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.
 | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | OHSAA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1907 |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Athletic/Educational |
| Headquarters | 4080 Roselea Pl. Columbus, Ohio U.S. |
Region served | Ohio |
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 | 2025-26 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) | Firestone Country Club, Akron (Div I) NCR Country Club, Dayton (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 |
| Spring | Baseball | Sectional, District, Regional, & State | 7 | 1928 | 7 17 Credit Union 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 | Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason |
| 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 | 2025-26 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, Firestone Country Club, Akron (Div I) Heatherwoode Golf Club, Springboro (Div II) |
| Fall | Soccer | Sectional, District, Regional & State | 5 | 1985 | Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus |
| Fall | Tennis | Sectional, District, & State | 2** | 1976 | Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason |
| 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 | Girl's flag football | Regional & State | - | 2026 | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton |
| 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)
Formerly sanctioned OHSAA sports
editBoys
| Season | Sport | Tournament Structure | # of Divisions | 1st Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Wrestling-dual meet | Regional & State | 3 | 2013–2020 (discontinued) |
| Winter | Gymnastics | Sectional, District, & State | 1 | 1926–1937; 1965–1993 (discontinued) |
Past team state champions
editSchools with most team titles
edit- * X = single-gender school
| Rank | # of
titles |
School | City | # of
boys' titles |
# of
girls' titles |
Year of
first title |
Year of
last title |
Totals by sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68 | St. Edward | Lakewood | 68 | X* | 1978 | 2025 | Boys: 38 wrestling, 11 hockey, 7 football, 5 dual meet wrestling, 3 baseball, 2 track, 2 basketball |
| 2 | 65 | St. Xavier | Cincinnati | 65 | X* | 1957 | 2025 | Boys: 44 swimming, 6 cross country, 5 golf, 4 football, 2 lacrosse, 1 baseball, 1 basketball, 1 soccer, 1 volleyball |
| 3 | 57 | Upper Arlington | Upper Arlington | 28 | 29 | 1937 | 2026 | Boys: 17 golf, 3 swimming, 2 baseball, 2 track, 1 football, 1 basketball, 1 ice hockey, 1 lacrosse
Girls: 15 swimming, 6 cross country, 4 lacrosse, 1 basketball, 1 gymnastics, 1 track |
| 4 | 50 | St. Ignatius | Cleveland | 50 | X* | 1988 | 2025 | Boys: 14 soccer, 11 football, 8 ice hockey, 4 cross country, 4 golf, 2 track, 2 baseball, 2 basketball, 1 wrestling, 1 volleyball, 1 bowling |
| 5 | 43 | Minster | Minster | 9 | 34 | 1976 | 2024 | Boys: 4 baseball, 3 football, 1 golf, 1 track
Girls: 13 track, 17 cross country, 4 basketball |
| 6 | 42 | Hawken | Gates Mills | 7 | 35 | 1977 | 2022 | Boys: 4 swimming, 2 golf, 1 soccer
Girls: 32 swimming, 2 track, 1 golf |
| 7 | 40 | Walsh Jesuit | Cuyahoga Falls | 22 | 18 | 1982 | 2023 | Boys: 8 wrestling, 4 golf, 4 baseball, 3 soccer, 2 cross country, 1 football
Girls: 11 soccer, 3 golf, 3 softball, 1 basketball |
| 8t | 36 | Graham | St. Paris | 35 | 0 | 1930 | 2026 | Boys: 27 wrestling, 7 dual meet wrestling, 2 baseball |
| 8t | 36 | Columbus Academy | Gahanna | 20 | 16 | 1977 | 2025 | Boys: 12 golf, 4 track, 2 football, 1 baseball, 1 soccer
Girls: 12 field hockey, 4 golf |
| 10t | 34 | St. Francis DeSales | Columbus | 25 | 9 | 1971 | 2025 | Boys: 7 soccer, 4 gymnastics, 3 wrestling, 3 football, 3 baseball, 3 lacrosse, 1 basketball, 1 volleyball
Girls: 4 soccer, 2 volleyball, 3 lacrosse |
| 10t | 34 | St.Vincent-St.Mary | Akron | 23 | 11 | 1972 | 2022 | Boys: 11 basketball, 6 football, 2 baseball, 2 track, 1 wrestling, 1 golf
