Northeastern Athletic Conference
The Northeastern Athletic Conference is an Ohio High School Athletic Association high school athletic conference made up of member schools from Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Portage and Trumbull county in Ohio.[1] The NAC began conference play in 2002 and was formed by members of the former East Suburban Conference. NAC members played football concurrently with the ESC until the 2008 football season.
Members
[edit]| School | Nickname | Location | Colors | Year joined | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars Division | ||||||
| Cardinal | Huskies | Middlefield | Red, black and white | 2025 | ||
| Grand Valley | Mustangs | Orwell | Royal blue, navy blue, white and gray | 2009; 2024 | Left for Chagrin Valley Conference in 2019; rejoined NAC in 2024 | |
| Maplewood | Rockets | Mecca | Blue and white | 2002 | no football | |
| Mathews | Mustangs | Vienna | Red black and white | 2003 | football joined in 2009 | |
| Pymatuning Valley | Lakers | Andover | Maroon and gold | 2002 | football joined in 2009 | |
| St. John | Heralds | Ashtabula | Navy blue and white | 2022 | ||
| Stripes Division | ||||||
| Badger | Braves | Kinsman | Red and white | 2003 | no football | |
| Bristol | Panthers | Bristolville | Black and gold | 2002 | no football | |
| Bloomfield | Cardinals | Bloomfield | Red and black | 2002 | no football | |
| Chalker | Wildcats | Southington | Orange and black | 2002 | Chalker in Northern 8 Football Conference for football; football in conference from 2009 to 2020 | |
| Leetonia | Bears | Leetonia | Navy blue and white | 2026 | ||
| Lordstown | Red Devils | Lordstown | Red and blue | 2002 | no football | |
| Windham | Bombers | Windham | Black and gold | 2013 | Windham in Northern 8 Football Conference for Football; football in conference from 2013 to 2025 | |
Future members
[edit]| School | Nickname | Location | Colors | Year joining | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | Warriors | Brookfield | Blue and gold | 2027 | Joining in 2027 from Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference |
| Champion | Flashes | Champion Township | Purple and gold | 2027 | Joining in 2027 from Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference |
| LaBrae | Vikings | Leavittsburg | Red and gray | 2027 | Joining in 2027 from Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference |
| Liberty | Leopards | Liberty Township | Maroon and gold | 2027 | Joining in 2027 from Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference for all sports except football |
All-time NAC membership timeline
[edit]
Former members
[edit]| School | Nickname | Location | Colors | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairport Harding | Skippers | Fairport Harbor | Maroon and white | 2020–2026 | left for Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Ledgemont | Redskins | Thompson | Red and white | 2008–2014 | School closed in 2014. merged with Berkshire High School. |
| Lutheran East | Falcons | Cleveland Heights | Blue and white | 2009–2012 | football only joined in 2009. left conference in 2012 to become independent. |
| Newbury | Black Knights | Newbury | Orange and black | 2014–2020 | School closed in 2020. merged with West Geauga High School. |
NAC hstory
[edit]By the early 2000s, majority of the ESC, transitioned out of the conference, in favor of joining the newly formed Northeastern Athletic Conference in 2002, with founding members Bristol, Bloomfield, Chalker, Lordstown, Maplewood and Pymatuning Valley.[2][3] Two additional nearby schools, Badger and Mathews, joined the NAC in the 2003–04 school year, while Mathews joined the ESC for football only. Grand Valley later joined the NAC from the Chagrin Valley Conference in 2009.[4]
Windham was accepted into the NAC in 2013, leaving the Portage Trail Conference.[5] Ledgemont closed after the 2013–2014 school year after a territory transfer with Berkshire High School.[6] Newbury, who was an original ESC member, replaced their spot NAC in 2014 after leaving the Chagrin Valley Conference.[7]
After 10 years of being in the conference, Grand Valley left the NAC in 2019, in favor of rejoining the Chagrin Valley Conference.[8] Fairport Harding, joined the league after their 15-year long tenure in the Chagrin Valley Conference in 2020.[9] Newbury closed following the 2019–20 school year, after a territory transfer with West Geauga High School.[10]
After not being able to field a team due to low roster numbers in 2021, Chalker forfeited their membership as a football member of the conference.[11] Chalker spent the next couple seasons playing as a club team, before joining the Northern 8 Football Conference, an 8-man football conference in 2024.[12]
Despite playing a conference schedule in all sports with the league for years, Ashtabula St. John High School officially became a member of the NAC in 2022.[13]
Grand Valley rejoined the NAC after a 5-year tenure with the Chagrin Valley Conference in 2024,[14]their former CVC peer, Middlefield Cardinal joined the following year.[15]
Fairport Harding announced their intention to rejoin their former Chagrin Valley Conference starting the 2026–27 school year, ending their tenure with the NAC after 6 years.[16] On September 24, 2025, Leetonia High School announced that they have accepted their invitation to join the NAC, leaving the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference, and will begin conference play in the 2026–27 school year.[17]
