Centered in Lima, Ohio, the Western Buckeye League is an OHSAA athletic league located in northwest Ohio and includes schools in Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. The league's school district boundaries also include portions of Logan, Paulding, Shelby, and Wyandot counties. The WBL originally formed in 1936 and is one of the oldest high school conferences in the state.
The Western Buckeye League currently awards championships in 13 Varsity sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling. An academic bowl tournament for the schools in the league began annually in 2004.
While the WBL consists of larger schools and spreads over a larger area, it is geographically located in the same area of the state as the Midwest Athletic Conference. Most schools out of both leagues typically host hotly contested matchups in nearly every sport.
Bath entered the league beginning with the 1965-1966 Basketball Season.
Shawnee left the league at the end of the 1966-1967 Basketball Season.
Ottawa-Glandorf entered the league in the spring of 1967 after withdrawing from the Northwest Conference in football and Putnam County League in all other sports.
1970s
Elida and Delphos St. Johns entered the league in December 1971.
Defiance entered the league in September 1973 in all sports. (Defiance 1972-73 WBL meets in CC, Golf, Tennis, and Track)
1980s
Delphos St. Johns withdrew from the league August 3, 1981 (effective end of 1981–82 season) to join the Midwest Athletic Conference.
Shawnee re-entered the league on October 5, 1981. Played full schedule in 1982–1983.
2000s
In 2009, Napoleon decided they would leave the Greater Buckeye Conference for the Northern Lakes League and Sandusky decided they would join the Northern Ohio League. The GBC quickly dwindled down to four schools, leaving Findlay, Fremont Ross, Lima Senior, and Marion Harding out in the cold.
On March 11, Lima Senior sent a letter to the WBL in hopes of expanding.
On April 1, the WBL responded and denied Lima Senior entry into the league. The letter stated, "The Western Buckeye League (WBL) is not looking to expand at this time and there is no anticipation of any member leaving."
Baseball Boys Basketball Football Boys Golf Boys Soccer Boys Track & Field Girls Track & Field Girls Soccer Girls Basketball Girls Cross Country Boys Cross Country
Girls Bowling Girls Basketball Girls Track & Field Wrestling
2018, 2012 2017,2014, 2011
2018 2009 2007 2011, 2010, 2000
Boys League Championships
School Year
Football
Soccer
Cross Country
Golf
Basketball
Swimming
Wrestling
Baseball
Track & Field
Tennis
Bowling
1936-37
Bluffton
1937-38
St. Marys, Van Wert
Celina
1938-39
Van Wert
Bellefontaine
1939-40
Bellefontaine, Celina
Bellefontaine
1940-41
Bluffton
Bluffton, Celina, Wapakoneta
1941-42
Van Wert
Bellefontaine
1942-43
Van Wert
Bellefontaine
1943-44
Van Wert
Bellefontaine
1944-45
St. Marys
Bluffton
1945-46
St. Marys
Wapakoneta
1946-47
Bluffton
Bluffton
1947-48
Bellefontaine, Van Wert, Wapakoneta
St. Marys
Celina
1948-49
Kenton
Bellefontaine
Celina
1949-50
Van Wert
Celina
St. Marys
1950-51
Van Wert
St. Marys
Celina
1951-52
Celina
Celina, St. Marys
Shawnee
1952-53
Van Wert
Bellefontaine
Celina
1953-54
St. Marys
Bellefontaine
St. Marys
Bellefontaine
1954-55
Van Wert
St. Marys
Shawnee
Kenton
1955-56
Van Wert
St. Marys
St. Marys
Shawnee
1956-57
Van Wert
Bellefontaine, Kenton, Wapakoneta
Shawnee
Kenton, Celina
1957-58
Van Wert
Coldwater, St. Marys
Bellefontaine, Celina, Coldwater, Shawnee, St. Marys
Shawnee
1958-59
Van Wert
Bellefontaine
St. Marys
Kenton
1959-60
Bellefontaine
Bellefontaine, Coldwater, Van Wert, Wapakoneta