Girls: 5 cross country, 3 basketball, 2 softball, 1 track |
| 10t | 34 | Thomas Worthington | Worthington | 12 | 22 | 1938 | 2025 | Boys: 3 golf, 3 soccer, 3 track, 1 baseball, 1 cross country, 1 gymnastics
Girls: 10 field hockey, 5 gymnastics, 5 swimming, 2 cross country |
| 13 | 33 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights | Broadview Heights | 5 | 28 | 1981 | 2026 | Boys: 3 soccer, 1 football, 1 dual meet wrestling
Girls: 26 gymnastics, 1 cross country, 1 volleyball |
| 14t | 31 | Archbishop Alter | Kettering | 20 | 11 | 1978 | 2025 | Boys: 8 golf, 5 soccer, 4 basketball, 2 football, 1 cross country
Girls: 5 basketball, 3 volleyball, 2 soccer, 1 cross country |
| 14t | 31 | Coldwater | Coldwater | 19 | 12 | 1983 | 2025 | Boys: 7 baseball, 8 football, 4 bowling
Girls: 5 bowling, 4 track, 2 basketball, 1 volleyball |
| 16 | 28 | Newark Catholic | Newark | 17 | 11 | 1978 | 2025 | Boys: 8 football, 9 baseball
Girls: 9 volleyball, 1 basketball, 1 track |
| 17t | 27 | Canton McKinley | Canton | 23 | 4 | 1937 | 2010 | Boys: 13 swimming, 3 football, 3 basketball, 2 baseball, 1 golf, 1 track
Girls: 3 volleyball, 1 basketball |
| 18t | 26 | Archbishop Moeller | Cincinnati | 26 | X* | 1972 | 2023 | Boys: 9 football, 9 baseball, 5 basketball, 1 golf, 1 lacrosse, 1 volleyball |
| 18t | 26 | Marion Local | Maria Stein | 20 | 6 | 1975 | 2024 | Boys: 15 football, 3 basketball, 2 track
Girls: 5 volleyball, 1 basketball |
| 20 | 25 | Bishop Watterson | Columbus | 17 | 8 | 1972 | 2026 | Boys: 5 golf, 3 baseball, 3 football, 2 basketball, 2 wrestling, 1 soccer, 1 lacrosse
Girls: 5 field hockey, 1 lacrosse, 1 soccer, 1 cross country |
| 21t | 24 | Beaumont School | Cleveland Heights | X | 24 | 1986 | 2012 | Girls: 16 track, 7 cross country, 1 volleyball |
| 21t | 24 | Archbishop Hoban | Akron | 12 | 12 | 1980 | 2024 | Boys: 5 football, 2 track, 2 golf, 2 basketball, 1 baseball
Girls: 6 softball, 4 volleyball, 1 basketball, 1 soccer |
| 21t | 24 | East Technical | Cleveland | 23 | 1 | 1920 | 2002 | Boys: 13 track, 5 gymnastics3 basketball, 2 swimming
Girls: 1 basketball |
| 24 | 23 | St. Henry | St. Henry | 15 | 8 | 1979 | 2026 | Boys: 7 football, 4 basketball, 3 baseball, 1 bowling
Girls: 7 volleyball, 1 basketball |
| 25t | 22 | Dublin Jerome | Dublin | 13 | 9 | 2004 | 2025 | Boys: 10 golf, 2 lacrosse, 1 soccer
Girls: 8 golf, 1 swimming |
| 25t | 22 | Elder | Cincinnati | 22 | X* | 1943 | 2005 | Boys: 12 baseball, 5 cross country, 3 basketball, 2 football |
| 26t | 21 | Glenville | Cleveland | 21 | 0 | 1959 | 2025 | Boys: 18 track, 3 football |
| 26t | 21 | Mount Notre Dame | Cincinnati | X* | 21 | 1995 | 2021 | Girls: 10 volleyball, 8 basketball, 2 golf, 1 soccer |
| 29 | 20 | St. Ursula Academy | Cincinnati | X* | 20 | 1991 | 2024 | Girls: 9 volleyball, 4 soccer, 3 swimming, 2 golf, 1 cross country, 1 field hockey |
| 30 | 19 | Gilmour Academy | Gates Mills | 8 | 11 | 1971 | 2026 | Boys: 5 golf, 2 ice hockey, 1 track
Girls: 4 track, 4 volleyball, 1 cross country, 1 soccer, 1 basketball |
| 31t | 18 | Summit Country Day | Cincinnati | 12 | 6 | 1995 | 2025 | Boys: 9 soccer, 1 baseball, 1 basketball, 1 cross country
Girls: 6 soccer |
| 31t | 18 | Versailles | Versailles | 8 | 10 | 1965 | 2021 | Boys: 7 football, 1 baseball
Girls: 3 track, 3 volleyball, 2 cross country, 2 basketball |
| 31t | 18 | Centerville | Centerville | 6 | 12 | 1928 | 2022 | Boys: 1 basketball, 1 baseball, 1 gymnastics, 1 hockey, 1 soccer, 1 bowling
Girls: 5 cross country, 2 bowling, 2 golf, 1 gymnastics, 1 swimming, 1 track |
| 31t | 18 | Magnificat | Rocky River | X* | 18 | 1990 | 2024 | Girls: 10 gymnastics, 4 cross country, 2 track, 1 volleyball, 1 golf |
| 31t | 18 | Beavercreek | Beavercreek | 9 | 9 | 1941 | 2025 | Boys: 3 baseball, 3 bowling, 1 soccer, 1 swimming, 1 cross country
Girls: 3 basketball, 3 cross country, 2 bowling, 1 soccer |
