This is a list of former high school athletic conferences in the Northwest 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.
Auglaize County League Wapakoneta Blume Redskins (192?-29, to Mid-Western League) Buckland Indians (192?-64, consolidated into Wapakoneta) Cridersville Rams (192?-64, consolidated into Wapakoneta) St. Marys Memorial Roughriders (192?-29, to MWL) New Bremen Cardinals (192?-70, to Wayne) New Knoxville Rangers (192?-70, to Wayne) Wapakoneta St. Joseph Saints (192?-70, to Wayne)1 Waynesfield-Goshen Tigers (192?-70, to West Central Ohio Conference)2
Concurrent with Wayne 1956-70. Concurrent with Logan County League 1960-70.
Big Five League Bowling Green Bobcats (1929–31, to Buckeye League 1934) Lima Central Spartans (1929–31, to Southern Ohio League 1941) Defiance Bulldogs (1929–31, to Northwest Ohio) Fostoria Redmen (1929–31, to Buckeye League 1934) Lima South Tigers (1929–31, to Southern Ohio League 1941)
Black Fork Valley Conference The all-time members of the Black Fork Valley Conference. (1979–1982) Charter Members Ashland Crestview Cougars (1979-1982) Lucas Cubs (1979–1982) Mansfield Christian Flames (1980-1982, Basketball Only) Plymouth Big Red (1979–1982)
Buckeye League/Conference The league was created when Columbian, Fremont Ross, and Sandusky left the Little Big 7 league to join with Bowling Green, Findlay, and Fostoria. When Bowling Green and Fostoria left for the Great Northern League (and Tiffin went to the NOL), the league added two schools from the Lake Erie League and rebranded as the Buckeye Conference. The league ended in 1987 as most schools joined either the Buckeye Central Conference or the Erie Shore League.
Bowling Green Bobcats (1934–54, to Great Northern) Tiffin Columbian Tornadoes (1934–54, to Northern Ohio) Findlay Trojans (1934–87, to Buckeye Central) Fostoria Redmen (1934-35.1939–54, to Great Northern) Fremont Ross Little Giants (1934–87, to Buckeye Central) Sandusky Blue Streaks (1934–39, 1954–87, to Erie Shore) Tiffin Junior Order Home Juniors (1938–43, closed) Marion Harding Presidents (1947–87, to Ohio Heartland) Elyria Pioneers (1954–87, to Erie Shore) Lorain Steelmen (1954–87, to Erie Shore) Lorain Admiral King Admirals (1962–87, to Erie Shore) Mansfield Senior Tygers (1962–81, to Ohio Heartland in 1987)
Crawford County League A small-school county league, the CCL was organized in 1935 and did not have a change in membership until 1958. Nevada joined in 1961, after the Wyandot County League folded, with the CCL only having four remaining schools. Buckeye Central and Colonel Crawford, two recent consolidations, left for the North Central Conference the following year, with the three remaining schools consolidating into Wynford in 1963.
Chatfield Tigers (1935–60, consolidated into Buckeye Central) Brokensword Holmes-Liberty Pirates (1935–63, consolidated into Wynford) Leesville Trojans (1935–58, consolidated into North Robinson) Lykens Panthers (1935–61, consolidated into Holmes-Liberty) Monnett Mount Zion Bulldogs (1935–63, consolidated into Wynford) New Washington Indians (1935–60, consolidated into Buckeye Central) North Robinson Robins (1935–60, consolidated into Colonel Crawford) Sulphur Springs Yellow Jackets (1935–60, consolidated into Colonel Crawford) Tiro Tigers (1935–60, consolidated into Buckeye Central) New Winchester Whetstone Hornets (1935–58, consolidated into North Robinson) New Washington Buckeye Central Bucks (1960–62, left for North Central Conference) North Robinson Colonel Crawford Eagles (1960–62, left for Johnny Appleseed Conference (joined in 1961) and North Central Conference) Nevada Knights (1961–63, consolidated into Wynford)
Firelands League Clyde Fliers (1934–39) Huron Tigers (1934–53, to Lakleland Conference) Castalia Margaretta Polar Bears (1934–53, to Lakleland Conference) Milan Indians (1934–53, to Huron-Erie League) Monroeville Eagles (1934–53, to Huron-Erie League)1 Norwalk St. Paul Flyers (1936–53) Berlin Heights Tigers (1941–53, to Huron-Erie League) New London Wildcats (1947–53, to Lakleland Conference)1 Vermilion Sailors (1947–53, to Lakleland Conference)
Concurrent with Huron County League throughout FL tenure.
