Ohio Capital Conference
 | |
| Conference | Ohio High School Athletic Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 |
| Commissioner | Steve Petros |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | OHSAA Division I & II |
| No. of teams | 34 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio |
| Region | Central Ohio |
| Official website | [1] |
| Locations | |
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The Ohio Capital Conference is a high school athletic conference located in Central Ohio. It comprises 34 public high schools located primarily in suburban Columbus, Ohio, encompassing Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Pickaway and Union counties. The league is geographically divided into three divisions of six teams each (Cardinal, Central, and Ohio) and two divisions of eight teams (Buckeye and Capital). Twenty-four schools compete in the OHSAA's Division I classification for football while ten schools compete in Division II. All conference members compete in the Central District postseason tournaments prior to the regional and state tournaments.
Academically, 27 of the 34 members were rated 'Excellent' by the Ohio Department of Education during the 2010–11 school year. Two were rated 'Effective' and three were classified under 'Continuous Improvement'. Effective in the 2011-12 season, every division except the Ohio Division faced realignment. The newest schools to join the OCC are Ashville Teays Valley and Logan (2024-25). The most recent school to leave is Mount Vernon (moved to the Ohio Cardinal Conference in 2016-17). The conference re-aligned with the 2024-25 school year.
Members
[edit]Former members
[edit]| School | Location | Joined | Left | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant View | Grove City, Ohio | 1968 | 1970 | Public | 873 | Panthers | None; Converted to a middle school; Replaced by Westland | |
| Whitehall-Yearling | Whitehall, Ohio | 1968 | 2001 | 867 | Rams | Mid-State League | ||
| Chillicothe | Chillicothe, Ohio | 1976 | 2006 | 845 | Cavaliers | Frontier Athletic Conference | ||
| Watkins Memorial | Pataskala, Ohio | 1991 | 2013 | 1,270 | Warriors | Licking County League | ||
| Mount Vernon | Mount Vernon, Ohio | 1968 | 2016 | 1,074 | Yellow Jackets | Ohio Cardinal Conference |
Membership timeline
[edit]
Full members Full members (non-football) Sport Affiliate Assoc. members (football only) Other Conference Other Conference
Sports
[edit]The Ohio Capital Conference sponsors the following 23 varsity sports.
Boys sports[edit]
Girls sports[edit]
|
History
[edit]On December 6, 1966, five (5) schools met at Millers Village Inn in Gahanna to discuss the formation of a new athletic conference and develop a proposed conference constitution. The following Principals and Athletic Directors were in attendance:
- Gahanna Lincoln: Ben Webb and Byron Prushing
- Reynoldsburg: Joe Endry and Bill Starner
- Westerville: Dana Aukerman and Walt Bahorek
- Whitehall: Bob Strohm and Ray Schick
- Worthington: Lou Koloze and Dick West
The purpose was to approve the proposed constitution for the new league. Joe Endry, Acting Chairman of the group, asked for suggestions for a name for the new league. Several suggestions were made and the name Ohio Capital Conference was unanimously chosen.
Chairman Endry called for a discussion of the proposed constitution of the Ohio Capital Conference. After a review and discussion. the Schools’ representatives stated that they were in agreement and were ready to sign the document. Copies of the constitution were signed and the new constitution became a reality.
Original Members: Gahanna Lincoln, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Whitehall Yearling & Worthington Invited to join: Delaware Hayes, Mount Vernon, Pleasant View (now Westland)
1968-69 school year League Competition began with Gahanna Lincoln, Reynoldsburg, Whitehall Yearling, Westerville, Worthington, Delaware Hayes, Mount Vernon and Pleasant View (Westland) competing.
1974-75: Groveport Madison & Hilliard join; Westerville becomes "Westerville South";
1977-78: Chillicothe & Westerville North join. League begins play in two divisions.
1981-82: Franklin Heights, Grove City, Upper Arlington, Pickerington. League votes to determine divisions by enrollment and "no sister schools in same division" rules.
