Northern Buckeye Conference

{{For|the OHSAA league in Northeast Ohio also initialized as the "NBC"|Northeastern Buckeye Conference}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox sports league

| 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

| map_alt =

| map_caption =The member schools of the Northern Buckeye Conference.

| map_size =

| map_upright =

| website = {{URL|http://nbc-ohio.org/}}

}}

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

class="wikitable sortable"

!School

!Nickname

!Location

!Enrollment (CB/FB 2024)

!State FB Region (2024)

!Colors

!Type

!Middle school(s)

!Joined League

colspan="9" style="background:#676AFE;" |
Eastwood

|Eagles

|Pemberville

|187

|5:18

|Red, White, Columbia Blue
{{color box|red|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}} {{color box|#75B2DD|border=silver}}

|Public

|Eastwood MS

|2011

Fostoria

|Redmen

|Fostoria

|197

|5:18

|Red, Black
{{color box|red|border=silver}} {{color box|black|border=silver}}

|Public

|Fostoria JHS

|2011

Genoa

|Comets

|Genoa

|177

|5:18

|Maroon, Gray
{{color box|maroon|border=silver}} {{color box|gray|border=silver}}

|Public

|John C. Roberts MS

|2011

Lake

|Flyers

|Millbury

|198

|5:18

|Navy Blue, White, Columbia Blue
{{color box|#000080|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}} {{color box|#75B2DD|border=silver}}

|Public

|Lake MS

|2011

Otsego

|Knights

|Tontogany

|205

|4:14

|Black, Orange, White
{{color box|black|border=silver}} {{color box|orange|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

|Public

|Otsego JHS

|2011

Maumee

|Panthers

|Maumee

|282

|3:10

|Purple, Gold
{{color box|#422172|border=silver}} {{color box|gold|border=silver}}

|Public

|Gateway MS

|2023

Oak Harbor

|Rockets

|Oak Harbor

|195

|5:18

|Red, Green, White
{{color box|red|border=silver}} {{color box|green|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

|Public

|Oak Harbor Intermediate

|2023

Rossford

|Bulldogs

|Rossford

|231

|4:14

|Maroon, Gray
{{color box|maroon|border=silver}} {{color box|gray|border=silver}}

|Public

|Rossford JHS

|2011

=Former members=

class="wikitable sortable"

!School

!Nickname

!Location

!Colors

!Tenure

!Current Conference

colspan="10" style="background:#676AFE;" |
Elmwood

|Royals

|Bloomdale

|Royal Blue, White
{{color box|blue|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

|2011-2023

|Blanchard Valley Conference

Woodmore

|Wildcats

|Elmore

|Navy, Gold
{{color box|#000080|border=silver}} {{color box|gold|border=silver}}

|2011-2023

|Sandusky Bay Conference

History

=2010s=

The NBC officially formed on July 1, 2011, and began its inaugural season in fall 2011.{{cite web | last = Held| first = Chayse| title = Five SLL schools, Rossford plan new league | publisher = Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune | date = June 9, 2009| url = http://www.sent-trib.com/high-school-sports/five-sll-schools-rossford-plan-new-league | access-date = May 15, 2011}} 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.{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Suburban Lakes League says no to Bulldogs' bid| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = June 3, 2008| url = http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2008/06/03/Suburban-Lakes-League-says-no-to-Bulldogs-bid.html| access-date = January 12, 2014}} 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.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = SLL plans 12-team, 2-division alignment | publisher = Toledo Blade | date = March 25, 2009| url = http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2009/03/25/SLL-plans-12-team-2-division-alignment.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} 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.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = 5 from SLL join Rossford for new league| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = May 22, 2009| url = http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090522/SPORTS12/905220353| access-date = September 9, 2010}} 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.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = 5 from SLL join Rossford for new league| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = May 22, 2009| url = http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2009/08/13/NBC-gives-invitation-to-Fostoria-Elmwood.html| access-date = January 12, 2014}} Maumee's school board voted on August 3, 2009, to remain in the NLL.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = New frontier ahead for area leagues| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = July 19, 2010| url = http://toledoblade.com/article/20100719/SPORTS12/7190363| access-date = September 10, 2010}} The NBC voted to invite both Elmwood and Fostoria on August 12, to which Fostoria quickly accepted on August 17{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Fostoria votes to join NBC | publisher = Toledo Blade | date = August 18, 2009| url = http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2009/08/18/Fostoria-votes-to-join-NBC.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} and Elmwood on September 9, after they were denied admission into the Midland Athletic League.{{cite web | last = Held| first = Chayse| title = Elmwood to join Northern Buckeye Conference | publisher = Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune | date = September 9, 2009| url = http://www.sent-trib.com/high-school-sports/elmwood-to-join-northern-buckeye-conference | access-date = May 15, 2011}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2013/05/16/Jones-retiring-Bringman-named-NBC-commissioner.html|title = NBC commissioner Jones retiring}}

=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.{{cite web | last = Hanneman| first = Dave| title = BVC Tenders Invitation to Elmwood | publisher = The Courier (Findlay) | date = August 18, 2020| url = https://thecourier.com/news/272804/bvc-tenders-invitation-to-elmwood/ | accessdate = September 28, 2020}} Ultimately, on February 8, 2021, 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.{{cite web | last = Hanneman| first = Dave| title = Elmwood accepts offer to join BVC | publisher = The Courier (Findlay) | date = February 8, 2021| url = https://thecourier.com/news/303252/elmwood-accepts-offer-to-join-bvc/ | accessdate = February 10, 2021}}

