Liberty-Benton accepts offer to join NLL

Just days after it was announced that Liberty-Benton had been extended an invitation to join the Northern Lakes League, the school, through Superintendent Bruce Otley, issued a release on Monday saying that it would be accepting that offer."We are excited to share some news that demonstrates our commitment to providing the best opportunities to our student-athletes," Otley stated in Monday's release."After thoughtful consideration and extensive discussion, Liberty-Benton Local Schools will be joining the smaller Cardinal Division of the Northern Lakes League (NLL) starting in the 2026-27 school year."Adding Liberty-Benton to the NLL ranks will boost membership in the conference to 12 schools. The five biggest schools – based on OHSAA enrollment numbers for grades 9, 10 and 11 as of Oct. 31, 2023 – make up the NLL Buckeye Division and include Toledo Whitmer (843 boys, 777 girls, 1,620 total), Perrysburg (649-629—1,278), Findlay (642-551—1,193), Anthony Wayne (546-521—1,067) and Sylvania Northview (495-488—983).The smaller six schools – Oregon Clay (424-422—846), Springfield (397-437—834), Sylvania Southview (406-408—814), Fremont Ross (400-400—800), Bowling Green (344-330—674) and Napoleon (236-200—436) – currently comprise the Cardinal Division. With an OHSAA-determined enrollment of 366 (163 boys, 203 girls) Liberty-Benton will be by far the smallest school in the Cardinal Division.It is uncertain how the NLL will balance the two divisions. Based on enrollment alone, however, Oregon Clay would bump up from the Cardinal to the Buckeye Division to create a six-six split.Liberty-Benton has been actively seeking to realign with another conference since May of 2022 when it was announced that the school would be leaving the ranks of the Blanchard Valley Conference after the 2025-26 school year."For many years, Liberty-Benton has been proud to be part of the Blanchard Valley Conference (BVC). However, as our district has grown, we have been actively exploring options for a new athletic conference that better aligns with our current needs and goals," Monday's release stated.Monday's release said that in its search, L-B was looking for a conference that "aligns with common values of community, competitiveness, and sportsmanship, offers an appropriate level of competition, and has limited travel times to reasonable distances for league-level competition.""For the last three years, Liberty-Benton has been searching for a new athletics home that best fits our values and vision for the future," Monday's release stated."We are thrilled to have been invited to join the Northern Lakes League (NLL), an organization that shares our values and vision."A charter member of the Blanchard Valley Conference since the organization of that league in 1965, Liberty-Benton's growth has seen its athletic programs become dominant. In the 25-year span between 1997-98 and 2021-22 the BVC awarded 225 championship trophies in nine varsity sports. L-B won outright or shared 121 of those titles; no other BVC school won more than 36.Liberty-Benton's absence will reduce the BVC to 10 schools in all sports, nine in football since Vanlue plays as an independent. Barring further departures or additions, that would likely create a bye week for BVC teams during the 2026 football season. "We look forward to building on our strong tradition of excellence in athletics while creating new traditions within the NLL," Otley stated."Although we will miss the camaraderie and history we have shared with the BVC, we are excited about the opportunities this new chapter brings …. We remain committed to fostering opportunities that help our students excel in every arena—both in sports and in life."While Liberty-Benton already faces a number of NLL schools in sports like volleyball (Perrysburg), girls soccer (Perrysburg, Bowling Green) and boys soccer (Anthony Wayne), L-B does not, as yet, field varsity programs in some NLL sports, such as swimming, gymnastics, boys and girls tennis and lacrosse.