Ohio Cardinal Conference Explained

Ohio Cardinal Conference
Pixels:	frameless
Classification:	OHSAA Divisions I-IV
Sports:	19
Founded:	2003
Members:	7
Website:	OCCSports.org

The Ohio Cardinal Conference, which began play in 2003, is an OHSAA athletic league whose members are from Ashland, Holmes, Richland, and Wayne counties in Ohio. The conference name stems from the local legacy of the Cardinal Conference.

The previous Cardinal Conference included: New Philadelphia, Dover, Coshocton, Ashland, Mansfield Malabar & Mansfield Madison.

History

In 2001, local athletic directors met in Mansfield, Ohio to discuss the formation of a new athletic conference; seven schools agreed to form the Ohio Cardinal Conference.^[1] Five of the initial member schools came from the disbanding Ohio Heartland Conference: Ashland, Lexington, Mansfield Madison, Mansfield Senior, and Orrville.^[2] West Holmes joined from the Mohican-Area Conference, and Wooster from the Federal League.^[2] Clear Fork, the only non-original member of the conference, joined for the 2004-05 season.

Bureaucratically, the conference had some early struggles. The first conference commissioner, Jim Glauer, resigned in 2002 before the league even began play.^[3] He was replaced by Ron Dessecker from Orrville, who remains the current commissioner.

Lexington High School has dominated the OCC athletically since the conference's inception. It has won nine consecutive all-sports trophies, the award given to the school with the greatest success in all conference athletic competitions.^[4] It also has won the girls' tennis conference title every year in the conference's history and has won three state titles in that sport.^[5] The Lexington boys' tennis team won all but one conference title and two state titles in the same sport. Other schools have dominated specific sports in the same way: Madison has dominated the league in girls’ volleyball and baseball. Mansfield Senior has been the champion or co-champion in boys' basketball in 9 of 11 league seasons, Wooster has won all eleven boys' swimming and nine girls' swimming titles, Ashland had four running girls' soccer championships, and Mount Vernon has won every conference softball title since joining in 2016.^[1]

West Holmes High School revived discussions that had begun in 2007 with the East Central Ohio League to leave the Ohio Cardinal Conference effective the 2009-10 school year, which would have left the conference with an odd number of teams.^[6] West Holmes has since decided, at least for the time being, to remain in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.

An invitation for membership was extended to Triway High School in 2009, but Triway's administration voted to remain in the PAC-8.^[7]

In March 2015, Orrville was invited to join the PAC-8 in 2016 as a replacement for schools that are leaving that league.^[8] As a result of the Red Riders' imminent departure, Mount Vernon was invited to replace them in 2016.^[9]

In March 2016, the OCC voted to kick out Clear Fork following the 2017-18 school year.^[10] The Colts subsequently joined the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in 2017-18 instead.

In April 2020, the OCC announced that New Philadelphia would join as their eighth member beginning in the 2022-23 school year. The OCC agreed to let New Philadelphia continue to play their Week 10 football rivalry with Dover, which is currently the third-oldest in Ohio.^[11]

In December 2022, Mount Vernon announced that they would leave the OCC after the 2023-2024 school year to join the Licking County League.^[12] On December 13, 2023, the OCC extended an invitation to Dover High School to join the league for the 2025-26 school year, with football to follow in 2026-27.^[13] Dover accepted the invite on January 11, 2024.^[14]

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bar:1 color:orange from:2003 till:end textcolor:black text:Ashland (2003-present) bar:2 color:green from:2004 till:2017 textcolor:black text:Clear Fork (2003-2017) bar:3 color:purple from:2003 till:end textcolor:yellow text:Lexington (2003-present) bar:4 color:green from:2003 till:end textcolor:white text:Madison (2003-present) bar:5 color:orange from:2003 till:end textcolor:black text:Mansfield (2003-present) bar:6 color:red from:2003 till:2016 textcolor:black text:Orrville (2003-2016) bar:7 color:blue from:2003 till:end textcolor:white text: West Holmes (2003-present) bar:8 color:yellow from:2003 till:end textcolor:blue text:Wooster (2003-present) bar:9 color:orange from:2016 till:2024 textcolor:black text: Mt Vernon (2016-2024) bar:10 color:red from:2022 till:end textcolor:black text: New Philadelphia (2022-)

