Breaking: TVC Board of Control votes to add former TSL teams, expand to three divisions
By: Andrew Woods
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Two seasons from now, the high school athletics landscape across Southeast Ohio may look very different. That is because the Tri-Valley Conference Board of Control voted to accept former Twin State League members Marietta, Warren and Fort Frye into the conference at the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. This move is still pending approval from the TVC superintendents.
Once Marietta, Warren, and Fort Frye join the TVC, the conference will expand to three divisions. The divisions will be the following:
Key: Former TSL teams are in bold.
TVC-Muskingum: Athens, Fort Frye, Marietta, Warren
TVC-Ohio: Alexander, Meigs, Nelsonville-York, River Valley, Vinton County, Wellston
TVC-Hocking: Belpre, Eastern, Federal Hocking, Southern, Trimble, Waterford
Although there are rumors of more teams joining the TVC-Muskingum, none have been confirmed as of now.
The new conference alignment will affect every sport differently, but because it is basketball season, I will focus on how it will affect Athens’ basketball teams will fit in the new division. In each of the past two seasons, Athens has lost to Marietta and Warren, both of which will become conference opponents. This new division will be challenging but has a chance to boost their RPI exponentially, since both Marietta and Warren are in higher divisions than their TVC-Ohio counterparts.
On the girls’ basketball side, teams in the TVC-Ohio will be relieved to see that Athens, who won the last three conference titles, will leave for the new Muskingum division. Athens’ departure could open opportunities for teams like Alexander, River Valley and Vinton County, all of which have would have won or been in pole position for one if Athens were not in the conference. Meanwhile, Athens would likely be an immediate contender in the Muskingum. The Bulldogs defeated Warren and Marietta this season. Meanwhile, Fort Frye would prove to be stiff competition for Athens. Both Fort Frye and Athens have contended for district and conference titles in recent years, and both should immediately rise to the top of the TVC-Muskingum.