeannette, Riverview, St. Joseph, Springdale, Trinity Christian, Winchester Thurston
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