ghsknightsfan
love the Knights and Grey Ghosts!
that is completely true. but it will also balance competition with the addition of Riverside in the north. this may keep them from having to go to a big/small split.
Ohio Heritage Conference 2025
- Thread starter wls_color
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footballsalads43
Well-known member
I gotta man up and say that I was horribly wrong... I thought Riverside had no chance of being added, and was by far the least likely candidate of the three.. Congrats to them!! They are a great addition for the league, and it will be exciting to see them compete in the OHC North!
As for whos getting moved to the south, I think West Jeff or Northeastern would both work fine. I have a feeling Northeastern will be preferred however. Quicker trips for most schools, however at least for football competition Northeastern might actually raise it more... They have beat West Jeff the last 3 years, all sports wise West Jeff seems to be probably a bit better.. tough choice!
As for whos getting moved to the south, I think West Jeff or Northeastern would both work fine. I have a feeling Northeastern will be preferred however. Quicker trips for most schools, however at least for football competition Northeastern might actually raise it more... They have beat West Jeff the last 3 years, all sports wise West Jeff seems to be probably a bit better.. tough choice!
nwwarrior09
Well-known member
If big/small realignment was a serious consideration they would have added Miami East IMO.
The Dock
Champion, 2024 Yappi Challenge
I’m late by a week-and-a-half on the GCC discussion (even though it’s apparently moot), but I’ll throw my thoughts in as GCC’s been in my school’s league for a decade-plus now.
I think a lot of what’s been said about GCC is overly optimistic on their prospects. I don’t see their snub by the OHC as that big of a loss.
— — —
1) When GCC joined the Cardinal in 2013, they were bar-none the school with the biggest coffers. They still are. However, they never were one to drop a dime toward enhancing their facilities or anything athletics-related for the longest time imaginable.
The planned multipurpose facility is because the current arrangement is inadequate. I don’t believe they got visiting locker rooms until a few years ago. Football and basketball. It used to be that the visiting “locker rooms” for both sports were a classroom. It was only a few years ago (2022?) that a set of metal risers was established for visiting fans for hoops — it previously was two columns of bleachers for BOTH home/away. Football is still single-sided.
More to the point on general stinginess: I can tell you as someone who follows spring sports that GCC historically acts cheap on transportation. If the home team’s baseball or softball field isn’t playable, despite the other being fine, or if one of the contests has their Umps cancel, they will just straight up refuse to send the team whose game could’ve otherwise been played. It’s not as if they are Miller/Southern Perry, one of the deadest-broke districts in the state, for crying out loud.
The Gilmour Academy comparison, I just disagree with. Columbus Academy and Wellington are far closer to GA from a facilities perspective. Their best opportunity on facilities is to be better than Worthington Christian.
2) I still have yet to see GCC be the athletic titan many thought they would be back when this discussion would’ve been on the Huddle in the early 10’s. As I mentioned earlier, they have zero Cardinal titles in girls’ sports despite being the largest the entire time. Football and baseball are historically shaky for them (some years decent, others not) with BBK being their one true good sport.
3) GCC in theory should’ve been a hand-in-glove fit for the Central Buckeye League (the successor to the notorious, now defunct MSL-Ohio) with Bexley, Cols Academy, Grandview Hts, Worthington Christian et al when there was an opening. That league instead landed on… Franklin Heights? “One of these schools is unlike the others, one of these schools does not belong.” Kind of akin to Northridge suddenly becoming a GCL Co-Ed expansion school instead of Dayton Christian (in a hypothetical.) It’s not as if GCC didn’t think they’d be growing (with a sudden desire to invest in their facilities) when that decision happened, either.
Feel free to interpret why they aren’t there instead however you wish.
My general take is GCC applied to the OHC out of desperation. Their long-term league opportunities are UNK. I’m sure their refrain is “well we don’t want to be traveling to/playing Harvest Prep, Miller, and Rosecrans” which, OK. I must’ve missed when GCC wasn’t afforded a vote on those three schools, or where they must have signed some weird covenant binding them to a league where the core is east of the Columbus metro to begin with. How is it suddenly now a time to look for a new league, or to have concerns about the conference they play in?
