Ohio High School Athletic Association

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Ohio High School Athletic Association
AbbreviationOHSAA
Formation1907
Legal statusAssociation
PurposeAthletic/Educational
Headquarters4080 Roselea Pl.
Columbus, Ohio U.S.
Region served
Ohio
Official language
English
Executive Director
Doug Ute
Affiliations National Federation of State High School Associations
Staff22
Website ohsaa.org
Remarks(614) 267-2502

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the U.S. 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.

Contents

Membership

There 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

Districts

The 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

Member 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

OHSAA's 100th Anniversary logo. OHSAA 100 Anniversary logo.png
OHSAA's 100th Anniversary logo.

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

OHSAA–sponsored sports tournaments

[4]

Boys

SeasonSportTournament Structure# of Divisions1st Tournament2025-26 State Tournament Location
Fall Cross Country District, Regional, & State31928 Fortress Obetz, Obetz
Memorial Park, Obetz
Fall Football Regional & State71972 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Fall Golf Sectional, District & State31927
(Spring sport 1927–1974)		 Firestone Country Club, Akron (Div I)
NCR Country Club, Dayton (Div II)
North Star Golf Resort, Sunbury (Div III)
Fall Soccer Sectional, District, Regional & State51976 Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus
Winter Basketball Sectional, District, Regional, & State71923 UD Arena, University of Dayton, Dayton
Winter Bowling Sectional, District, & State22007HP Lanes, Columbus
Winter Ice Hockey District & State11978 Nationwide Arena, Columbus
Winter Swimming and DivingSectional, District, & State21928C. T. Branin Natatorium, Canton
Winter Wrestling Sectional, District, & State31938 Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Ohio State University, Columbus
Winter Wrestling-Dual MeetRegional & State32013–2020 (discontinued)
Winter Gymnastics Sectional, District, & State11926–1937; 1965–1993 (discontinued)
Spring Baseball Sectional, District, Regional, & State71928 7 17 Credit Union Park, Akron
Spring Track and Field District, Regional, & State31908 Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Ohio State University, Columbus
Spring Tennis Sectional, District, & State2**1922 Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason
Spring Lacrosse State22017 Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus
Spring Volleyball State22023 Wittenberg University, Springfield

Girls

SeasonSportTournament Structure# of Divisions1st Tournament2025-26 State Tournament Location
Fall Cross Country District, Regional, & State31978 Fortress Obetz, Obetz
Memorial Park, Obetz
Fall Field Hockey State Qualifying & State11979 Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington
Fall Golf Sectional, District & State21993 NCR Country Club, Firestone Country Club, Akron (Div I)
Heatherwoode Golf Club, Springboro (Div II)
Fall Soccer Sectional, District, Regional & State51985 Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus
Fall Tennis Sectional, District, & State2**1976 Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason
Fall Volleyball Sectional, District, Regional, & State71975 Nutter Center, Wright State University, Dayton
Winter Basketball Sectional, District, Regional, & State71976 UD Arena, University of Dayton, Dayton
Winter Bowling Sectional, District, & State22007HP Lanes, Columbus
Winter Gymnastics Sectional, District, & State11977 Hilliard Bradley High School, Hilliard
Winter Swimming and DivingSectional, District, & State21977C.T. Branin Natatorium, Canton
Winter Wrestling Sectional, District, & State32023 Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Ohio State University, Columbus
Spring Softball Sectional, District, Regional, & State71978 Firestone Stadium, Akron
Spring Track and Field District, Regional, & State31975 Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Ohio State University, Columbus
Spring Lacrosse State22017 Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus
**(Individual/Doubles only, no Team championships)

Past team state champions

Schools with most team titles

[4]

Rank# of

Titles

SchoolCity# of

Boys Titles

# of

Girls Titles

Year of

First Title

Year of

Last Title

168 St. Edward Lakewood68X*19782025
265 St. Xavier Cincinnati65X*19572025
356 Upper Arlington Upper Arlington282819372025
449 St. Ignatius Cleveland49X*19882025
543 Minster Minster93419762025
642 Hawken Gates Mills73519772022
740 Walsh Jesuit Cuyahoga Falls221819822023
836 Columbus Academy Gahanna201619772025
935 Graham St. Paris35019302025
10t34 St.Vincent-St.Mary Akron231119722022
10t34 St. Francis DeSales Columbus25919712025
10t34 Thomas Worthington Worthington122219382025
1332 Brecksville-Broadview Heights Broadview Heights52719812025
14t31 Archbishop Alter Kettering201119782025
14t31 Coldwater Coldwater191219832025
1628 Newark Catholic Newark171119782025
1727 Canton McKinley Canton23419372010
18t26 Archbishop Moeller Cincinnati26X*19722023
18t26 Marion Local Maria Stein20619752024
20t24 East Technical Cleveland23119202002
20t24 Beaumont School Cleveland HeightsX2419862012
20t24 Archbishop Hoban Akron121219802024
2323 Bishop Watterson Columbus15819722025
24t22 Elder Cincinnati22X*19432005
24t22 Dublin Jerome Dublin13920042025
2621 Mount Notre Dame CincinnatiX*2119952021
27t20 Glenville Cleveland20019592023
27t20 St. Henry St. Henry13719792011
27t20 St. Ursula Academy CincinnatiX*2019912024
30t18 Versailles Versailles81019652021
30t18 Centerville Centerville61219282022
30t18 Magnificat Rocky RiverX*1819902024
30t18 Gilmour Academy Gates Mills71119712024
30t18 Beavercreek Beavercreek9919412025
30t18 Summit Country Day Cincinnati12619952025
36t17 Pickerington Central Pickerington8919852025
36t17 Mason Mason71020002024
36t17 University School Hunting Valley17X*19902025
36t17 Bishop Hartley Columbus8919762016
40t16 Villa-Angela/St. Joseph Cleveland13319652017
40t16 Dunbar Dayton15119482017
40t16 Cincinnati Ursuline Academy CincinnatiX*1619752022
40t16 Woodridge Cuyahoga Falls12419952025
44t15 Cleveland Heights Cleveland Heights11419322008
44t15 Jefferson Township Dayton12319572010
44t15 Kettering Fairmont / West Kettering41119612021
44t15 Dublin Coffman Dublin7819772021
44t15 Fort Loramie Fort Loramie8719772024
44t15 Hiland Berlin9619922025
44t15 Hathaway Brown Shaker HeightsX*1520022025
* X = single-gender school

