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The Northern Lakes League (NLL), is an OHSAA high school athletic conference that was formed in 1956 and comprises eleven high schools in Northwest Ohio.

The current member schools of the NLL with future membership noted.

Current members

School Nickname Location Colors Type Enrollment Enrollment (CB/FB 2023) State FB Region (2023) Middle school(s) Joined League Notes
Anthony Wayne Generals Whitehouse Blue, White
   
Public 1,308 546 2:6 Anthony Wayne JHS 1956
Bowling Green Bobcats Bowling Green Red, Gray
   
Public 838 350 3:10 Bowling Green JHS 1978
Clay Eagles Oregon Green, Yellow
   
Public 874 429 2:6 Fassett JHS 2023
Findlay Trojans Findlay Blue, Gold
   
Public 1,175 658 1:2 Donnell MS,
Glenwood MS
2023
Fremont Ross Little Giants Fremont Purple, White
   
Public 853 409 2:6 Fremont MS 2023
Napoleon Wildcats Napoleon Navy, White
   
Public 548 262 4:14 Napoleon MS 2011
Northview Wildcats Sylvania Black, Yellow,
   
Public 1,394 497 2:6 Arbor Hills JHS,
McCord JHS
1996
Perrysburg Yellow Jackets Perrysburg Black, Old Gold
   
Public 1,568 649 1:2 Perrysburg JHS 1956
Southview Cougars Sylvania Orange, Brown
   
Public 1,061 411 2:6 Arbor Hills JHS,
McCord JHS,
Timberstone JHS
1976
Springfield Blue Devils Holland Blue, White
   
Public 1,003 397 2:6 Springfield MS 1962
Whitmer Panthers Toledo Maize, Blue
   
Public 1,625 882 1:2 Jefferson JHS,
Washington JHS
2023

Former members

School Nickname Location Colors Type Membership Tenure Notes
Eastwood Eagles Pemberville Red, White, Columbia
     
Public 1959–1972 Left for the SLL, now in the NBC
Elmwood Royals Bloomdale Royal Blue, White
   
Public 1960–1972 Left for the SLL, now in the NBC
Genoa Comets Genoa Maroon, Gray
   
Public 1956–1972 Left for the SLL, now in the NBC
Lake Flyers Millbury Navy, White, Columbia
     
Public 1960–1996 Left for the SLL, now in the NBC
Maumee Panthers Maumee Purple, Gold
   
Public 1956-2023 Left for the NBC
Port Clinton Redskins Port Clinton Red, White
   
Public 1956–1963 Left for the GLL, now in the SBC
Rossford Bulldogs Rossford Maroon, Gray
   
Public 1956–2011 Left for the NBC

League history

1950s

  • The Great Northern Conference had been created in 1945 with Oregon Clay, Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, Sylvania and Toledo Whitmer as its charter members. [1] Anthony Wayne would join them in 1953. League expansion was brought up in 1956 as Bowling Green, Fostoria, Swanton, Oak Harbor, Genoa, Lake, Port Clinton, Toledo Rogers and Holland were considered for membership. The GNC eventually grew and split into two divisions based on size— Orange: (Bowling Green, Clay, Fostoria, Toledo Rogers, Sylvania, and Toledo Whitmer) and Blue: (Anthony Wayne, Genoa, Maumee, Perrysburg, Port Clinton and Rossford). The names were changed in 1957, with the Orange Division becoming the Great Lakes League and the Blue Division becoming the Northern Lakes League. [2]
Great Northern Conference Divisions (created in 1956)
Orange / Great Lakes League Blue / Northern Lakes League
Bowling Green Anthony Wayne
Clay Genoa
Fostoria Maumee
Rogers Perrysburg
Sylvania Port Clinton
Whitmer Rossford
  • The NLL begins for the 1956-57 school year with Anthony Wayne, Genoa, Maumee, Perrysburg, Port Clinton, and Rossford as its charter members. [3]
  • Eastwood joins in 1959 after being accepted in 1958. [4]

1960s

  • Elmwood and Lake both join in 1960. [5]
  • When Springfield (Holland HS until 1959) joins in 1962, the NLL will have its largest membership total at ten schools. [6] This would only last for the 1962-63 school year.
  • Port Clinton switches into the Great Lakes League [7] (the Orange Division of the GNC) in 1963 after winning three football titles in 1957, 1960, and 1962.

