OHSAA Expands Number of Divisions in Most Sports

On Thursday OHSAA changed the number of divisions for soccer, softball, baseball, volleyball and basketball.  Boys and Girls Soccer will go from 3 divisions to 5 divisions while softball, baseball, basketball and volleyball will transition from 4 to 7.  No change is on the table yet for track.  Each of the changing divisions will now have 64 teams in the top two divisions (think start at District Semifinals) while the remaining teams will be spread out equally among the rest of the Divisions.  Continental and most Putnam County League schools will remain in the lowest division.  Columbus Grove being the exception.  The expansion will start in fall of 2024.  No word on how this will affect the State Tournaments.  Watch out for additional articles on the effects of the fall and spring sports.

Currently there are 192 teams in Division IV (771 overall) with the top competitive balance enrollment number being 112.  Continental competitive balance number is 73.  Using 2023-24 number the new cutoff for lowest Division (VII) will be 93 (129 schools).  Schools over the 93 numbers include  2023-24 Northwest Ohio Regional teams Hopewell Loudon (93), Crestview (95), and Columbus Grove (100) and State Final 4 Teams Springfield (110) and Champion Tri Village (108).  State Semifinalist Berlin Hiland (92) and State Champion Richmond Heights (90) would still be in the lowest division.  Other teams that would leave the lowest division in the area are Ayersville, Hicksville, Montpelier, Lima Perry, Riverdale, Linconview, and Patrick Henry.  The way the number of teams work out the tournament for most of the Districts of the lower 5 division games would start out at the Sectional Final level with a smattering at the Sectional Semifinal.

Currently there are 200 in Division IV (800 overall) with the top competitive balance enrollment number being 120.  Continental competitive balance number is 47.  Using 2023-24 number the new cutoff for lowest Division (VII) will be 98 (135 schools). Schools over the 9 numbers include  2023-24 Northwest Ohio Regional teams  State Runner up Crestview (105), Mohawk (104), Mario Local (109) and Patrick Henry (113) and State Final 4 Teams  Berlin Hiland  (105) and Champion Tri Village (108).  State Semifinalist Berlin Hiland (92) and State Runnerup Toledo Christian (119) would still be in the lowest division.  Other teams that would leave the lowest division in the area are Delphos Jefferson, Ada, Parkway, and Lima Perry.  The way the number of teams work out the tournament for most of the Districts of the lower 5 division games would start out at the Sectional Final level with a smattering at the Sectional Semifinal.