August 31, 2026 - In Clintwood, Virginia, Ridgeview High School’s Wolfpack football team was the winner of the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) inaugural Black Diamond Miners Bowl trophy after winning the game Friday night, defeating the Southern Gap High School Eagles team at Southern Gap High School.

MCPA is a non-profit organization made up of metallurgical, or Met, coal producers and those who support its producing members’ operations. The association’s members produce the majority of Met coal in the U.S.

“We congratulate both teams who competed admirably for the right to claim the Miners Bowl trophy,” said MCPA President Ben Beakes. “The trophy awarded Friday night is a travelling trophy, given on the field to the winning school each year. The trophy will then remain at the winning team’s school until the following football season when again, it will be up for grabs.” 

In 2025, MCPA members produced 30.6 million tons of Met coal, accounting for more than 60 percent of total U.S. Met coal production. Their 66 coal mines in four states employ more than 8,000. Coal produced is exported through three ports: Norfolk, VA; Mobile, AL; and Baltimore, MD to destinations including India, Brazil, the Netherlands and Japan.

The MCPA actively advocates and promotes the metallurgical coal industry in the eastern U.S., specifically Central Appalachia, drawing attention to the critical benefit of Met coal to everyday life, reinforcing the fact that Met coal makes steel. 

“Traditionally, coal has been thought of for its ability to power the electricity grid and thereby to keep the lights on,” Beakes said. “However, it does even more since Met coal is essential to the production of steel used to build bridges, automobiles and common products like kitchen appliances. Coal powers our lives every day in so many ways.” 

About MCPA: The Metallurgical Coal Producers Association is a non-profit trade organization comprised of metallurgical coal producers in Appalachia and those who support its producing members’ operations.  The six coal producers are: Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Allegheny Met, Blackhawk Mining, Coronado Global, Ramaco Resources, Inc., Robindale Energy. Together, MCPA members make up the majority of met coal produced in the U.S. Its mission is to advance the opportunities of the metallurgical coal industry through advocacy, education and outreach. Learn more at www.metcoalproducers.com.