Like all PIAA districts, the WPIAL is not immune to criticism.

From game sites and times and seedings for playoff games to rulings on the eligibility of student athletes who transfer from one school to another, it's easy to second guess decisions that are made.

I've done it and many of you reading this probably have, too. But the purpose of this column is not to point out a wrong, it is to praise something the WPIAL has gotten right.

I recently covered the WPIAL Team Track Championships at Peters Township Stadium. It truly is unique, since no other district in the state takes the time and effort to hold such an event.

Other districts crown a team champion, but they do so simply by adding up the points scored by a school's athletes at the individual championship meet.

The WPIAL has set aside a meet with the sole purpose of crowning team champions for both boys and girls since the early 1980s. It now consists of 16 teams each year, four each in boys and girls in Class AAA and AA. This year, Butler County was represented by Butler's girls and both teams from Seneca Valley.

“We want to emphasize that track is a team sport,” said Tom Norris, a member of the WPIAL's Track and Field Steering Committee. “Teams look forward to it.”

The appreciation for the meet is shared by both coaches and athletes.

Shortly after arriving at the meet, I struck up a conversation with Butler boys coach Mike Seybert, who was there to assist with the Butler girls' quest for a third straight district title.

Our talk coincided with the running of the Class AAA boys 4x800 relay. Seybert had nobody involved in that event, but I couldn't help but notice the excitement in his voice.

“This is the highlight of the year,” he exclaimed. “You load up on every single event and the kids go all out because they know they're going up against three of the best teams in the district.

“It's the final four,” he added. “I love this meet.”

About halfway through the meet, I was roaming the infield when I ran into Seneca Valley senior Luke Smith. I knew he had just competed in the 300 hurdles and asked him, “Did you win?”

“Yeah,” he said. Without any further prodding on my part, he proceeded to tell me of his own mentality that day.

“Coach Dickey (Dan, SV assistant) came up to me before the hurdles and said that we badly needed the points,” Smith said. “You hear something like that and you want to go get it, you know?

“I was going to give it my all or nothing.”

Near the end of the meet, the Class AAA girls title was to be decided by the Butler/Norwin matchup. There were just two events left — the high jump and 4x400 relay.

I stood by, watching Butler and Norwin's jumpers take their turn. When one of them would miss on a height, I could see the disappointment on her face. When they cleared the bar, they would run to the side where coaches and teammates were waiting to congratulate them.

By the time the final relay began, Norwin was ahead 73-72, meaning the team that won the relay would claim the title. I was a few yards away when Butler senior and anchor Liz Simms crossed the finish line first and she was mobbed.

WPIAL team championships are not to be taken lightly and the Golden Tornado had just earned the 13th crown in program history.

Well done, Butler.

Well done, WPIAL.

Derek Pyda is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle