Southwestern Conference (Ohio)
The Southwestern Conference is a Ohio High School Athletic Association athletic league that began conference play in 1937 and is made up of member schools of Cuyahoga and Lorain counties in Ohio. [1]
Current members
| School | Nickname | Location | Colors | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avon | Eagles | Avon | Purple & Gold |
2015- | |
| Avon Lake | Shoremen | Avon | Maroon & Gold |
1964- | |
| Berea-Midpark | Titans | Berea | Blue & Orange |
2013- | |
| Elyria | Pioneers | Elyria | Cherry & White
|
2021- | |
| Marion L. Steele | Comets | Amherst | Forest Green & Gold |
1947-1958; 1986- | |
| Midview | Middies | Grafton | Blue & Silver |
2015- | |
| North Ridgeville | Rangers | North Ridgeville | Navy Blue & Yellow |
2015- | |
| Olmsted Falls | Bulldogs | Olmsted Falls | Navy Blue & Yellow |
1954- |
Former members
| School | Nickname | Location | Colors | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay | Rockets | Bay Village | Blue, White and Red
|
1954-2005 | left for West Shore |
| Berea | Braves | Berea | Scarlet and Blue
|
1937-1950; 2005-2013 | left in 1950 for Greater Cleveland, consolidated into Berea-Midpark in 2013 |
| Brecksville-Broadview Heights | Bees | Broadview Heights | Crimson and Gold |
2005-2015 | left for Suburban |
| Clearview | Clippers | Lorain | Blue and Gold
|
1945-1954 | left for Lakeland |
| Fairview | Warriors | Fairview Park | Scarlet and Gray
|
1940-2005 | left for West Shore |
| Medina | Bees | Medina | Green and Gold
|
1947-1986 | left for Pioneer |
| Midpark | Meteors | Middlesburg Heights | Brown and Orange
|
2005-2013 | consolidated into Berea-Midpark |
| North Olmsted | Eagles | North Olmsted | Orange and Black | 1954-2021 | left for Great Lakes |
| Oberlin | Indians | Oberlin | Blue, White and Red
|
1937-1964 | left for Lakeland |
| Lakewood | Rangers | Lakewood | Purple & Gold |
2015-2020 | left for Great Lakes |
| Rocky River | Pirates | Rocky River | Maroon and White
|
1937-2005 | left for West Shore |
| Wellington | Dukes | Wellington | Maroon and White
|
1945-1954 | left for Lakeland |
| Westlake | Demons | Westlake | Forest Green and White
|
1954-2021 | left for Great Lakes |
Membership Timeline[2]
History
The Southwestern Conference was formed in the 1937 school year, with founding members Berea, Oberlin, and Rocky River
In 1940 Faiview joined the league
8 years after the start of the league, the SWC saw the addition of Wellington and Clearview, In 1945. Just 2 years later in 1947, Medina and Steele were admitted into the league.
In 1950, the first of the founding members Berea left for the Greater Cleveland Conference
In 1954, Olmsted Falls, Westlake and Bay joined as a replacement Clearview, Steele and Wellington who left for the Lakeland Conference.
In 1964, Avon Lake joined the SWC. Founding member Oberlin left the same year.
In 1986, Steele returned to the SWC. Medina left for the Pioneer Conference the same year.
In 2005, Bay, Fairview, and final founding member Rocky River, left for the West Shore Conference. The same year saw the addition of Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Midpark
Beginning the 2013-2014 school year, Midpark High School merged with Berea High School to form the Berea-Midpark.[3]
Avon High School was approved to join the SWC in the 2015-16 school year to accommodate the Berea-Midpark merger.[4] Lakewood and Midview joined the same year.[5]
In 2013, Brecksville-Broadview Heights was invited to join the Suburban League, which they accepted after a board vote and left after the 2014-15 school year.[6]
In 2013, North Ridgeville agreed to join the SWC as a replacement for Brecksville-Broadview Heights in 2015-16.[7]
In 2019, Lakewood announced that it would leave the SWC following the 2019-2020 school year to join the Great Lakes Conference. January 2020, Elyria accepted the invitation to join the SWC in 2021-22 as a replacement for Lakewood[8]
In February 2020, North Olmsted and Westlake announced their departure from the SWC and joining the Great Lakes Conference in 2021-22.[9]
References
- ^ Perry, Mike (March 20, 2013). "Midview to join SWC in 2015-16". Ohio Prep Zone. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ^ "History - SWC Athletics". SWC Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ The 'Titans' is the Berea school district's new mascot starting in 2013-14
- ^ Barney, Paul (December 20, 2012). "Avon to move to Southwestern Conference in 2015-16". Ohio Prep Zone. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ^ Perry, Mike (March 20, 2013). "Midview to join SWC in 2015-16". Ohio Prep Zone. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ^ "Elyria and Lorain County news | Chronicle Telegram".
- ^ "Ohio Prep Zone". www.ohioprepzone.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013.
- ^ "Southwestern Conference to welcome Elyria in 2021-22". SWC Athletics. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ^ Goul, Matt; clevel; .com (February 20, 2020). "North Olmsted, Westlake leaving Southwestern Conference for Great Lakes Conference". cleveland. Retrieved February 20, 2020.