Northwest Ohio Athletic League
Ohio's Oldest -- Since 1926 -- 89 Years of Competition
The Northwest Ohio Athletic League was formed in 1926 with six (6) charter member schools: Bryan, Delta,
Liberty Center, Montpelier, Napoleon, and Wauseon. The NWOAL is recognized as the oldest league in the state of
Ohio.
After five (5) seasons, in 1931, Defiance replaced Delta, leaving six member schools until 1955, when
Defiance dropped out. The five (5) remaining charter schools played as a five-team league until the 1957-58 school
year when Delta and Swanton became members of the NWOAL.
After three (3) years as a 7-school league, in 1960, Archbold entered the NWOAL. In 1969, Delta and
Swanton dropped out, and Evergreen entered the NWOAL for two school years, 1969-71. Also, a new 8-team league,
the Northern Border League was formed with Archbold, Evergreen, Liberty Center, Montpelier, and Wauseon
competing in both the NWOAL and NBL, Bryan and Napoleon competing in the NWOAL only, and Delta, Patrick
Henry, and Swanton competing in the NBL only. Beginning with the 1971-72 school year Evergreen competed only in
the NBL.
In 1978, Napoleon dropped out of the NWOAL, and the league re-organized as a 9-team league with member
schools: Archbold, Bryan, Delta, Evergreen, Liberty Center, Montpelier, Patrick Henry, Swanton, and Wauseon. The
league has had these nine schools since.
Football championships have been contested since 1926, boys cross country since 1969, girls cross country
since 1981, golf since 1954, and volleyball since 1975. Boys basketball championships have been contested since 1927,
girls basketball since 1976, and wrestling since 1960. Baseball championships have been contested since 1954, softball
since 1987, boys track and field since 1927, and girls track and field since 1972. Beginning with the 2011-12 school
year, girls soccer was added as a league sport in the fall and boys and girls bowling in the winter season. Boys soccer
was added in the fall of 2013.
Montpelier dropped out of the NWOAL in football in 2015, and other sports except wrestling in the 2016-17
school year. Montpelier will continue to compete in wrestling in the NWOAL.
Liberty Center, Montpelier, Napoleon, and Wauseon. The NWOAL is recognized as the oldest league in the state of
Ohio.
After five (5) seasons, in 1931, Defiance replaced Delta, leaving six member schools until 1955, when
Defiance dropped out. The five (5) remaining charter schools played as a five-team league until the 1957-58 school
year when Delta and Swanton became members of the NWOAL.
After three (3) years as a 7-school league, in 1960, Archbold entered the NWOAL. In 1969, Delta and
Swanton dropped out, and Evergreen entered the NWOAL for two school years, 1969-71. Also, a new 8-team league,
the Northern Border League was formed with Archbold, Evergreen, Liberty Center, Montpelier, and Wauseon
competing in both the NWOAL and NBL, Bryan and Napoleon competing in the NWOAL only, and Delta, Patrick
Henry, and Swanton competing in the NBL only. Beginning with the 1971-72 school year Evergreen competed only in
the NBL.
In 1978, Napoleon dropped out of the NWOAL, and the league re-organized as a 9-team league with member
schools: Archbold, Bryan, Delta, Evergreen, Liberty Center, Montpelier, Patrick Henry, Swanton, and Wauseon. The
league has had these nine schools since.
Football championships have been contested since 1926, boys cross country since 1969, girls cross country
since 1981, golf since 1954, and volleyball since 1975. Boys basketball championships have been contested since 1927,
girls basketball since 1976, and wrestling since 1960. Baseball championships have been contested since 1954, softball
since 1987, boys track and field since 1927, and girls track and field since 1972. Beginning with the 2011-12 school
year, girls soccer was added as a league sport in the fall and boys and girls bowling in the winter season. Boys soccer
was added in the fall of 2013.
Montpelier dropped out of the NWOAL in football in 2015, and other sports except wrestling in the 2016-17
school year. Montpelier will continue to compete in wrestling in the NWOAL.