This is a list of former high school athletic conferences in the Central Region of Ohio, as designated by the OHSAA. If a conference had members that span multiple regions, the conference is placed in the article of the region most of its former members hail from. Because the names of localities and their corresponding high schools do not always match and because there is often a possibility of ambiguity with respect to either the name of a locality or the name of a high school, the following table gives both in every case, with the locality name first, in plain type, and the high school name second in boldface type. The school's team nickname is given last.
Buckeye Athletic Conference Bexley Lions (1991-2003, to Mid-State) Sunbury Big Walnut Golden Eagles (1991–97, to Ohio Capital) Grandview Heights Bobcats (1991-2003, to Mid-State) Plain City Jonathan Alder Pioneers (1991-2003, to Mid-Ohio in 2013) Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (1991–94, to Mid-Buckeye) Hebron Lakewood Lancers (1991-2003, to Mid-State) Newark Licking Valley Panthers (1991-2003, to Mid-State) London Red Raiders (1991-2003, to South Central Ohio) London Madison-Plains Golden Eagles (1991–93, 1997-2003, to South Central Ohio) Lewis Center Olentangy Braves (1991–97, to Ohio Capital) Utica Redskins (1991–99, to Mid-Buckeye) West Jefferson Roughriders (1991-2003 to Mid-State in 2006) Washington Court House Washington Blue Lions (1993-2003, to South Central Ohio) Greenfield McClain Tigers (1999-2001, to Southern Buckeye) Gahanna Columbus Academy Vikings (2001–03, to Mid-State) Milford Center Fairbanks Panthers (2001–03, to Northwest Central) Washington Court House Miami Trace Panthers (2001–03, to South Central Ohio) Whitehall-Yearling Rams (2001–03, to Mid-State)
Buckeye Athletic Conference Divisions (1991–94, unless noted) Bexley (1991–93) Bexley (1993–94) Big Walnut Grandview Heights Johnstown-Monroe (1993–94) Johnstown-Monroe (1991–93) Lakewood Jonathan Alder Licking Valley London Olentangy Madison Plains (1991–93) Utica West Jefferson Washington (1993–94)
Buckeye Athletic Conference Divisions (1994-2003, unless noted) Bexley Columbus Academy (2001–03) Big Walnut (1994–97) Fairbanks (2001–03) Lakewood Grandview Heights Licking Valley (1997-2003) Jonathan Alder London Licking Valley (1994–97) Miami Trace (2001–03) Madison Plains (1997-2003) McClain (1999-2001) Utica (1994–97) Olentagy (1994–97) Washington (1997-2003) Utica (1997–99) West Jefferson Washington (1994–97) Whitehall-Yearling (2001–03)
Buckeye Central Conference Findlay Trojans (1987–1995, to Great Lakes League) Fremont Ross Little Giants (1987–1991, to Great Lakes League) Lancaster Golden Gales (1987–1995, to Ohio Capital Conference 1997) Newark Wildcats (1987–1995, to Ohio Capital Conference) Zanesville Blue Devils (1987–1995, to Ohio Valley Athletic Conference)
The league was created after the Buckeye Conference folded. The league was an unideal resort for member schools that had to bear extensive travel. Fremont Ross was able to gain membership in the now-defunct Great Lakes League in 1991, leaving the four schools to struggle on. Findlay eventually gained membership in the GLL as Zanesville left for the closer OVAC confederation, effectively ending competition. Lancaster and Newark would end up going from leagues struggling to retain members to joining the Ohio Capital Conference, which is the largest proper conference in the state.
Central Buckeye League There were two versions of the CBL. The first ran from 1929 to 1966. The second version ran from 1976 to 1991, where after joining with schools from the Licking County League, it was rebranded as the Buckeye Athletic Conference (BAC).
