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The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio. The OHSAA governs eligibility of student athletes, resolves disputes, organizes levels of competition by divisional separation of schools according to attendance population, and conducts state championship competitions in all the OHSAA-sanctioned sports.
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| Abbreviation | OHSAA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1907 |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Athletic/Educational |
| Headquarters | 4080 Roselea Pl. Columbus, Ohio U.S. |
Region served | Ohio |
Official language | English |
Executive Director | Doug Ute |
| Affiliations | National Federation of State High School Associations |
| Staff | 22 |
| Website | ohsaa.org |
| Remarks | (614) 267-2502 |
Membership
editThere are approximately 820 member high schools and 850 more schools in the 7th-8th grade division of the OHSAA. Most public and private high schools in Ohio belong to the OHSAA.[1]
Structure
editDistricts
editThe Association is divided into six districts, each with its own District Athletic Board, including the Central District, East District, Northeast District, Northwest District, Southeast District, and Southwest District.
The District boards conduct Sectional and District tournaments. The main OHSAA board conducts Regional and State tournaments.[2]
Classifications and divisions
editMember high schools are divided into three classifications (A, AA, AAA). Prior to 1989 many sports held tournaments based on these classifications. Since then, each sport individually divides into numbered divisions based on enrollment, taking into account the total number of schools offering that varsity sport and placing an equal number of schools in each division.
The classifications (A being the smallest schools, AAA the largest) are still used to fill spots on the six District Athletic Boards (two representatives from each class).
The number of divisions varies based on how many schools offer that sport. Football has the most, with seven divisions (Division I being the largest schools). Three sports have a single division: Boys' Ice Hockey, Girls' Field Hockey, and Gymnastics.[2] Beginning with the 2024-25 School year Baseball, boys and girls basketball, softball and girls volleyball will grow from four to seven postseason divisions and boys and girls soccer will go from three to five.[3]
History
edit
The OHSAA is an unincorporated, non-profit organization founded in 1907. Members of the Western Ohio Superintendents' Round Table had frequently discussed the need of a central organization for high school athletics. In 1906 they passed a resolution to appoint a committee, headed by George R. Eastman, the first President of the Board of Control.
The first OHSAA-sponsored state tournament, Track and Field, was held on May 23, 1908, at Denison University. Columbus North became the first state champions, finishing ahead of Dayton Steele.[1]
The OHSAA is currently headed by a commissioner.[4] Prior to 1925, the Board of Control officers handled duties now associated with the Commissioner.
In 1979, OHSAA adopted a bylaw prohibiting out-of-state students from competing in OHSAA-sponsored activities. This rule was affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in the 1985 case Alerding v. Ohio High School Athletic Association, regarding St. Xavier High School students from Northern Kentucky.
Commissioners since 1925
edit- H.R. Townsend (1925–1944)
- Harold Emswiler (1944–1958)
- W.J. McConnell (1958–1963)
- Paul E. Landis (1963–1969)
- Harold A. Meyer (1969–1977)
- George D. Bates (1977–1980)
- Richard L. Armstrong (1980–1989)
- Clair Muscaro (1990–2004)
- Daniel B. Ross, Ph.D. (2004–2018)
- Jerry Snodgrass (2018–2020)
- Doug Ute (2020–present)
OHSAA–sponsored sports tournaments
editBoys
edit| Season | Sport | Tournament Structure | # of Divisions | 1st Tournament | 2024-25 State Tournament Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Cross Country | District, Regional, & State | 3 | 1928 | Fortress Obetz, Obetz Memorial Park, Obetz |
| Fall | Football | Regional & State | 7 | 1972 | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton |
| Fall | Golf | Sectional, District & State | 3 | 1927 (Spring sport 1927–1974) |
NCR Country Club, Dayton (Div I) Firestone Country Club, Akron (Div II) North Star Golf Resort, Sunbury (Div III) |
| Fall | Soccer | Sectional, District, Regional & State | 5 | 1976 | Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus |
| Winter | Basketball | Sectional, District, Regional, & State | 7 | 1923 | UD Arena, University of Dayton, Dayton |
| Winter | Bowling | Sectional, District, & State | 2 | 2007 | HP Lanes, Columbus |
| Winter | Ice Hockey | District & State | 1 | 1978 | Nationwide Arena, Columbus |
| Winter | Swimming and Diving | Sectional, District, & State | 2 | 1928 | C. T. Branin Natatorium, Canton |
| Winter | Wrestling | Sectional, District, & State | 3 | 1938 | Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Ohio State University, Columbus |
| Winter | Wrestling-Dual Meet | Regional & State | 3 | 2013–2020 (discontinued) | |
| Winter | Gymnastics | Sectional, District, & State | 1 | 1926–1937; 1965–1993 (discontinued) | |
| Spring | Baseball | Sectional, District, Regional, & State | 7 | 1928 | Canal Park, Akron |
| Spring | Track and Field | District, Regional, & State | 3 | 1908 | Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Ohio State University, Columbus |
| Spring | Tennis | Sectional, District, & State | 2** | 1922 | College of Wooster, Wooster |
| Spring | Lacrosse | State | 2 | 2017 | Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus |
| Spring | Volleyball | State | 2 | 2023 | Wittenberg University, Springfield |
Girls
edit| Season | Sport | Tournament Structure | # of Divisions | 1st Tournament | 2024-25 State Tournament Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Cross Country | District, Regional, & State | 3 | 1978 | Fortress Obetz, Obetz Memorial Park, Obetz |
| Fall | Field Hockey | State Qualifying & State | 1 | 1979 | Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington |
| Fall | Golf | Sectional, District & State | 2 | 1993 | NCR Country Club, Dayton (Div I) Firestone Country Club, Akron (Div II) |
| Fall | Soccer | Sectional, District, Regional & State | 5 | 1985 | Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus |
| Fall | Tennis | Sectional, District, & State | 2** | 1976 | College of Wooster, Wooster |
| Fall | Volleyball | Sectional, District, Regional, & State | 7 | 1975 | Nutter Center, Wright State University, Dayton |
| Winter | Basketball | Sectional, District, Regional, & State | 7 | 1976 | UD Arena, University of Dayton, Dayton |
| Winter | Bowling | Sectional, District, & State | 2 | 2007 | HP Lanes, Columbus |
| Winter | Gymnastics | Sectional, District, & State | 1 | 1977 | Hilliard Bradley High School, Hilliard |
| Winter | Swimming and Diving | Sectional, District, & State | 2 | 1977 | C.T. Branin Natatorium, Canton |
| Winter | Wrestling | Sectional, District, & State | 3 | 2023 | Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Ohio State University, Columbus |
| Spring | Softball | Sectional, District, Regional, & State | 7 | 1978 | Firestone Stadium, Akron |
| Spring | Track and Field | District, Regional, & State | 3 | 1975 | Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Ohio State University, Columbus |
| Spring | Lacrosse | State | 2 | 2017 | Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus |
- **(Individual/Doubles only, no Team championships)
Past team state champions
editSchools with most team titles
edit| Rank | # of Titles |
School | City | # of Boys' Titles |
# of Girls' Titles |
Year of First Title |
Year of Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 67 | St. Edward | Lakewood | 67 | X* | 1978 | 2024 |
| 2 | 64 | St. Xavier | Cincinnati | 64 | X* | 1957 | 2024 |
