(6-16-23) This week at the Parkway Schools BOE meeting discussion included the possibility of Parkway leaving the Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) for the Northwest Conference (NWC).

Parkway and a Western Buckeye League member had been mentioned by several sources that they were both on the NWC wish list. Three schools have been mentioned by league officials asking to be considered for membership— Liberty-Benton, LCC and Ft. Loramie (football only).

During the public input it was mentioned the lack of the school’s success in the MAC.

The board said during the meeting that they trusted their coaches and are confident in the district’s future role in the MAC. No vote was taken on the issue.

The NWC recently lost two members to the Blanchard Valley Conference, Ada and Leipsic. This leaves the conference with an uneven number of football playing members.

Since the first year of the MAC in 1973 the Panthers have won 32 MAC titles. 14 of those titles have been in softball.

This year Parkway won a share of both girls basketball and softball. It is the first time since 1989 that the Panthers won two titles in the same year.

The last boys title was in baseball in 2000.

They have never won a MAC championship in boys basketball, boys and girls cross country, girls track, boys or girls bowling or in boys or girls golf.

Parkway MAC Championships
  • Baseball (7): 2000, 1995, 90, 89, 85, 84, 83
  • Football (3): 1975, 74, 73
  • Softball (14): 2023, 17, 16, 12, 11, 10, 09, 06, 04, 02, 01, 1999, 98, 97
  • Boys Track (4): 1986, 85, 83, 77
  • Volleyball (3): 1992, 91, 89
  • Girls Basketball (1): 2023

Parkway would have been a good fit in the NWC, the district has a portion of it in Van Wert County and borders the Lincolnview district. Travel would be comparable to the MAC and would eliminate a trip to Darke County.

For now it looks like the Panthers will continue in the MAC, which still has a lot to offer in many aspects of athletics.