The Wayne County Athletic League is an Ohio High School Athletic Association athletic league that began play in 1924, with member schools from Wayne and Ashland counties in Ohio.
Current members
+SchoolNicknameLocationColorsTenureNotesChippewaChippsDoylestownBlue, White 1924-Known as Doylestown High School prior to 1971DaltonBulldogsDaltonOrange, Black 1924-HillsdaleFalconsJeromesvilleColumbia Blue, Gold 1970-NorthwesternHuskiesWest SalemBlue, Gray 1951-NorwayneBobcatsCrestonScarlet, Gray 1953-RittmanIndiansRittmanRed, White, Black 1924-1937; 1961-SmithvilleSmithiesSmithvilleGreen, White 1924-WaynedaleGolden BearsApple CreekBrown, Gold 1955-
Former members +SchoolNicknameLocationColorsTenureNotesApple CreekAcesApple CreekBlack, Gold 1924-1955consolidated into WaynedaleBig PrairieBobcatsBig PrairieBlack, Gold 1924-1937left for Holmes County LeagueBurbankBombersBurbankPurple, White 1924-1953consolidated into NorwayneChesterPupsChester TownshipBlue, White 1924-1951consolidated into NorthwesternCongressSenatorsCongressScarlet, Gray 1924-1951consolidated into NorthwesternCrestonPanthersCrestonRed, Black 1924-1953consolidated into NorwayneFredericksburgFreddiesFredericksburgRed, Black 1924-1955consolidated into WaynedaleMarshallvilleTigersMarshallvilleBlue, Gold 1924-1938consolidated into Dalton. Later transferred to Smithville in 1955Paint TownshipPiratesMount EatonGreen, White 1924-1955consolidated into WaynedaleShreveTrojansShreveRed, White 1924-1963consolidated into TriwaySterlingEaglesSterlingBlue, Gold 1924-1953consolidated into NorwayneTriwayTitansWoosterPurple, White 1963-1970left for Chippewa Conference West SalemClippersWest SalemOrange, Black 1924-1951consolidated into Northwestern
History Source:
The Wayne Country Athletic Conference first formed in 1924, with founding members Apple Creek, Big Prairie, Burbank, Chester, Congress, Creston, Dalton, Doylestown, Fredericksburg, Marshallville, Mount Eaton/Paint Township, Rittman, Shreve, Smithville, Sterling, and West Salem.
In 1937, Rittman became the first school to leave the conference. The next year in 1938, Marshallville underwent a consolidation with Dalton.
In 1951, Northwestern High School was created following the consolidation of Chester, Congress and West Salem. Just two years later Norwayne was formed with the consolidation of Burbank, Creston and Sterling.
In 1954, the first official football season began for the league, with Dalton, Doylestown and Rittman becoming the first members to play in the conference. Shreve, Smithville newly created Waynedale, formed under the consolidation of Apple Creek, Fredericksburg and Paint Township, began conference play for football 2 years later in 1956.
In 1955, the former Marshallville high school students were merged with Smithville after consolidation with Dalton just years prior. Smithville formed a football team following this move.
in 1961, Rittman returned to the league 2 years later in 1963, Triway was formed and joined the league following the consolidation of Clinton, Franklin and Wooster townships. Northwestern began league football play in 1965.
In 1970, Triway left the league in favor of the Chippewa Conference. They were replaced by Hillsdale the same year.
In 1971, following the opening of their new high school, Doylestown changed their school name to Chippewa and remained in the conference
Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships Baseball 1933: West Salem 1959: Northwestern 1966: Northwestern 2022: Waynedale (D-III) 2023: Waynedale (D-III) 2025: Waynedale (D-V) 2026: Waynedale (D-V) Boys Basketball 1957-58: Northwestern 1964-65: Northwestern Football 2011: Norwayne (D-IV) Softball 1979: Hillsdale 1994: Hillsdale 1996: Hillsdale 1999: Hillsdale 2000: Hillsdale 2006: Dalton (D-IV) 2007: Dalton (D-IV) 2010: Hillsdale (D-III) Boys Track & Field 2022: Norwayne (D-III) Girls Track & Field 1975: Chippewa 2024: Smithville (D-III) Wrestling 2011-12: Waynedale (D-III) 2026: Waynedale (OHSWCA State Duals, D-III)
See also Ohio High School Athletic Conferences
References
Further reading Vasas, Michale Paul, A History of Wayne County Football 1899 to 1988, Collier Printing Company of Wooster, Ohio. 1989. History of Wayne County, Ohio, "Wayne County History Book Committee." Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas. 1987.
External links WCAL Official Website History of the Wayne County Athletic League Milwaukee Journal Story noting the Mount Eaton High School basketball team's 6-year losing streak. 18 Dec, 1953 WCAL Football Playoff Appearances