1991-1992: Dublin, Marysville, Watkins Memorial, Worthington Kilbourne join. "Worthington" becomes Thomas Worthington. League divides into 3 divisions.
1995-1996: Newark and Dublin Scioto join the league. "Dublin" becomes Dublin Coffman.
1997-1998: Big Walnut, Lancaster, Olentangy, Hilliard Darby join league. "Hilliard" becomes Hilliard Davidson. League divides into 4 divisions
2002-2003: Whitehall Yearling leaves league. Central Crossing joins in their place.
2004-2005: League divides into 5 divisions and abolishes the enrollment rule in determining divisions. Dublin Jerome, Olentangy Liberty, Pickerington North & Westerville Central join league. "Pickerington" becomes Pickerington Central.
From "History of the Ohio Capital Conference": Mr. Workman, Chairman of the Alignment Committee, reviewed the proposed divisional alignment for the 2004-5 2005-6 seasons. Mr. Workman stated that the Committee was aware that the proposed alignment is in violation of the enrollment concept but felt that there was no other choice because of the more important “sister school” concept.
2006-2007: Chillicothe leaves league. New Albany joins league.
2008-2009: Hilliard Bradley & Olentangy Orange join league. League switches from 5 divisions to 4 divisions. League abandons rule against sister schools in same division. (hence, schools from same district could be placed in same division.)
2013-2014: Watkins Memorial leaves league. Canal Winchester joins league.
2016-2017: Mount Vernon leaves league. League switches back to 5 divisions.[1]
2018-2019: Olentangy Berlin joins league.[2]
2021: Logan and Teays Valley invited to join the league beginning in 2024.[3]
Football
[edit]Conference championships by year
[edit]Conference championships by school
[edit]| School | Years of Participation |
OCC Championships |
Last OCC Championship |
Last Outright OCC Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Walnut | 1997–present | 9 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Canal Winchester | 2013–present | 4 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Central Crossing | 2002–present | 0 | —— | —— |
| Chillicothe | 1977–2005 | 3 | 1990 | 1990 |
| Delaware Hayes | 1968–present | 2 | 1996 | 1996 |
| Dublin Coffman | 1991–present | 11 | 2022 | 2020 |
| Dublin Jerome | 2004–present | 3 | 2019 | 2019 |
| Dublin Scioto | 1995–present | 3 | 2003 | 2003 |
| Franklin Heights | 1981–present | 4 | 1997 | 1997 |
| Gahanna Lincoln | 1968–present | 15 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Grove City | 1981–present | 9 | 2005 | 2005 |
| Groveport Madison | 1974–present | 4 | 2019 | —— |
| Hilliard Bradley | 2009–present | 4 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Hilliard Darby | 1997–present | 3 | 2014 | 2014 |
| Hilliard Davidson | 1974–present | 17 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Lancaster | 1997–present | 5 | 2018 | 2006 |
| Marysville | 1991–present | 6 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Mount Vernon | 1968–2016 | 3 | 2002 | 1998 |
| New Albany | 2006–present | 8 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Newark | 1997–present | 2 | 2005 | 2005 |
| Olentangy | 1997–present | 3 | 2018 | 2015 |
| Olentangy Berlin | 2018–present | 2 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Olentangy Liberty | 2004–present | 8 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Olentangy Orange | 2008–present | 4 | 2019 | 2019 |
| Pickerington Central | 1981–present | 24 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Pickerington North | 2004–present | 4 | 2020 | 2020 |
| Pleasant View | 1968–1969 | 0 | —— | —— |
| Reynoldsburg | 1968–present | 2 | 2018 | —— |
| Thomas Worthington | 1968–present | 9 | 1992 | 1986 |
| Upper Arlington | 1981–present | 13 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Watkins Memorial | 1991–2013 | 3 | 2006 | —— |
| Westerville Central | 2004–present | 4 | 2015 | 2015 |
| Westerville North | 1977–present | 5 | 1995 | 1995 |
| Westerville South | 1968–present | 11 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Westland | 1970–present | 3 | 1993 | 1993 |
| Whitehall-Yearling | 1968–1999 | 5 | 1993 | 1985 |
| Worthington Kilbourne | 1991–present | 4 | 2013 | 2013 |
State tournament results by year
[edit]- Official OHSAA football tournament began in 1972[4]
| Year | School | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Upper Arlington^ | AAA | Runner Up |
| 1975 | Newark^ | AAA | Semi-Finalist |
| 1976 | Gahanna Lincoln | AAA | Runner Up |
| 1980 | Upper Arlington^ | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1981 | Upper Arlington | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Whitehall-Yearling | II | Semi-Finalist | |
| 1982 | Gahanna Lincoln | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1984 | Whitehall-Yearling | II | Runner Up |
| 1986 | Thomas Worthington | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1988 | Westerville North | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1991 | Marysville | II | Semi-Finalist |
| 1993 | Hilliard Davidson | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1994 | Westerville South | I | Runner Up |
| 1995 | Dublin Scioto | II | State Champion |
| 1997 | Upper Arlington | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1998 | Upper Arlington | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 1999 | Pickerington Central | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Worthington Kilbourne | I | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2000 | Upper Arlington | I | State Champion |
| Marysville | II | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2001 | Dublin Coffman | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2003 | Dublin Scioto | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2004 | Worthington Kilbourne | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2005 | Hilliard Davidson | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2006 | Hilliard Davidson | I | State Champion |
| Pickerington Central | II | Runner Up | |
| New Albany | III | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2007 | Dublin Coffman | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Big Walnut | III | State Champion | |
| 2008 | Pickerington Central | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Big Walnut | III | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2009 | Hilliard Davidson | I | State Champion |
| 2010 | Hilliard Davidson | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2011 | Pickerington Central | I | Runner Up |
| 2012 | Pickerington North | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2013 | Hilliard Davidson | I | Semi-Finalist |
| New Albany | II | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2014 | Olentangy | II | Semi-Finalist |
| 2016 | Olentangy Liberty | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Pickerington Central | I | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2017 | Olentangy Liberty | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Pickerington Central | I | State Champion | |
| 2018 | Olentangy Liberty | I | Semi-Finalist |
| Pickerington Central | I | Semi-Finalist | |
| 2019 | Pickerington Central | I | State Champion |
| 2020 | Pickerington Central | I | Runner Up |
| 2021 | Upper Arlington | I | Semi-Finalist |
| 2024 | Olentangy Liberty | I | State Champion |
| Big Walnut | II | Semi-Finalist |
^Result prior to joining Ohio Capital Conference
Divisional alignments
[edit]| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (1977-1981) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Ohio Division | ||
| Delaware Hayes | Gahanna Lincoln | ||
| Hilliard | Groveport-Madison | ||
| Reynoldsburg | Chillicothe | ||
| Westerville North | Westerville South | ||
| Mount Vernon | Westland | ||
| Whitehall-Yearling | Worthington | ||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (1981-1987) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Ohio Division | ||
| Chillicothe | Gahanna Lincoln | ||
| Delaware Hayes | Grove City | ||
| Franklin Heights | Groveport-Madison | ||
| Hilliard | Reynoldsburg | ||
| Mount Vernon | Upper Arlington | ||
| Pickerington | Westerville South | ||
| Westerville North | Westland | ||
| Whitehall-Yearling | Worthington | ||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (1987-1991) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Ohio Division | ||
| Chillicothe | Gahanna Lincoln | ||
| Delaware Hayes | Grove City | ||
| Franklin Heights | Groveport-Madison | ||
| Hilliard | Upper Arlington | ||
| Mount Vernon | Westerville North | ||
| Pickerington | Westerville South | ||
| Reynoldsburg | Westland | ||
| Whitehall-Yearling | Worthington | ||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (1991–95) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Central Division | Ohio Division | |
| Delaware Hayes | Chillicothe | Gahanna Lincoln | |
| Franklin Heights | Grove City | Dublin | |
| Marysville | Hilliard | Groveport-Madison | |
| Mount Vernon | Upper Arlington | Thomas Worthington | |
| Pickerington | Westerville North | Westerville South | |
| Reynoldsburg | Worthington Kilbourne | Westland | |
| Watkins Memorial | |||
| Whitehall-Yearling | |||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (1995–97) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Central Division | Ohio Division | |
| Delaware Hayes | Chillicothe | Gahanna Lincoln | |
| Franklin Heights | Dublin Scioto | Dublin Coffman | |
| Marysville | Grove City | Groveport-Madison | |
| Mount Vernon | Pickerington | Hilliard | |
| Watkins Memorial | Reynoldsburg | Newark | |
| Whitehall Yearling | Upper Arlington | Thomas Worthington | |
| Westerville South | Westerville North | ||
| Worthington Kilbourne | Westland | ||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (1997-2002) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Big Walnut | Chillicothe | Dublin Coffman | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Delaware Hayes | Dublin Scioto | Grove City | Lancaster |
| Franklin Heights | Hilliard Darby | Groveport-Madison | Newark |
| Marysville | Olentangy | Hilliard Davidson | Pickerington |
| Mount Vernon | Reynoldsburg | Westerville South | Westerville North |
| Watkins Memorial | Thomas Worthington | Worthington Kilbourne | Westland |
| Whitehall-Yearling | Upper Arlington | ||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2002-2004) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Big Walnut | Chillicothe | Grove City | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Delaware Hayes | Dublin Scioto | Groveport Madison | Dublin Coffman |
| Franklin Heights | Olentangy | Hilliard Davidson | Central Crossing |
| Marysville | Thomas Worthington | Reynoldsburg | Hilliard Darby |
| Mount Vernon | Upper Arlington | Westerville South | Lancaster |
| Watkins Memorial | Westland | Worthington Kilbourne | Newark |
| Pickerington | |||
| Westerville North | |||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2004-2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Division | Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Dublin Coffman | Big Walnut | Chillicothe | Central Crossing | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Hilliard Davidson | Dublin Jerome | Dublin Scioto | Delaware Hayes | Groveport-Madison |
| Reynoldsburg | Franklin Heights | Grove City | Marysville | Hilliard Darby |
| Thomas Worthington | Olentangy Liberty | Olentangy | Mount Vernon | Lancaster |
| Westerville North | Pickerington North | Pickerington Central | Westerville South | Newark |
| Westland | Watkins Memorial | Westerville Central | Worthington Kilbourne | Upper Arlington |
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2006-2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Division | Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Dublin Coffman | Big Walnut | Dublin Jerome | Central Crossing | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Grove City | Dublin Scioto | Mt. Vernon | Delaware Hayes | Groveport-Madison |
| Hilliard Davidson | Franklin Heights | Olentangy | Marysville | Hilliard Darby |
| Reynoldsburg | New Albany | Pickerington Central | Pickerington North | Lancaster |
| Upper Arlington | Olentangy Liberty | Westerville South | Thomas Worthington | Newark |
| Westerville North | Watkins Memorial | Worthington Kilbourne | Westerville Central | Westland |
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2008-2012) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Big Walnut | Dublin Jerome | Central Crossing | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Delaware Hayes | Dublin Scioto | Dublin Coffman | Grove City |
| Franklin Heights | Marysville | Hilliard Darby | Groveport-Madison |
| Hilliard Bradley | Olentangy | Hilliard Davidson | Lancaster |
| Mount Vernon | Olentangy Liberty | Upper Arlington | Newark |
| New Albany | Westerville Central | Thomas Worthington | Pickerington Central |
| Olentangy Orange | Westerville North | Worthington Kilbourne | Pickerington North |
| Watkins Memorial | Westerville South | Westland | Reynoldsburg |
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2012-2013) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Big Walnut | Dublin Jerome | Central Crossing | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Delaware Hayes | Dublin Scioto | Dublin Coffman | Grove City |