St. Marys
Kenton
1960-61
St. Marys
Bellefontaine
St. Marys
Coldwater
Kenton
1961-62
Coldwater
Bellefontaine
Shawnee
Shawnee
Kenton
Bellefontaine
1962-63
Shawnee
Kenton
Kenton, Shawnee
St. Marys
Shawnee
Bellefontaine
1963-64
Shawnee
Shawnee
Bellefontaine, Shawnee, St. Marys
Wapakoneta
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
1964-65
Shawnee, Wapakoneta
Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Van Wert
1965-66
Celina
Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Van Wert
1966-67
Shawnee
Kenton
Kenton
St. Marys
Ottawa-Glandorf
Van Wert
1967-68
Van Wert
Bath
Bath
Van Wert
Bath, Kenton
Celina
1968-69
Celina
Bath
Bath
Van Wert
Ottawa-Glandorf
St. Marys, Van Wert
1969-70
Van Wert
Ottawa-Glandorf*
Bath
Bath
Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
St. Marys
1970-71
St. Marys
Celina
Bath
Celina
Van Wert
Bath
Ottawa-Glandorf
St. Marys
1971-72
St. Marys
Celina
Kenton
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Bath, Coldwater
Ottawa-Glandorf
St. Marys
1972-73
St. Marys
Coldwater
Bath
Celina, Delphos St. John's
Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Kenton
1973-74
Bath
Defiance
Bath, Bath~
Celina, Defiance
Defiance
Bath
Defiance
St. Marys
1974-75
Bath
Elida
Bath
Delphos St. John's
Defiance
Bath
Elida
Wapakoneta
1975-76
Wapakoneta
Elida
Van Wert
Delphos St. John's
Defiance
Elida
St. Marys
Delphos St. John's
1976-77
St. Marys
Defiance
Bath
Defiance, Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf
Delphos St. John's
1977-78
St. Marys
Defiance
Defiance
Defiance, Delphos St. John's
Defiance
Delphos St. John's, St. Marys, Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
Elida
1978-79
St. Marys
Defiance
Bath
Celina
Defiance
Delphos St. John's
Defiance
Elida
1979-80
St. Marys
Defiance
Van Wert
Delphos St. John's
Defiance
Delphos St. John's, Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Marys
Bath
Defiance
1980-81
Wapakoneta
Defiance, Elida
Van Wert
Delphos St. John's, Elida, Kenton, St. Marys
Defiance
Delphos St. John's
Elida
Celina
1981-82
St. Marys
Van Wert
Van Wert
Delphos St. John's, Ottawa-Glandorf, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Defiance, Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Bath, Elida
1982-83
Elida
Van Wert
Shawnee
Defiance
Defiance
Elida
Defiance
Bath, Celina
1983-84
Celina
Celina
Kenton
Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta
Defiance, Van Wert
Celina
Shawnee
1984-85
Bath
Celina
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Defiance
Celina
Shawnee
1985-86
Bath
Ottawa-Glandorf, Van Wert
Van Wert
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Elida
Defiance
Shawnee
1986-87
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Defiance
Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf, Van Wert
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
Van Wert
Shawnee
1987-88
Kenton, St. Marys, Van Wert
Defiance
Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Celina, Elida, Shawnee
Elida
Shawnee
1988-89
Bath
Van Wert
Shawnee, Wapakoneta
Celina
Defiance
Defiance
Elida
Defiance
1989-90
Bath, St. Marys
Defiance
Elida
Shawnee, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Bath
Bath
Shawnee
1990-91
St. Marys
Celina, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Elida
Elida
Defiance
Shawnee, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Shawnee
1991-92
St. Marys
Celina
Defiance
Van Wert
Van Wert
Defiance
Defiance, Elida
Celina
Shawnee
1992-93
St. Marys
Elida, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Elida
Celina
Defiance
Defiance
Shawnee
Shawnee
1993-94
St. Marys
Elida
Van Wert
Elida, Kenton
Celina
Defiance