Schools with most team titles in one sport

[4]

Rank# of
Titles		SchoolCitySportFirstLast
144 St. Xavier CincinnatiBoys' Swimming19702024
238 St. Edward LakewoodWrestling19782025
332 Hawken Gates MillsGirls' Swimming19842022
426 Graham St. ParisWrestling19822025
525 Brecksville-Broadview Heights Broadview Heights Girls' Gymnastics 19942025
618 Glenville ClevelandBoys' Track19592023
7t17 Upper Arlington Upper ArlingtonBoys' Golf19412006
7t17 Minster MinsterGirls' Cross Country19822025
916 Beaumont School Cleveland HeightsGirls' Track19862008
1015 Marion Local Maria SteinFootball20002024
11t14 St. Ignatius ClevelandSoccer20042024
11t14 Upper Arlington Upper ArlingtonGirls' Swimming20032025
13t13 Canton McKinley CantonBoys' Swimming19371961
13t13 East Technical ClevelandBoys' Track19201955
13t13 Minster MinsterGirls' Track19762018
16t12 Columbus Academy GahannaField Hockey19942019
16t12 Columbus Academy GahannaBoys' Golf19832021
16t12 Elder CincinnatiBaseball19432005
19t11 St. Edward LakewoodIce Hockey19852008
19t11 St. Ignatius ClevelandFootball19882011
19t11 Walsh Jesuit Cuyahoga FallsGirls' Soccer20002023
19t11 Woodridge PeninsulaBoys' Cross Country20062025
23t10 Strasburg-Franklin StrasburgGirls Softball19872024
23t10 Maple Heights Maple HeightsWrestling19561974
23t10 Magnificat Rocky RiverGirls' Gymnastics19902003
23t10 Dunbar DaytonBoys' Track19482017
23t10 Mount Notre Dame CincinnatiGirls' Volleyball19952020
23t10 St. Vincent–St. Mary AkronBoys' Basketball19842022
23t10 Dublin Jerome DublinBoys' Golf20042025
23t10 Thomas Worthington WorthingtonGirls' Field Hockey19882025
23t10 University School Hunting ValleyBoys' Swimming20092025

Schools with most consecutive team titles in each sport

[4]

SeasonSportSchool# of consecutive state titlesYears
Fall Boys' Cross Country Caldwell 81985–1992
Fall Girls' Cross Country Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 52009–2013
Fall Field Hockey Thomas Worthington 42022–2025*
Fall Football Cleveland St. Ignatius 51991–1995
Fall Boys' Golf Gahanna Columbus Academy 52017–2021
Fall Girls' Golf Dublin Jerome 52011–2015
Fall Boys' Soccer Cleveland St. Ignatius 62019–2024
Fall Girls' Soccer Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 52012–2016
Fall Volleyball Cincinnati St Ursula Academy 61993–1998
Winter Boys' Basketball Cincinnati North College Hill 32005–2007
Winter Boys' Basketball Columbus Wehrle31988–1990
Winter Boys' Basketball Richmond Heights32022-2024
Winter Boys' Basketball Dayton Stivers 31928–1930
Winter Girls' Basketball Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown 52009–2013
Winter Boys' Bowling Springfield Kenton Ridge 22009–2010
Winter Boys' Bowling Mechanicsburg 22021–2022
Winter Boys' Bowling Beavercreek 22023–2024
Winter Girls' Bowling Coldwater 22012–2013
Winter Girls' Bowling Gahanna Lincoln 22020–2021
Winter Boys' Gymnastics Cleveland East Tech 51933–1937
Winter Girls' Gymnastics Brecksville-Broadview Heights 222004–2025*
Winter Ice Hockey Cleveland St. Ignatius 42016–2019
WinterBoys' Swimming and Diving Cincinnati St. Xavier 132009–2021
WinterGirls' Swimming and Diving Gates Mills Hawken 241999–2022
Winter Wrestling-Individual St. Paris Graham 242001–2019, 2021-2025*
Winter Wrestling-Dual Team St. Paris Graham 72013–2019
Spring Baseball Newark Catholic 32002–2004
Spring Baseball Cincinnati Elder 31958–1960
Spring Baseball Berlin Hiland 32023-2025*
Spring Girls' Lacrosse Upper Arlington 32017–2019
Spring Softball North Canton Hoover 42011–2014
Spring Softball Springfield 41992–1995
Spring Boys' Track and Field Cleveland East Tech 61939–1944
Spring Girls' Track and Field Cleveland Heights Beaumont 71986–1992
Spring Boys' Volleyball Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas 22024-2025*

* active streak

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Fred Dafler. "The History of the OHSAA". Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
  2. 1 2 OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ Purpura, Dace (February 15, 2024). "OHSAA votes to add postseason tournament divisions in seven sports, including basketball". Dispatch.com. Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site" . Retrieved December 31, 2006.
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