MANSFIELD — The new-look high school sports landscape came further into focus earlier this week.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced in February the divisional expansion of several sports, including girls volleyball and boys and girls soccer, effective for the 2024-25 school year. On Tuesday, the OHSAA released its preliminary divisional assignments for those fall sports and the shake-up in north central Ohio will be significant.
The biggest 64 schools in terms of enrollment will make up Division I in sports targeted for divisional expansion, while the next 64 schools will be assigned to Division II. The remaining schools will be divided as evenly as possible among the remaining divisions.
Girls volleyball will grow from four divisions to seven this fall. Boys and girls soccer will jump from three divisions to five.
In girls volleyball, Madison and Ashland will both drop from Division I to Division III. They will be joined in Division III by Mansfield Senior, which played in Division II last year.
Perhaps the biggest winner in the re-organization is Lexington. Lady Lex, which reached the Division II district final last year, will drop to Division IV along with Ontario and Shelby.
Clear Fork will drop to Division V after competing in Division II last fall. Other local programs in Division V include Galion and Crestview, which were both in Division III last year.
Lucas, Mansfield Christian, Colonel Crawford, Buckeye Central, Bucyrus and Wynford will all compete in Division VI. Plymouth and Crestline will drop to Division VII.
Girls and boys soccer will undergo a major facelift, too.
In girls soccer, all of north central Ohio’s traditional powers will have a new divisional home. Defending Division II district champ Madison will drop to Division III, along with Mansfield Senior, Ashland, Lexington, Ontario and Shelby.
Clear Fork and Galion will compete in Division IV. Crestview and Mansfield Christian will drop to Division V.
In boys soccer, reigning Division II district champ and area powerhouse Lexington will compete in Division III. The Minutemen will be joined by Division I refugees Madison and Ashland and Division II converts Mansfield Senior and Ontario.
Clear Fork and Galion will compete in Division IV, while Crestview and Mansfield Christian drop to Division V.