1970s

  • For the 1972-73 school year, Eastwood, Elmwood, and Genoa leave to help form the Suburban Lakes League (SLL), leaving 6 members for a while. [8] Swanton and Napoleon were suggested as replacements.
  • Southview joins in 1976 after Sylvania High School splits. [9]
  • Bowling Green leaves the GLL in 1978 to bring the league total to 8. [10]

1980s

  • The League membership remains consistent

1990s

  • For the 1996-97 school year, Lake leaves to join the SLL, and is replaced by Northview, who leaves the former Great Lakes League. [11] The football team remained in the GLL for the 1996 season before fully joining at season's end.
  • Around 1999, Rossford first considered leaving the NLL for a league with members closer in their size. The 9-member SLL offered an opening, but Rossford initially declined. [12]

2000s

  • In 2008, Rossford sent a letter of interest to be considered as the replacement for Lakota in the SLL, who left for the MAL in 2009. [13] The SLL could not get a 6-out-of-7 vote to accept Rossford, ensuring they would remain a member of the NLL for at least a few more years. The NLL considered adding Clay and Napoleon to make a ten-school league, but a majority vote was not reached to expand. [14]
  • In May 2009, Rossford's board of education voted unanimously to leave the Northern Lakes League and form the new Northern Buckeye Conference with Eastwood, Genoa, Lake, Otsego, and Woodmore, all schools that were withdrawing from the Suburban Lakes League. [15] Later additions to the NBC included Elmwood and Fostoria. [16] The new league began competition in the fall of 2011.
  • In June 2009, Napoleon High School accepted the invitation to join the Northern Lakes League in 2011 as the replacement for Rossford. [17]
  • In August 2009, Maumee's school board voted 3-2 to remain members of the Northern Lakes League and to not accept the NBC's invitation to join their new league. [18]

2020s

  • In January 2021, the NLL announced a plan to expand the league to 16 members, with two divisions of eight schools each based on enrollment. [19] Any schools interested in membership were invited to apply, and it was hinted that expansion would most likely affect the Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) more than any other leagues.
  • On March 22, 2021, Maumee's school board voted unanimously to leave the NLL and join the Northern Buckeye Conference no later than the 2023-24 school year as a replacement for Elmwood High School. [20]
  • On April 9, 2021, the seven remaining NLL schools sent invitations to four schools that are currently members of the TRAC: Findlay, Fremont Ross, Oregon Clay, and Whitmer. [21] Fremont Ross voted to accept the invitation on April 12, followed by Findlay on April 19, Clay on April 20, and Whitmer on April 21. [22] [23] [24]
  • On November 11, 2022, the NLL announced their division names and alignments for the 2023-24 through 2026-27 school years. The Buckeye Division will be for the larger schools and the Cardinal Division will be for the smaller schools, with a slightly different alignment for football. [25] School enrollment will be considered every two years for reorganizing and balancing the divisions.
School Boys Girls Total
Buckeye Division (2023-24 & 2024-25)
(based on OHSAA 22-23 & 23-24 final total enrollments)
Whitmer 843 777 1,620
Perrysburg 649 629 1,278
Findlay 642 551 1,193
Anthony Wayne 546 521 1,067
Northview 495 488 983
Cardinal Division (2023-24 & 2024-25)
(based on OHSAA 22-23 & 23-24 final total enrollments)
Clay 424 422 846
Springfield 397 437 834
Southview 406 408 814
Fremont Ross 400 400 800
Bowling Green 344 330 674
Napoleon 236 200 436
School Boys Girls Total
Buckeye Division Football (2023 & 2024)
(based on OHSAA 19-20, 20-21, & 21-22 final total enrollments)
Whitmer 839 766 1,605
Perrysburg 672 580 1,252
Findlay 600 575 1,175
Anthony Wayne 544 538 1,082
Northview 511 503 1,014
Springfield 452 432 884
Cardinal Division Football (2023 & 2024)
(based on OHSAA 19-20, 20-21, & 21-22 final total enrollments)
Clay 442 432 874
Fremont Ross 454 399 853
Southview 368 377 745
Bowling Green 361 353 714
Napoleon 248 258 506

All-time membership

Football champions

[26]

