Ohio Cardinal Conference

Ohio Cardinal Conference
Classification	OHSAA Divisions I-IV
Founded	2003
Sports fielded	19;
Region	Ohio
Official website	OCCSports.org

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.

History

In 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] Clear Fork, the only non-original member of the conference, joined for the 2004-05 season. 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]

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 girl's tennis conference title every year in the conference's history, and has won three state title in that sport.^[5] The Lex boys tennis team won all but one conference title and two state titles in the same. Other schools have dominated specific sports in much the same way:Madison girls have dominated the league in volleyball,and boys baseball. Mansfield Senior has been the champion or co-champion in boy's basketball in nine of 11 league seasons, Wooster has won all eleven boy's swimming and nine girl's swimming titles, and Ashland had four running girl's soccer championships.^[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 leave 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 will subsequently join the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in 2017-18 instead.

Members^[1]

School	Nickname	Location	Colors	Middle school(s)	Tenure

Ashland	Arrows	Ashland	Orange, Black	Ashland MS	2003-
Clear Fork	Colts	Bellville	Green, Black, White	Clear Fork MS	2004-2017
Lexington	Minutemen	Lexington	Purple, Gold	Lexington JHS	2003-
Madison Comprehensive	Rams	Madison Twp.	Green, White	Madison JHS	2003-
Mansfield	Tygers	Mansfield	Orange, Brown	Mansfield MS	2003-
Orrville	Red Riders	Orrville	Red, White, Black	Orrville MS	2003-2016
West Holmes	Knights	Millersburg	Blue, Red, White	West Holmes MS	2003-
Wooster	Generals	Wooster	Blue, Gold	Edgewood MS	2003-

Future member

The OCC lineup beginning with the 2016-17 school year.

School	Nickname	Location	Colors	Middle school(s)	Tenure

Mount Vernon	Yellow Jackets	Mount Vernon	Orange, Black	Mount Vernon MS	2016-

Conference rivalries

Orrville vs. Wooster^[11]
Wooster vs. Madison^[12]
Mansfield vs. Madison^[13]
Ashland vs. Lexington^[14]
Mansfield vs. Ashland
Lexington vs. Clear Fork

Non-conference rivalries

Orrville vs. Triway
West Holmes vs. Triway
West Holmes vs. Hiland
Madison vs. Shelby
Lexington vs. Ontario
Mansfield Sr. vs. Massillion Washington

State championships

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^[15]
Lexington	girls tennis; boys tennis,	2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012; 2004, 2013
Madison	none
Mansfield	none
Orrville	Volleyball	2003^[16]
West Holmes	Girls Basketball	2014^[16]
Wooster	none

Boys league championships^[17]

School Year	Football	Cross Country	Soccer	Golf	Basketball	Wrestling	Swimming	Baseball	Track & Field	Tennis
2003-04	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Wooster, Mansfield	West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	Wooster	Lexington
2004-05	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Mansfield ^[18]	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington, Madison	Ashland	Lexington
2005-06	Madison, Orrville	Lexington	Ashland, Wooster	Ashland, Wooster	Mansfield ^[19]	Ashland	Wooster	Madison	Lexington	Lexington
2006-07	Ashland	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Mansfield ^[20]	West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Wooster
2007-08	Ashland	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington, Mansfield ^[21]	West Holmes	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington
2008-09	Lexington	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Madison ^[22]	Lexington	Wooster	Clear Fork	Lexington	Lexington
2009-10	Ashland	Lexington	Clear Fork, Lexington	Ashland	Mansfield ^[23]	Lexington	Wooster	Clear Fork	Lexington	Lexington
2010-11	Clear Fork	Ashland	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington ^[24]	Lexington	Wooster	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington
2011-12	Ashland	Wooster	Madison	Ashland	Lexington, Mansfield ^[25]	Lexington	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington
2012-13	Madison, Mansfield, West Holmes	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	Mansfield	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington
2013-14	Mansfield	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	West Holmes	Lexington	Wooster	Madison	Wooster	Lexington
2014-15	West Holmes, Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington			Wooster
2015-16	Ashland, Mansfield, Wooster

