New Divisions Take Shape
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has unveiled the upcoming fall‑season divisional brackets for girls and boys golf, girls tennis, girls and boys soccer, and girls volleyball, setting the competitive stage for the 2026‑27 school year.
Schools were given a May deadline to petition for Division I status, and the realignment reflects those petitions as well as the new two‑year enrollment cycle based on Ohio Department of Education data.
Notable shifts include Gallia Academy climbing to Division I in boys golf, while Vinton County moves up to Division I in girls golf. Meanwhile, Circleville and McClain drop to Division II in girls golf, and Miami Trace rises to Division I in girls tennis, whereas Bloom‑Carroll falls to Division II.
In soccer, Unioto advances to Division III, Circleville slides to Division IV, Minford climbs to Division IV, and Zane Trace drops to Division V. Hillsboro, Washington CH, Chesapeake and Westfall each make upward moves, while Alexander and Rock Hill step down.
Volleyball realignment sees Jackson leap to Division III, while Wheelersburg, Chesapeake, River Valley and New Lexington rise to Division IV. Portsmouth West jumps to Division V, and a host of schools including Southeastern and North Adams climb to Division V as well.
Field hockey remains the only sport with a single division, and the OHSAA has set July 29 as the official start date for golf tryouts, practice and competition, with other sports permitted to begin practice on August 1 and staggered season starts thereafter.