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Winton Woods, Little Miami, Northmont up to DI

Winton Woods RB Tyler Gooding (photo by: Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors approved the 2024 football divisional breakdowns and regional assignments during its April board meeting on Thursday and it has shaken things up for teams in the Southwestern part of the state.

Here is a look at the schools moving and how it affects the TriState Football coverage area:

DIVISION I, REGION 2
In Division I, Region II, also known as the Springfield Invitational (the Wildcats have won the last five regional titles) the Toledo teams have  been moved into Division I, Region 1. The new makeup of Region 2 is of Dayton and Columbus area schools. Springboro, Lebanon and Middletown slide over from Division I, Region 4 to replace the Toledo schools.

GWOC squads Northmont and Miamisburg flip-flop division and regions. Northmont is back in Region 2 after a one-year stint in Division II, Region 8 where Miamisburg now headed.

Over to Division I, Region 2 from Division I, Region 4: Springboro, Lebanon, Middletown
Up to Division I, Region 2 from Division II, Region 8: Northmont
Down from Division I, Region 2 to Division II, Region 8: Miamisburg

Northmont Head Coach Tony Broering (photo by: Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

DIVISION I, REGION 4
The shocker here is the additions of Eastern Cincinnati Conference schools Winton Woods and Little Miami moving up from Division II, Region 8 to fill the voids left by Springboro, Lebanon and Middletown.

Winton Woods makes Region 4 arguably the toughest to get out of come tournament time. The Warriors the talent to compete for a title in this region. The ECC is now made up of more Division I teams (six – Little Miaimi, Winton Woods, Lebanon, Milford, West Clermont and Walnut Hills) than Division II schools (four – Anderson, Kings, Loveland and Turpin).

Up to Division I, Region 4 from Division II, Region 8: Little Miami, Winton Woods
Over to Division I, Region 2 from Division I, Region 4: Springboro, Lebanon, Middletown

Trotwood-Madison head coach Jeff Graham (photo by Scott Reed)

DIVISION II, REGION 8
As exhilarating as news was that Winton Woods was leaving Region 8, finding out that Badin, Trotwood-Madison, Mount Healthy and Butler would be joining the Region 8 surely raised the blood pressure of the coaches within the region. The four aforementioned schools occupied four of the top seven seeds in last year’s Division III, Region 12 playoffs.

Seven schools in total move up from Region 12 to Region 8. Ross and Talawanda leave Region 8 for Region 12.

Trotwood-Madison is no stranger to the trophy case. The Rams have 10 regional titles (three state championships) since 2010. The first three regional crowns were in Region 8.

There will be 25 teams in Region 8 vying for 16 playoff spots. One of the potential postseasons matchups that has TSF is hoping comes to fruition is, La Salle from the GCL South hooking up with Badin out of the GCL Co-ed.

Up to Division II, Region 8 from Division III, Region 12: Aiken, Badin, Butler, Monroe, Mount Healthy, Trotwood-Madison, West Carrollton
Down to Division II, Region 8 from Division I, Region 2: Miamisburg
Down from Division II, Region 8 to Division III, Region 12: Ross, Talawanda

McNicholas head coach Mike Orlando (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

DIVISION III, REGION 12
Sighs of relief sounded rang out when the coaches in Region 12 heard the news that Badin, Butler, Mount Healthy and Trotwood-Madison were all bumped up to Division II, Region 8. There is no clear-cut favorite(s) to win the Region 12 championship heading into 2024. This will be as wide open as any regional bracket in Ohio when the tournament starts in November. McNicholas may have moved up but they have a far better chance of winning the title in Region 12 than they would have had in Region 16.

Up to Division III, Region 12 from Division IV, Region 16: McNicholas, Batavia, Dunbar, Ponitz
Down to Division III, Region 12 from Division II, Region 8: Ross, Talawanda

DIVISION IV, REGION 16
This is a region of “blue bloods” with prestigious programs Alter, Wyoming and Clinton-Massie being the royalty. Now Region 16 becomes even more regal with the addition of Valley View from Division V, Region 20. The Spartans have won the last two Region 20 crowns giving them nine regional titles in program history. Throw in perennial playoff squads Springfield Shawnee, Taft, Indian Hill, along with up-and-comers New Richmond (down from Region 12), Roger Bacon, CHCA, Eaton, Washington Court House, Urbana and Reading and you have one of the deepest regions in Ohio.

Up to Division IV, Region 16 from Division V, Region 20: Bethel-Tate, Brookville, Gamble Montessori, Springfield Northwestern, Valley View
Down to Division IV, Region 16 from Division III, Region 12: New Richmond, Oakwood, Thurgood Marshall

DIVISION V, REGION 20
The departure of reigning champion Valley View is the big news in Region 20. Four of the top eight seeds in last season’s Region 20 playoffs have departed. Brookville and Bethel-Tate move up joining Valley View in Division IV, Region 16. Purcell Marian heads down to Division VI, Region 24. The Cavaliers are one of six Region 20 schools moving down to Region 24. Williamsburg, the number #1 seed in last fall’s Division VI, Region 24 playoffs moves up to Region 20.
 
Up to Division V, Region 20 from Division VI, Region 24: Arcanum, Versailles, West-Liberty-Salem, Williamsburg
Down to Division VI, Region 24 from Division V, Region 20: Blanchester, East Clinton, London, Springfield Northeastern, Purcell Marian, Summit Country Day
Down to Division V, Region 20 from Division IV, Region 16: Graham
Down to Division V, Region 20 from Division IV, Region 14: Bath

DIVISION VI, REGION 24
Plenty of movement in this region with the most notable being small school state powerhouse Coldwater falling down from Division V, Region 18 to join the party.  Four MVC Gray schools Purcell Marian, Summit Country Day, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place and MCA are newcomers to Region 24. They join league member Cincinnati Country Day.

Up to Division VI, Region 24 from Division VII, Region 28: Covington, MVC A, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place
Up to Division VI, Region 24 from Division VII, Region 26: Lima Perry
Down to Division VI, Region 24 from Division V, Region 20: Blanchester, East Clinton, London, Springfield Northeastern, Purcell Marian, Summit Country Day
Down to Division VI, Region 24 from Division V, Region 19: Chesapeake, Portsmouth West
Down to Division VI, Region 24 from Division V, Region 18: Coldwater

DIVISION VII, REGION 28
Added to Division VII, Region 28: Jefferson Township (program restarted)
Down to Division VII, Region 28 from Division VI, Region 24: Riverview East Academy, Tri-Village, Troy Christian, Twin Valley South
Over to Division VII, Region 28 from Division VII, Region 26: Waynesfield-Goshen

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