Tri-Valley Conference Ohio – Conference Preview
By: Thomas Billington
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Nelsonville-York Buckeyes:
The defending conference champions finished last season with a 12-1 record, their only loss being to state runner-up Wheelersburg. The Buckeyes graduated 16 seniors last season and are manning a team of just 37. The team is looking to three-peat both the TVC-Ohio championship and keep their streak up against Athens, winning the last two matchups.
Coach Rusty Richards is now in his tenth season as NY head coach and has continued to build off the legacy of his predecessors.
The team is also aided by Athens’ former standout player, Weston Wheatley, who led the state in interceptions last season.
Athens Bulldogs:
The Bulldogs are coming off a 9-2 season, which ended with back-to-back losses. The Bulldogs ended last season at second in the Ohio, slotting in behind county rival Nelsonville. The team is looking to avoid the situation which happened at the end of last year, where Athens could have missed the playoffs.
Athens starts the season with a game at Logan, then traveling to Unioto. The Bulldogs are looking to repeat the success they had during the regular season last year.
This will be the team’s last season in the TVC-Ohio, before moving to the Muskingum next season.
Vinton County Vikings:
Vinton County went 3-7 in the season, with all three wins coming from in-conference play. The team is looking to have its first playoff berth since 2023. The Vikings are looking to fight in the open field for the top TVC spot. Starting off the season with a cross-conference matchup against the Waterford Wildcats.
Meigs Marauders:
The Marauders went 5-5 last season, and 3-2 in the conference. The team is looking to top the TVC this year. The Marauders start this season off with an intra-Meigs County game, traveling to face the Eastern Eagles. Third-season head coach Nolan Yates is yet to defeat the Eagles, but this will be only his second time facing the Eagles.
Wellston Golden Rockets:
Wellston finished the 2025 season with just one win, going 1-9. Their sole win came in their first game against Oak hill, a game that also kicks off this season. The team is looking to bounce back from their current slump. The team has not had a full-season winning record since 2019, when they went 7-4. This is Chris Graham’s fourth season as head coach, and he is looking for his first playoff berth.
Alexander Spartans:
The Spartans finished the season 4-6 and 2-4 within the conference. The Spartans are looking to end their near decade-long playoff drought, making it into the dance in 2015. The teams have been in the middle of the pack in TVC teams for the last few years, finishing 6-4 in 2022.
River Valley Raiders:
The Raiders ended last season 2-8. Having had their best season since 2022. The team as a whole has only won five games in the last four years, but things are on the ups in Bidwell, as the top of the league is open, which will give the Raiders a chance to move upward.