Ohio Cardinal Conference
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Ohio Cardinal Conference
| logo = OCC Logo.png
| pixels = frameless
| caption =
| classification = OHSAA Divisions I-IV
| region = {{flag|Ohio}}
| sports = 19
| founded = 2003
| members = 7
| website = [http://www.occsports.org/ OCCSports.org]
| map =
| map_caption =
| footnotes =
}}
The Ohio Cardinal Conference, which began play in 2003, is an OHSAA athletic league whose members are from Ashland, Holmes, Richland, Tuscarawas, 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, Wooster, 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."The History of the Ohio Cardinal Conference." Ohio Cardinal Conference http://www.occsports.org/history.html. Accessed June 17, 2008. Five of the initial member schools came from the disbanding Ohio Heartland Conference: Ashland, Lexington, Mansfield Madison, Mansfield Senior, and Orrville.McCormick, Michael. "New league provides sense of rivalry." Coshocton Tribune, August 22, 2003 West Holmes joined from the Mohican-Area Conference, and Wooster from the Federal League. 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.Ogle, Gary. "Glauer leaves OCC." Mansfield News Journal, October 18, 2002. 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.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. 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."Lexington wins OCC all-sports trophy." Ashland Times-Gazette, June 11, 2008. http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/3925631. Accessed June 28, 2008. 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.
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.Dorksen, Aaron. "West Holmes' Kaufman explains interest in ECOL." The Wooster Daily Record, February 22, 2008. 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4729287 |title=The-Daily-Record.com - Triway declines OCC invitation |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723084306/http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4729287 |archive-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead }}
In March 2015, Orrville was invited to join the PAC-8 in 2016 as a replacement for schools that are leaving that league.{{cite web | last = King| first = Steve| title = Principals Athletic Conference plans its future| publisher = The Suburbanite | date = March 17, 2015| url = http://m.thesuburbanite.com/article/20150317/OPINION/150319726/2011/OPINION| access-date = March 30, 2015}} As a result of the Red Riders' imminent departure, Mount Vernon was invited to replace them in 2016.{{cite web| title = Mount Vernon to join Ohio Cardinal Conference| publisher = Mount Vernon News| date = March 29, 2015| url = http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/03/29/mount-vernon-to-join-ohio-cardinal-conference/| access-date = March 30, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208034052/http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/03/29/mount-vernon-to-join-ohio-cardinal-conference/| archive-date = December 8, 2015| url-status = dead}}
In March 2016, the OCC voted to kick out Clear Fork following the 2017-18 school year.{{cite web | title = Clear Fork, Ontario to join MOAC| publisher = Morrow County Sentinel | date = March 10, 2016 | url = http://morrowcountysentinel.com/sports/8212/clear-fork-ontario-to-join-moac| access-date = March 11, 2016}} 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.{{cite web| last = Conrad| first = Curt| title = Ohio Cardinal Conference adds New Philadelphia| publisher = Richland Source| date = April 7, 2020| url = http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/03/29/mount-vernon-to-join-ohio-cardinal-conference/| access-date = June 23, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120451/http://mountvernonnews.com/story/2015/03/29/mount-vernon-to-join-ohio-cardinal-conference/| archive-date = March 4, 2016}} [https://www.richlandsource.com/sports/ohio-cardinal-conference-adds-new-philadelphia/article_74a77efa-7865-11ea-881f-f3816a95b12d.html Alt URL]
In December 2022, Mount Vernon announced that they would leave the OCC after the 2023-2024 school year to join the Licking County League.{{cite web | title = Ohio Cardinal Conference facing uncertainty after Mount Vernon’s departure| publisher = Richland Source | date = December 28, 2022 | url = https://www.richlandsource.com/2022/12/28/ohio-cardinal-conference-facing-uncertainty-after-mount-vernons-departure/| access-date = November 19, 2023}} 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.{{cite web | last = Phillips| first = Larry| title = OCC extends invitation to Dover| publisher = Ashland Source | date = December 13, 2023 | url =https://www.ashlandsource.com/2023/12/13/occ-extends-invitation-to-dover/| access-date = December 14, 2023}} Dover accepted the invite on January 11, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Conrad |first=Curt |date=2024-02-05 |title=Checking all the boxes: OCC members excited about addition of Dover |url=http://www.richlandsource.com/2024/02/05/checking-all-the-boxes-occ-members-excited-about-addition-of-dover/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Richland Source |language=en-US}}
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:25
Period = from:2003 till:2030
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: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-)
bar:11 color:claret from:2025 till:end textcolor:white text: Dover (2025-)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2003
TextData =
fontsize:L
textcolor:black
pos:(370,30) # tabs:(0-center)
text:"OCC Membership History"
Members
File:OhioCardinalConferenceMap.png
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| School
!Nickname !Location !Enrollment (CB/FB 2022) !State FB Region (2022) !Colors !Middle school(s) !Tenure |
|---|
| colspan="8" style="background:#676AFE;" | |
| Ashland
|Arrows |378 |2:7 |Orange, Black |Ashland MS |2003- |
| Dover
|Crimson Tornadoes |353 |3:11 |Crimson and Gray {{color box|Crimson|border=silver}} {{Color box|Gray|border=silver}} |Dover MS |2025- |
| Lexington
|Minutemen |301 |3:10 |Purple, Gold |Lexington JHS |2003- |
| Madison Comprehensive
