ASHLAND — The new-look high school sports landscape came more into focus earlier this week.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced in February the divisional expansion of several sports, including girls volleyball and boys and girls soccer, effective for the 2024-25 school year.
On Tuesday, the OHSAA released its preliminary divisional assignments for those fall sports and the shake-up in Ashland County will be significant.
The biggest 64 schools in terms of enrollment will make up Division I in sports targeted for divisional expansion, while the next 64 schools will be assigned to Division II. The remaining schools will be divided as evenly as possible among the remaining divisions.
Girls volleyball will grow from four divisions to seven this fall. Boys and girls soccer will jump from three divisions to five.
In girls volleyball, Ashland and Madison will both drop from Division I to Division III. They will be joined in Division III by fellow Ohio Cardinal Conference opponent Mansfield Senior, which played in Division II last year.
Crestview will drop from Division III to Division V. Mapleton, Hillsdale and Loudonville will all compete in Division VI after playing in Division III last fall.
Girls and boys soccer will undergo a major facelift, too.
In girls soccer, all of the county’s programs will have a new divisional home. Ashland will drop to Division III from Division I, along with reigning Division II district champ Madison. Crestview, Mapleton, Hillsdale and Loudonville will all drop to Division V from Division III.
In boys soccer, Ashland and Madison both drop to Division III from Division I. Crestview and Loudonville will compete in Division V after playing in Division III last year.