For the first time since the Howard County People Tree Cup began being awarded back in the late 70s, Howard High School has been announced as the overall winner.
The Howard athletics program unseats River Hill, a winner of the award each of the last 10 years dating back to 2006. The People Tree Cup is handed out to recognize overall excellence in interscholastic athletics among Howard County public high schools.
Scoring is based on a point system, where points are assigned to those schools participating in a varsity sport upon the completion of the season and the awarding of a county trophy. For example, if all 12 schools compete, the county-trophy winner is awarded 12 points, second place 11 points, and so on. Half points are awarded in the event of a tie.
Once the spring season reaches completion, the points for all three seasons are tallied and a winner is crowned.
Howard has seen the strength of its athletic program consistently improve over the last few years. In 2015-16, there were seven Lions' teams — football, girls golf, girls basketball, softball, boys lacrosse and boys and girls outdoor track — that won county championships and helped capture the People Tree Cup.
"I think it's fun to watch our coaches and our students work and improve," said Howard High Athletics and Activities Manager Michael Duffy. "For us, it's been putting the right people in the right positions … coaches who have the perspective to put our students in a position to be successful. I could not be more proud of our coaches and kids.
"They make it fun to go to work every day and it truly is an honor to work with them."
People Tree Cup Past Winners:
2015 – River Hill
2014 – River Hill
2013 – River Hill
2012 – River Hill
2011 – River Hill
2010 – River Hill
2009 – River Hill
2008 – River Hill
2007 – River Hill
2006 – River Hill
2005 – Mt. Hebron
2004 – Glenelg
2003 – River Hill
2002 – Mt. Hebron
2001 – River Hill
2000 – River Hill
1999 – River Hill
1998 – Centennial
1997 – Centennial
1996 – Centennial
1995 – Centennial
1994 – Centennial
1993 – Centennial
1992 – Centennial
1991 – Oakland Mills
1990 – Oakland Mills
1989 – Oakland Mills
1988 – Centennnial
1987 – Centennial
1986 – Oakland Mills
1985 – Glenelg
1984 – Mt. Hebron
1983 – Centennial
1982 – Centennial
1981 – Centennial
1980 – Centennial
1979 – Centennial