Polk County finished eighth in the state among 1A schools in the 39th annual Wells Fargo Cup competitions for the 2017-18 academic year.

The award recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state’s four competitive classifications.

After the spring sports season, Green Hope remained on top after their incredible performance across all three seasons in the 4A division. Weddington took the title from Marvin Ridge for the 3A class.

In the 2A division, Lake Norman Charter surpassed Carrboro in the final state cup standings. Lincoln Charter beat out Franklin Academy and Mount Airy for first place in the 1A ranks.

Wells Fargo Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state championship events. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. In the playoff events involving teams from more than one classification, Wells Fargo Cup points are awarded based on the school’s standing against other schools in its own classification. If fewer than eight schools from a classification compete in a sport, only those schools that are represented are eligible to receive the Cup 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 and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

Polk County finished eighth with 360 points and were the third-highest public school in the 1A standings, trailing Mount Airy and Murphy.

Lincoln Charter won the race for first place in the 1A division with a comfortable lead of 50 points in front of second-place Franklin Academy. The win was the Eagles’ first Wells Fargo State Cup victory. After the spring sports season, the Eagles secured second-place finishes in men’s golf and men’s tennis along with tied third-place finishes in women’s soccer and baseball as the sealed the Cup title.

During the fall season, the Eagles got a pair of second-place finishes in men’s and women’s cross country championships to bolster their total. The winter season was kind to the Eagles as well, earning second in men’s swimming and fourth on the women’s side. The men’s basketball team grabbed regional finals points.

1A Wells Fargo Cup Final Standings

1 – Lincoln Charter – 502.5

2 – Franklin Academy – 452.5

3 – Mount Airy – 445

4 – Raleigh Charter – 425

5 – Community School of Davidson – 392.5

T6 – Murphy – 385

T6 – Pine Lake Preparatory – 385

8 – Polk County – 360

9 – Bishop McGuinness – 320

10 – East Surry – 287.5

11 – Research Triangle – 262.5

12 – John A. Holmes – 257.5

13 – East Carteret – 232.5

T14 – Pamlico County – 227.5

T14 – Robbinsville – 227.5

– Submitted by

PolkSports.com