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Members^[1]

School	Nickname	Location	Enrollment (CB/FB 2022)	State FB Region (2022)	Colors	Middle school(s)	Tenure
Ashland	Arrows	Ashland	378	2:6	Orange, Black	Ashland MS	2003-
Lexington	Minutemen	Lexington	301	3:10	Purple, Gold	Lexington JHS	2003-
Madison Comprehensive	Rams	Madison Twp.	344	3:10	Green, White	Madison JHS	2003-
Mansfield	Tygers	Mansfield	343	3:10	Orange, Brown	Mansfield MS	2003-
New Philadelphia	Quakers	New Philadelphia	340	3:9	Red, Black	Welty MS	2022-
	Knights	Millersburg	232	4:14	Blue, Red, White	West Holmes MS	2003-
Wooster	Generals	Wooster	426	2:7	Blue, Gold	Edgewood MS	2003-

Former members

School	Nickname	Location	Colors	Middle school(s)	Tenure
Clear Fork	Colts	Bellville	Green, Black, White	Clear Fork MS	2004-2017
Mount Vernon	Yellow Jackets	Mount Vernon	Orange, Black	Mount Vernon MS	2016-2024
Orrville	Red Riders	Orrville	Red, White, Black	Orrville MS	2003-2016

Future members

!School!Nickname!Location!Colors!Middle school(s)!Tenure

Dover

Crimson Tornadoes

Dover

Crimson and Gray

Dover MS

2025-

Conference rivalries

• Mansfield vs. Madison
• Mansfield vs. Ashland
• Mansfield vs. Lexington

Non-conference rivalries

• Orrville vs. Wooster
• West Holmes vs. Triway
• West Holmes vs. Hiland
• Lexington vs. Clear Fork
• Madison vs. Shelby
• Lexington vs. Ontario
• Mansfield Sr. vs. Massillion Washington
• Mount Vernon vs. Delaware Hayes
• New Philadelphia vs. Dover
• Ashland vs. Marion Harding

State championships^[15]

This table only includes state championships won by schools while a member of the Ohio Cardinal Conference:

School	Sport	Year(s)
Ashland	none
Clear Fork	Boys' Baseball	2010^[16]
Lexington	Girls' TennisBoys' Tennis Girls' Cross Country Boys' Cross Country	2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 20122004, 2013 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 2015, 2017
Madison	Girls Soccer	2020
Mansfield	none
Mount Vernon	none
Orrville	Volleyball	2003^[17]
West Holmes	Girls' Basketball	2014^[18]
Wooster	none

Boys' league championships^[19]