On November 26, 2025, Windham announced they were accepted into the Northern 8 Football Conference beginning the 2026–27 school year, with roster numbers decreasing in recent years.[18] Brookfield, Champion, LaBrae and Liberty announced on March 17, 2026, that they intend to leave the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference to join the Northeastern Athletic Conference beginning the 2027–28 school year.[19]
East Suburban Conference
[edit]The East Suburban Conference was a former Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) athletic conference that operated from 1968 to 2008. Following the 2000–01 school year, most member schools departed to form the Northeastern Athletic Conference (NAC), leading to the dissolution of the league as an all-sports conference. Beginning in 2002, the East Suburban Conference continued as a football-only league. It remained in operation until 2008, when the departures of Lutheran East, Valley Christian (then known as Youngstown Christian), and Ashtabula St. John prompted the remaining members, already competing in the NAC in other sports, to transition to full-time football membership in the Northeastern Athletic Conference.
All-time East Suburban Conference members
[edit]| School | Nickname | Location | Colors | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Greenmen | Aurora | Dark green, white | 1983–1988 | to Metro Athletic Conference |
| Beachwood | Bison | Beachwood | White and gold | 1968–1988 | to Metro Athletic Conference |
| Berkshire | Badgers | Burton | Purple and gold | 1968–1995 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Bristol | Panthers | Bristolville | Black and gold | 1992–2002 | no football; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Bloomfield | Cardinals | Bloomfield | Red and black | 1996–2002 | no football; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Cardinal | Huskies | Middlefield | Red, black and white | 1968–1995 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Chalker | Wildcats | Southington | Orange and black | 1996–2002 | football 1996–2008; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Chardon | Hilltoppers | Chardon | Red and black | 1980–1983 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Cleveland Central Catholic | Ironmen | Cleveland | Red, white and blue | 2004–2006 | football only member; to North Coast |
| Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy | Royals | Cuyahoga Falls | Royal blue, white and black | 1998–2001 | to Principals Athletic Conference |
| Fairport Harding | Skippers | Fairport Harbor | Maroon and white | 1970–1976; 1989–2005 | to Grand River in 1976, to Chagrin Valley Conference in 2005 |
| Grand Valley | Mustangs | Orwell | Royal blue, navy blue, white and gray | 1989–1997 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Kirtland | Hornets | Kirtland | Navy blue and gold | 1968–1995 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Lordstown | Red Devils | Lordstown | Red and blue | 1996–2002 | no football; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Ledgemont | Redskins | Thompson | Red and white | 1989–2002 | football 1989–2008; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Lutheran East | Falcons | Cleveland Heights | Blue and white | 1998–2008 | football only member; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Maplewood | Rockets | Mecca | Blue and white | 1996–2002 | no football; to Northeastern Athletic Conference |
| Mathews | Mustangs | Vienna | Red black and white | 1989–1991 | football 2004–2008; to Northeastern Athletic Conference for football in 2008, left for Inter-County in 1991 |
| Newbury | Black Knights | Newbury | Orange and black | 1968–1997 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Perry | Pirates | Perry | Scarlet and white | 1984–1995 | to Chagrin Valley Conference |
| Pymatuning Valley | Lakers | Andover | Maroon and gold | 1989–1998 | football 2004–2008; to Northeastern Athletic Conference in 2008 for football, left for Northeastern in 1998 |
| Richmond Heights | Spartans | Richmond Heights | Blue and white | 1968–1989 | to Metro Athletic Conference |
| St. John and Paul | Heralds | Ashtabula | Navy blue and white | 1996–2008 | football only 2002–2008; became independent |
| Youngstown Christian | Eagles | Youngstown | Blue and gold | 2005–2008 | football only member; became independent |
All-time ESC membership timeline
[edit]
ESC hstory
[edit]The East Suburban Conference, formed in 1968. Founding members included schools such as Beachwood,[20] Berkshire, Cardinal,[21] Kirtland, Newbury, and Richmond Heights.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the ESC experienced periodic expansion and contraction as schools adjusted conference affiliations based on enrollment and competitive balance. Additions such as Fairport Harding, Chardon, Aurora, and Perry reflected the league's growth, while departures to conferences like the Chagrin Valley Conference and the Metropolitan Area Conference highlighted shifting alignments. Fairport left the conference in 1976 to join the Grand River Conference.
