Brookfield boys hoops, volleyball move up to Division III

The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 15—The Brookfield High School volleyball and boys basketball teams will face some stiffer competition when the 2022-23 academic year kicks off in August.

The two programs were moved into Division III by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The volleyball team's elevation was announced on Monday with the boys basketball news coming on Tuesday.

The Warriors were previously Division IV in both sports, the lowest division for their respective events. The moves were due to increased enrollment, according to the OHSAA.

The changes will remain in effect for the next two season. Afterward, the enrollment at Brookfield and the other schools across Ohio will be evaluated again.

The Warriors' volleyball and boys basketball progams were the only ones at the school to change divisions.

For the next two years, the Warriors will remain in Division VI in football. Boys golf, cross country, girls and boys soccer and girls basketball will stay in Division III. and the boys and girls bowling teams will remain Division II, the lowest level division for bowling in Ohio.

Brookfield volleyball has been Division IV since 2017, and saw some postseason success, advancing to the district semifinals three times over the last four years.

The Warriors advanced to the district semifinals this past season as the 10th seed. They fell to Western Reserve, the eventual district winners, in five sets. They also advanced to the district semis in 2018 and 2019 before falling to the tops seeds, Badger and Ashtabula St. John.

Division III won't be anything new to the Warriors in hoops. They were in Division III in boys basketball for a while but were sent down to Division IV in 2020.

This year, Brookfield was eliminated in the Struthers district following a loss to third-seeded Heartland Christian. In 2021, the Warriors made the playoffs as the 13th seed. They lost to Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference rival Lowellville in the sectional finals.

With fall and winter sports out of the way, spring sports divisional realignment will come at a later date.

Any future divisional changes in specific sports or host sites for postseason games can be found by visiting www.ohsaa.org.