(2-19-25) Constant athletic conference membership changes continue in Ohio.

Principals of the Chagrin Valley Conference (CVC) voted yesterday to accept Eastlake North, Willoughby South, Chardon and Fairport into the league starting in the fall of 2026. The addition of the four schools brings the CVC’s membership to 29 — the second-largest conference in the state of Ohio.

CVC Commissioner Dr. Don Lewis

“We are thrilled to welcome these outstanding schools to the Chagrin Valley Conference. This expansion not only enhances the conference but also creates new opportunities for student-athletes throughout our region to grow, compete and build lasting relationships. This expansion fosters both athletic and academic programs and continues to make the CVC the premier conference in the state of Ohio.”

CVC football divisions that will start in the fall of 2026 –

  •  Lake Division: Madison, South, West Geauga, Lutheran West, Chardon, Hawken, North.
  • Chagrin Division: Edgewood, Conneaut, Lakeside, Jefferson, Harvey, Perry, Geneva.
  • Valley Division: Berkshire, Kirtland, Crestwood, Chagrin Falls, Wickliffe, Rootstown, Orange.
  • Metro Division: Fairport, Beachwood, Independence, Brooklyn, Fairview, Trinity, Cuyahoga Heights.

North, South and Chardon all come to the CVC from the Western Reserve Conference. The WRC lost two other members — Kenston and Mayfield — to the Suburban League in recent months, which leaves only Riverside as a WRC school that has yet to find a new conference home starting in 2026.

Fairport was previously a member of the Chagrin Valley Conference, but has most recently been operating in the Northeast Athletic Conference.

Did you know?

The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference is a high school sports league that covers parts of southeastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. It’s known as the largest conference of its kind in the United States, with over 18,000 athletes from more than 40 schools participating in various sports. The OVAC was established in 1943 and focuses on promoting high school athletics while fostering sportsmanship, scholarship, and school relationships.

Schools in the OVAC are divided into different classes based on the enrollment of eligible athletes, ranging from Class A (smallest) to Class AAAAA (largest). Some well-known leagues within or related to the OVAC include the Buckeye 8 Athletic League, East Central Ohio League, and Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference.