Ohio Northeast Region defunct athletic conferences


This is a list of former high school athletic conferences in the Northeast Region of Ohio, as designated by the OHSAA. If a conference had members that span multiple regions, the conference is placed in the article of the region most of its former members hail from. Because the names of localities and their corresponding high schools do not always match and because there is often a possibility of ambiguity with respect to either the name of a locality or the name of a high school, the following table gives both in every case, with the locality name first, in plain type, and the high school name second in boldface type. The school's team nickname is given last.

All-American Athletic Conference

The All-American Athletic Conference was an OHSAA athletic conference that ran from 1986 until 1990. The league dissolved following the consolidation of Warren G. Harding and Western Reserve and the departure of Niles and Howland.
  • Warren G. Harding Panthers
  • Howland Tigers
  • Hubbard Eagles
  • Niles McKinley Dragons
  • Warren Western Reserve Raiders

All-American Conference (Football)

the All-American Conference was an OHSAA football athletic conference that existed from 1963 until 1979. The league dissolved to escape the dominance of Washington High School.

All-American Conference (2008-2020)

The All-American Conference was an OHSAA athletic Conference that existed from 2008 until 2020. The League dissolved following the exit of the remaining Blue Tier members, who went on to expand the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference.
2008-2012 Alignment
AAC - Blue Tier
AAC - Red
AAC - White
AAC - American
  • Lisbon Beaver Local Beavers
  • Canfield Cardinals
  • Hubbard Eagles
  • Struthers Wildcats
  • Poland Seminary Bulldogs
  • Howland Tigers
  • Niles McKinley Red Dragons
AAC - National
  • Youngstown Liberty Leopards
  • Jefferson Area Falcons
  • Campbell Memorial Red Devils
  • Cortland Lakeview Bulldogs
  • Champion Flashes
  • Leavittsburg LaBrae Vikings
  • Newton Falls Tigers
  • Girard Indians
2015-2017 Alignment
AAC - Blue
  • Brookfield Warriors
  • Leavittsburg LaBrae Vikings
  • Champion Flashes
  • Youngstown Liberty Leopards
  • Campbell Memorial Red Devils
  • Girard Indians
  • Newton Falls Tigers
AAC - Gold
  • Boardman Spartans
  • Warren G. Harding Raiders
  • Austintown Fitch Falcons
  • Ashtabula Lakeside Dragons
AAC - Red
  • Canfield Cardinals
  • Poland Seminary Bulldogs
  • Howland Tigers
  • Youngstown East Golden Bears
  • Niles McKinley Red Dragons
AAC - White
  • Cortland Lakeview Bulldogs
  • Poland Seminary Bulldogs
  • Struthers Wildcats
  • Hubbard Eagles
  • Niles McKinley Red Dragons
  • Jefferson Area Falcons
  • Ashtabula Edgewood Warriors
2018 Alignment
AAC - Blue
  • Brookfield Warriors
  • Leavittsburg LaBrae Vikings
  • Champion Flashes
  • Youngstown Liberty Leopards
  • Campbell Memorial Red Devils
  • Girard Indians
  • Newton Falls Tigers
AAC - Gold
  • Boardman Spartans
  • Warren G. Harding Raiders
  • Austintown Fitch Falcons
AAC - Red
  • Canfield Cardinals
  • Poland Seminary Bulldogs
  • Howland Tigers
  • Youngstown East Golden Bears
  • Niles McKinley Red Dragons
AAC - White
  • Cortland Lakeview Bulldogs
  • Poland Seminary Bulldogs
  • Struthers Wildcats
  • Hubbard Eagles
  • Niles McKinley Red Dragons
  • Jefferson Area Falcons
  • Ashtabula Edgewood Warriors
    2019 Alignment
  • Brookfield Warriors
  • Columbiana Crestview Rebels
  • Champion Flashes
  • Campbell Memorial Red Devils
  • Youngstown Liberty Leopards
  • Leavittsburg LaBrae Vikings
  • Newton Falls Tigers

Former Members

All-Ohio Conference/League

The league began as the AOC in 1976, as the Chippewa Conference split into this league and the Pioneer League. After Coventry replaced Tuscarawas Valley in 1983, the name was changed to the AOL.
  • Navarre Fairless Falcons
  • Canal Fulton Northwest Indians
  • Orrville Red Riders
  • Wooster Triway Titans
  • Millersburg West Holmes Knights
  • Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley Trojans
  • Manchester Panthers
  • Coventry Comets

