Spurred on by three state championships and a runner-up, Pierce County High School recorded its highest-ever finish in the Regions Bank Directors Cup.
PCHS placed third overall for public schools with 1,005 points in the Class AA standings trailing Morgan County (1,097) and Columbus (1,095).
The Bears’ program led with 526 points with the Lady Bears finishing fourth with 479 points.
Ware County was 17th in Class 4A with 653 points. Marist won its 22nd title (21st in 4A) since the turn of the century when the award was first presented finishing with 1,364 points.
The Gators totaled 329 points for 15th place while the Lady Gators’ 324 points was 22nd.
Brantley County, with two state tennis titles, was 15th in Class A Division I. Model led the way compiling 1,114 points.
The Lady Herons accumulated 276 points for 16th place with the Herons one spot back with 222 points.
The Regions Bank Directors Cup recognizes those athletic departments in all GHSA (Georgia High School Association) classifications who have excelled and shown superior performance.
Since the 19992000 school year, the Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA) has presented this award annually. Award-winning schools receive a Regions Bank Directors Cup trophy and a wall banner.
Beginning with the 2002-03 school year, the award has been presented to the top male program, top female program, and top overall program in each classification.
Points are awarded to each school, in each GHSA classified sport, using the state playoff results. Each school’s highest scoring eight sports for boys and eight sports for girls are used to calculate the school’s awarded point totals.
No more than 32 schools, and ties, will receive points per sport/gender.
A school's wrestling score will be determined by its highest score in Duals or Traditional.
Fast Pitch/Slow Pitch softball and wrestling duals are bracketed until the Elite Eight and then transition to non-bracketed for the final eight schools finishing place.
In bracketed sports (baseball, basketball, football, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, volleyball) state champions are awarded 100 points, runner- up 90 points, thirdplace (two teams) 84 points, fifth (four teams) 70 points, ninth (eight teams), 53 points, 17th (16 schools) 25 points.
Non-bracketed sports (cheerleading, cross-country, dance, game day cheer, golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving, track & field, wrestling (traditional) range from 100 points to 10 points (first to 32nd place).
There are 19 competitive sports for girls and 12 for boys.
Class 4A
Marist continued its domination of the Cup winning two girls’ state titles with one runner-up finishing and one boys’ title with four runner-up finishes.
North Oconee (1,287) was second followed by Westminster (1,275), Blessed Trinity (1,260) and Cambridge (1,220) in the top five spots.
North Oconee’s girls’ program (685) is the first since Johns Creek (201112) to win the title. Marist (700) ended Westminster’s two-year run of boys’ titles.
The Lady Gators best finish was fifth in basketball (70) with the Gators’ wrestling placing fifth (75).
The Lady Gators were sixth in game day cheer (72), 11th in cheer (57), 17th in softball, soccer and tennis (25 each), 23rd in swim & dive (28) and 26th in track (22).
The Gators finished ninth in football and baseball (53 each), ninth in golf (63), 17th in basketball, soccer and tennis (25 each) and 32nd in track (10).
Three other region members finished in the top 30 standings. Wayne County (540; 382 girls, 158 boys) was 22nd, Benedictine 23rd (504) and Perry (420; 181 girls, 239 boys) placed 27th. Warner Robins and New Hampstead were ineligible with athletic directors being non-GADA members. Class 2A
Morgan County topped the AA public division with 1,097 points winning two state titles with Columbus just two points back with three titles and three runner- up finishes.
The Bears’ state-leading 526 points was sparked by the state champion tennis team (100). Bremen (2018-19) and Model (2022-23) are the only other public schools to pace the boys’ division.
The golf team (90) was the state runner-up while the baseball team reached the “Final Four” garnering 84 points.
Also earning points were the football program (fifth - 70), wrestling (duals; eighth - 66), soccer (ninth - 53), basketball (17th - 25) and track (18th - 38).
The Lady Bears, who trailed Morgan County (688), Columbus (680) and Hart County (483), claimed two titles winning cheer and golf (100 each). They were third in tennis (84), fifth in soccer (70), ninth in softball (53), 17th in volleyball and basketball (25 each) and 26th in track (22).
Savannah Arts Academy (504) placed 12th with Cook (373) finishing 21st. Appling County, Crisp County and Tattnall County were ineligible with athletic directors being non-GADA members. Class A Div. I
Model joined the short list consisting of Gordon Lee and Commerce (four times) as public school winners.
Model compiled 1,114 points to outdistance Vidalia’s 1,065 for the title. The Lady Blue Devils’ program compiled 658 points (one title, one runner-up) to lead the division. Gordon Lee (2012-13) was the last public school to accomplish the feat.
The Indians finished with a classification high 495 points joining Commerce (2014-15, 2015-16, 2020-21) and Social Circle (2021-22) with the distinction.
Outside the 100 points for the champion Lady Herons tennis program, they netted 53 points for ninth-place showings in softball and volleyball, 45 points in cross-country (15th) and 25 points in basketball (17th).
The Herons also earned 100 points for winning the tennis title. They finished sixth in wrestling (duals 72) and 17th in both basketball and baseball (25 each).
Jeff Davis was the highest- ranked Region 1 team finishing fourth with 827 points (406 girls, 421 boys). Thomasville (771; 404 girls, 367 boys) was seventh, Fitzgerald (477, 181 girls, 296 boys) placed 16th, Berrien (441; 169 girls, 272 boys) finished 17th and Bacon County (361; 194 girls, 167 boys) was 19th.
Worth County was ineligible with the athletic director being a non-GADA member.
