Conference Convergence: Springfield, GWOC a perfect fit

18-member conference provides rivalries, helps scheduling.

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 9:43 PM Saturday, December 25, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Twelve years ago, two high schools’ change of heart left two conferences each scrambling for one new member.

The departure of Fairborn from the Western Ohio League to the Mid-Miami League and West Carrollton’s move to the Fort Ancient Valley Conference from the Greater Miami Valley Conference left those leagues searching for replacements.

In a roundabout way, that’s how the Greater Western Ohio Conference was created.

“Both leagues were short a team,” said Springfield athletic director Mark Stoll. “Instead of trying to raid each other, we created the GWOC.”

What followed, Stoll said, were five- and six-hour meetings setting up league bylaws.

“It was rough, to say the least,” Stoll said.

The GWOC was a 14-team conference with two divisions. The Eastern Division included South, North, Centerville, Wayne, Xenia, Fairmont, and the Western Division included Northmont, Sidney, Butler, Trotwood Troy, Piqua and Greenville.

“Initially, I didn’t think I would care for it,” Stoll said, “But it does a lot of things scheduling-wise, we wouldn’t be able to do. It helps our smaller schools, and it’s especially great for football.”

Currently, the league has 18 members, which includes three divisions — the Central, North and South.

The crossover division games are set up where each school will have the chance to play another school once every seven years.

Stoll said the division format allows for schools of similar size to be together and allows more kids an opportunity to be named All-Division.

“You don’t want to leave out kids,” Stoll said.

Stoll can’t see Springfield being in a better situation.

“It suits Springfield great,” Stolls said. “It fits all our needs and provides a lot of natural rivals. With the consolidation of the schools, it’s going well.”

This fall, the Wildcats won their first league title in football as a consolidated school. North and South combined in the fall of 2008 to form Springfield High.

Stoll feels the school will see the benefits of the consolidation in the next few years.

“We’ll see the fruits of the consolidation, I would say, in a majority of our sports beginning in the next two to three years,” Stoll said. “Our numbers are going up in all sports, which makes us more attractive in the GWOC.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365 or mcooper@coxohio.com.

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