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.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = Maumee to leave NLL, join NBC| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = March 22, 2021| url = https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2021/03/22/Maumee-to-leave-NLL-join-NBC/stories/20210322119| accessdate = March 22, 2021}}

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.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = Woodmore to exit NBC, join SBC| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = May 21, 2021| url = https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2021/05/20/high-school-sports-woodmore-to-exit-northern-buckeye-join-sandusky-bay-conference/stories| accessdate = May 21, 2021}} Woodmore joined 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.{{cite web | last = Junga| first = Steve| title = Oak Harbor to accept invitation to join NBC| publisher = Toledo Blade | date = May 26, 2021| url = https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2021/05/26/oak-harbor-to-leave-sandusky-bay-conference-to-join-northern-buckeye-conference/stories| accessdate = May 26, 2021}}

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:25

Period = from:2011 till:2025

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = right:30 left:0 bottom:50 top:5

Colors = id:barcolor

id:line value:black

id:bg value:white

PlotData=

width:20 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:m

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=

class="wikitable"

!School Year{{cite web|title=Northern Buckeye Conference|url=http://northernbuckeyeconference.net/sports/sports.html|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 23, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219155340/http://www.northernbuckeyeconference.net/sports/sports.html|archivedate=December 19, 2011}}!!Football!!Soccer!!Cross Country!!Golf!!Basketball!!Wrestling!!Baseball!!Track & Field

2011-12

| Eastwood

| Woodmore

| Elmwood

| Woodmore

| Eastwood, Lake

| Elmwood

| Lake

| Eastwood

2012-13

| Genoa

| Woodmore

| Otsego

| Woodmore

| Otsego

| Genoa

|Otsego

| Eastwood

2013-14

|Genoa

|Rossford

|Otsego

|Lake

|Lake

|Genoa

|Lake

|Eastwood

2014-15

| Eastwood

|Rossford

|Otsego

|Rossford

|Lake, Rossford

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Eastwood

2015-16

| Lake

|Eastwood

|Otsego

|Rossford

|Elmwood, Rossford

|Genoa

|Eastwood, Elmwood, Lake

|Eastwood

2016-17

|Eastwood

|Lake

|Otsego

|Rossford

|Eastwood, Genoa

|Genoa

| Rossford

|Eastwood

2017-18

|Eastwood

|Lake, Woodmore

|Eastwood

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2018-19

|Genoa

|Woodmore

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Lake

|Eastwood

2019-20

|Eastwood

|Rossford

|Otsego

|Genoa

|Rossford

|Eastwood

|Season Canceled

|Season Canceled

2020-21

|Otsego

|Genoa

|Genoa

|Genoa, Woodmore

|Rossford

|Elmwood

|Lake

|Genoa

2021-22

|Otsego

|Genoa

|Otsego

|Lake

|Eastwood

|Lake

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2022-23

|Eastwood

|Genoa, Lake

|Otsego

|Genoa

|Rossford

|Genoa

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2023-24

|Oak Harbor

|

|

|

|Fostoria, Genoa

|

|

|

2024-25

|Oak Harbor

|

|

|

|Otsego

|

|

|

=Girls championships=

class="wikitable"

!School Year!!Volleyball!!Soccer!!Cross Country!!Golf!!Basketball!!Softball!!Track & Field

2011-12

| Eastwood

| Lake

| Eastwood

| Elmwood

| Lake

| Eastwood

| Eastwood

2012-13

| Eastwood

| Lake

| Eastwood

| Otsego

| Elmwood

|Elmwood

| Eastwood

2013-14

| Otsego

|Woodmore

|Eastwood

|Elmwood

|Elmwood

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2014-15

| Otsego

|Lake

|Eastwood

|Otsego

|Otsego

|Elmwood

|Eastwood

2015-16

|Eastwood, Otsego

|Woodmore

|Woodmore

|Elmwood

|Genoa

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2016-17

|Eastwood

|Woodmore

|Otsego

|Rossford

|Otsego

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2017-18

|Eastwood

|Lake

|Eastwood

|Otsego

|Eastwood, Elmwood

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2018-19

|Fostoria

|Lake

|Woodmore

|Otsego

|Eastwood, Elmwood, Lake

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

2019-20

|Otsego

|Eastwood

|Genoa

|Otsego

|Otsego

|Season Canceled

|Season Canceled

2020-21

|Eastwood, Lake

|Eastwood

|Woodmore

|Rossford

|Elmwood, Woodmore

|Otsego

|Eastwood

2021-22

|Lake

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

|Otsego

|Elmwood, Lake

|Otsego

|Eastwood

2022-23

|Lake

|Eastwood

|Eastwood

|Otsego

|Fostoria, Woodmore

|Eastwood

|Woodmore

Individual State Champions

  • Erik Fertig, Eastwood, Discus, 2019
  • Katelyn Meyer, Eastwood, High Jump, 2018
  • Erik Fertig, Eastwood, Discus, 2018
  • Regan Clay, Rossford, 400m, 2016
  • Regan Clay, Rossford, 400m, 2015
  • Cole Gorski, Otsego, Pole Vault, 2014{{cite web|last1=Junga|first1=Steve|title=Otsego's Cole Gorski vaults to win|url=http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/393590|website=Toledo Blade|date=June 7, 2014}}
  • Jay Nino, Genoa, Wrestling (220 lb.), 2014{{cite web|last1=Emmons|first1=Donald|title=Genoa's Nino collects Ohio title and record|url=http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/356922|website=Toledo Blade|date=March 6, 2014}}

=See also=

References

{{Reflist}}