There are changes to some of the high school athletic divisions beginning this fall and we wanted to explain what the changes mean and how they will affect SUA.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has announced preliminary changes to the structure of some of the high school sports divisions. To date, they have release fall and winter sports breakouts. To create more competitive balance across the state, OHSAA announced preliminary divisional breakdowns and regional tournament representation that will expand girls' and boys' soccer to five (5) divisions (from three) this fall, and girls' volleyball and basketball will expand to seven (7) divisions. This will primarily affect the end-of-season tournament play. The Greater Catholic League (GCL) schools will continue to compete during the regular season.
Here’s how the new breakouts will work. In girls’ soccer, volleyball and basketball sports, the largest 64 schools are now placed in Division I, the next 64 largest schools are placed in Division II, and the remaining schools are divided as equally as possible into the other divisions. Saint Ursula Academy will fall into Division II under these guidelines. This will allow SUA to compete in regional and state tournaments against schools more comparable in size, which could lead to more wins for SUA! Please note, the divisions could still shift a little and will not be set until a final OSHAA vote later in May.
Details of the competitive balance breakouts are shown below for each fall and winter sport.
2024 Girls Soccer
Five divisions, with 16 regional qualifiers in each division.
Saint Ursula falls into division II in the new structure. Below is a list of other area schools in the new DII.
Division II: Anderson, Edgewood, Harrison, Kings, Little Miami, Loveland, Mount Notre Dame, Saint Ursula Academy, Ursuline, Winton Woods.
2024 Girls Volleyball
Seven divisions, with 16 regional qualifiers in each division.
Saint Ursula falls into division II in the new structure. Below is a list of other area schools in the new DII.
Division II: Anderson, Edgewood, Harrison, Kings, Little Miami, Loveland, Mount Notre Dame, Saint Ursula Academy, Winton Woods.
2024 Cross Country
Three divisions for girls. No competitive balance.
Girls Division I – 160 schools, base enrollment 307 and more girls
Saint Ursula will remain Division I
2024 Girls Golf
Two divisions. No competitive balance.
Girls Division I – 200 schools, base enrollment 217 and more girls
Saint Ursula will remain Division I
2024 Girls Tennis
Two divisions. No competitive balance.
Girls Division I – 186 schools, base enrollment 191 and more girls
Saint Ursula will remain Division I
2024 Field Hockey
One division. No competitive balance.
Saint Ursula will remain in the only state division.
2024-2025 Girls Basketball
Seven divisions, with 16 regional qualifiers in each division.
Saint Ursula falls into division II in the new structure. Below is a list of other area schools in the new DII.
Division II - Kings, Harrison, Little Miami, Loveland, Mount Notre Dame, Saint Ursula, Seton, Winton Woods.
2024-2025 Bowling
Two divisions. No competitive balance.
Saint Ursula will remain Division I
2024-2025 Swimming and Diving
Two divisions. No competitive balance.
Saint Ursula will remain Division I
Questions: You can read more about the OHSAA changes: FALL and WINTER.