Mid-Buckeye Conference Explained

The Mid-Buckeye Conference, known also at times as the Middle Buckeye Conference, is an OHSAA athletics conference with member schools located in Ashland, Crawford, Knox, Richland, and Wayne counties.

The following are the current members:

SchoolNicknameLocationColorsTenure
Full Members
Central ChristianCometsKidronBlue, White
Spring 2015–present
CrestlineBulldogsBlue, White
2015-
LoudonvilleRedbirdsRed, Gray
2004–2024 (all sports)
2004-2016 (wrestling)
2004-2016 (football)[1]
LucasCubsLucasOrange, Black
2013–present
Mansfield ChristianFlamesMansfieldRed, White
2013–present
St. Peter'sSpartansMansfieldBlue, White
2013–present
Affiliate Members
CrestviewCougarsAshland (Weller Township, Richland County)Red, White, Black
2014- (Girls Soccer)
MapletonMountiesAshland (Orange Township)Royal Blue, Red
2014- (Girls Soccer)

Former members

League History

Originally formed in 1948, the league has had three separate incarnations. The original league lasted until 1962. The MBC reformed again in 1963 and lasted until 1979. The third and final reformation so far, took place in 1981 and that league has lasted to this day.

The league's future

The future of the MBC was threatened by more re-alignment in OHSAA conferences, as five of the league's former members submitted "intent to withdraw" letters to commissioner Wintermute in 2011.[2] Johnstown-Monroe, Northridge, and Utica[3] agreed to join the revamped Licking County League in 2013.[4] Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, and Fredericktown expressed interest in joining the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, a league that was exploring expansion in May 2011.[5] MOAC membership was initially only extended to Centerburg and Fredericktown, both of which agreed to join the league in 2013-14.[6] East Knox was offered membership on February 23, 2012 and joined in 2014.[7]

By 2014, the MBC had the possibility of being down to 2 members (Danville and Loudonville). However, applications for admission were submitted by Lucas, Mansfield Christian, and Mansfield St. Peter's to join in 2013-14, and were approved by the league shortly thereafter.[8] The league will continue to look for additional members, although they will not support a football championship.[9] Danville, East Knox, Loudonville, and Lucas began competing as football independents in 2013. Central Christian will join in the Spring of 2015 and Crestline will join in the Fall of 2015. As of the Fall of 2014, both Mapleton and Crestview compete in the MBC for girls soccer.[10]

On April 18, 2015, Loudonville announced that they will remain within the Mid-Buckeye Conference for all sports except football, which will join the Principals Athletic Conference for the 2017-2018 school year.[11]

In late 2015,[12] Danville announced they would leave the MBC to help form the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference with seven schools from the Blue Division of the MOAC.[13]

In March 2023, Loudonville's Board of Education approved joining the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) as a full-fledged member beginning with the 2024-25 school year.[14]

External links

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20sports/2015/04/18/loudonville-to-join-pac-for-football-only-in-2017-18>
  2. Web site: Deadline looming for Mid-Buckeye Conference / Mount Vernon News . 2011-06-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927035109/http://www.mountvernonnews.com/Sports/11/06/25/deadline-looming-for-mid-buckeye-conference . 2011-09-27 .
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-05-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928220626/http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20110418/HSSPORTS/110419001 . 2011-09-28 .
  4. Web site: Licking County League 'a done deal' / Mount Vernon News . 2011-04-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110325080637/http://www.mountvernonnews.com/Sports/11/03/22/licking-county-league-a-done-deal . 2011-03-25 .
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-04-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150104202245/http://www.marionstar.com/article/20110414/SPORTS/110414006/MOAC-votes-open-up-membership?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage . 2015-01-04 .
  6. http://www.marionstar.com/article/20110602/HSSPORTS/110602005/Schools-verbally-agree-join-MOAC?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  7. Web site: Putman. Bob. MOAC to expand to 16 teams: League extends invitations to Galion and East Knox. Marion Star. February 23, 2012. February 23, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150104204223/http://www.marionstar.com/article/20120223/SPORTS/120223006/MOAC-expand-16-teams?odyssey=tab. January 4, 2015.
  8. Web site: Davis. Bill. Mid-Buckeye Conference may not be dead after all. Mount Vernon News. March 9, 2012. March 9, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120514221757/http://www.mountvernonnews.com/Sports/12/03/09/mid-buckeye-conference-may-not-be-dead-after-all. May 14, 2012.
  9. Web site: Conrad. Curt. MBC welcomes new members: St. Peter's, Mansfield Christian, Lucas join struggling league. Mansfield News Journal. May 4, 2012. May 4, 2012.
  10. Web site: Bates. Jarred A.. Crestline to join Mid-Buckeye Conference in 2015. . December 22, 2014. January 3, 2015.
  11. http://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20sports/2015/04/18/loudonville-to-join-pac-for-football-only-in-2017-18
  12. Web site: McCurdy. Rob. Seven MOAC Blue Division schools are leaving the league. . November 20, 2015. November 21, 2015.
  13. Web site: McCurdy. Rob. Seven MOAC Blue Division schools are leaving the league. . November 20, 2015. November 21, 2015.
  14. Web site: Stine. Larry. Loudonville to join the KMAC in all sports in 2024-2025. Ashland Times Gazette . March 14, 2023. March 14, 2023.