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.
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| Classification | OHSAA Divisions I-IV |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Region |  Ohio |
| Official website | OCCSports.org |
The previous Cardinal Conference included: New Philadelphia, Dover, Coshocton, Ashland, Mansfield Malabar & Mansfield Madison.
History
editIn 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]
| 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
edit| 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
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 |
| 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 |
| 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
References
edit- ^ a b c "The History of the Ohio Cardinal Conference." Ohio Cardinal Conference http://www.occsports.org/history.html. Accessed June 17, 2008.
- ^ a b McCormick, Michael. "New league provides sense of rivalry." Coshocton Tribune, August 22, 2003
- ^ Ogle, Gary. "Glauer leaves OCC." Mansfield News Journal, October 18, 2002.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Lexington wins OCC all-sports trophy." Ashland Times-Gazette, June 11, 2008. http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/3925631. Accessed June 28, 2008.
- ^ Dorksen, Aaron. "West Holmes' Kaufman explains interest in ECOL." The Wooster Daily Record, February 22, 2008.
- ^ "The-Daily-Record.com - Triway declines OCC invitation". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ King, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Principals Athletic Conference plans its future". The Suburbanite. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Clear Fork, Ontario to join MOAC". Morrow County Sentinel. March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Ohio Cardinal Conference facing uncertainty after Mount Vernon's departure". Richland Source. December 28, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Phillips, Larry (December 13, 2023). "OCC extends invitation to Dover". Ashland Source. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Conrad, Curt (2024-02-05). "Checking all the boxes: OCC members excited about addition of Dover". Richland Source. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "State Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ "2010 State Baseball Tournament Recaps". www.ohsaa.org.
- ^ OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ OHSAA. "OHSAA Girls Basketball Information". Retrieved 2014-03-16.
- ^ a b "Occsports.org". occsports.org.
- ^ "2004-05 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2005-06 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2006-07 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2007-08 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2008-09 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2009-10 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2010-11 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ "2011-12 Ohio Cardinal Conference Basketball Scores". www.crawfordcountybasketball.com.
- ^ a b c "2013-2014 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ a b c "2014-2015 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ a b c "2015-2016 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ a b c "2016-2017 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ a b c "2017-2018 OCC Team Champions". occsports.org. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ "Kacsandi, Sexton cop top OCC girls basketball honors". The Daily Record.
- ^ Blog, Red Rider Sports. "Girls Hoops - Championship Edition".
- ^ "Generals win first OCC All-Sports title". The Daily Record.
- ^ "In the Ohio Cardinal Conference, Lexington took the". The Daily Record.
- ^ "Home | Ohio Cardinal Conference". www.ohiocardinalconference.org. Retrieved 2021-01-08.