Ashland County League

  • Albion Britons
  • Hayesville Panthers
  • Jeromesville Blue Jays
  • Loudonville Redbirds
  • Nankin Knights
  • Nova Trojans
  • Perrysville Admirals
  • Polk Presidents
  • Ruggles Redskins
  • Savannah Sailors
  • Sullivan Bobcats
  • Ruggles-Troy Golden Flashes
  • Sullivan Black River Pirates

Chippewa Conference

The Chippewa Conference was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1963 until 1977. The league dissolved following the exit of its members to the Pioneer and All-Ohio conferences.

Crown Conference (1968-1980)

Crown Conference (2021-2024)

Cuyahoga County Conference/League (1920s-1929)

"A" League
"B" League

Cuyahoga County Conference (1954-1956)

  • Beachwood Bison
  • Broadview Heights Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees
  • Brooklyn Hurricanes
  • Lyndhurst Brush Arcs
  • Chagrin Falls Tigers
  • Cuyahoga Heights Redskins
  • Independence Blue Devils
  • Mayfield Wildcats
  • North Royalton Bears
  • Pepper Pike Orange Lions
  • Richmond Heights Spartans
  • Solon Comets
  • Strongsville Mustangs
  • Warrensville Heights Tigers

Cuyahoga County Conference 1964-1979

  • Broadview Heights Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees
  • Brooklyn Hurricanes
  • Cuyahoga Heights Redskins
  • Independence Blue Devils
  • North Royalton Bears
  • Richmond Heights Spartans
  • Strongsville Mustangs
  • Warrensville Heights Tigers
  • Rocky River Lutheran West Longhorns

East Suburban Conference

The East Suburban Conference was an OHSAA athletic Conference that existed from 1968 until 2009. The league dissolved after the remaining members went on to form the Northeastern Athletic Conference.

Erie Coast Conference

Erie Shore Conference

Freeway Conference

The Freeway Conference was an OHSAA athletic Conference that existed from 1962 until 1968. The league dissolved following the exit of Mayfield, Mentor and South to join the original GCC.

Grand River Conference

The Grand River Conference was an OHSAA athletic Conference that existed from 1972 until 1989. The league was dissolved to from the East Suburban Conference in 1989.

Great Lakes Conference

The Great Lakes Conference was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 2015 until 2024. The league was dissolved following the exit of several schools to form the Cleveland West Conference in 2024, and the exit of Elyria Catholic and Holy Name to help form the North Coast Conference.
East Division
West Division

Greater Cleveland Conference (1950-1998)

The Greater Cleveland Conference existed from 1950-1998. A second form of the conference formed in 2015.
  • Bedford Bearcats
  • Berea Braves
  • Euclid Panthers
  • Garfield Heights Bulldogs
  • Maple Heights Mustangs
  • Middleburg Heights Midpark Meteors
  • Willoughby Union Rangers
  • Eastlake North Rangers
  • Mentor Cardinals
  • Mayfield Wildcats
  • Willoughby South Rebels
  • Lyndhurst Brush Arcs
  • Macedonia Nordonia Knights

Hall of Fame Conference

The Hall of Fame Conference was an OHSAA football athletic conference that existed from 1972 until 1975. The league dissolved following the closure of Lehman and Lincoln High Schools.

Inland Conference

The Inland Conference was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1957 until 1989. The league dissolved following the exit of the remaining schools, who left for the Metropolitan Athletic Conference.

Inter-County League

The Inter-County League was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1951 until 2006. The league was dissolved and reformed into the Inter-Tri County League in 2006.

