(7-28-23) Taking a look back at Coldwater’s journey to joining the Western Buckeye League (WBL), leaving the conference and then joining the Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC).

In the mid to late 1950’s Coldwater was not in a conference, Marion Local had just been established as a school district replacing St. John (located in Maria Stein), while St. Henry and Ft. Recovery did not have football yet.

During the 1956 season the Cavs would play three WBL schools in football Celina, St. Marys and Van Wert. They would also play Springfield Catholic Central and Portland (Indiana). The rest of the schedule had Marion Local, Versailles, Rockford and Delphos St. John’s.

Coldwater 1956 Football Schedule

Bluffton left the WBL in football after the 1952 season and would leave the league in all sports after the 1956-1957 season. Coldwater would replace the Pirates and were admitted to the WBL in September of 1957, and began league play in basketball right away. For two years before being admitted Coldwater had wanted to join the league to eliminate scheduling issues and long road trips.

The Cavaliers would decide in January of 1972 to leave the WBL and become charter members of the MAC.

Below is the official statement from the Coldwater BOE on why they were making the move.

The WBL accepted Coldwater’s withdrawl a couple of weeks later.

Defiance met in August of 1972 and replaced Coldwater with Defiance, the Bulldogs are still members.

stories courtesy of the Mercer County Chronicle

Did you know….

In the WBL…Coldwater one WBL football title in 1961 and went 30-60-3 during their time in the league, in basketball they were Co-Champs twice and went 70-46 during their stay and in baseball they won 4 titles and went 53-39-1.

In the MAC…they have won 19 titles and have a MAC record of 258-71-2, in boys basketball they have 8 titles and in baseball they have won 33 titles.