Fairbanks Fred
Member
Welcome Riverside to the North !
The debate of WJ or NE to the South is an interesting one....both schools can make a good case and the South should be interested in both. I wonder when/how this decision will be made??
The debate of WJ or NE to the South is an interesting one....both schools can make a good case and the South should be interested in both. I wonder when/how this decision will be made??
WJfan4life
Well-known member
I want to stay in the North, no disrespect to the teams in the South, just like it where we are,
Whomever goes to the south will dictate the direction of the conference as a whole. I, personally, think it's time for a complete realignment.
It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of many things about WJ, but I do not want to see them going to the OHC South. I'm a fan of good competition more than anything else.
It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of many things about WJ, but I do not want to see them going to the OHC South. I'm a fan of good competition more than anything else.
Buckeyes04
Active member
If the move is NE to the south. The divisional (based on OHSAA 2025 release last week) breakdown looks rather competitive.
North:
D5 WLS
D6 WJ
D6 Fairbanks
D6 Mechanicsburg
D6 Triad
D7 Riverside
South:
D5 Greeneview
D6 Madison Plains
D6 Northeastern
D7 Cedarville
D7 Southeastern
D7 SCC
I know this is two years out, but still fun to hypothesize!
North:
D5 WLS
D6 WJ
D6 Fairbanks
D6 Mechanicsburg
D6 Triad
D7 Riverside
South:
D5 Greeneview
D6 Madison Plains
D6 Northeastern
D7 Cedarville
D7 Southeastern
D7 SCC
I know this is two years out, but still fun to hypothesize!
nwwarrior09
Well-known member
Only one school in the North has previously been in the South.
Time to send them back and put them with who I’d argue should be their 2-3 biggest rivals in this league.
Time to send them back and put them with who I’d argue should be their 2-3 biggest rivals in this league.
WJ-OSU-STEELERS
Well-known member
Well, I would guess few people from WJ are concerned about your lack of fandom.
As for moving to the OHC South - football wise it just seems to be a horrible move for WJ and for the OHC. Rest of the sports it may make sense.
Do north/south for all sports except football. For football, put the best in one division. If Greeneview wants to travel a bit for 3 league games and play in the north - great.
It’s a (mostly) “respect” oriented lack of fandom, don’t read that wrong.I'm sure something like this has already been mentioned but, I think smaller divisions or pods with the current CBC/OHC/TRC schools joining under one umbrella would really help alleviate travel concerns. Kind of like the old GWOC had before they split a while back. Just a thought but would anyone complain about a division/pod setup like?
Indian Lake
Ben Logan
West Liberty
Triad or Riverside
Mechanicsburg
Graham
or
Shawnee
Northeastern
Northwestern
Kenton Ridge
Greenon
Tecumseh
or
SCC
Lehman
TC
Triad or Riverside
Southeastern
Cedarville
Plus another 1-2 divisions depending on how many schools would want in on something like this.
Split up these divisions however you wish, I just did a quick example without a ton of thought. Something with NU, Fairbanks and WJ together would seem to make sense too. Bellefontaine and Urbana would want to be together I'm sure I understand this would never actually happen so needless trips across 2 or sometimes 3 counties on a bus will continue to be a reality on a weeknight as opposed to games that would be just as competitive in a lot of cases and can bring much better gates on a consistent basis. Don't really care how you would split it up as far as being 2 or 3 separate conferences but the whole area could benefit so much from a fresh start IMO.
Indian Lake
Ben Logan
West Liberty
Triad or Riverside
Mechanicsburg
Graham
or
Shawnee
Northeastern
Northwestern
Kenton Ridge
Greenon
Tecumseh
or
SCC
Lehman
TC
Triad or Riverside
Southeastern
Cedarville
Plus another 1-2 divisions depending on how many schools would want in on something like this.