Defiance, Elida
Defiance
Shawnee
1994-95
Celina
Elida
St. Marys
Defiance
Van Wert
Defiance
Defiance
Celina
Celina
1995-96
Celina
Elida
Wapakoneta
Bath
Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta
Elida, Shawnee
1996-97
Bath, Defiance, Wapakoneta
Elida
Van Wert
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Celina
Elida
1997-98
Defiance
Celina
Van Wert
Elida
Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee
Celina
Wapakoneta
Defiance, St. Marys
Van Wert
Shawnee
1998-99
Kenton
Ottawa-Glandorf
Van Wert
Defiance
Celina
Celina
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Defiance
Elida
1999-00
Bath
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Elida
Celina, Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
Defiance, St. Marys
Defiance
Shawnee
2000-01
Defiance
Defiance, Elida
Defiance
St. Marys
Ottawa-Glandorf, Van Wert
Shawnee
Defiance, Wapakoneta
St. Marys
Van Wert
Shawnee
2001-02
Kenton
Defiance, Elida
Defiance
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Defiance
Elida, Shawnee
2002-03
Kenton, Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Defiance
Van Wert
Celina, Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee
Celina
Wapakoneta
Elida
St. Marys
Elida
2003-04
St. Marys
Defiance
Van Wert
Van Wert
Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee
Celina
Van Wert
Defiance
Van Wert, Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
2004-05
St. Marys, Shawnee
Defiance
Defiance
Bath
St. Marys
Celina
Celina, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Van Wert
Elida
2005-06
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Van Wert
Bath
Elida
Shawnee
Elida
Elida
Defiance
Elida
2006-07
Wapakoneta
Shawnee
Shawnee
Bath
Van Wert
Celina
Van Wert
Defiance
Defiance
Elida
2007-08
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Celina
Van Wert
Shawnee
Shawnee
Celina, Van Wert
Defiance
Defiance
Elida, Shawnee
2008-09
Defiance, Kenton, St. Marys, Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Bath
Defiance
Defiance
Shawnee
2009-10
Kenton
Elida
Defiance
Defiance
Defiance
Shawnee
Lima Bath, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Defiance
Shawnee
2010-11
Kenton
Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Celina
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Celina
Shawnee
2011-12
Kenton
Bath
Van Wert
Defiance
Defiance, Elida
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Van Wert
Shawnee
2012-13
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee
Van Wert
Van Wert
Bath, Elida
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
2013-14
Kenton
St. Mary's
Defiance
Bath
Defiance, Elida
Celina
Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina, Shawnee
2014-15
Wapakoneta
St. Mary's
Van Wert
Bath
Celina
Wapakoneta
Defiance
Celina, St. Mary's
Defiance
Shawnee
2015-16
Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Kenton, Shawnee
Defiance, Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta
Elida, Wapakoneta
Defiance
Wapakoneta
Van Wert
Wapakoneta
2016-17
Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Mary's, Wapakoneta
Celina
Defiance
Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta
Celina
Shawnee
Wapakoneta
2017-2018
Elida
St.Marys
St.Marys
St.Marys
Coldwater
Archbold
St.Marys
Celina
Wauseon
FC Cincinnati
Celina
2018-2019
Elida
St.Marys
St.Marys
ST.Marys
St.Mrays
St.Marys
St.Marys
St.Marys
St.Marys
St.Marys
ST.Marys
*The first cross country meet was an invitational in 1969, and not an official league meet.
~Two golf league matches were held during the 1973–74 school year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Lima Bath won both matches.
