(8-24-23) With the 2023-24 school year just getting underway there are still many questions to be answered for some Stateline area schools and athletic conferences on future memberships.

The Northwest Conference (NWC) has an offer out to Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) member Delphos St. John’s to fill one of the two open spots when Ada and Leipsic announced they were both leaving for the Blanchard Valley Conference (BVC). The Blue Jays are taking their time in deciding the pros and cons of the move. The clock is ticking down to when we find out what the Blue Jays will do.

In the material below St. John’s hopes to have a decision by September 1st.

A highlight of the presentation below—


MAC vs. NWC from St. John’s web page (13 pages) –

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So what is next for the other three schools who showed an interest in joining the NWC?

Lima Central Catholic AD Mike Rumschlag –

Lima Central Catholic (LCC) still remains interested in joining the Northwest Conference. Athletic Directors and school administrators have the difficult task of navigating these unstable times to ensure stability for the future, and so, patience is required.

Liberty-Benton and Ft. Loramie (football only) also contacted the NWC about membership possibilities, but neither one of them have been invited to join.

What happens next IF….?
If St. John’s decides to move to the NWC, the conference will remain one member short from its current roster of schools. Will the NWC decide to stand pat or add another member or one of the three other applicants above.

If St. John’s decides to remain in the MAC….nothing changes what is in place now.

If St. John’s decides to move to the NWC, the MAC will be one member short and will have to decide their next step in the membership process. This is an option, Anna a football only member, could be asked to leave. This would give the MAC 8 football members, presently the MAC plays 8 conference games instead of 9 with the current 10 team membership. Several years ago the MAC eliminated one conference game in favor of scheduling a non-conference to help with added computer points (that was before the playoff added additional teams who qualify).

(Another) If St. John’s decides to move to the NWC, the MAC could add Ft. Loramie as a football only member…giving Anna a natural Friday Night rival.

Did you know…
Two football games of interest this weekend…on Saturday Delphos St. John’s will play LCC and Liberty-Benton will play Columbus Grove from the NWC. The results of these two games might have an impact on the NWC membership situation. Last week in the battle of the two Delphos schools…St. John’s picked up a 45-6 win over NWC member Jefferson.
