Ohio Cardinal Conference

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Ohio Cardinal Conference
ClassificationOHSAA Divisions I-IV
Founded2003
Sports fielded
  • 19
Region Ohio
Official websiteOCCSports.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

[edit]

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]

Members[1]

[edit]
The current member schools of the OCC.
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-
West Holmes 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

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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

[edit]
School Nickname Location Colors Middle school(s) Tenure
Dover Crimson Tornadoes Dover Crimson and Gray

   

Dover MS 2025-

Conference rivalries

[edit]
  • Mansfield vs. Madison
  • Mansfield vs. Ashland
  • Mansfield vs. Lexington

Non-conference rivalries

[edit]
  • 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]

[edit]

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' 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 none
Mount Vernon none
Orrville Volleyball 2003[17]
West Holmes Girls' Basketball 2014[18]
Wooster none

Boys' league championships[19]

[edit]
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]

[edit]
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[28] Madison, Orrville Lexington Clear Fork Lexington Ashland West Holmes Wooster n/a Ashland West Holmes
2014-15[29] Orrville Lexington Wooster Lexington Lexington West Holmes Wooster n/a Clear Fork Lexington
2015-16[30] Orrville Lexington Clear Fork Lexington Ashland West Holmes Lexington n/a Clear Fork Orrville
2016-17[31] Lexington Lexington Ashland Lexington Ashland West Holmes Wooster n/a Mount Vernon Lexington
2017-18[32] 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

[edit]
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[28]
2014-15 Lexington[29]
2015-16 Ashland[30]
2016-17 Ashland[31]
2017-18 Lexington[32]
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

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The History of the Ohio Cardinal Conference." Ohio Cardinal Conference http://www.occsports.org/history.html. Accessed June 17, 2008.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ "The-Daily-Record.com - Triway declines OCC invitation". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
  8. ^ King, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Principals Athletic Conference plans its future". The Suburbanite. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  9. ^ "Mount Vernon to join Ohio Cardinal Conference". Mount Vernon News. March 29, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  10. ^ "Clear Fork, Ontario to join MOAC". Morrow County Sentinel. March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  11. ^ Conrad, Curt (April 7, 2020). "Ohio Cardinal Conference adds New Philadelphia". Richland Source. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2020. Alt URL
  12. ^ "Ohio Cardinal Conference facing uncertainty after Mount Vernon's departure". Richland Source. December 28, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  13. ^ Phillips, Larry (December 13, 2023). "OCC extends invitation to Dover". Ashland Source. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Conrad, Curt (2024-02-05). "Checking all the boxes: OCC members excited about addition of Dover". Richland Source. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  15. ^ "State Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  16. ^ "2010 State Baseball Tournament Recaps". www.ohsaa.org.
  17. ^ OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  18. ^ OHSAA. "OHSAA Girls Basketball Information". Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  19. ^ a b "Occsports.org". occsports.org.
  20. ^ "2004-05 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  21. ^ "2005-06 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  22. ^ "2006-07 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  23. ^ "2007-08 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  24. ^ "2008-09 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  25. ^ "2009-10 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  26. ^ "2010-11 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  27. ^ "2011-12 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
  28. ^ a b c "2013-2014 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  29. ^ a b c "2014-2015 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  30. ^ a b c "2015-2016 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  31. ^ a b c "2016-2017 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  32. ^ a b c "2017-2018 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  33. ^ "Kacsandi, Sexton cop top OCC girls basketball honors". The Daily Record.
  34. ^ Blog, Red Rider Sports. "Girls Hoops - Championship Edition".
  35. ^ "Generals win first OCC All-Sports title". The Daily Record.
  36. ^ "In the Ohio Cardinal Conference, Lexington took the". The Daily Record.
  37. ^ "Home | Ohio Cardinal Conference". www.ohiocardinalconference.org. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
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