School Year	Football	Cross Country	Soccer	Golf	Basketball	Wrestling	Swimming	Bowling	Baseball	Track & Field	Tennis
2003-04	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster, Mansfield	West Holmes	Wooster	began in 2017-18	Ashland	Wooster	Lexington
2004-05	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Mansfield ^[20]	Wooster	Wooster	n/a	Lexington, Madison	Ashland	Lexington
2005-06	Madison, Orrville	Lexington	Ashland, Wooster	Ashland, Wooster	Mansfield ^[21]	Ashland	Wooster	n/a	Madison	Lexington	Lexington
2006-07	Ashland	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Mansfield ^[22]	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Ashland	Lexington	Wooster
2007-08	Ashland	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington, Mansfield ^[23]	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington
2008-09	Lexington	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Madison ^[24]	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork	Lexington	Lexington
2009-10	Ashland	Lexington	Clear Fork, Lexington	Ashland	Mansfield ^[25]	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork	Lexington	Lexington
2010-11	Clear Fork	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington ^[26]	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington
2011-12	Ashland	Wooster	Madison	Ashland	Lexington, Mansfield ^[27]	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington
2012-13	Madison, Mansfield, West Holmes	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	Mansfield	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington
2013-14^[28]	Mansfield	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	West Holmes	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Madison	Wooster	Lexington
2014-15^[29]	West Holmes, Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Lexington, Madison	Wooster	Lexington
2015-16^[30]	Ashland, Mansfield, Wooster	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster	n/a	Wooster	Ashland	Ashland
2016-17^[31]	Ashland, Lexington	Lexington	Wooster	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Wooster	n/a	Mt Vernon	Ashland	Ashland
2017-18^[32]	Ashland, Mansfield, Wooster	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington, Wooster	Lexington, Mt Vernon	Ashland	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington
2018-19	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington, Wooster	Lexington	Lexington, Mansfield	Ashland	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington
2019-20	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster	West Holmes	Wooster	Lexington	n/a - COVID	n/a - COVID	n/a - COVID
2020-21	Ashland, West Holmes, Wooster	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington
2021-22	West Holmes	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Ashland	West Holmes	Wooster	Wooster	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington
2022-23	West Holmes	Lexignton	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington, New Philadelphia	Mount Vernon	Wooster	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington
2023-24	Mansfield	Lexington	Lexington	New Philadelphia	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Mount Vernon	Lexington	Lexington
2024-25

Girls' league championships^[19]

School Year	Volleyball	Cross Country	Soccer	Tennis	Golf!	Basketball	Swimming	Bowling	Softball	Track & Field
2003-04	Orrville	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington	began in 2013	Orrville	Wooster	began in 2017-18	Ashland	Lexington
2004-05	Orrville, Madison, Lexington, West Holmes	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	Orrville	Lexington	n/a	Lexington	Lexington
2005-06	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	Wooster ^[33]	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork	Ashland
2006-07	Wooster	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	Lexington	Wooster	n/a	Ashland	Ashland
2007-08	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork, Wooster	Orrville
2008-09	Madison	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork, Lexington	Ashland
2009-10	Lexington, Madison, Orrville	Lexington	Lexington, Wooster	Lexington	n/a	Orrville ^[34]	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork	Ashland
2010-11	Madison	Lexington	Clear Fork	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Lexington	n/a	Clear Fork	Ashland
2011-12	Madison	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Orrville	Orrville
2012-13	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Madison	West Holmes
2013-14	Madison, Orrville	Lexington	Clear Fork	Lexington	Ashland	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Ashland	West Holmes
2014-15	Orrville	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Clear Fork	Lexington
2015-16	Orrville	Lexington	Clear Fork	Lexington	Ashland	West Holmes	Lexington	n/a	Clear Fork	Orrville
2016-17	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	Ashland	West Holmes	Wooster	n/a	Mount Vernon	Lexington
2017-18	Ashland	Lexington	Madison	Ashland	n/a	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington	Mount Vernon	Madison
2018-19	Lexington	Lexington	Madison	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Mount Vernon	Lexington
2019-20	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Ashland	n/a	Lexington	Wooster	Ashland	n/a - COVID	n/a - COVID
2020-21	Wooster	Lexington	Madison	Wooster	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	Mount Vernon	Madison
2021-22	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland, Madison, Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington
2022-23	Wooster	Lexington	Madison	Wooster	Ashland	Mansfield, West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	Madison, Mount Vernon, New Philadelphia	Lexington
2023-24	Wooster	Lexington	Madison, Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington
2024-25

All Sports Championships

2003-04	Wooster ^[35]
2004-05	Lexington
2005-06	Lexington
2006-07	Lexington
2007-08	Lexington
2008-09	Lexington
2009-10	Lexington ^[36]
2010-11	Lexington
2011-12	Lexington
2012-13	Lexington
2013-14	Ashland
2014-15	Lexington
2015-16	Ashland
2016-17	Ashland
2017-18	Lexington
2018-19	Lexington
2019-2020	Wooster^[37]
2020-21	Ashland
2021-22	Wooster
2022-23	Wooster
2023-24	Lexington
2024-25

