Thanks to Hall of Fame Defiance Baseball Coach Tom Held for the information he shared today on TXitter—

(11-2-23) One of the oldest high school athletic leagues in Ohio, the Western Buckeye League (WBL), has not had a membership change for over 40 years. The last change came in 1982-83 when Shawnee re-entered the league replacing Delphos St. John’s. When you consider the WBL started during 1940-41…that is very impressive in this world of constant membership changes in conferences.

Over the years just four members have left the league (not included in the four is Shawnee who left but returned) and the championships they won before they left —

  • Bellefontaine – (18 Total) 2-Boys Golf, 12-Boys Basketball, 1-Baseball, 2-Boys Tennis, 1-Boys Track
  • Bluffton – (4 Total) 4 Boys Basketball
  • Coldwater (7 Total) 1-Boys Cross Country, 2-Boys Basketball, 4-Baseball
  • Delphos St. John’s (15 Total) 1-Volleyball, 8-Boys Basketball, 4-Baseball, 2-Boys Tennis