|Rams |344 |3:10 |Green, White |Madison JHS |2003- |
| Mansfield
|Tygers |343 |3:10 |Orange, Brown |Mansfield MS |2003- |
| New Philadelphia
|Quakers |340 |3:11 |Red, Black |Welty MS |2022- |
| West Holmes
|Knights |232 |4:15 |Blue, Red, White |West Holmes MS |2003- |
| Wooster
|Generals |426 |2:7 |Blue, Gold |Edgewood MS |2003- |
=Former members=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| School
!Nickname !Location !Colors !Middle school(s) !Tenure |
|---|
| colspan="6" style="background:#676AFE;" | |
| Clear Fork
|Colts |Green, Black, White |Clear Fork MS |2004-2017 |
| Mount Vernon
|Yellow Jackets |Orange, Black |Mount Vernon MS |2016-2024 |
| Orrville
|Red Riders |Red, White, Black |Orrville MS |2003-2016 |
= Future members =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !School !Nickname !Location !Colors !Middle school(s) !Tenure |
=Conference rivalries=
- Mansfield vs. Madison
- Mansfield vs. Ashland
- Mansfield vs. Lexington
- New Philadelphia vs. Dover
=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
- Ashland vs. Marion Harding
State championships
This table only includes state championships won by schools while a member of the Ohio Cardinal Conference:{{cite web|url=http://occsports.org/index.php/state-champions|title=State Champions|website=occsports.org|language=en-us|access-date=2018-11-27}}
| class="wikitable" |
| School
! Sport ! Year(s) |
|---|
| Ashland
| style="text-align:center;"|none | |
| Clear Fork
|Boys' Baseball |
| Lexington
|Girls' Tennis Boys' Tennis Girls' Cross Country Boys' Cross Country |2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 2004, 2013 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 2015, 2017 |
| Madison
| Girls Soccer |2020 |
| Mansfield
| style="text-align:center;"|none | |
| Mount Vernon
|none | |
| Orrville
|Volleyball |2003{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/|title=Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site|access-date=2006-12-31|author=OHSAA}} |
| West Holmes
|Girls' Basketball |2014{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bk/girls/default.asp|title=OHSAA Girls Basketball Information|access-date=2014-03-16|author=OHSAA}} |
| Wooster
| style="text-align:center;"|none | |
Boys' league championships
| class="wikitable" | ||||||||||
| School Year{{cite web|url=http://occsports.org/|title=Occsports.org|website=occsports.org}} | Football | Cross Country | Soccer | Golf | Basketball | Wrestling | Swimming
!Bowling | Baseball | Track & Field | Tennis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2003-04 |Wooster |Wooster |Lexington |Ashland |Wooster, Mansfield |West Holmes |Wooster |began in 2017-18 |Ashland |Wooster |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2004-05 |Wooster |Wooster |Lexington |Ashland |Wooster |Wooster |n/a |Lexington, Madison |Ashland |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2005-06 |Madison, Orrville |Lexington |Ashland, Wooster |Ashland, Wooster |Ashland |Wooster |n/a |Madison |Lexington |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2006-07 |Ashland |Wooster |Wooster |Lexington |West Holmes |Wooster |n/a |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2007-08 |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster |Lexington |West Holmes |Wooster |n/a |Wooster |Lexington |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2008-09 |Lexington |Lexington |Lexington |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Clear Fork |Lexington |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2009-10 |Ashland |Lexington |Clear Fork, Lexington |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Clear Fork |Lexington |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2010-11 |Clear Fork |Ashland |Wooster |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Wooster |Lexington |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2011-12 |Ashland |Wooster |Madison |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Ashland |Lexington |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2012-13 |Madison, Mansfield, West Holmes |Ashland |Ashland |Lexington |Mansfield |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Lexington |Wooster |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
|Mansfield |Ashland |Ashland |Lexington |West Holmes |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Madison |Wooster |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
|West Holmes, Wooster |Ashland |Lexington |Lexington |Ashland |Lexington |Wooster |n/a |Lexington, Madison |Wooster |Lexington | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
|Ashland, Mansfield, Wooster |Ashland |Ashland |Lexington |Lexington |Ashland |Wooster |n/a |Wooster |Ashland |Ashland | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
|Ashland, Lexington |Lexington |Wooster |Ashland |Wooster |Ashland |Wooster |n/a |Mt Vernon |Ashland |Ashland | ||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;"
|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
|Ashland |Lexington |Madison |Lexington | | | | | | | |
Girls' league championships
All Sports Championships
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:left;"
! 2003-04 |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2004-05 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2005-06 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2006-07 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2007-08 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2008-09 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2009-10 |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2010-11 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2011-12 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2012-13 |Lexington |
| style="text-align:left;"
!2013-14 |
| 2014-15 |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
| 2016-17 |
| 2017-18 |
| 2018-19
|Lexington |
| 2019-2020 |
| 2020-21
|Ashland |
| 2021-22
|Wooster |
| 2022-23
|Wooster |
| 2023-24
|Lexington |
| 2024-25
| |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ohiocardinalconference.org Ohio Cardinal Conference home]
{{Ohio Cardinal Conference}}
{{Northwest Ohio High School Athletic Conferences}}