| Franklin Heights | Hilliard Bradley | Hilliard Davidson | Groveport-Madison |
| Mount Vernon | Hilliard Darby | Marysville | Lancaster |
| New Albany | Westerville Central | Olentangy Liberty | Newark |
| Olentangy | Westerville North | Thomas Worthington | Pickerington Central |
| Olentangy Orange | Westerville South | Upper Arlington | Pickerington North |
| Watkins Memorial | Worthington Kilbourne | Westland | Reynoldsburg |
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2013-2016) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Big Walnut | Canal Winchester | Central Crossing | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Delaware Hayes | Dublin Jerome | Dublin Coffman | Grove City |
| Franklin Heights | Dublin Scioto | Hilliard Davidson | Groveport-Madison |
| Mount Vernon | Hilliard Bradley | Marysville | Lancaster |
| New Albany | Hilliard Darby | Olentangy Liberty | Newark |
| Olentangy | Westerville Central | Thomas Worthington | Pickerington Central |
| Olentangy Orange | Westerville North | Upper Arlington | Pickerington North |
| Worthington Kilbourne | Westerville South | Westland | Reynoldsburg |
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2016-2020)[5] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Division | Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Olentangy | Big Walnut | Delaware Hayes | Central Crossing | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Olentangy Liberty | Canal Winchester | Dublin Jerome | Dublin Coffman | Grove City |
| Olentangy Orange | Franklin Heights | Dublin Scioto | Hilliard Davidson | Lancaster |
| Westerville Central | Groveport Madison | Hilliard Bradley | Marysville | Pickerington Central |
| Westerville North | New Albany | Hilliard Darby | Upper Arlington | Pickerington North |
| Westerville South | Newark | Olentangy Berlin (2018) | Westland | Reynoldsburg |
| Thomas Worthington | ||||
| Worthington Kilbourne | ||||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2020-2024)[6] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Division | Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Central Crossing | Big Walnut | Dublin Jerome | Dublin Coffman | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Groveport Madison | Canal Winchester | Hilliard Darby | Hilliard Bradley | Grove City |
| Lancaster | Delaware Hayes | Marysville | Hilliard Davidson | New Albany |
| Newark | Dublin Scioto | Olentangy | Olentangy Liberty | Pickerington North |
| Pickerington Central | Franklin Heights | Olentangy Berlin | Olentangy Orange | Westerville Central |
| Reynoldsburg | Westerville North | Thomas Worthington | Upper Arlington | Westland |
| Westerville South | ||||
| Worthington Kilbourne | ||||
| Ohio Capital Conference Divisions (2024-)[7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Division | Capital Division | Cardinal Division | Central Division | Ohio Division |
| Canal Winchester | Big Walnut | Dublin Jerome | Dublin Coffman | Central Crossing |
| Groveport Madison | Delaware Hayes | Hilliard Darby | Hilliard Bradley | Gahanna Lincoln |
| Lancaster | Dublin Scioto | Marysville | Hilliard Davidson | Grove City |
| Logan | Franklin Heights | Olentangy | Olentangy Liberty | New Albany |
| Newark | Westerville North | Olentangy Berlin | Olentangy Orange | Pickerington North |
| Pickerington Central | Westerville South | Thomas Worthington | Upper Arlington | Westerville Central |
| Reynoldsburg | Westland | |||
| Teays Valley | Worthington Kilbourne | |||
References
[edit]- ^ "Ohio Capital Conference History". History of the Ohio Capital Conference. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ "Ohio Capital Conference History". History of the Ohio Capital Conference. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ Morris, Brad (November 8, 2021). "Vikings receive invitation to join OCC". Sporting Pumpkin. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ "Past State Tournament Results" (PDF). ohsaa.org. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "OCC Realignment".
- ^ "The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus, Ohio, News, Politics & Sports". The Columbus Dispatch.
- ^ on, Brian Shelton (2021-11-09). "Ohio Capital Conference realigns for the 2024-25 school year". Big Walnut High School. Retrieved 2021-11-09.