Northern Buckeye Conference Explained

Association:Ohio High School Athletic Association
Founded:2011
Inaugural:Fall 2011
Sports:Baseball Basketball Bowling Cross-country Football Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track and field Volleyball Wrestling
Teams:8
Region:Lucas, Ottawa and Wood County, Ohio
Map:NorthernBuckeyeConference2011.PNG

The Northern Buckeye Conference (NBC) is an OHSAA high school athletic conference that began athletic competition in 2011 with 8 high schools from Northwest Ohio's Ottawa and Wood counties as members.

Members

SchoolNicknameLocationEnrollment (CB/FB 2024)State FB Region (2024)ColorsTypeMiddle school(s)Joined League
EastwoodEaglesPemberville1875:18Red, White, Columbia Blue
PublicEastwood MS2011
FostoriaRedmenFostoria1975:18Red, Black
PublicFostoria JHS2011
GenoaCometsGenoa1775:18Maroon, Gray
PublicJohn C. Roberts MS2011
LakeFlyersMillbury1985:18Navy Blue, White, Columbia Blue
PublicLake MS2011
OtsegoKnightsTontogany2054:14Black, Orange, White
PublicOtsego JHS2011
MaumeePanthersMaumee2823:10Purple, Gold
PublicGateway MS2023
Oak HarborRocketsOak Harbor1955:18Red, Green, White
PublicOak Harbor MS2023
BulldogsRossford2314:14Maroon, Gray
PublicRossford JHS2011

Former members

SchoolNicknameLocationColorsTenureCurrent Conference
ElmwoodRoyalsBloomdaleRoyal Blue, White
2011-2023Blanchard Valley Conference
WildcatsElmoreNavy, Gold
2011-2023Sandusky Bay Conference

History

2010s

The NBC officially formed on July 1, 2011, and began its inaugural season in fall 2011.[1] The idea for the league was born in spring 2009 when the Suburban Lakes League was unable to gather enough votes among member schools to make former Northern Lakes League member Rossford its eighth member as a replacement for Lakota.[2] The SLL principals created a plan for a 12-team, two-division league upon the request of Eastwood's superintendent, and voted 6–0–1 to begin contacting schools to invite them into this league.[3] Shortly after, the idea for expansion was dropped when the seven members could not agree on which schools to approve extending membership to. Speculation on proposed members was pointed at Rossford, Fostoria, Maumee, Northwood, Ottawa Hills, Cardinal Stritch, and Danbury.

Ultimately, the five SLL schools that "voted" for Rossford's inclusion held a superintendent's meeting without Gibsonburg and Elmwood to discuss creating a new league. In this meeting, Eastwood, Genoa, Lake, Otsego and Woodmore decide to withdraw from the Suburban Lakes League in order to create a new league with Rossford called the Northern Buckeye Conference.[4] Former NLL commissioner and Northview High School athletic director Larry Jones was named league commissioner, which became effective on August 1, 2009. Plans to add two more schools to the league became a priority shortly after. Elmwood, Fostoria, and Maumee confirmed receiving verbal invitations to apply for NBC membership, and on August 5, 2009, Commissioner Jones announced that only Elmwood and Fostoria had formally applied prior to the July 31 deadline.[5] Maumee's school board voted on August 3, 2009, to remain in the NLL.[6] The NBC voted to invite both Elmwood and Fostoria on August 12, to which Fostoria quickly accepted on August 17[7] and Elmwood on September 9, after they were denied admission into the Midland Athletic League.[8]

Since the league has Northern Lakes League commissioner Larry Morrison as a consultant, and five of the schools had prior membership with the NLL, the NBC set up their league bylaws and constitution similar to the NLL's. This also includes a "majority rules" clause for votes, which is different from the SLL's that called for a 75% vote.

Commissioner Jones stepped down at the end of May 2013 and handed the reins over to Dave Bringman.[9]

2020s

In August 2020, Elmwood announced they had received a formal invitation from the Blanchard Valley Conference and were seriously looking at the opportunity. However, no immediate plans were announced to leave the Northern Buckeye Conference.[10] Ultimately, on February 8, 2021, multiple sources confirmed the Elmwood Local Schools board unanimously approved that the Elmwood Royals would leave the NBC and join the Blanchard Valley Conference in the 2023-2024 school year or sooner.[11]

On March 22, 2021, the school board at Maumee voted unanimously to leave the NLL and join the Northern Buckeye Conference no later than the 2023-24 school year as a replacement for Elmwood, following their departure to Blanchard Valley Conference.[12]

On May 20, 2021, Woodmore's school board announced they were going to accept the Sandusky Bay Conference's invitation to join their league for the 2023-24 school year.[13] It is speculated that Woodmore will leave the NBC to play in the SBC's River Division with schools of similar enrollment size.

