The past 2018-19 school year was truly a banner year for high school sports in Chronicle Country.

This region produced 7 S.C. High School League champions, 3 state runners-up, 4 Lower State champions and a slew of region champions.

Those efforts were rewarded with several schools placing high in the annual Carlisle Cup. Formerly known as the Directors’ Cup, the award recognizes the S.C. High School League’s most outstanding athletics program based on a points system determined by the positions finished in the playoffs of the 22 respective boys and girls’ sports.

Leading the way was Lexington High School. This past year, the school continued its dominance in girls’ golf with a state-record 13th title to go with the 1st championship won in softball since 2001.

This was also a year which saw both basketball teams reach the Lower State finals. The girls made their 1st semifinal appearance since winning it all in 1979, while the boys posted the program’s first-ever undefeated regular season in the “Last Ride” for longtime head coach Bailey Harris.

Also reaching the Lower State final were boys’ tennis and the volleyball team, which both fell to Class 5A Carlisle Cup champion Wando. Only the Lowcountry school and Dorman finished higher in the classification than Lexington.

“Finishing 3rd in the Carlisle Cup is a credit to all the great coaches and student-athletes we have here at Lexington High School,” Lexington athletics director Perry Wool-bright said. “Our athletes do a good job supporting each other and working in the off season to be the best they can be.”

Finishing 5th in Class 5A was Dutch Fork, which like Lexington, claimed 2 state titles. The nationally-ranked football team posted a 2nd undefeated season in 3 years, while the baseball team overcame 4 elimination games to win its first-ever title.

River Bluff, which had state runners-up in competitive cheer team and wrestling and a Lower State runner-up in girls tennis, placed 7th overall.

Another Lexington County team which enjoyed athletic success in Class 3A was Gilbert High School. Gilbert had a Lower State champion in wrestling and region titles in volleyball, softball, boys’ soccer and boys’ and girls’ golf and tennis.

“I believe it is our highest finish and it certainly is in recent years,” Gilbert athletics director Chad Leaphart said. “I am very proud of all our athletes and coaches that made it possible. People make all the difference and I feel like the coaches across our athletic department are some of the best in the business.

“We have a lot of good coaches that care about kids and care about their sport and work very hard to be the best they possibly can...put this along with highly motivated student athletes and the 5th place ranking is a reflection of all the hard work by all involved.”

In Class 2A, Gray Collegiate Academy placed 7th overall after claiming its 2nd straight boys’ basketball title to go with region titles won in girls’ basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball and football.

2018-19 S.C. ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS CARLISLE CUP RANKINGS

(Class 5A)

1. Wando - 1080

2. Dorman - 860

3. Lexington - 840

4. Fort Mill - 730

5. Dutch Fork - 630

6. J.L. Mann - 620

7. River Bluff - 580

8 (tie). J.F. Byrnes & Nation Ford - 570

10. Mauldin - 540

11. T.L. Hanna - 520

12. Riverside - 490

13. Spartanburg - 470

14. Chapin - 454

33 (tie). White Knoll, Westside & Woodmont - 160

42. Irmo - 120

(Class 4A)

1 (tie). A.C. Flora & Eastside - 940

3. Hilton Head Island - 920

4. Daniel - 840

5. Myrtle Beach - 760

6. Greenville - 580

7. Beaufort - 550

8. Travelers Rest - 510

9 (tie). North Myrtle Beach & North Augusta - 500

23. Airport - 270

30 (tie). Brookland-Cayce & Pickens - 190

(Class 3A)

1. Bishop England - 1280

2. May River - 890

3. Waccamaw - 610

4. Academic Magnet - 600

5 (tie). Chapman and Gilbert - 520

7. Seneca - 500

8. Powdersville - 460

9. Indian Land - 440

10. Woodruff - 370

30 (tie). Pelion & Georgetown - 160

33. Swansea, Fairfield Central & Loris - 150

(Class 2A)

1. St. Joseph’s - 830

2. Oceanside Academy - 780

3. Christ Church - 690

4. Southside Christian - 620

5. Phillip Simmons - 550

6. Landrum - 500

7. Gray Collegiate Academy - 410

8. Ninety-Six - 390

9. Woodland - 380

10. Andrew Jackson - 340

15. Batesburg-Leesville - 270