Great Lakes League (1956–2003) The GLL existed from fall of 1956 until spring of 2003 before essentially transforming into the Greater Buckeye Conference. It had been born off of the old Great Northern Conference's Orange Division. The following schools were members at some point:
Bowling Green Bobcats (1956–60, 1969–78, to Northern Lakes) Oregon Clay Eagles (1956-2003, to Toledo City League) Fostoria Redmen (1956-2000, to Northern Ohio) Sylvania Northview Wildcats (1956–96, to Northern Lakes, known as Sylvania until 1978) Temperance (MI) Bedford Mules (1960-2000, to Southeastern (MI)) Port Clinton Redskins (1963–80, to Sandusky Bay) Toledo Rogers Rams (1965–67, to Toledo City) Toledo Whitmer Panthers (1965–69, 1984-2003, to Toledo City) Napoleon Wildcats (1978–97, 2002–03, to Greater Buckeye) Lima Shawnee Indians (1980–82, to Western Buckeye) Fremont Ross Little Giants (1991-2003, to Greater Buckeye) Findlay Trojans (1995-2003, to Greater Buckeye) Sandusky Blue Streaks (1997-2003, to Greater Buckeye) Lorain Admiral King Admirals (2000–02, to Lake Erie) Lorain Southview Saints (2000–02, to Lake Erie)
Great Northern Conference (c. 1945-1956)
The Great Northern Conference was created shortly after the end of World War II with the inaugural members of Clay, Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, Whitmer, and Sylvania. Anthony Wayne would join in 1953 after recently being consolidated. The GNC eventually added several members in 1956, splitting into a big schools division (Orange Division) and small schools division (Blue Division), both which would later split off into the Great Lakes League and Northern Lakes League, respectively.
Oregon Clay Eagles (1945–1956) Maumee Panthers (1945–1956) Perrysburg Yellow Jackets (1945–1956) Rossford Bulldogs (1945–1956) Sylvania Wildcats (1945–1956) Toledo Whitmer Panthers (1945–1956) Whitehouse Anthony Wayne Generals (1953–1956)
Greater Buckeye Conference (2003-2011)
Findlay Trojans (joined the Three Rivers Athletic Conference in 2011) Fremont Ross Little Giants (joined the Three Rivers Athletic Conference in 2011) Lima Senior Spartans (joined the Three Rivers Athletic Conference in 2011) Marion Harding Presidents Napoleon Wildcats (joined the Northern Lakes League in 2011) Sandusky Blue Streaks (joined the Northern Ohio League in 2011)
Hardin County League (19??–1964) Alger Eagles (19??-64, consolidated into Upper Scioto Valley) Dunkirk Dragons (19??-52, consolidated into Hardin Northern) Forest Rangers (19??-62, consolidated into Riverdale) Dola Hardin Northern Polar Bears (19??-64, Dola until 1952, to Blanchard Valley 1965) McGuffey Rockets (19??-64, consolidated into Upper Scioto Valley) Mt. Victory-Dudley Green Devils (19??-62, consolidated into Ridgemont) Ridgeway Tigers (19??-62, consolidated into Ridgemont) Roundhead Indians (19??-64, consolidated into Upper Scioto Valley) Mt. Blanchard Purple Hurricanes (1960–62, consolidated into Riverdale) Wharton Dragons (1960–62, consolidated into Riverdale)
Huron County League Greenwich Shamrocks (pre-1925-53, to Huron-Erie League)1 Monroeville Eagles (pre-1925-53, to Huron-Erie League)2 New Haven Yellow Jackets (pre-1925-53, to Huron-Erie League)1 New London Wildcats (pre-1925-53, to Lakeland Conference)3 North Fairfield Indians (pre-1925-53, to Huron-Erie League)1 Townsend Tigers (pre-1925-52, consolidated into Townsend-Wakeman)4 Wakeman Townsend-Wakeman Rough Riders (Wakeman before 1952, pre-1925-53, to Huron-Erie League)4
Concurrent with Twin Valley League pre-1936-41. Concurrent with Firelands League 1934-53. Concurrent with Northern Ohio Athletic League 1927-47, then Firelands League 1947-53. Concurrent with Good Neighbors League pre-1936-41).