Inter-Tri County League

The ITCL was formed as a merger of the Inter-County and Tri-County leagues in 2006. The two-tier system was realigned into a three-tier system in 2015 to reduce travel costs. In March 2016, it was announced that the league would disband into two leagues, the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference and the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference, effective for the 2017-18 year.
Blue Division
Red Division
White Division

Lake County League/Western Reserve Conference (1920s-1968)

The Lake County League was an OHSAA athletic conference that operated from the 1920s until 1968. It was renamed to the Western Reserve Conference in 1948.
  • Ashtabula Edgewood Warriors
  • Ashtabula Harbor Mariners
  • Conneaut Spartans
  • Conneaut Rowe Vikings
  • Fairport Harding Skippers
  • Geneva Spencer Wildcats
  • Jefferson Area Falcons
  • Kirtland Hornets
  • Madison Blue Streaks
  • Painesville Harvey Red Raiders
  • Perry Pirates
  • Wickliffe Blue Devils
  • Willougby Union Rangers

Lake Erie League

Lake Erie Conference was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1923 until 2025. The league disbanded due to lack of membership
Former members

Lakeland Conference

Lorain County Conference (1986–2005)

Lorain County League (1924-1961)

  1. Concurrent with Inland Conference 1957–61.
  2. Concurrent with Inland Conference 1959–61.
'''Division Alignments'''

Mahoning Valley Conference/Metro Athletic Conference

The MVC began in 1972, and changed its name to the MAC in 1994. In 2008 the league merged with the Trumbull Athletic Conference to become the All-American Conference.

Metro League

Metropolitan Area Conference (MAC-8)

  • Aurora Greenmen
  • Beachwood Bison
  • Brooklyn Hurricanes
  • Columbia Station Columbia Raiders
  • Cuyahoga Heights Redskins
  • Independence Blue Devils
  • Rocky River Lutheran West Longhorns
  • Richmond Heights Spartans
  • Gates Mills Gilmour Academy Lancers

Mohican Area Conference

  • Bellville Clear Fork Colts
  • Loudonville Redbirds
  • Millersburg West Holmes Knights
  • Wooster Triway Titans
  • Medina Buckeye Bucks
  • Sullivan Black River Pirates

North Central Conference (Cleveland area)

  • Bedford St. Peter Chanel Firebirds
  • Cleveland Central Catholic Ironmen
  • Cleveland Our Lady of Lourdes Crusaders
  • Cleveland St. John Cantius Jayhawks
  • Cleveland St. Stanislaus Panthers
  • Elyria Catholic Panthers
  • Gates Mills Gilmour Academy Lancers
  • Garfield Heights Trinity Trojans
  • Lorain St. Mary's Fighting Irish
  • Lorain Catholic Spartans
  • Mentor Lake Catholic Cougars
  • Parma Byzantine Catholic Buccaneers
  • Warrensville Heights Tigers

North Coast League

Northeastern Conference

  • Ashtabula Panthers
  • Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding Skippers
  • Geneva Eagles
  • Painesville Harvey Red Raiders
  • Mentor Cardinals
  • Painesville Riverside Beavers
  • Wickliffe Blue Devils
  • Conneaut Spartans
  • Willoughby South Rebels
  • Ashtabula St. John Heralds
  • Ashtabula Edgewood Warriors
  • Ashtabula Harbor Mariners
  • Jefferson Falcons
  • Andover Pymatuning Valley Lakers
  • Madison Blue Streaks
  • Ashtabula Lakeside Dragons

Northeast Ohio Conference (2007-2015)

The Northeast Ohio Conference name was used by two different conferences, one in the 1970s and the other from 2007 to 2015
The conference was formed in 2007 by the merger of the Pioneer Conference and a previous incarnation of the Western Reserve conference. There are three six-member divisions — Valley, River and Lake — that vary by sport.

Northeast Ohio Conference (1970-1977)

Northern Ohio Athletic League

Ohio Scholastic League

  • Alliance Aviators
  • Mansfield Tigers
  • Massillon Washington Tigers
  • Canton McKinley Bulldogs
  • Toledo Waite Indians
  • Warren G. Harding Panthers
The football-only league dissolved in May 1952, prior to the 1952 football season. Distance and low gate receipts were cited as reasons for folding the league. Toledo Waite representatives also mentioned that having to play conference newcomer Toledo Macomber in the Toledo City League would have made it impossible for them to continue playing in both leagues.
An interest in joining the league was expressed by Hamilton, Middletown, Springfield, and Toledo Libbey in 1949, but those schools ultimately decided the travel was too much for them to consider as well.