| 31t | 18 | University School | Hunting Valley | 18 | X* | 1990 | 2026 | Boys: 11 swimming, 5 golf, 2 hockey |
| 37t | 17 | Bishop Hartley | Columbus | 8 | 9 | 1976 | 2016 | Boys: 4 football, 3 track, 1 baseball
Girls: 5 track, 3 basketball, 1 volleyball |
| 37t | 17 | Pickerington Central | Pickerington | 8 | 9 | 1985 | 2025 | Boys: 2 football, 3 track, 1 cross country, 2 basketball
Girls: 8 basketball, 1 softball |
| 37t | 17 | Mason | Mason | 7 | 10 | 2000 | 2024 | Boys: 5 cross country, 1 soccer, 1 baseball
Girls: 3 golf, 3 cross country, 2 swimming, 1 basketball, 1 track |
| 40t | 16 | Villa-Angela/St. Joseph | Cleveland | 13 | 3 | 1965 | 2017 | Boys: 7 basketball, 4 cross country, 1 football, 1 wrestling
Girls: 2 volleyball, 1 basketball |
| 40t | 16 | Dunbar | Dayton | 15 | 1 | 1948 | 2017 | Boys: 10 track, 5 basketball
Girls: 1 basketball |
| 40t | 16 | Cincinnati Ursuline Academy | Cincinnati | X* | 16 | 1975 | 2022 | Girls: 8 volleyball, 7 swimming, 1 golf |
| 40t | 16 | Woodridge | Cuyahoga Falls | 12 | 4 | 1995 | 2024 | Boys: 11 cross country, 1 track
Girls: 2 cross country, 2 track |
| 40t | 15 | Hiland | Berlin | 10 | 6 | 1992 | 2026 | Boys: 4 baseball, 4 basketball, 2 golf
Girls: 6 basketball |
| 45t | 15 | Cleveland Heights | Cleveland Heights | 11 | 4 | 1932 | 2008 | Boys: 4 swimming, 3 track, 1 baseball, 1 basketball, 1 ice hockey, 1 wrestling
Girls: 4 track |
| 45t | 15 | Jefferson Township | Dayton | 12 | 3 | 1957 | 2010 | Boys: 9 track, 3 basketball
Girls: 3 track |
| 45t | 15 | Dublin Coffman | Dublin | 7 | 8 | 1977 | 2021 | Boys: 4 golf, 1 baseball, 1 cross country, 1 lacrosse
Girls: 3 gymnastics, 2 soccer, 1 golf, 1 swimming, 1 lacrosse |
| 45t | 15 | Fort Loramie | Fort Loramie | 8 | 7 | 1977 | 2024 | Boys: 3 basketball, 3 baseball, 2 cross country
Girls: 4 basketball, 2 volleyball, 1 cross country |
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 | 38 | St. Edward | Lakewood | Wrestling | 1978 | 2025 |
| 3 | 32 | Hawken | Gates Mills | Girls' swimming | 1984 | 2022 |
| 4 | 27 | Graham | St. Paris | Wrestling | 1982 | 2026 |
| 5 | 26 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights | Broadview Heights | Girls' gymnastics | 1994 | 2026 |
| 6 | 18 | Glenville | Cleveland | Boys' track | 1959 | 2023 |
| 7t | 17 | Upper Arlington | Upper Arlington | Boys' golf | 1941 | 2006 |
| 7t | 17 | Minster | Minster | Girls' cross country | 1982 | 2025 |
| 9 | 16 | Beaumont School | Cleveland Heights | Girls' track | 1986 | 2008 |
| 10 | 15 | Marion Local | Maria Stein | Football | 2000 | 2024 |
| 11t | 14 | St. Ignatius | Cleveland | Soccer | 2004 | 2024 |
| 11t | 14 | Upper Arlington | Upper Arlington | Girls' swimming | 2003 | 2025 |
| 13t | 13 | Canton McKinley | Canton | Boys' swimming | 1937 | 1961 |
| 13t | 13 | East Technical | Cleveland | Boys' track | 1920 | 1955 |
| 13t | 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 |
| 19t | 11 | Woodridge | Peninsula | Boys' cross country | 2006 | 2025 |
| 19t | 11 | University School | Hunting Valley | Boys' swimming | 2009 | 2026 |
| 23t | 10 | Strasburg-Franklin | Strasburg | Girls' softball | 1987 | 2024 |
| 23t | 10 | Maple Heights | Maple Heights | Wrestling | 1956 | 1974 |
| 23t | 10 | Magnificat | Rocky River | Girls' gymnastics | 1990 | 2003 |
| 23t | 10 | Dunbar | Dayton | Boys' track | 1948 | 2017 |
| 23t | 10 | Mount Notre Dame | Cincinnati | Girls' volleyball | 1995 | 2020 |
| 23t | 10 | St. Vincent–St. Mary | Akron | Boys' basketball | 1984 | 2022 |
| 23t | 10 | Dublin Jerome | Dublin | Boys' golf | 2004 | 2025 |
| 23t | 10 | Thomas Worthington | Worthington | Girls' field hockey | 1988 | 2025 |
Schools with 5+ consecutive team titles in each sport
edit* active streak
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Fred Dafler. "The History of the OHSAA". Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- 1 2 OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved December 31, 2006.