HISTORY & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Midwest Athletic Conference

Historical Timeline

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August 1972...

Administrators from Ansonia, Bradford, Coldwater, Marion Local, Minster, New Bremen, St. Henry, and Parkway, met and approved by-laws and constitution for the forming of a new conference in west-central Ohio, which they adopted as the Midwest Athletic Conference.  Jon Sidenbender was named the first Commissioner of the MAC.

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Fall 1973...

The Midwest Athletic Conference begins their inaugural season of athletics including football, boys’ cross-country, boys’ basketball, baseball, and boys’ track and field.

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Fall 1974...

The Midwest Athletic Conference added girls’ athletics to their roster to begin competition in the fall of 1974.  Girls’ sports to be added included volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

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Winter 1975...

The Marion Local boys’ basketball team captured the conference’s first-ever state championship with a victory in the Class A title game over Indian Valley South, 59-56 in overtime.

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Spring 1976...

The Minster girls’ track and field team captured the conference’s first-ever state championship by scoring 52 points in the Class A championship meet - 22 points better than runners-up Franklin-Monroe. 

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1977-1978...

Charter members Ansonia and Bradford elected to leave the Midwest Athletic Conference.   Non-football schools, Ft. Recovery, Mendon-Union and New Knoxville were admitted into the MAC.

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1982-1983...

Delphos St. John’s, who were previously a long-time member of the Western Buckeye, accepted a formal offer to join the Midwest Athletic Conference and began competition in the fall of 1982.  That same fall, girls’ cross-country was added as an official sport in the conference.

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Fall 1982...

The Minster girls cross-country team captured the conference’s first-ever girls cross-country state championship by scoring a 61 in the Class A championship race - 5 points better than runners-up Zanesville-Rosecrans. 

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Spring 1983...

The Coldwater baseball team captured the conference’s first-ever state championship in baseball with a victory in the Class AA title game over Urbana, 12-5.

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Fall 1985...

The St. Henry volleyball team captured the conference’s first-ever volleyball state championship with a victory in the Class A title game over Ashland Crestview, 15-3 and 15-6.

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Winter 1987...

The Delphos St. John’s girls basketball team captured the conference’s first-ever state championship in girls’ basketball with a victory in the Class A title game over Chillicothe Unioto, 56-55.

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Fall 1989...

The Minster football team captured the conference’s first-ever football state championship with a victory in the Division V title game over McDonald, 16-7.

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1991-1992...

Mendon-Union, a conference member for 15 years, played their final school year of athletic competition as the school district merged with Parkway Local Schools.

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Fall 1994...

Boys’ golf was added as an official sport in the conference.

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Fall 1995...

Ft. Recovery, who had fielded a football team for four years, officially began football competition in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

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Fall 1996...

The Ft. Recovery boys cross-country team captured the conference’s first-ever boys cross-country state championship by scoring an 84 in the Division III championship race - 14 points better than runners-up Attica Seneca East. 

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Spring 1997...

Softball was added as an official sport in the conference.

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Spring 2000...

The St. Henry baseball team captures the conference’s 50th overall state championship with a 4-3 victory over Berlin-Hiland in the Division IV championship game.

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Fall 2001...

Following an executive vote two years prior to accept Versailles as a member of the Midwest Athletic Conference, they began athletic competition in the fall of 2001.

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Fall 2005...

Girls golf was added as an official sport in the conference.  That same fall, the Anna Rockets were accepted as an official member of the MAC in football only.

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Fall 2009...

The Minster boys golf team captured the conference’s first-ever boys golf state championship by shooting a 654 in the Division III championship round - 17 strokes better than runners-up Strasburg-Franklin. 

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Fall 2012...

The Coldwater football team captures the conference’s 100th overall state championship with a 10-9 victory over Kirtland in the Division V championship game.

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Winter 2021...

Boys’ and girls’ bowling were added as an official sport in the conference.  The Coldwater girls’ bowling team captured the conference’s first-ever state championship in girls’ bowling with a victory in the Division II title match game over Springfield Greenon.

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Spring 2021...

The Minster boys’ track and field team captured the conference’s first-ever boys’ track and field state championship by scoring 41 points in the Division III championship meet - 2 points better than runners-up McDonald. 

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Fall 2024...

The Coldwater football team captures the conference’s 150th overall state championship with a 31-7 victory over Kirtland in the Division VI championship game.

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Through the years, the Midwest Athletic Conference has proudly crowned 150 state champions in nearly all sports in which it has competed. The conference has also produced many “dynasties” in numerous sports that are recognized for their accomplishments around the state and every year produces many college-level athletes from NCAA Division I to NAIA.  Along with tremendous athletes, the conference has also been fortunate to be home to many Ohio Hall of Fame coaches as well as some of the best small-school athletic facilities in the state.