Pioneer Conference

This conference's growth was the result of major changes due such as population growth/shift, proximity to interstate corridors and the potential for greater natural border rivalries. The first was the mid/late 1970s where schools located south of the first ring suburbs near or through the I-71 corridor were realizing unprecedented growth. The conference's six charter members had outgrown their respective leagues. Berea and Midpark, both in the heart of the I-71 corridor, followed suit in 1979. During the 1980s Wadsworth, a member with strong athletic programs despite smaller enrollment, left for the Suburban League where opponents along the US-224 and I-76/I-94 corridors made better natural border rivalries. Cloverleaf followed suit in the late 1990s due to stagnation in its enrollment and its inability to maintain its programs at competitive levels in the PC. Conversely, Medina, also along the corridor, joined the PC in 1986 because of its unprecedented growth and the greater natural border rivalries among the league's charter members. The final shift was the early 2000s where first-ring south/west Cleveland suburbs found the charter PC members were now larger, more suitable opponents and closer in proximity; saving some travel among Lake Erie League opponents of years past. Lorain County schools, Elyria and North Ridgeville, were looking for closer, competitive opponents as an alternative to the continued shrinking of Lorain City and Sandusky schools. Their proximity to I-80 and I-480 made the jump to the PC more viable. This conference was a powerhouse in all sports and it was also the foundation of the Cleveland area's first suburban mega-conference, the NEO Conference, whose format was patterned after similar mega-conferences formed in Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati suburbs.

Portage Trail Conference

The Portage Trail Conference folded in 2025 due to lack of membership, following the losses of its final two charter members, who were also the only remaining public schools. Rootstown left to join the Chagrin Valley Conference and Mogadore, unable to find a new league, left in May 2025 to become an independent until they find a new league. With only three schools remaining, and only two that offer football, the league made the decision to fold at the end of the 2024–25 school year.
Final members
Other former members

Portage County League

One of the longest-surviving county leagues, lasting from 1918 until merging into the Portage Trail Conference in 2005.
  • Atwater Spartans
  • Aurora Greenmen
  • Brimfield Bears
  • Charlestown Wildcats
  • Deerfield Bison
  • Edinburgh Scots
  • Freedom Yellowjackets
  • Garrettsville Garfield G-Men
  • Hiram Huskies
  • Mantua Hilltoppers, Big Red, then Red Devils
  • Mantua Center Mantua Township Trojans
  • Mogadore Wildcats
  • Nelson Pirates
  • Palmyra Southeast Pirates
  • Palmyra
  • Wayland Paris Nightriders
  • Randolph Tigers
  • Ravenna Township Bulldogs
  • Rootstown Rovers
  • Shalersville Rams, also Owls
  • Streetsboro Rockets
  • Suffield Big Red, also Red Devils or Red Riders
  • Windham Bombers
  • Mantua Crestwood Red Devils
  • Kent University School|State] Statesmen
  • Brimfield Field Falcons
  • Atwater Waterloo Vikings
  • Peninsula Woodridge Bulldogs

Premier Athletic Conference

Section One League

Originally the Stark County B League, this league ended in 1960, as its last remaining member moved to the Stark County AA League.
  • Beach City Pirates
  • Brewster Railroaders
  • Canal Fulton Indians
  • East Sparta Spartans
  • Greentown Greyhounds
  • Hartville Blue Streaks
  • Lexington Lions
  • Magnolia Panthers
  • Marlboro Dukes
  • Navarre Rams
  • Uniontown Bobcats
  • Washington Warriors
  • Waynesburg Mohawks
  • Canton Oakwood Golden Raiders

Senate League

Originally the Stark County A League when formed in 1921, the league adjusted its name when Ohio went from "A"/"B" classification to "AA"/"A" in 1957. When the Federal League split off in 1964, the remaining members renamed their league the SL in response. The League folded in 1989, as its remaining members split to help form two new leagues.
  • Alliance Aviators
  • Canton South Wildcats
  • East Canton Hornets
  • Canton Glenwood Eagles
  • North Canton Hoover Vikings
  • Canton Jackson Polar Bears
  • Louisville Leopards
  • Minerva Lions
  • Canal Fulton Northwest Indians
  • Magnolia Sandy Valley Cardinals
  • Massilon Perry Panthers
  • Marlboro Marlington Dukes
  • Uniontown Lake Blue Streaks
  • Navarre Fairless Falcons
  • Canton Oakwood Golden Raiders
  • Tuscarawas Township Tuslaw Mustangs
  • Starsburg-Franklin Tigers
  • Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley Trojans
  • Carrollton Warriors
  • Uhrichsville Claymont Mustangs
  • Dover Tornadoes

Steel Valley Conference (2019-2025)

The original SVC existed from 1949 to 2009. 2019 marks the start of the second incarnation of the Steel Valley Conference. The Conference folded following the 2024-2025 School Year with Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline finding a new conference and Chaney and East consolidating into one school.