See also

Ohio High School Athletic Conferences

External links

• Ohio Cardinal Conference home

Notes and References

1. "The History of the Ohio Cardinal Conference." Ohio Cardinal Conference http://www.occsports.org/history.html. Accessed June 17, 2008.
2. McCormick, Michael. "New league provides sense of rivalry." Coshocton Tribune, August 22, 2003
3. Ogle, Gary. "Glauer leaves OCC." Mansfield News Journal, October 18, 2002.
4. Kinton, Jami. "Class of 2008: Lexington sending record 24 seniors into college sports." Mansfield News Journal, June 5, 2008. http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/SPORTS/806050332. Accessed June 28, 2008.
5. "Lexington wins OCC all-sports trophy." Ashland Times-Gazette, June 11, 2008. http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/3925631. Accessed June 28, 2008.
6. Dorksen, Aaron. "West Holmes' Kaufman explains interest in ECOL." The Wooster Daily Record, February 22, 2008.
7. Web site: The-Daily-Record.com - Triway declines OCC invitation . 2011-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723084306/http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4729287 . 2011-07-23 . dead .
8. Web site: King. Steve. Principals Athletic Conference plans its future. . March 17, 2015. March 30, 2015.
9. Web site: Mount Vernon to join Ohio Cardinal Conference. Mount Vernon News. March 29, 2015. March 30, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208034052/http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/03/29/mount-vernon-to-join-ohio-cardinal-conference/. December 8, 2015. dead.
10. Web site: Clear Fork, Ontario to join MOAC. Morrow County Sentinel . March 10, 2016 . March 11, 2016.
11. Web site: Conrad. Curt. Ohio Cardinal Conference adds New Philadelphia. Richland Source. April 7, 2020. June 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120451/http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/03/29/mount-vernon-to-join-ohio-cardinal-conference/. March 4, 2016. Alt URL
12. Web site: Ohio Cardinal Conference facing uncertainty after Mount Vernon’s departure. Richland Source . December 28, 2022 . November 19, 2023.
13. Web site: Phillips. Larry. OCC extends invitation to Dover. Ashland Source . December 13, 2023 . December 14, 2023.
14. Web site: Conrad . Curt . 2024-02-05 . Checking all the boxes: OCC members excited about addition of Dover . 2024-02-25 . Richland Source . en-US.
15. Web site: State Champions. occsports.org. en-us. 2018-11-27.
16. Web site: 2010 State Baseball Tournament Recaps. www.ohsaa.org.
17. Web site: Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site. 2006-12-31. OHSAA.
18. Web site: OHSAA Girls Basketball Information. 2014-03-16. OHSAA.
19. Web site: Occsports.org. occsports.org.
20. Web site: 2004-05 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
21. Web site: 2005-06 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
22. Web site: 2006-07 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
23. Web site: 2007-08 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
24. Web site: 2008-09 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
25. Web site: 2009-10 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
26. Web site: 2010-11 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
27. Web site: 2011-12 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores. www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
28. Web site: 2013-2014 OCC Team Champions. occsports.org. en-us. 2018-11-27.
29. Web site: 2014-2015 OCC Team Champions. occsports.org. en-us. 2018-11-27.
30. Web site: 2015-2016 OCC Team Champions. occsports.org. en-us. 2018-11-27.
31. Web site: 2016-2017 OCC Team Champions. occsports.org. en-us. 2018-11-27.
32. Web site: 2017-2018 OCC Team Champions. occsports.org. en-us. 2018-11-27.
33. Web site: Kacsandi, Sexton cop top OCC girls basketball honors. The Daily Record.
34. Web site: Girls Hoops - Championship Edition. Red Rider Sports. Blog.
35. Web site: Generals win first OCC All-Sports title. The Daily Record.
36. Web site: In the Ohio Cardinal Conference, Lexington took the. The Daily Record.
37. Web site: Home Ohio Cardinal Conference. 2021-01-08. www.ohiocardinalconference.org.