Huron-Erie League This conference, the direct precursor to the Firelands Conference, was formed in 1953, as the Huron County League merged with two Erie County members of the old Firelands League, causing the remaining members to form the Lakeland Conference. With four members (and one new consolidation) remaining, the league dissolved and found new members to form the FC.
see Huron-Erie League Standings
Berlin Heights Tigers (1953-1960) (to Firelands Conference) Greenwich Shamrocks (1953-1960) (consolidated into South Central) Milan Indians (1953-1960) (to Firelands Conference) Monroeville Eagles (1953-1960) (to Firelands Conference) New Haven Yellow Jackets (1953-1957) (consolidated into Huron Valley) North Fairfield Indians (1953-1960) (consolidated into South Central) Plymouth Huron Valley Pilgrims (1957–58) (State voided consolidation in Feb. 1958. Plymouth retained school, New Haven consolidated with Willard) Collins Western Reserve Rough Riders(1953-1960) (Wakeman Townsend-Wakeman before 1959, to Firelands Conference)
Interurban Athletic League Lima Bath Wildcats (1909-1914) St. Mary's Memorial Roughriders (1909-1914) Minster Wildcats (1909-1914) New Bremen Cardinals (1909-1914) Piqua Indians (1909-1914) (now in SW region) Sidney Yellow Jackets (1909-1914) (Now in SW region) Delphos St. John's Blue Jays (1909-1914) Troy Trojans (1909-1914) (now in SW region) Versailles Tigers (1909-1914) Wapakoneta Redskins (1909-1914)
Johnny Appleseed Conference The all-time members of the Johnny Appleseed Conference.
Bellville Blue Jays (1962–1963) Butler Bulldogs (1962–1963) North Robinson Colonel Crawford Eagles (1962–1963) Crestline Bulldogs (1962–1977) Fredericktown Freddies (1962–1977) Lexington Minutemen (1962–1980, football 1965-1980) Loudonville Redbirds (1962–1980) Ontario Warriors (1962–1980) Plymouth Big Red (1962–1979) Bellville Clear Fork Colts (Consolidation of Bellville and Butler, 1963–1980) Galion Northmor Golden Knights (1964–1967) Ashland Crestview Cougars (1965–1979) Lucas Cubs (1965–1967)
Lakeshore Conference (1963–1972; 1979–1985) The Lakeshore Conference were two separate leagues made-up of schools that were in both loops. The original conference was formed in 1963 and folded in 1972 when four of its six members left. The second Lakeshore Conference came into existence around 1979 and folded after the 1985 football season.
First Version Danbury Lakers (1963–72) Green Springs Bobcats (1963–69, consolidated into Clyde) Elmore Bulldogs (1963–68, consolidated into Woodmore) Northwood Rangers (1963–72, to Michigan-Ohio Border Conference) Rudolph Westwood Warriors (1963–66, consolidated into Bowling Green) Woodville Warriors (1963–68, consolidated Woodmore in 1968) Grand Rapids Pirates (1967–68, consolidated into Otsego) North Baltimore Tigers (1969–72) Tontogany Otsego Knights (1967–72, to Suburban Lakes League) Ottawa Hills Green Bears (1967–72, to Michigan-Ohio Border Conference) Norwalk St. Paul Flyers (1967–68) Woodmore Wildcats (1968–72, to SLL)
Second Version: Danbury Lakers (1979-fall 85) Hopewell-Loudon Chieftains (1979-fall 85) North Baltimore Tigers (1979-fall 85) Northwood Rangers (1979-fall 85) Ottawa Hills Green Bears (1979-fall 85) St. Wendelin Mohawks (1982-fall 85) Seneca East Tigers (1979-fall 1985)