Girls League Championships
School Year
Soccer
Volleyball
Cross Country
Tennis
Basketball
Swimming
Softball
Track & Field
Bowling
1974-75
Van Wert
1975-76
Van Wert
1976-77
Celina
Delphos St. John's
Elida
1977-78
Celina
Kenton
Delphos St. John's
Celina
1978-79
Delphos St. John's
Kenton
Delphos St. John's
Celina
1979-80
Celina
Kenton
Delphos St. John's
Ottawa-Glandorf
1980-81
Celina
Kenton, Wapakoneta
Delphos St. John's
Celina
1981-82
Celina
Elida
Delphos St. John's
Celina
1982-83
Elida
Shawnee
Bath, Elida
Bath, Elida
Celina
1983-84
Elida, Kenton
Shawnee*
Shawnee
Celina
Celina, Elida, St. Marys
Shawnee
1984-85
Celina
Shawnee*
Shawnee
Bath, Celina
Bath
Shawnee
1985-86
Celina
Shawnee
Shawnee
Bath
Elida, Wapakoneta
Shawnee
1986-87
Celina
Shawnee
Shawnee
Bath
Wapakoneta
Shawnee
1987-88
Celina
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf
Elida, Shawnee
St. Marys
1988-89
Bath
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf
Elida
Celina
1989-90
Celina
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina, Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf
Bath
Celina
1990-91
Celina
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Defiance
Celina
1991-92
Celina
Celina
Wapakoneta
Elida
Bath, Defiance, Elida, St. Marys
Celina
1992-93
Bath
St. Marys
Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf
St. Marys
Bath
Celina
1993-94
Bath, Celina
Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee
Bath
Bath
Celina
1994-95
Bath
Van Wert
Shawnee
Elida
Bath
Celina
1995-96
Bath, Celina
Van Wert
Shawnee
Bath
Bath
Celina
1996-97
Bath, Celina, Elida
Van Wert
Shawnee
Elida
Bath, Defiance
Celina
1997-98
Celina, St. Marys, Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee
Bath
Defiance
Bath
Celina
1998-99
Celina
Celina
Defiance
Shawnee
Bath
Defiance
Bath
Celina
1999-00
Celina
St. Marys
Defiance
Shawnee
Bath, Defiance, Elida, St. Marys
Defiance
Wapakoneta
Celina
2000-01
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Celina
St. Marys
Bath
Shawnee
Bath
Celina
2001-02
Celina
Celina
Van Wert
Wapakoneta
St. Marys
Shawnee
Bath
Celina
2002-03
Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Van Wert
Celina, Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Celina
Celina
2003-04
Elida
Celina
Van Wert
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Marys
Shawnee
Celina, Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf
2004-05
Elida
Defiance, Ottawa-Glandorf
Van Wert
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Bath, Elida, Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
2005-06
Elida
Defiance
Defiance
Elida, Shawnee
Bath, Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Marys, Van Wert
Shawnee
Celina, Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
2006-07
Elida
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Elida
Wapakoneta
Shawnee
St. Marys
Ottawa-Glandorf
2007-08
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Celina
Bath, Celina
Shawnee
Bath, Celina
Defiance
2008-09
St. Marys
Celina
Defiance
Shawnee
Bath
Shawnee
Bath, Defiance
Celina
2009-10
Celina
Celina
Van Wert
Celina, Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Bath
Defiance
2010-11
St. Marys Memorial, Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Shawnee
Celina
Bath, St. Marys Memorial, Shawnee
Shawnee
Shawnee
Defiance
2011-12
Shawnee
Celina
Shawnee
Celina
Bath
Shawnee
Bath, Celina
Celina
2012-13
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Shawnee
Celina
Bath
Shawnee
Bath
Celina
2013-14
Celina
Ottawa-Glandorf
Van Wert
Wapakoneta
Bath
Ottawa-Glandorf
Bath
Celina
2014-15
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Wapakoneta
Bath
Ottawa-Glandorf, Wapakoneta
Bath
Celina
2015-16
Bath
Bath
Defiance
Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta
Celina
Wapakoneta
2016-17
Elida
Celina, Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Wapakoneta
Celina
St. Marys Memorial
2017-18
Wapakoneta
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Celina
Defiance
Van Wert
St. Marys Memorial, Wapakoneta
2018-19
St. Marys Memorial
Ottawa-Glandorf
Defiance
Shawnee
Ottawa-Glandorf
Ottawa-Glandorf
*The 1983 and 1984 cross country league meets were invitationals and not official championships. The first official league meet championship was in 1985.
All Sport Trophy winners
The Western Buckeye League awards an annual All Sport Trophy to the school that accumulates the most points in their rank in each of the conference sanctioned sports.[1]