Steel Valley Conference (1949-2009)

  • Austintown-Fitch Falcons
  • Girard Indians
  • Hubbard Eagles
  • Niles McKinley Red Dragons
  • Campbell Memorial Red Devils
  • Struthers Wildcats
  • Boardman Spartans
  • Brookfield Warriors
  • Howland Tigers
  • Warren Western Reserve Raiders
  • Warren Warren G. Harding Panthers
  • Warren John F. Kennedy Eagles
  • Youngstown Rayen Tigers
  • Youngstown Wilson Presidents

Tomahawk Conference (Northeast)

Formed in 1958 by teams in Portage County, some of which had either been excluded from the Portage County League or grown too large due to consolidation. In 1961, it merged with the Portage County League.

Tri-County League (Northeast)

Formed in 1932, this league merged to form the Inter-Tri County League in 2006.
Football Divisions 1974 & 1975 seasons:
Tier ITier II
BeaverCrestview
ColumbianaLeetonia
East PalestineLisbon
TorontoSebring
WellsvilleSouthern
Springfield
Stanton
United

Trolley League/Western Reserve League

The Trolley League was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1919 until 1948. It was later renamed to the Western Reserve League in 1931 after the interurban trolley line was shut down.
  • Akron Ellet Orangemen
  • Akron Kenmore Cardinals
  • Akron St. Vincent Fighting Irish
  • Bedford Bearcats
  • Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers
  • Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders
  • Kent State University School Blue Devils
  • Medina Battling Bees
  • Orville Red Raiders
  • Ravenna Ravens
  • Wadsworth Grizzlies

Trumbull Interscholastic Conference/Association

The TIC/TIA was a former OHSAA athletic conference that existed between the early 1920s until the 1960s.
  • Bazetta Trojans
  • Bloomfield Cardinals
  • Braceville Indians
  • Bristol Panthers
  • Champion Flashes
  • Cortland Bulldogs
  • Farmington Falcons
  • Fowler Bulldogs
  • Greene Pirates
  • Gustavus Falcons
  • Hartford Eagles
  • Howland Tigers
  • Johnston Jaguars
  • Mecca Tigers
  • Mesopotamia Tigers
  • Southington Chalker Wildcats
  • Vernon Tigers
  • Vienna Eagles

Trumbull AA League/Trumbull Athletic Conference

The Trumbull Athletic Conference was a former OHSAA athletic league made up of members from Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio. It was originally named the Trumbull AA League and began in 1960 and did not sponsor football until 1968. Following the addition of Hubbard in 1990, the league was renamed to the Trumbull Athletic Conference. The league merged with the Metro Athletic Conference to form the All-American Conference in 2008
  • Brookfield Warriors
  • Canfield Cardinals
  • Champion Flashes
  • Cortland Bulldogs
  • East Palestine Bulldogs
  • Girard Indians
  • Hubbard Eagles
  • Kinsman Badger Braves
  • Leavittsburg LaBrae Vikings
  • Leavittsburg Yellow Jackets
  • Liberty Leopards
  • Mathews Mustangs
  • Newton Falls Tigers

Western Reserve Conference (1996-2007)

The Western Reserve Conference was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1996 until 2007. The remaining members of the conference merged with the Pioneer Conference in 2007 to form the Northeast Ohio Conference.
  • Bainbridge Kenston Bombers
  • Barberton Magic
  • Chesterland West Geauga Wolverines
  • Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers
  • Hudson Explorers
  • Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders
  • Lyndhurst Brush Arcs
  • Nordonia Knights
  • Mayfield Wildcats
  • Pepper Pike Orange Lions
  • Solon Comets
  • Stow-Monore Falls Bulldogs
  • Twinsburg Tigers

West Shore Conference

Youngstown City Series

The Youngstown City Series was an OHSAA athletic conference that existed from 1925 until 2003. The YCS folded following the move to the Steel Valley Conference.