The Ohio High School Athletic Association created new soccer divisions for the 2024 season in order to balance the divisions based on the size of each school, which affected Bexley’s strength of schedule for the soccer season.
According to the OHSAA, the largest 64 schools in the state were placed into Division I, the following 64 were put into Division II and the remaining schools were then equally divided into the last three divisions.
Boys soccer head coach Jason Goggins said the changes of even more divisions were made last offseason.
“Since there were so many Division I programs, they wanted to give some of the smaller Division I teams more of an opportunity to win a state championship,” he explained.
Similarly, girls soccer head coach Scott James said this change primarily affected larger schools in the state.
“Mason has 1,800 kids, and the lowest school in DI has 350 kids, so they wanted to spread it out,” he explained.
Goggins said the new divisions have had a direct impact on his team throughout the season. Bexley was put into Division III, which made the competition tougher because all the teams that didn’t meet the Division I criteria were put into smaller divisions, he said.
“This year, we ended the regular season with a record of 7-7-3, but compared to the last couple seasons, we had at least 12 wins,” he explained.
Goggins said he believed the OHSAA could have handled this situation better.
“I liked the idea, but I don’t think the execution was great,” he added.
Specifically, the focus for the changes made were for Division I and Division II, and they didn’t focus as much on the remaining ones, he explained.
James said he believes the division changes are beneficial to his team and the game.
“More teams have had a chance to experience postseason play, and some even got to experience success in the postseason,” he said.
However, junior soccer player Hazel Meeker said she disapproves of the changes to the division. They caused problems for the team throughout the season, such as confusing players about which division they are in and who they would play, she added.
“I think the way the division was outlined in previous years was easier,” she explained. “This year, the new division makes it a lot different than the way it was.”
Meeker said the future players for Bexley girls soccer will have to endure a competitive schedule. The girls will play against more skilled teams and players, which will create a tougher path to winning, she explained.
“No matter the divisions, don’t ever be scared, and go into every game like it’s your last,” Meeker added.
