The Firelands Conference is an Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) athletic league located in north-central Ohio. The league was formed in the 1960–61 school year and is named for the Firelands area of the old Western Reserve, where most of the member schools reside.[1] High schools in this conference are located in Ashland, Huron, and Richland counties. Some of the schools' district boundaries extend into the neighboring counties of Crawford, Erie, and Lorain. Most of the founding schools came from the defunct Huron-Erie League.

Members

SchoolNicknameLocationColors[2]Tenure
CrestviewCougarsWeller TownshipRed, white, black
1982–
MapletonMountiesOrange TownshipRoyal blue, red
1963–
MonroevilleEaglesMonroevilleBlack, gold
1960–
New LondonWildcatsNew LondonRed, black,
1970–
PlymouthBig RedPlymouthRed, white
1982–
St. PaulFlyersNorwalkRed, black
1968–
South CentralTrojansGreenwichGold, white, & black
1960–
Western ReserveRoughridersCollinsBlue, white
1960–

Former members

SchoolNicknameLocationColors[2]TenureNotes
Black RiverPiratesSullivanBlack, gold
1964–1993Left for the Mohican Athletic Conference
EdisonChargersMilanBlue, orange
1968–1986Left for the Sandusky Bay Conference
Berlin HeightsTigersBerlin HeightsOrange, black
1960–1968Consolidated into Edison HS in 1968
MilanIndiansMilanRed, white
1960–1968Consolidated into Edison HS in 1968
HillsdaleFalconsJeromesvilleColumbia blue, gold
1963–1970Left for the Wayne County Athletic League
HayesvillePanthersHayesvilleOrange, black
1963Consolidated into Hillsdale HS in 1963
JeromesvilleBlue JaysJeromesvilleBlue, white
1963Consolidated into Hillsdale HS in 1963
PerkinsPiratesSanduskyBlack, white, red
1960–1963left prior to the conclusion of the 1962–63 school year

History

The Fireland Conference was established in 1960 with most schools coming from the Huron–Erie League, with founding members Berlin Heights, Milan, Monroeville, South Central, Perkins and Western Reserve High Schools. Perkins left the conference prior to the conclusion of the 1962–1963 school year. Hayesville, Jeromesville and Mapleton became members during the spring 1963 season, which Hayesville and Jeromesville quickly left, following the consolidations of both schools to form Hillsdale, who joined in 1963. Black River became a member in 1964. In 1965, Berlin Heights and Milan consolidated their school districts, but had remained separate high schools until 1968, when both consolidated to form Edison, who remained in the conference. St. Paul joined the same year.

Hillsdale left the Firelands Conference in 1970, in favor of joining the Wayne County Athletic League. New London took their place for after leaving the Lakeland Conference.

Crestview and Plymouth joined the league in 1982, with the league splitting into two divisions: North (Edison, Monroeville, New London, St. Paul, Western Reserve) and South (Black River, Crestview, Mapleton, Plymouth, South Central). Edison left for the Sandusky Bay Conference in 1986, with the divisions dissolving after their departure. Black River left for the Mohican Area Conference in 1993.

State championships

Current Firelands Conference member schools have won a total of 11 team state championships,[3] dating back to the beginning of Ohio High School Athletic Association sponsored tournaments.

SchoolSportYear
CrestviewGolf2012
MonroevilleBoys basketball Boys wrestling1984 2010
New LondonBoys track and field Boys cross country1946* 1993
PlymouthBoys cross country1971, 1974*
St. PaulGirls volleyball Football2002, 2006 1969, 2009

* State championship won before the school was affiliated with the Firelands Conference.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Firelands Conference Index". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  2. ^ OHSAA Member Schools Archived 2010-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, last accessed 6 June 2008
  3. ^ OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association State Champion Database". Retrieved 2010-01-09.