Stanly athletic programs earn Wells Fargo Cup honors

Published 8:25 am Friday, September 18, 2020

The North Carolina High School Association released the final standings in the annual Wells Fargo Conference Cup for the best performing athletic programs.

Two Stanly teams tied in the Yadkin Valley Conference while West Stanly claimed the cup in the Rocky River Conference.

The Yadkin Valley Conference does things differently than other conferences in terms of program awards. Typically, after a full season, the program with the most points wins the Jack Gaster Cup. However, this season the conference decided to not award the cup since the full season including spring sports were not played.

However, the NCHSAA awarded the Wells Fargo Cups based on the partial season ending in March from the COVID-19 pandemic.

2A/3A Athletics

Playing in this version of the Rocky River Conference with teams in two different classifications, the Colts earned top honors finishing with 57 points having earned conference titles in four sports in the shortened season, including women’s swimming, men’s and women’s cross country and volleyball.

Central Academy finished second with 49 points followed by Mount Pleasant (48), Montgomery Central (38), Anson County (35.5) and Forest Hills (33.5).

“We are all incredibly proud of the West Stanly student-athletes and coaching staff for their efforts during the 2019-20 school year that led to capturing a fourth consecutive Wells Fargo Conference Cup,” West Stanly athletic director Daniel Smith said.

“Missing out on a majority of the spring season for our athletes, especially the seniors, is still fresh on our minds. That is why it is especially gratifying to celebrate this accomplishment, one that the graduating class of 2020 managed to achieve all four years that they represented our school on the field of competition.”

1A Athletics

Gray Stone Day and South Stanly finished tied for the Yadkin Valley Conference’s Wells Fargo Cup both earning 475 points. The Knights won YVC titles in men’s soccer, women’s basketball and both men’s and women’s swimming, while South Stanly earned titles in men’s cross-country and women’s golf while earning a co-championship in men’s basketball.

North Stanly finished third in the conference standings with 455 points, followed by North Moore (382.5), Uwharrie Charter (372.5), Chatham Central (317.5), North Rowan (305), Albemarle (292.5) and South Davidson (265).

South Stanly athletic director Sean Whitley said the Cup was “a nice recognition.” He added the cup “shows the overall success of our athletic program. Our student-athletes and coaches worked very hard this is a great end result. I wish we could have completed spring sports, which traditionally has some of our strongest teams.”

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

email author More by Charles