OHSAA tournament division realignment for 2022-23 affects some area schools
COLUMBUS — Some significant changes are in store for area fall and winter sports teams this upcoming year.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association earlier this week released its divisions and playoff regions for football as well as divisional breakdowns for tournaments for all other fall and winter sports teams in the 2022-23 season.
In football, three area teams moved divisions due to enrollment figures and the OHSAA's competitive balance equation.
River Valley, which has played in Division III the last few seasons, will return to Division IV, competing Region 14 with other central and northwest Ohio programs such as Clear Fork, Shelby, Buckeye Valley and Upper Sandusky
Also moving down a division will be Highland. The Scots will compete in Division V's Region 18 with Pleasant and North Union against mostly northwest Ohio schools.
Cardington is moving up to Division VI. The Pirates will compete with Elgin, Mount Gilead and Northmor in Region 23 which takes in teams from central, southern and eastern Ohio.
Ridgedale will be in Division VII's Region 25 with northwest Ohio schools, while Marion Harding stays in Division II's Region 7 with other central Ohio teams and a few from northeast Ohio.
There are other movers in other sports.
In volleyball, North Union is three girls over the line and will move up from Division III to Division II. The Wildcats will also be Division II in girls basketball where they are on the line between D-II and III.
In volleyball and girls basketball, Mount Gilead goes down to Division IV, while Northmor goes up to Division III.
All other programs remain in the same spots.
Marion Harding is Division I in all other boys and girls sports. Highland and River Valley are Division II in all other sports, too. Ridgedale is in the smallest division for every sport it offers.
Pleasant is Division III in volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball and wrestling. The Spartans are Division II in bowling, swimming, girls tennis and boys and girls golf.
Elgin is Division III in volleyball, cross country, boys golf, boys and girls basketball and wrestling. The Comets are D-II in bowling, swimming and girls golf.
Cardington is Division III in volleyball, cross country, boys golf, boys and girls basketball and wrestling and D-II in bowling.
North Union's boys basketball team remains in Division III as does its wrestlers. The girls cross country team is in D-II, while the boys are in D-III. Both NU golf teams are D-II.
Mount Gilead is D-III in boys basketball, wrestling, cross country and boys golf, and D-II in swimming and bowling.
Northmor's boys basketball team is Division IV, while its wrestlers, boys golfers and cross country runners are D-III. The Golden Knights are D-II in bowling.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: OHSAA division realignment for 2022-23 affects some area schools