On May 26, 2021, the school board at Oak Harbor announced they would be leaving the SBC and accepting the NBC's invitation to replace Woodmore.[14]

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Colors = id:barcolor id:line value:black id:bg value:white

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bar:1 color:red from:2011 till:end textcolor:white text:Eastwood (2011-) bar:2 color:brightblue from:2011 till:2023 textcolor:white text:Elmwood (2011-2023) bar:3 color:black from:2011 till:end textcolor:red text:Fostoria (2011-) bar:4 color:claret from:2011 till:end textcolor:white text:Genoa (2011-) bar:5 color:darkblue from:2011 till:end textcolor:white text:Lake (2011-) bar:6 color:orange from:2011 till:end text:Otsego (2011-) bar:7 color:claret from:2011 till:end textcolor:white text:Rossford (2011-) bar:8 color:darkblue from:2011 till:2023 textcolor:yellow text:Woodmore (2011-2023) bar:9 color:purple from:2023 till:end textcolor:yellow text:Maumee (2023-) bar:10 color:green from:2023 till:end textcolor:red text:Oak Harbor (2023-)ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:2011

TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(370,30) # tabs:(0-center) text:"NBC Membership History"

League championships

Boys championships[15]

School YearFootballSoccerCross CountryGolfBasketballWrestlingBaseballTrack & Field
2011-12EastwoodWoodmoreElmwoodWoodmoreEastwood, LakeElmwoodLakeEastwood
2012-13GenoaWoodmoreOtsegoWoodmoreOtsegoGenoaOtsegoEastwood
2013-14Genoa RossfordOtsegoLakeLakeGenoaLakeEastwood
2014-15EastwoodRossfordOtsego RossfordLake, Rossford GenoaGenoaEastwood
2015-16LakeEastwoodOtsegoRossfordElmwood, RossfordGenoaEastwood, Elmwood, Lake Eastwood
2016-17EastwoodLakeOtsegoRossfordEastwood, Genoa GenoaRossford Eastwood
2017-18Eastwood Lake, WoodmoreEastwoodGenoaGenoaGenoaEastwood Eastwood
2018-19GenoaWoodmoreGenoaGenoaGenoaGenoaLake Eastwood
2019-20EastwoodRossfordOtsegoGenoaRossfordEastwoodSeason CanceledSeason Canceled
2020-21OtsegoGenoaGenoaGenoa, WoodmoreRossfordElmwoodLakeGenoa
2021-22OtsegoGenoaOtsegoLakeEastwoodLakeEastwoodEastwood
2022-23EastwoodGenoa, LakeOtsegoGenoaRossford Genoa EastwoodEastwood

Girls championships[15]

School YearVolleyballSoccerCross CountryGolfBasketballSoftballTrack & Field
2011-12EastwoodLakeEastwoodElmwoodLakeEastwoodEastwood
2012-13EastwoodLakeEastwoodOtsegoElmwoodElmwoodEastwood
2013-14OtsegoWoodmoreEastwoodElmwoodElmwoodEastwoodEastwood
2014-15OtsegoLakeEastwoodOtsegoOtsegoElmwoodEastwood
2015-16Eastwood, OtsegoWoodmoreWoodmoreElmwoodGenoaEastwoodEastwood
2016-17EastwoodWoodmoreOtsegoRossfordOtsego EastwoodEastwood
2017-18EastwoodLakeEastwoodOtsegoEastwood, ElmwoodEastwoodEastwood
2018-19FostoriaLakeWoodmoreOtsegoEastwood, Elmwood, Lake EastwoodEastwood
2019-20OtsegoEastwoodGenoaOtsegoOtsegoSeason CanceledSeason Canceled
2020-21Eastwood, LakeEastwoodWoodmoreRossfordElmwood, WoodmoreOtsegoEastwood
2021-22LakeEastwoodEastwoodOtsegoElmwood, LakeOtsegoEastwood
2022-23LakeEastwoodEastwoodOtsegoFostoria, Woodmore EastwoodWoodmore

Individual State Champions

See also

Ohio High School Athletic Conferences

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Held. Chayse. Five SLL schools, Rossford plan new league . . June 9, 2009. May 15, 2011.
  2. Web site: Suburban Lakes League says no to Bulldogs' bid. . June 3, 2008. January 12, 2014.
  3. Web site: Junga. Steve. SLL plans 12-team, 2-division alignment . . March 25, 2009. January 12, 2014.
  4. Web site: Junga. Steve. 5 from SLL join Rossford for new league. . May 22, 2009. September 9, 2010.
  5. Web site: Junga. Steve. 5 from SLL join Rossford for new league. . May 22, 2009. January 12, 2014.
  6. Web site: Junga. Steve. New frontier ahead for area leagues. . July 19, 2010. September 10, 2010.
  7. Web site: Fostoria votes to join NBC . . August 18, 2009. January 12, 2014.
  8. Web site: Held. Chayse. Elmwood to join Northern Buckeye Conference . . September 9, 2009. May 15, 2011.
  9. Web site: NBC commissioner Jones retiring.
  10. Web site: Hanneman. Dave. BVC Tenders Invitation to Elmwood . . August 18, 2020. September 28, 2020.
  11. Web site: Hanneman. Dave. Elmwood accepts offer to join BVC . . February 8, 2021. February 10, 2021.
  12. Web site: Junga. Steve. Maumee to leave NLL, join NBC. . March 22, 2021. March 22, 2021.
  13. Web site: Junga. Steve. Woodmore to exit NBC, join SBC. . May 21, 2021. May 21, 2021.
  14. Web site: Junga. Steve. Oak Harbor to accept invitation to join NBC. . May 26, 2021. May 26, 2021.
  15. Web site: Northern Buckeye Conference. dead. October 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111219155340/http://www.northernbuckeyeconference.net/sports/sports.html. December 19, 2011.
  16. Web site: Junga. Steve. Otsego's Cole Gorski vaults to win. Toledo Blade. June 7, 2014.
  17. Web site: Emmons. Donald. Genoa's Nino collects Ohio title and record. Toledo Blade. March 6, 2014.