In 1989, the conference found replacements for those who left the year prior, with new members such as Ledgemont, Grand Valley, and Pymatuning Valley shifted the ESC toward a more rural, multi-county alignment extending into Ashtabula County. Fairport rejoined the ESC the same year.
The 1990s brought another wave of expansion, particularly in Trumbull County, with the additions of Bristol, Bloomfield, Chalker, Lordstown, and Maplewood between 1992 and 1995. Several of these schools did not field football programs.[22]
Additional members joined in the late 1990s and 2000s, including St. John and Paul (now known as Saint John School), Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Lutheran East, Cleveland Central Catholic (for football only),[23] and Youngstown Christian (now known as Valley Christian).[24]
Fairport, left for the CVC in 2005[25] followed by Cleveland Central Catholic in 2006, who joined the North Coast Conference.
The East Suburban Conference folded in 2008, and fully transitioned into the NAC, with Ledgemont, Chalker, Pymatuning Valley, Mathews and Lutheran East all becoming full-time members.[26][27]
State championships
[edit]State championships won by each school while as a member of the ESC or NAC
[edit]| School | Sport | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinal | Boys wrestling | 1978 |
| Chalker | Softball | 1998 |
| Ledgemont | Boys wrestling | 1992 |
| Maplewood | Boys cross country
Boys track and field |
1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015
2000 |
| Newbury | Boys wrestling | 1986 |
| Richmond Heights | Boys wrestling | 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "NAC Sports - Northeastern Athletic Conference Ohio". January 26, 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ Murphy, Brian (December 1, 2000). "NEC seeking to increase membership". News-Herald. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "1960s a time of change in area school athletics". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Is This the End of the CVC?… ?". Geauga County Maple Leaf. January 1, 1970. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ Bly, Denise (October 29, 2012). "G-Men - Bombers Football, The End of an Era". Weekly Villager. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Ledgemont Set to Close High School". Geauga County Maple Leaf. January 1, 1970. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Newbury to Join NAC". Geauga County Maple Leaf. January 1, 1970. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ Greco, Michael (April 20, 2018). "Edgewood, Grand Valley joining CVC in 2019-20". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ Kampf, John (April 26, 2019). "Fairport leaving Chagrin Valley Conference for NAC". News-Herald. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Newbury, West Geauga schools to merge beginning in 2020-21". wkyc.com. January 8, 2019. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Chalker cancels first five contests". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Chalker to join 8-man league". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ Greco, Michael (May 11, 2021). "St. John to join NAC starting in 2022-23 school year". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "GV seeking return to NAC".
- ↑ Ward, Jamie (June 27, 2024). "Cardinal Joining Northeastern Athletic Conference in Fall 2025". Geauga County Maple Leaf. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ Matt Goul, cleveland com (February 18, 2025). "Chagrin Valley Conference adding Chardon, Eastlake North, Willoughby South and Fairport Harding in 2026". cleveland. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ↑ "Leetonia to leave EOAC for NAC". reviewonline.com. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
- ↑ "Windham football switches to 8-man".
- ↑ Report, Staff (March 23, 2026). "NAC expanding by four schools starting in 2027-28 school year". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "Hall of Fame - Athletics". athletics.beachwoodschools.org. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ Ward, Jamie (June 27, 2024). "Cardinal Joining Northeastern Athletic Conference in Fall 2025". Geauga County Maple Leaf. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "Time capsule". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "Article clipped from The Plain Dealer". The Plain Dealer. February 15, 2003. p. 40. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "YOUNGSTOWN CHRISTIAN (DIV. VI)". vindyarchives. August 20, 2005. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "High school football: Fairport's Greig Field has a rich gridiron history, 83 years running". News-Herald. September 8, 2014. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ Writer, KARL E. PEARSON-Staff (December 31, 2008). "LOCAL SPORTS — THE YEAR IN REVIEW". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ Dealer, Bob Fortuna, Tim Rogers and Tim Warsinskey, The Plain (August 17, 2009). "Preview of other football teams". cleveland. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
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