There will be no Carlisle Cup champions crowned this year.

The trophies awarded by the S.C. Athletics Administration Association to the top athletic programs in each of the 5 S.C. High School League classifications will go unclaimed for the 2019-20 school year due to the ongoing pandemic.

“As a result of the suspension of athletics in March, we were not able to complete the athletic calender,” in a statement co-issued by SCAAA President Joe Monmonier and Executive Director Jerry Linn. “For this reason, the SCAAA Board has decided not to present the Carlisle Cup to classification winners for this year. 

Named after former Eastside head football coach John Carlisle, whose school ironically co-shared top honors in Class 4A with A.C. Flora, the Carlisle Cup uses a point system which awards points to schools based on their finish in 22 boys’ and girls’ S.C. High School League sports. The rankings determine the top S.C. High School League athletics programs.

Last year’s winners included Wando (5A), Bishop England (3A), St. Joseph’s (2A) and Dixie (A). Among Chronicle Country schools, Lexington, Dutch Fork and River Bluff placed 3rd, 5th and 7th,  respectively, Gilbert was tied for 5th in Class 3A and Gray Collegiate finished 7th in Class 2A.

During the fall sports period, River Bluff claimed the Class 5A girls’ tennis title, Dutch Fork football won a 4th straight Class 5Atitle and Lexington and Gilbert were state runners-up.  During the winter, Gray Collegiate boys’ basketball won a 3rd straight Class 2A title, Dutch Fork boys' basketball was a Class 5A runner-up and the Gilbert and White Knoll wrestling teams were state-runners-up.