First Version (1929-1966) Bexley Lions (1929–66, to Franklin County League) Grandview Heights Bobcats (1929–66, to Franklin County League) Granville Blue Aces (1929–30) Westerville Wildcats (1929–50, to Mid-6 League) Marysville Monarchs (1930–45, to Mid-State League (1945–50)) Circleville Tigers (1931–39, to South Central Ohio League) Delaware Hayes Pacers (1932–66, Delaware Willis Bobcats before 1963) Upper Arlington Golden Bears (1939–66, to Franklin County League) Worthington Cardinals (1939–45, to Franklin County League, 1958–66, to Franklin County League) Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets (1947–66) Urbana Hillclimbers (1950–66) Whitehall-Yearling Rams (1958–66, to Metropolitan League)
Second Version (1976-1991)
During this period, the league would play as one division from 1977 through 1980. The league would split its teams beginning in 1981. The two 6 team divisions were roughly divided by enrollment with the larger schools making up the Buckeye Division and the smaller schools forming the Central Division. After New Albany leaves the league in 1984, Olentangy will move to the Central Division with new member, London, replacing Olentangy in the Buckeye. The divisions would drop to 5 members each for the 1990-91 school year as Buckeye Valley & North Union leave. Plain City Jonathan Alder Pioneers1 (1976–91, to BAC) Bexley Lions (1976–91, to BAC) Sunbury Big Walnut Eagles2 (1976–91, to BAC) Gahanna Columbus Academy Vikings3 (Boys only, 1976–91) Columbus School for Girls Unicorns (Girls only, 1976–91) Marysville Monarchs4 (1976–91, to Ohio Capital Conference) New Albany Golden Eagles (1976–84, to Mid-Buckeye League) Lewis Center Olentangy Braves4 (1976–91, to BAC) Radnor Buckeye Valley Barons5 (1977–90, to Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference) Dublin Shamrocks (1977–91, to Ohio Capital Conference) Grandview Heights Bobcats (1977–91, to BAC) Richwood North Union Wildcats (1977–90, to Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference) West Jefferson Roughriders (1977–91, to BAC) London Red Raiders (1984–91, to BAC)
Concurrent with CBL and Darby Valley League 1976-77. Concurrent with CBL and Mid-Ohio League 1976-77. Concurrent with CBL and Mid-Buckeye League 1976-77. Concurrent with CBL and Metropolitan League 1976-77. Concurrent with CBL and Mid-Ohio League 1977-78.
Central Buckeye League Divisions 1981-91 Buckeye Central Bexley Columbus Academy (boys only) Big Walnut Columbus School for Girls (girls only) Buckeye Valley (81-90) Grandview Heights Dublin Jonathan Alder London (84-91) North Union (81-90) Marysville New Albany (81-84) Olentangy (81-84) Olentangy (84-91) West Jefferson
Central Ohio League One of the first large-school conferences in Central and East Ohio, its widespread geography led to membership instability through its lifespan.
Cambridge Bobcats (1926–58, to Ohio Valley Athletic Conference 1960) Coshocton Redskins (1926–61, to Cardinal Conference) Lancaster Golden Gales (1926–85, to Buckeye Central Conference 1987) Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets (1926–35, 1945–47, to Central Buckeye League) Newark Wildcats (1926–85, to Buckeye Central Conference 1987) Westerville Wildcats (1926–29, to Central Buckeye League) Zanesville Blue Devils (1926–29, 1931–85, Lash until 1954, to Buckeye Central Conference 1987) Marietta Tigers (1936–85, to Southeast Ohio Athletic League) Chillicothe Cavaliers (1941–44, to South Central Ohio League, 1948–76, to Ohio Capital Conference) Dover Tornadoes (1941–57, to Cardinal Conference 1960) Ironton Tigers (1963–68, to Southeast Ohio Athletic League) Upper Arlington Golden Bears (1968–81, to Ohio Capital Conference) Grove City Greyhounds (1976–81, to Ohio Capital Conference)
Delaware County League Ashley Elm Valley Aces2,5 (Ashley before 1952, 192?-63, consolidated into Buckeye Valley) Bellepoint Bears (192?-52, consolidated into Scioto Valley) Galena Golden Eagles (192?-50, consolidated into Big Walnut) Harlem Hawks (192?-50, consolidated into Big Walnut) Hyatts Hornets (192?-53, consolidated into Olentangy) Kilbourne Brown Bears(192?-52, consolidated into Elm Valley) Lewis Center Olentangy Braves6 (Lewis Center before 1953, 192?-63, to Mid-Ohio) Ostrander Scioto Valley Rockets7 (Ostrander before 1953, 192?-63, consolidated into Buckeye Valley) Powell Pirates (192?-53, consolidated into Olentangy) Radnor Trojans (192?-63, consolidated into Buckeye Valley) Sunbury Wildcats1,3 (192?-50, consolidated into Big Walnut) West Berlin Warriors (192?-53, consolidated into Olentangy) Sunbury Big Walnut Golden Eagles4,6 (1950–63, to Mid-Ohio)
Concurrent with Mid-State League 1946-49. Concurrent with Mid-Buckeye League 1948-53. Concurrent with Mid-Buckeye League 1948-50. Concurrent with Mid-Buckeye League 1950-54 Concurrent with Mid-Ohio Conference 1953-63. Concurrent with Mid-Ohio Conference 1954-63. Concurrent with Mid-Ohio Conference 1956-63.