All-time members of the NLL.
Year Champions
1956 Maumee
1957 Port Clinton
1958 Perrysburg
1959 Maumee, Port Clinton
1960 Port Clinton
1961 Perrysburg
1962 Maumee, Port Clinton
1963 Rossford
1964 Rossford
1965 Elmwood
1966 Eastwood
1967 Perrysburg
1968 Rossford
1969 Rossford
1970 Springfield
1971 Lake
1972 Rossford
1973 Anthony Wayne
1974 Anthony Wayne, Maumee, Springfield
1975 Maumee
1976 Anthony Wayne
1977 Perrysburg
1978 Lake
1979 Perrysburg
1980 Perrysburg
1981 Lake, Springfield
1982 Rossford
1983 Lake, Springfield
1984 Bowling Green, Perrysburg
1985 Perrysburg
1986 Maumee
1987 Anthony Wayne
1988 Anthony Wayne, Bowling Green
1989 Rossford
1990 Rossford
1991 Bowling Green, Springfield
1992 Maumee, Southview, Springfield
1993 Springfield, Bowling Green
1994 Springfield, Maumee
1995 Bowling Green
1996 Bowling Green
1997 Bowling Green, Southview
1998 Bowling Green, Southview
1999 Southview
2000 Bowling Green
2001 Maumee, Perrysburg
2002 Rossford
2003 Southview
2004 Southview
2005 Northview, Southview
2006 Perrysburg
2007 Southview
2008 Southview
2009 Maumee, Southview
2010 Southview
2011 Southview
2012 Napoleon
2013 Perrysburg
2014 Perrysburg
2015 Perrysburg
2016 Springfield
2017 Anthony Wayne
2018 Anthony Wayne
2019 Anthony Wayne
2020 Perrysburg
2021 Anthony Wayne
2022 Perrysburg

Divisional Era Champions

Year Division Champions
2023 Buckeye Anthony Wayne, Findlay, Whitmer
Cardinal Southview

See also

Ohio High School Athletic Conferences

References

  1. ^ Richard, Jim (September 19, 1946). "Rossford Plays Maumee And Perrysburg Meets Sylvania In Suburban Grid Games". Toledo Blade. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  2. ^ Sama, Dominic (October 12, 1957). "Knights Wallop Rogers; Maumee Bows to Bryan". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  3. ^ "Central, Scott Upsets Jam City League Top Spot". Toledo Blade. October 13, 1956. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  4. ^ Blade Correspondent (February 6, 1960). "Eastwood Roars To Tie For Title (explains that 1959-60 is Eastwood's first year of NLL competition)". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  5. ^ "Elmwood Quells Westwood Rally; Generals Win (shows 1960-61 NLL basketball standings with Elmwood and Lake)". Toledo Blade. December 24, 1960. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  6. ^ Little, Jim (January 26, 1963). "Rossford Trips AW, 28-8, As Jack Tisdale Runs Wild (shows Springfield in the 1962-63 NLL standings as a league member not eligible for the league title)". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  7. ^ Little, Jim (January 27, 1963). "Suburban Leagues Must Be Flexible To Survive". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  8. ^ "New Prep Conference Set". Toledo Blade. December 16, 1970. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  9. ^ Goode, Mike (December 4, 1976). "Southview Zaps AW (Southview opened in 1976; article explains this was an NLL matchup)". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  10. ^ "Lake Wins Northern Lakes League Outright". Toledo Blade. November 3, 1978. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  11. ^ "Northview to join Northern Lakes League". Toledo Blade. August 29, 1995. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  12. ^ Schooley, Duane (December 16, 1999). "SLL and TAAC mull realignment". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  13. ^ "Suburban Lakes League says no to Bulldogs' bid". Toledo Blade. June 3, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  14. ^ Junga, Steve (June 11, 2008). "NLL sticks with 8 teams; league members to reconsider expansion in September". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  15. ^ Junga, Steve (May 22, 2009). "5 from SLL join Rossford for new league". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  16. ^ Junga, Steve (May 22, 2009). "5 from SLL join Rossford for new league". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  17. ^ Silka, Zach (June 10, 2009). "Napoleon replaces Rossford in NLL". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  18. ^ Junga, Steve (July 19, 2010). "New frontier ahead for area leagues". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  19. ^ Junga, Steve (January 15, 2021). "Northern Lakes League plans to expand; announces goal of 2, 8-team divisions". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  20. ^ Junga, Steve (March 22, 2021). "Maumee to leave NLL, join NBC". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  21. ^ "In the Beginning…Constant Changing High School Athletic Conferences". Stateline Sports Network. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "Fremont Ross accepts Northern Lakes League Invitation". Fremont News Messenger. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Findlay joins Northern Lakes League". Findlay Courier. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  24. ^ https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/washlsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BYYH8R474A59 Washington Local Schools Board Minutes (April 21, 2021). Retrieved April 22, 2021
  25. ^ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cddd133064ef10001330483/t/63728440dc09c60c559b5c9f/1668449345538/Press+Release+-+Divisions+11_2022.pdf Northern Lakes League Press Release - NLL Divisions (Nov. 11, 2022). Retrieved Nov. 18, 2022 |source= https://www.nllsports.com/
  26. ^ Junga, Steve (August 20, 2008). "Preview: Southview picked again in NLL". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 12, 2010.

External links