Northern 10 Conference seeks expansion

In a letter posted to social media on Nov. 8, the Northern 10 Athletic Conference announced its intention to expand from eight to 12 schools in a two-division format. The conference, which was founded in 2012 after the disbanding of the North Central Conference and Midland Athletic League, set a deadline of Jan. 30, 2025, for any interested schools to apply. Current league members include Buckeye Central, Bucyrus, Carey, Colonel Crawford, Mohawk, Seneca East, Upper Sandusky and (Bucyrus) Wynford. The schools are located in Crawford, Seneca and Wyandot counties. In 12 years, the league has already seen a couple changes as it went from 10 to eight teams. Crestline left to join the Mid-Buckeye Conference in 2015-16, while Ridgedale left for the Northwest Central Conference in 2021-22. Among the interested schools could be Lucas, which has had great success across many sports in recent years, but is independent in football. Located in southeast Richland County, Lucas has been competing in the Mid-Buckeye Conference with Kirdon Central Christian, Crestline, Mansfield Christian and Mansfield St. Peter's since 2013. But travel may be an issue for the Cubs and the N10, however. The closest trip is 29 miles (one-way) and the longest is 65, with an average trip of 48 miles. Not long after the N10 was formed, there was various coming and going among league members between the Northern Ohio League and Sandusky Bay Conference. At that time, Willard was considered a target or fit for the N10. Willard eventually joined Norwalk, Bellevue, Columbian, Sandusky and Shelby in the expanded SBC prior to the 2017-18 school year, ending the NOL. Broken into three divisions (Lake, Bay, River) among main revenue sports, Willard is a member of the Bay in basketball and the River in football. The Crimson Flashes have won five Bay Division championships in boys basketball, and have Bay titles in volleyball and girls basketball among other revenue sports. Willard is a Div. V in football and basketball. Seven of the eight N10 schools are currently in Div. VI or VII in football, with Upper Sandusky in Div. IV as the lone exception. Below is the full letter posted by N10 commissioner Michael Reinhart: Dear colleagues, The Northern 10 Athletic Conference is pleased to announce a significant development within our confederation of schools. In alignment with our strategic goals to enhance competitive play and strengthen community relationships, we are exploring opportunities to expand our league from eight schools to potentially 12 schools competing in two divisional alignments. This expansion presents a valuable opportunity for growth and collaboration, and we invite your institution to explore the potential benefits of joining our conference. N10 league expansion discovery initiative The purpose of this initiative is to engage with schools that may be interested in becoming part of our expanded league. We believe your institution could contribute significantly to our conference and benefit from the opportunities this expansion affords. Key benefits of joining the N10: 1. Enhanced competitive environment: membership in the N10 will place your institution within a dynamic and competitive framework, fostering athletic excellence and providing your student-athletes with diverse and challenging opponents. 2. Strengthened community engagement: The N10 values robust community connections and local support. Joining our conference will integrate your school into a network that emphasizes school spirit and regional pride, offering meaningful interactions with neighboring institutions. 3. Access to resources and collaboration: As a member of the N10, your school will gain access to a range of resources, including networking opportunities with other member schools, the exchange of best practices, and participation in collaborative initiatives designed to enhance overall athletic programs. 4. Efficient scheduling with divisional structure: The forthcoming expansion will introduce a divisional structure, which will streamline scheduling and ease travel demands. This structure supports the development of rivalries and provides a clear path to divisional championships. Next steps: We invite you to consider the advantages of joining our expanded conference. To explore this opportunity further, please contact me at the information listed below with a formal letter expressing your interest in possibly joining our conference by January 30, 2025. Once we have reached the deadline, we intend to reach out to interested schools to discuss scheduling informational meetings before delivering formal invitations to join the conference. The Northern 10 Athletic Conference is poised for a promising future, and we are excited about the prospect of including new schools in our league. This expansion is a pivotal moment for our conference, and we are confident it will bring substantial benefits to all participating institutions. Thank you for considering this opportunity. We look forward to the possibility of collaborating to advance the goals of high school athletics. Sincerely, Michael Reinhart League Commissioner Northern 10 Athletic Conference Email: n10conf@gmail.com