Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference
The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference is an athletic conference that is part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, with member schools from Trumbull, Portage, Mahoning and Columbiana Counties.[1]
Members
| School | Location | Nickname | Colors | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey Tier | |||||
| Brookfield | Brookfield | Warriors | Blue & Gold
|
2020– | |
| Champion | Champion Township | Flashes | Purple & Gold
|
2020– | |
| Crestview | Columbiana | Rebels | Black & Gold
|
2020– | |
| Garfield | Garrettsville | G-Men | Black & Yellow
|
2021– | Joined in 2021 from Portage Trail Conference, leaving in 2027 for Greater Portage Athletic Conference |
| LaBrae | Leavittsburg | Vikings | Red & Grey
|
2020– | |
| Liberty | Liberty Township | Leopards | Maroon & Gold
|
2020– | |
| Newton Falls | Newton Falls | Tigers | Orange & Black
|
2020– | |
| Southeast | Palmyra Township | Pirates | Maroon & Gold
|
2024– | Joined in 2024 from Portage Trail Conference, leaving in 2027 for Greater Portage Athletic Conference |
| Scarlet Tier | |||||
| Jackson-Milton | North Jackson | Blue Jays | Royal Blue & White
|
2017– | |
| Lowellville | Lowellville | Rockets | Navy & Gold
|
2017– | |
| McDonald | McDonald | Blue Devils | Blue & White
|
2017– | |
| Sebring McKinley | Sebring | Trojans | Purple & Gold
|
2017– | 2017–2023 for football; moved to Northern 8 Football Conference |
| Campbell Memorial | Campbell | Red Devils | Red & Black
|
2020– | moved to Scarlet Tier from Grey Tier in 2024 |
| Mineral Ridge | Weathersfield | Rams | Orange & Black
|
2017– | |
| Springfield | New Middletown | Tigers | Orange & Black
|
2017– | |
| Waterloo | Atwater | Vikings | Burgundy & White
|
2017– | Leaving in 2027 for Greater Portage Athletic Conference |
| Western Reserve | Berlin Center | Blue Devils | Blue, Red & White
|
2017– | |
Membership timeline
History
The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference was formed by several schools in the Trumbull and Mahoning County area in the 2017–18 school year after the Inter-Tri County League disbanded.[2]
The remaining members of the Blue Tier Schools of the All-American Conference joined to create the Gray Tier of the MVAC in 2020.[3] Garrettsville Garfield would also be joining the former AAC schools, however they wouldn't participate in conference play until the 2021–22 school year due to a scheduling commitment they had with their former conference, the Portage Trail Conference.[4]
Sebring McKinley, after struggling with football roster numbers for several seasons, announced in 2022 their departure from the conference as a football member and that they would be joining the Northern 8 Football Conference in 2023. They, however, remained a part of the conference for other sports.[5] Southeast High School announced in 2023 they would be leaving the Portage Trail Conference and join the Grey Tier of the MVAC. Memorial High School moved to the Scarlet Tier after the 2022–23 school year.[6]
The school boards of Waterloo, Garfield, and Southeast approved plans in 2026 to leave the MVAC after the 2026–27 school year in favor of the newly formed Greater Portage Athletic Conference, which is set to begin conference play in the 2027–28 school year.[7]
References
- ^ "Home". Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ "Fallout from folded ITCL results in 2 new leagues". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ Ohio, MIKE KEATING GateHouse Media. "MVAC poised to bring in seven schools from Mahoning Valley". Record-Courier. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ "Garfield to join AAC-Blue schools in MVAC". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ Keating, Mike. "Sebring admitted to Northern 8 Football Conference, will begin 8-man football in 2023". Alliance Review. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ Rosenblum, Jonah. "Southeast to leave Portage Trail Conference for Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference". Record-Courier. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ Rosenblum, Jonah. "Portage County schools set to form new sports conference". Record-Courier. Retrieved 2026-01-13.