(5-31-23) The seven remaining Northwest Conference (NWC) members, according to Commissioner Jon Derryberry, are scheduled to meet today to wrap-up the past school year. One of the main topics of discussion is the future membership after Ada and Leipsic have announced they will be exiting.

Verification of schools interested in joining the NWC include Lima Central Catholic, Liberty-Benton and Ft. Loramie (football only). Any of these three that would be added would not not cause havoc and dominoes to fall. It would solve problems for these three, who are looking for a new home.

The ‘wild cards‘ could be unnamed and schools that have been rumored who have been asked to consider NWC membership...look out if this happens…because that will cause another conference(s) scenario of changes.

If there was an acceptable solution to replacing the two members…they most likely will announce it today…if not hang on!.

To NWC school administrators…

Proverbial saying

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

—used to say that it is better to hold onto something one has than to risk losing it by trying to get something better

The 76 Year History of the NWC – updated 5-31-23

The Northwest Conference (NWC) has been around since 1947 and has had numerous members come and go but still has 4 of its founding members in Allen East, Columbus Grove, Delphos Jefferson and Spencerville.

The other current active members as of today are Ada who joined in 1964, Bluffton who joined in 1953, Crestview who joined in 1970, Leipsic who joined in 2021, and Lincolnview who joined in 1965.

Updated-2023 changes

  • April — Ada announces it is leaving NWC for the Blanchard Valley Conference (BVC)
  • May — Leipsic announces is leaving NWC after a short stay to return to the BVC
  • Leipsic replaces Paulding in 2021 after leaving the BVC
  • Paulding left the conference after the 2020-21 school year after joining in 1967, to return to Green Meadows Conference (GMC).
  • Lima Central Catholic left the conference after agreeing to leave at the request of NWC members after the 2012-2013 school year after joining in 2006.
  • Perry left the conference after the 2003-2004 school year after joining in 1960 to become a charter member of the Northwest Central Conference (NWCC).
  • Upper Scioto Valley left the conference after the 2000-2001 school year after joining in 1966 to become a charter member of the Northwest Central Conference (NWCC).
  • Elida left the conference after the 1970-1971 school year after being a founding member in 1947 to join the Western Buckeye League (WBL).
  • Gomer left the conference after the 1968-1969 school year after joining in 1956.
  • North Baltimore was a football only member and left the conference after the 1968 football season after joining in 1967.
  • Ottawa-Glandorf was a football only member and left the conference after the 1966 football season after joining in 1964 to join the WBL.
  • Pandora-Gilboa was a football only member and left the conference after the 1965 football season after joining in 1947.
  • Bath left the conference after the 1964-1965 school year after joining in 1962 to join the WBL.
  • Beaverdam left the conference after the 1963-1964 school year after joining in 1956.
  • Leipsic was a football only member and left the conference after the 1963 football season after joining in 1962.
  • Forest was a football only member and left the conference after the 1961 football season after joining in 1947.
  • Shawnee was a football only member and left the conference after the 1952 football season after joining in 1947 to join the WBL.