Franklin County League Organized with the beginning of the state basketball tournament in 1922, the league membership was fairly fluid, as schools left for other regional and power leagues, and often returned again. The league was one that was directly hindered by the creation of the Ohio Capital Conference, as two of its five remaining members left for the league in 1968, and the other schools left to fill in spots in other conferences.
Bexley Lions (1922–29, to Central Buckeye League, 1966–68, to Mid-8 League) Gahanna Columbus Academy Vikings (1922–49, to Mid-State, 1957-66, to Mid-Buckeye) Canal Winchester Indians (1922–57, to Mid-State League, 1964–66, to Mid-State League) Dublin Shamrocks (1922–68, to Metropolitan League) Columbus Franklin Heights Falcons (1922–58, to South Central Ohio League) Grandview Heights Bobcats (1922–29, to Central Buckeye League, 1966–68, to Mid-8 League) Grove City Greyhounds (1922–50, to Mid-6 League) Groveport-Madison Cruisers (1922–58, to Mid-8 League) Columbus Hamilton Township Rangers (1922–64, to South Suburban League) Hilliards Wildcats (1922–50, to Mid-6 League) Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions (1922–58, to Mid-8 League) Columbus Mifflin Cowpunchers (1922–58, to Mid-8 League) New Albany Eagles (1922–65, to Mid-Buckeye League) Reynoldsburg Raiders (1922–66, to Metropolitan League) Upper Arlington Golden Bears (1922–39, to Central Buckeye League, 1966–68, to Central Ohio League) Westerville Wildcats (1922–26, to Central Ohio League) Whitehall-Yearling Rams (1922–58, to Central Buckeye League) Worthington Cardinals (1922–39, to Central Buckeye League, 1945–50, to Mid-6 League, 1966-68, to Ohio Capital Conference) West Jefferson Roughriders (1963–68, to Metropolitan League)
Knox County League Amity Aces2 (192?-58, consolidated into Mount Vernon) Bladensburg Blades3 (192?-61, to Knox-Morrow) Centerburg Trojans (192?-48, to Mid-Buckeye League) Danville1 Blue Devils (192?-55, to Mid-Buckeye League) Fredericktown Freddies (192?-61, to Johnny Appleseed) Gambier Pirates2 (192?-58, consolidated into Mount Vernon) Howard Bulldogs3 (192?-61, to Knox-Morrow)
Concurrent with Mid-Buckeye League 1954-55. Concurrent with Knox-Morrow League 1955-58. Concurrent with Knox-Morrow League 1955-61.
Knox-Morrow League Formed in 1955, this league was formed by smaller schools in the two counties to solve scheduling issues with their dwindling county leagues (which all remained in). The league folded after the 1961-62 school year, as consolidation left only two schools.Knox-Morrow League North Central Ohio Basketball: Knox-Morrow League
Amity Aces1 (1955–58, consolidated into Mount Vernon) Bladensburg Blades2 (1955–62, consolidated into Howard) Chesterville Eagles3 (1955–62, consolidated into Highland) Gambier Pioneers1 (1955–58, consolidated into Mount Vernon) Howard Bulldogs2 (1955–62, became East Knox and joined Mid-Buckeye in 1963) Johnsville Johnnies3 (1955–62, rejoined Morrow County League) Marengo Wildcats3 (1955–62, consolidated into Highland) Sparta Spartans3 (1955–60, consolidated into Marengo)
Concurrent with KCL throughout membership. Concurrent with KCL until 1961. Concurrent with MCL throughout membership.
Marion County League Caledonia Scots (pre-1931-62, consolidated into River Valley) Claridon Hornets (pre-1931-62, consolidated into River Valley)