This cup is given to the boy who has earned the greatest number of points based on scholastic and athletic work. The recipient does not have to be a senior.
The first person to receive the trophy two years in a row was John Spicer in 1926 and 1927. The second time this happened was in 1931 and 1932 when it was awarded to Ronald Ward. Bernard Murray, who would later teach at Ilion High and serve as Mayor of Ilion, won the award in 1941 and 1942. The fourth person to achieve that feat was Robert Morris in 1948 and 1949. The year 1948 was the first time when the trophy was awarded to more than one student.
The year in which there were the most recipients was 1995 when it was presented to four boys: Mike Spohn, Matt McCann, Alex Osborne and Shawn Riley.
William 'Dinny' Steele Class of 1954 and Alan Steele Class of 1982 are the only father-son recipients of The Lever Cup.
Former Ilion Athletic Director, Robert Turley, received the trophy in 1967.
Harold "Boots" Lever, a former student of the Ilion High School, presented a very beautiful cup to the school in 1924, as a tribute to William Hempstead - Class of 1916, and William Schletterer, former students in the High School, who lost their lives in World War I.
According to records obtained and published by Genealogy Trails History Group, William H. Hempstead's rank was 1st Sn. Sq., 3d Div and he died of empyemia [sic], on February 21, 1918. William Schletterer's, rank was Pvt., Co. C, 106th M. G. Bn. and he died of influenza & bronchopneumonia, on Oct. 26, 1918.