Centered in Lima, Ohio, the Western Buckeye League is an OHSAA athletic league located in northwest Ohio and includes schools in Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. The league's school district boundaries also include portions of Logan, Paulding, Shelby, and Wyandot counties. The WBL originally formed in 1936 and is one of the oldest high school conferences in the state. The Western Buckeye League currently awards championships in 13 Varsity sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling. An academic bowl tournament for the schools in the league began annually in 2004.
While the WBL consists of larger schools and spreads over a larger area, it is geographically located in the same area of the state as the Midwest Athletic Conference. Most schools out of both leagues typically host hotly contested matchups in nearly every sport.
Current members
SchoolNicknameLocationEnrollment (CB/FB 2020)State FB Region (2021)ColorsTypeJoin Date BathWildcats Lima005:18Blue, Yellow Public 1965CelinaBulldogsCelina4203:12Green, White Public1936DefianceBulldogsDefiance2903:10Royal Blue, White Public1973ElidaBulldogsLima3003:12Orange, Black, Gold Public1971KentonWildcatsKenton2094:14Red, White Public1942Ottawa-GlandorfTitansOttawa2075:18Navy, Gold Public1967ShawneeIndiansLima2963:12Red, Black Public1952–1967, 1981St. MarysRoughridersSt. Marys2843:12Blue, Gold Public1936Van WertCougarsVan Wert2554:14Red, Gray Public1936WapakonetaRedskinsWapakoneta3173:12Red, White Public1936
Former members
High SchoolLocationJoined WBLTenure of MembershipCharter MemberCurrent league(s)Bellefontaine High SchoolBellefontaine, Ohio 19361936–1965YesCentral Buckeye Conference - Kenton Trail DivisionBluffton High SchoolBluffton, Ohio 19361936–1957YesNorthwest ConferenceColdwater High SchoolColdwater, Ohio 19571957–1973NoMidwest Athletic ConferenceDelphos St. John's High SchoolDelphos, Ohio 19711971–1982NoMidwest Athletic Conference
Membership history
1940s The charter members of the league in 1940-1941 were Bellefontaine, Bluffton, Celina, St. Marys, Van Wert and Wapakoneta. Kenton entered the league in 1942.
1950s Shawnee entered the league with the 1952-1953 Basketball Season. Bluffton left the league in football after the 1952 season. Bluffton left the league in all sports after the 1956–1957 season to join the Northwest Conference. Coldwater entered the league in the 1957–1958 season.
1960s Bellefontaine left the league after the 1964–1965 season to join the Central Buckeye Conference. Bath entered the league beginning with the 1965-1966 Basketball Season. Shawnee left the league at the end of the 1966-1967 Basketball Season. Ottawa-Glandorf entered the league in the spring of 1967 after withdrawing from the Northwest Conference in football and Putnam County League in all other sports.
1970s Elida and Delphos St. Johns entered the league in December 1971. Coldwater withdrew from the league effective June 1, 1973 to join the Midwest Athletic Conference. Defiance entered the league in September 1973 in all sports. (Defiance 1972-73 WBL meets in CC, Golf, Tennis, and Track)
1980s Delphos St. Johns withdrew from the league August 3, 1981 (effective end of 1981–82 season) to join the Midwest Athletic Conference. Shawnee re-entered the league on October 5, 1981. Played full schedule in 1982–1983.
2000s In 2009, Napoleon decided they would leave the Greater Buckeye Conference for the Northern Lakes League and Sandusky decided they would join the Northern Ohio League. The GBC quickly dwindled down to four schools, leaving Findlay, Fremont Ross, Lima Senior, and Marion Harding out in the cold. On March 11, Lima Senior sent a letter to the WBL in hopes of expanding. On April 1, the WBL responded and denied Lima Senior entry into the league. The letter stated, "The Western Buckeye League (WBL) is not looking to expand at this time and there is no anticipation of any member leaving."
OHSAA state appearances SchoolSportState Appearances(state titles in bold) Lima BathGirls BasketballFootballBoys GolfSoftballBoys Track & FieldGirls Track & FieldVolleyballGirls SoccerWrestling2012, 2008, 2002, 1999, 1996, 19871992, 19892015, 2014, 2013, 2005, 19892014, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1995, 1993, 19871988, 198119881994, 199220142016, 2013CelinaBoys BasketballGirls BasketballFootballSoftballGirls Track & FieldGirls SoccerBoys Soccer Boys Bowling1936, 19721991, 19881998 (Final Four), 1995 (Final Four), 1983 (Title Game)2008, 19992012, 2001, 1995, 1986, 1983, 1982, 1981, 197820152016 2018DefianceBaseballBoys BasketballBoys Cross CountryFootballGirls Track & FieldWrestling2016,2015,2013, 2010, 2002, 19921932, 1940, 20152013, 2009199719881971ElidaBaseballBoys BasketballGirls BasketballB. TennisFootball1976, 195820121997, 1995, 19902007, 2006, 2005, 1999, 19792006,19822011KentonBaseballBoys BasketballFootball1930, 199819242014, 2011, 2003, 2002, 2001Ottawa-GlandorfBaseballBoys BasketballFootballBoys GolfBoys SoccerBoys Track & FieldGirls Track & FieldGirls SoccerGirls BasketballGirls Cross CountryBoys Cross Country19792023, 2022, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2004, 1996, 1978, 19772021, 2009199719981972, 19712015, 2007, 2005, 20022021, 20142021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 20142022, 20232022Lima ShawneeBoys BasketballGirls Cross CountryBoys GolfBoys SoccerBoys SwimmingGirls SwimmingBoys TennisGirls Track & FieldVolleyballWrestling2000, 19651983, 1982, 19812001, 1997200119972002, 20011996, 1995, 1993, 19872006, 2000, 198119811981St. Marys MemorialBoys BasketballFootballBoys GolfGirls BowlingSoftballGirls Track & FieldVolleyballBoys Bowling19932004, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1979, 1978, 1977200620112007, 19812003, 200219982017Van WertBoys BasketballBoys Cross CountryGirls Cross CountryFootballBoys GolfGirls Track & Field1992, 1990, 19871998, 1993, 1988, 19872009, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002, 20012020, 20002007, 2004, 2003, 19851976WapakonetaBaseballBoys Bowling Girls BowlingGirls BasketballGirls Track & FieldWrestling2018, 20122017,2014, 2011 2018200920072011, 2010, 2000
Boys League Championships