| 3 | 53 | Upper Arlington | Upper Arlington | 27 | 26 | 1937 | 2024 |
| 4 | 47 | St. Ignatius | Cleveland | 47 | X* | 1988 | 2024 |
| 5 | 42 | Hawken | Gates Mills | 7 | 35 | 1977 | 2022 |
| 6 | 41 | Minster | Minster | 8 | 33 | 1976 | 2023 |
| 7 | 40 | Walsh Jesuit | Cuyahoga Falls | 22 | 18 | 1982 | 2023 |
| 8 | 35 | Columbus Academy | Gahanna | 20 | 15 | 1977 | 2024 |
| 9t | 34 | St. Vincent – St. Mary | Akron | 23 | 11 | 1927 | 2022 |
| 9t | 34 | Graham | St. Paris | 34 | 0 | 1930 | 2024 |
| 11 | 33 | St. Francis DeSales | Columbus | 25 | 8 | 1971 | 2024 |
| 12 | 32 | Thomas Worthington | Worthington | 12 | 20 | 1938 | 2023 |
| 13 | 31 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights | Broadview Heights | 5 | 26 | 1981 | 2024 |
| 14 | 30 | Archbishop Alter | Kettering | 19 | 11 | 1978 | 2024 |
| 15 | 28 | Coldwater | Coldwater | 18 | 10 | 1983 | 2021 |
| 16t | 27 | Canton McKinley | Canton | 23 | 4 | 1937 | 2010 |
| 16t | 27 | Newark Catholic | Newark | 17 | 10 | 1978 | 2016 |
| 18 | 26 | Archbishop Moeller | Cincinnati | 26 | X* | 1972 | 2023 |
| 19 | 25 | Marion Local | Maria Stein | 19 | 6 | 1975 | 2024 |
| 20t | 24 | Archbishop Hoban | Akron | 12 | 12 | 1980 | 2024 |
| 20t | 24 | East Tech | Cleveland | 23 | 1 | 1920 | 2002 |
| 20t | 24 | Beaumont School | Cleveland Heights | X* | 24 | 1986 | 2012 |
| 23 | 22 | Elder | Cincinnati | 22 | X* | 1943 | 2005 |
- * X = single-gender school
Schools with most team titles in one sport
edit| Rank | # of Titles |
School | City | Sport | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | St. Xavier | Cincinnati | Boys' Swimming | 1970 | 2024 |
| 2 | 37 | St. Edward | Lakewood | Wrestling | 1978 | 2024 |
| 3 | 32 | Hawken | Gates Mills | Girls' Swimming | 1984 | 2022 |
| 4 | 25 | Graham | St. Paris | Wrestling | 1982 | 2024 |
| 5 | 24 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights | Broadview Heights | Girls' Gymnastics | 1994 | 2024 |
| 6 | 18 | Glenville | Cleveland | Boys' Track | 1959 | 2023 |
| 7 | 17 | Upper Arlington | Upper Arlington | Boys' Golf | 1941 | 2006 |
| 8t | 16 | Beaumont School | Cleveland Heights | Girls' Track | 1986 | 2008 |
| 8t | 16 | Minster | Minster | Girls' Cross Country | 1982 | 2023 |
| 10 | 14 | Marion Local | Maria Stein | Football | 2000 | 2023 |
| 11t | 13 | St. Ignatius | Cleveland | Soccer | 2004 | 2023 |
| 11t | 13 | Upper Arlington | Upper Arlington | Girls' Swimming | 2003 | 2024 |
| 11t | 13 | Canton McKinley | Canton | Boys' Swimming | 1937 | 1961 |
| 11t | 13 | East Technical | Cleveland | Boys' Track | 1920 | 1955 |
| 11t | 13 | Minster | Minster | Girls' Track | 1976 | 2018 |
| 16t | 12 | Columbus Academy | Gahanna | Field Hockey | 1994 | 2019 |
| 16t | 12 | Columbus Academy | Gahanna | Boys' Golf | 1983 | 2021 |
| 16t | 12 | Elder | Cincinnati | Baseball | 1943 | 2005 |
| 19t | 11 | St. Edward | Lakewood | Ice Hockey | 1985 | 2008 |
| 19t | 11 | St. Ignatius | Cleveland | Football | 1988 | 2011 |
| 19t | 11 | Walsh Jesuit | Cuyahoga Falls | Girls' Soccer | 2000 | 2023 |
| 22t | 10 | Strasburg-Franklin | Strasburg | Girls Softball | 1987 | 2024 |
| 22t | 10 | Maple Heights | Maple Heights | Wrestling | 1956 | 1974 |
| 22t | 10 | Magnificat | Rocky River | Girls' Gymnastics | 1990 | 2003 |
| 22t | 10 | Dunbar | Dayton | Boys' Track | 1948 | 2017 |
| 22t | 10 | Woodridge | Peninsula | Boys' Cross Country | 2006 | 2020 |
| 22t | 10 | Mount Notre Dame | Cincinnati | Girls' Volleyball | 1995 | 2020 |
| 22t | 10 | St. Vincent–St. Mary | Akron | Boys' Basketball | 1984 | 2022 |
Schools with most consecutive team titles in each sport
edit* active streak
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Fred Dafler. "The History of the OHSAA". Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
- ^ a b OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2009-01-23.
- ^ Purpura, Dace (February 15, 2024). "OHSAA votes to add postseason tournament divisions in seven sports, including basketball". Dispatch.com. Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31.