Split up these divisions however you wish, I just did a quick example without a ton of thought. Something with NU, Fairbanks and WJ together would seem to make sense too. Bellefontaine and Urbana would want to be together I'm sure I understand this would never actually happen so needless trips across 2 or sometimes 3 counties on a bus will continue to be a reality on a weeknight as opposed to games that would be just as competitive in a lot of cases and can bring much better gates on a consistent basis. Don't really care how you would split it up as far as being 2 or 3 separate conferences but the whole area could benefit so much from a fresh start IMO.
dograt
Well-known member
I wanted the OHC to take Riverside into the North, move NE or WJ to the South, then annex the rest of the TRC as the new OHC West. The AD's didn't call me to ask about my plan though!
footballsalads43
Well-known member
I am a fan of this idea, but I would do a few things. Swap out Northeastern for Urbana, and SCC/Cedarville/Southeastern for NU/West Jeff/Fairbanks somewhere. Then this would set up Bethel and Bellefontaine to the MVL. Milton, Miami East, Northridge and Covington to either the WOAC/SWBL. Greeneview, Madison Plains, London and JA are all hard to re-home but if we are talking about fantasy leagues that will never happen, here is my choice for a re-home for these schools!!
SCOL 3.0:
Clinton-Massie (D4)
Greeneview (D5) (would be a D4 eventually)
Greenfield McClain (D4)
Hillsboro (D3)
Miami Trace (D3)
Washington CH (D4)
Western Brown (D3)
Wilmington (D3)
Kenton Trace Conference 2.0:
Blanchester (D6)
Cedarville (D7)
East Clinton (D6)
Fayetteville-Perry (Football Only) (D7)
Madison-Plains (D6)
Northeastern (D6)
Southeastern Local (D7)
Springfield CC (D7)
New OCC Division:
Bloom-Carroll (D3)
Canal Winchester (D2)
Hamilton Township (D3)
JA (D4) (7 boys away from a D3 and is growing)
London (D3)
Teays Valley (D2)
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I've seen several posts in different areas about an OCC smaller school division and I just don't see it. The OCC realigns every 4 years so I just don't see them picking up any schools smaller than D2.
footballsalads43
Well-known member
I personally could see it working, however it may just operate as a completely separate league, and not have any OCC affiliation as well. It’s hard to tell what will happen, but I personally see some sort of new Columbus area league coming together consisting of D2-D4 teams whether it’s apart of the OCC or not, time will tell.
RollingTrain
Well-known member
Not true. New Albany was Division IV when they were selected and Big Walnut spent time in Division III.
The Dock
Champion, 2024 Yappi Challenge
The only realistic OCC option I see for Alder and London 5-10 years from now is (or would’ve been) something along the lines of…
Alder
London
Central Crossing (or Franklin Heights)
Westland
Teays
Hamilton
CC/FH and Westland in many regards are… not “too big” for Alder and London. Those non-Grove City HS schools within SWCS are way below the par of the Hilliards and Dublins — always have been and always will be.
BC & CW are impossible to pair with Alder and London due to issues with weeknight traffic. The span of 270 between Alum Creek Dr & 33, and 33 between 270 & the Lancaster bypass, is impossible for 5:15 baseball starts and 4:45 freshmen / 6:00 JV tip-offs coming from Madison County to those two schools during the week.
Ramfan2017
New member
Any bold predictions for this upcoming season? I am missing football!
footballsalads43
Well-known member
Although I think Greeneview will still win the south, my bold prediction is that Madison-Plains keeps the game extremely close this year, like within 5 points.
Ramfan2017
New member
I would honestly agree with you on that they had a couple key players out when we played them last year Definitely a well-coached team. I think the south title will come down to that game !
ghsknightsfan
love the Knights and Grey Ghosts!
I think MP will have an opportunity to surprise some people next year. Greeneview graduated a bunch. MP seemed to get hot late in the season, and went down to Ironton and almost pulled off an upset over Rock Hill in the playoffs. If they are ever going to win the south, it may be in 2025.
FballFan91
Active member
These new OCC teams would never be able to compete in the OCC. Maybe with each other, but lets be real, JA has been dominated by Bloom and London last 4 or so years. Canal and TV are lucky to be in the by far weakest OCC division, but that would cause some really lopsided OCC cross games. And this is a football forum but gotta think about all sports, no way this is good all around for athletics.
EJBaker937
New member
Riverside starting in 2027-28.
Thanks.
4 of 8 football teams with playoff wins, team state champs in CC, state runner up in BBK, state champ in GBK, 2 top 5 state ranked softball teams... pretty weak though.