COLUMBUS — A decrease in boys enrollment figures means a move to a different division and region for the Galion and Clear Fork high school football programs in 2015.
The Tigers and Colts will compete in Div. V, Region 16 this fall following the release of the new divisional and regional breakdown. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) posted the updated information on its website Tuesday.
Galion and Clear Fork are among eight schools making the move from Div. IV, Region 12 to Div. V, Region 16 for the upcoming season. Wooster Triway, Oak Harbor, Genoa Area, Rossford, Tontogany Otsego and Millbury Lake will join the Tigers and Colts in the region. Triway ended Galion’s playoff aspirations by knocking out the Tigers in the first round of the 2014 postseason.
According to the OHSAA release, Galion’s male enrollment is listed as 191. That’s down from 224 during the 2014-15 school year. Galion competed in Div. IV, Region 12 in 2014 and reached the playoffs after finishing 6-4 in the regular season.
Clear Fork’s male enrollment number is now 192, down from 237 in 2014, according to the OHSAA. Clear Fork finished 4-6 in 2014.
The enrollment drop moves Galion into the same region as Crawford County rival Bucyrus. The Tigers and Redmen open the season on Aug. 28 in Bucyrus.
Defending Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Red Division champion Marion Pleasant also makes its home in Region 16. Pleasant was undefeated during the 2014 regular season and finished 11-1 overall. The Tigers and Spartans play each other Oct. 30 at Don Kay Field in Marion.
Clear Fork’s fellow Ohio Cardinal Conference member Orrville competes in Region 16. The Colts and Red Riders play Oct. 23 at the Colt Corral.
Mount Gilead will stay in Region 16. The Indians’ male enrollment has decreased to 163 from 170.
Oh, by the way, five-time state champion Coldwater remains in Region 16. The Cavaliers have won three consecutive Div. V championships.
Following is the complete list of Div. V, Region 16 schools for the 2015 football season. Each team’s 2014 record is listed with the 2015 enrollment in parenthesis. Playoff teams from 2014 are signified with an asterisk (*).
Apple Creek Waynedale 5-5 (173)
Archbold 2-8 (153)
Bellville Clear Fork 4-6 (192)
Bucyrus 7-3 (158)
*Coldwater 14-1 (178)
Creston Norwayne 6-4 (156)
*Doylestown Chippewa 9-2 (178)
Elyria Catholic 6-4 (165)
*Findlay Liberty-Benton 12-1 (170)
*Galion 6-5 (191)
*Genoa Area 8-3 (185)
*Marion Pleasant 11-1 (164)
Milan Edison 5-5 (166)
Millbury Lake 8-2 (164)
Mount Gilead 3-7 (163)
Oak Harbor 3-7 (193)
Orrville 2-8 (178)
Ottawa-Glandorf 8-2 (193)
Paulding 1-9 (156)
*Pemberville Eastwood 9-2 (173)
Rossford 4-6 (197)
Swanton 6-4 (178)
Tontogany Otsego 3-7 (179)
Wellington 2-8 (174)
West Salem Northwestern (185)
Willard 0-10 (173)
*Wooster Triway 11-1 (182)