Girls league championships^[17]

School Year	Volleyball	Cross Country	Soccer	Tennis	Golf	Basketball	Swimming	Softball	Track & Field
2003-04	Orrville	Ashland	Lexington	Lexington	began in 2013	Orrville	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington
2004-05	Orrville, Madison, Lexington, West Holmes	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	Orrville	Lexington	Lexington	Lexington
2005-06	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	Wooster ^[26]	Wooster	Clear Fork	Ashland
2006-07	Wooster	Ashland	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	Lexington	Wooster	Ashland	Ashland
2007-08	Wooster	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	Clear Fork, Wooster	Orrville
2008-09	Madison	Wooster	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	Clear Fork, Lexington	Ashland
2009-10	Lexington, Madison, Orrville	Lexington	Lexington, Wooster	Lexington	n/a	Orrville ^[27]	Wooster	Clear Fork	Ashland
2010-11	Madison	Lexington	Clear Fork	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Lexington	Clear Fork	Ashland
2011-12	Madison	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	Orrville	Orrville
2012-13	Lexington	Lexington	Ashland	Lexington	n/a	West Holmes	Wooster	Madison	West Holmes
2013-14	Madison, Orrville	Lexington	Clear Fork	Lexington	Ashland	West Holmes	Wooster	Ashland	West Holmes
2014-15	Orrville	Lexington	Wooster	Lexington	Lexington		Wooster

All Sports Championships

2003-04	Wooster ^[28]
2004-05	Lexington
2005-06	Lexington
2006-07	Lexington
2007-08	Lexington
2008-09	Lexington
2009-10	Lexington ^[29]
2010-11	Lexington
2011-12	Lexington
2012-13	Lexington
2013-14	Ashland

External links

Ohio Cardinal Conference home

References

^ ^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.
^ http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4729287
^ King, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Princpals Athletic Conference plans its future". The Suburbanite. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
^ "Mount Vernon to join Ohio Cardinal Conference". Mount Vernon News. March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
^ "Clear Fork, Ontario to join MOAC". Morrow County Sentinel. March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
^ Lilley, Bill (1989-11-23). "McFarland retires as Wooster coach leaves after 17 seasons". Akron Beacon Journal. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ Paulk, Ralph (1985-10-31). "Must-win arch-rival in Wooster's playoff path". Akron Beacon Journal. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ Phillips, Larry (2002-10-25). "OHC football closes in fitting style". Mansfield News Journal. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ "Davis, Fraley spark Colts". Mansfield News Journal. 2004-12-11. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bb/boys/2010/2010recaps.htm
^ ^a ^b OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31. Cite error: The named reference "Ohio High School Athletic Association" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b http://occsports.org/
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200405ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200506ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200607ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200708ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200809ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200910ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/201011ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/201112ohiocardinalconference.html
^ http://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20sports/2006/02/27/kacsandi-sexton-cop-top-occ-girls-basketball-honors
^ http://www.redridersportsblog.com/2010/02/girls-hoops-championship-edition.html
^ http://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20sports/2004/06/04/generals-win-first-occ-all-sports-title
^ http://www.holmescountyshopper.com/local%20sports/2010/07/01/in-the-ohio-cardinal-conference-lexington-took-the

[Ohio_Cardinal_Conference_History-1] "The History of the Ohio Cardinal Conference." Ohio Cardinal Conference http://www.occsports.org/history.html. Accessed June 17, 2008.

[ReferenceA-2] McCormick, Michael. "New league provides sense of rivalry." Coshocton Tribune, August 22, 2003

[3] Ogle, Gary. "Glauer leaves OCC." Mansfield News Journal, October 18, 2002.

[4] 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.

[5] "Lexington wins OCC all-sports trophy." Ashland Times-Gazette, June 11, 2008. http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/3925631. Accessed June 28, 2008.

[6] Dorksen, Aaron. "West Holmes' Kaufman explains interest in ECOL." The Wooster Daily Record, February 22, 2008.

[7] ttp://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4729287

[8] King, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Princpals Athletic Conference plans its future". The Suburbanite. Retrieved March 30, 2015.

[9] "Mount Vernon to join Ohio Cardinal Conference". Mount Vernon News. March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.

[10] "Clear Fork, Ontario to join MOAC". Morrow County Sentinel. March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.

[11] Lilley, Bill (1989-11-23). "McFarland retires as Wooster coach leaves after 17 seasons". Akron Beacon Journal. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[12] Paulk, Ralph (1985-10-31). "Must-win arch-rival in Wooster's playoff path". Akron Beacon Journal. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[13] Phillips, Larry (2002-10-25). "OHC football closes in fitting style". Mansfield News Journal. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[14] "Davis, Fraley spark Colts". Mansfield News Journal. 2004-12-11. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[15] ttp://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bb/boys/2010/2010recaps.htm

[Ohio_High_School_Athletic_Association-16] OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31. Cite error: The named reference "Ohio High School Athletic Association" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[occsports.org-17] ttp://occsports.org/

[18] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200405ohiocardinalconference.html

[19] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200506ohiocardinalconference.html

[20] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200607ohiocardinalconference.html

[21] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200708ohiocardinalconference.html

[22] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200809ohiocardinalconference.html

[23] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/200910ohiocardinalconference.html

[24] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/201011ohiocardinalconference.html

[25] ttp://www.crawfordcountybasketball.com/201112ohiocardinalconference.html

[26] ttp://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20sports/2006/02/27/kacsandi-sexton-cop-top-occ-girls-basketball-honors

[27] ttp://www.redridersportsblog.com/2010/02/girls-hoops-championship-edition.html

[28] ttp://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20sports/2004/06/04/generals-win-first-occ-all-sports-title

[29] ttp://www.holmescountyshopper.com/local%20sports/2010/07/01/in-the-ohio-cardinal-conference-lexington-took-the

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v t e Northwest District (Ohio) High School Athletic Conferences (Northwest Ohio)
Current Conferences	Blanchard Valley Conference (BVC) Firelands Conference (FC) Green Meadows Conference (GMC) Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) Northern 10 Athletic Conference (N10) Northern Buckeye Conference (NBC) Northern Lakes League (NLL) Northwest Conference Northwest Central Conference Northwest Ohio Athletic League (NWOAL) Ohio Cardinal Conference (OCC) Sandusky Bay Conference (SBC) Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC) Toledo City League Western Buckeye League (WBL)
Non-Football Conferences	Buckeye Border Conference (BBC) Putnam County League
Football-Only Conferences	Northern 8 Football Conference (N8FC)
Outlying Conferences	Mid-Buckeye Conference (MBC) Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC) Shelby County Athletic League Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Defunct Conferences	Buckeye League/Conference Great Lakes League (GLL) Greater Buckeye Conference (GBC) Lakeshore Conference Maumee Valley League Michigan-Ohio Border Conference Midland Athletic League (MAL) North Central Conference (NCC) Northern Border League Northern Ohio League (NOL) Northwest Buckeye League (football only) Sandusky River League (SRL) Suburban Lakes League (SLL) Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC)

v t e Northeast District (Ohio) High School Athletic Conferences (Northeast Ohio)
Current	Akron City Series All-American Conference Chagrin Valley Conference Eastern Buckeye Conference Federal League Firelands Conference Great Lakes Conference Greater Cleveland Conference Inter-Valley Conference Lake Erie League Lorain County League Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Metro Athletic Conference Northeast 8 Athletic Conference Northeast Athletic Conference Northeastern Conference Ohio Cardinal Conference Portage Trail Conference Principals Athletic Conference Senate Athletic League Southwestern Conference Suburban League Wayne County Athletic League Western Reserve Conference

Former	North Coast League (1984–2020) Northeast Ohio Conference (2007–2015) Northeastern Buckeye Conference (1989–2018) Patriot Athletic Conference (2005-2019) Pioneer Conference (1977-2007) Premier Athletic Conference (1997–2015) West Shore Conference (2005–2015) Youngstown City Series (1925–2003)
Outlying	Mid-Buckeye Conference Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference