Topic: Ohio High School Football: General News & Discussion

[jam40jeff]

Yeah, they got f-ed by the Senate getting that "no contest" instead of the forfeit win they deserved.  That hurt them a lot.

It did, but I ran the numbers and they would have finished 9th (0.1 points behind 8th place) even with the Rhodes victory.  It was a combination of unfortunate Senate scheduling and not winning the independent games this year that caused them not to make the playoffs.  I know they played a tough independent scheduled, but they were down this year.  All they had to do was win 1 of their 3 non-league games to get in (they were 0-3).

[jam40jeff]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I'm usually very impressed with their play.  I don't just mean by their talent either.  They usually play very hard and pretty well-disciplined and they look crisp on both sides of the ball.  Sure, they make some mistakes here and there, but most high school teams do.

However, the only game I saw them play this year was against Ignatius, and they didn't look like the Glenville of old.  Sure, they still had a good amount of talent, but not like they traditionally have had, and their offense seemed really sloppy and one-dimensional.

[MyTwoSense]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I think it's the Cleveland Public School typical "high low" sporadic issues. In the majority or certain sports one or two schools were "powerhouses". 

In the 40s it was East Tech (central) and West Tech.  In the 50s John Marshall and JFK.  In the 60s it was Glenville.  In the 70s it was JFK.  The 80s East Tech & John Adams.  The 90s Collinwood (girls track).  The '00's Glenville in the majority of sports.

[shs96]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I'm usually very impressed with their play.  I don't just mean by their talent either.  They usually play very hard and pretty well-disciplined and they look crisp on both sides of the ball.  Sure, they make some mistakes here and there, but most high school teams do.

However, the only game I saw them play this year was against Ignatius, and they didn't look like the Glenville of old.  Sure, they still had a good amount of talent, but not like they traditionally have had, and their offense seemed really sloppy and one-dimensional.

I only saw part of the game that was on TV earlier this year, but a co-worker's son is on the team and we talk pretty frequently about how things are going.  So admittedly, most of my opinion is based on what she tells me.

[E Rocc]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I think it's the Cleveland Public School typical "high low" sporadic issues. In the majority or certain sports one or two schools were "powerhouses". 

In the 40s it was East Tech (central) and West Tech.  In the 50s John Marshall and JFK.  In the 60s it was Glenville.  In the 70s it was JFK.  The 80s East Tech & John Adams.  The 90s Collinwood (girls track).  The '00's Glenville in the majority of sports.

Open enrollment means that the best players who think they have a chance to play college ball will congregate at the best program, where the scouts are more likely to see them.  Glenville's crossed that threshold, to the point where they probably don't have to actively recruit anymore.

They're seeing the same thing at Maple Heights, since it's so easy to move there these days. 

[MyTwoSense]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I think it's the Cleveland Public School typical "high low" sporadic issues. In the majority or certain sports one or two schools were "powerhouses". 

In the 40s it was East Tech (central) and West Tech.  In the 50s John Marshall and JFK.  In the 60s it was Glenville.  In the 70s it was JFK.  The 80s East Tech & John Adams.  The 90s Collinwood (girls track).  The '00's Glenville in the majority of sports.

Open enrollment means that the best players who think they have a chance to play college ball will congregate at the best program, where the scouts are more likely to see them.  Glenville's crossed that threshold, to the point where they probably don't have to actively recruit anymore.

They're seeing the same thing at Maple Heights, since it's so easy to move there these days. 

I forgot about open enrollment, which I think is stupid, with exception to the specialized schools.

[E Rocc]

I forgot about open enrollment, which I think is stupid, with exception to the specialized schools.

If I'm not mistaken, that was one of the things they did to get rid of busing, which was one the worst ideas ever. 

[Clevelander17]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I think it's the Cleveland Public School typical "high low" sporadic issues. In the majority or certain sports one or two schools were "powerhouses". 

In the 40s it was East Tech (central) and West Tech.  In the 50s John Marshall and JFK.  In the 60s it was Glenville.  In the 70s it was JFK.  The 80s East Tech & John Adams.  The 90s Collinwood (girls track).  The '00's Glenville in the majority of sports.

Open enrollment means that the best players who think they have a chance to play college ball will congregate at the best program, where the scouts are more likely to see them.  Glenville's crossed that threshold, to the point where they probably don't have to actively recruit anymore.

They're seeing the same thing at Maple Heights, since it's so easy to move there these days. 

I forgot about open enrollment, which I think is stupid, with exception to the specialized schools.

Why should a family's choice be limited?  Even if we're talking about sports, I'm 100% supportive of allowing students to attend a school that will be help them to fulfill their goals.  If a student is a stellar track athlete, but would normally be assigned to Rhodes who has a terrible track program, why shouldn't they be allow to transfer to Glenville, a juggernaut track school?  Doing so will allow that student to be around other successful track athletes and coaches who are the top of their field.  In turn, this will help the transferring student to improve their skills and their chances of getting a scholarship.

[MyTwoSense]

I don't really have a better solution - and I don't think the computer system is really all that bad.  I suppose I was just pointing out, given Ginn's health problems and who they lost to, they were still a top D1 R1 team.   But I agree, they likely weren't going to win the region - they traditionally don't play to their talent level anyway and they have fewer top recruits than usual.

I think it's the Cleveland Public School typical "high low" sporadic issues. In the majority or certain sports one or two schools were "powerhouses". 

In the 40s it was East Tech (central) and West Tech.  In the 50s John Marshall and JFK.  In the 60s it was Glenville.  In the 70s it was JFK.  The 80s East Tech & John Adams.  The 90s Collinwood (girls track).  The '00's Glenville in the majority of sports.

Open enrollment means that the best players who think they have a chance to play college ball will congregate at the best program, where the scouts are more likely to see them.  Glenville's crossed that threshold, to the point where they probably don't have to actively recruit anymore.

They're seeing the same thing at Maple Heights, since it's so easy to move there these days. 

I forgot about open enrollment, which I think is stupid, with exception to the specialized schools.

Why should a family's choice be limited?  Even if we're talking about sports, I'm 100% supportive of allowing students to attend a school that will be help them to fulfill their goals.  If a student is a stellar track athlete, but would normally be assigned to Rhodes who has a terrible track program, why shouldn't they be allow to transfer to Glenville, a juggernaut track school?  Doing so will allow that student to be around other successful track athletes and coaches who are the top of their field.  In turn, this will help the transferring student to improve their skills and their chances of getting a scholarship.

How old are you?  Seriously?  I ask because our ages may influence our opinions. I'm old school.  When I was in High School there was no "open enrollment" with exception to CSA, Max Hays, East/West Technical, Aviation, Jane Addams.  When I was in school, if you attended one of these school but it was not you "home" school, you had to play sports at your home school.   My cousin went to Max Hayes for printing tech, but had to play sports for Lincoln-West, since they lived in the L-W district.  Another cousin was at Jane A. (when it was still all girls) and had to play sports at JFK.

Strictly speaking on public schools, if you live in Shaker (I'm not including Shaker Sq., where parents have always had a choice of school systems), you have one choice of a public school system.  Period.

If the schools believed in the neighborhoods and vice-versa, both improve and there - rather - should be - parity in education and athletics.

Open enrollment has made one school a powerhouse for boys sports over the last decade - Glenville.  The remaining schools have suffered.

[Clevelander17]

How old are you?  Seriously?  I ask because our ages may influence our opinions. I'm old school.  When I was in High School there was no "open enrollment" with exception to CSA, Max Hays, East/West Technical, Aviation, Jane Addams.  When I was in school, if you attended one of these school but it was not you "home" school, you had to play sports at your home school.   My cousin went to Max Hayes for printing tech, but had to play sports for Lincoln-West, since they lived in the L-W district.  Another cousin was at Jane A. (when it was still all girls) and had to play sports at JFK.

Strictly speaking on public schools, if you live in Shaker (I'm not including Shaker Sq., where parents have always had a choice of school systems), you have one choice of a public school system.  Period.

If the schools believed in the neighborhoods and vice-versa, both improve and there - rather - should be - parity in education and athletics.

Open enrollment has made one school a powerhouse for boys sports over the last decade - Glenville.  The remaining schools have suffered.

I'm in my late 20s.  I think neighborhood schools are important and valuable, but I like districts that are big enough to offer families some choices.  Even if concentrations of athletic powerhouses occurs, I still think it's worth it to give families a chance to find the right fit for their kids.  This is something that the smaller district, like Shaker Heights, can't really complain about because it's a byproduct of the exclusivity that the district attempts to maintain.  I'd suggest that the OHSAA should maybe come up with a separate divisional structure for open-enrollment vs. closed-enrollment schools, but I honestly think it's completely unnecessary. 

[Hts121]

'Eye of the Tiger' is stuck in my head today.  Fitting.  Good to know some traditions never die and Heights still to this day runs on the field, through the tunnel made by the band, to that song.

I wish I could be there on Saturday night.  I would at least suggest that the tuba players put on this tune each time Ed's OL breaks huddle and waddles up to the line -

Stewie Follows Fat Guy With TUBA

[MyTwoSense]

'Eye of the Tiger' is stuck in my head today.  Fitting.  Good to know some traditions never die and Heights still to this day runs on the field, through the tunnel made by the band, to that song.

I wish I could be there on Saturday night.  I would at least suggest that the tuba players put on this tune each time Ed's OL breaks huddle and waddles up to the line - Stewie Follows Fat Guy With TUBA

OMG I hated that.  Every damn football or basketball game, the heights band played that.  We would just sit on our side of the field and pray for it to be over!

[Columbo]

Looks like the Ohio High School Athletic Association will add a seventh football division beginning in the 2013 season.  The seventh division would basically separate the highest enrollment division so that the largest of the current Division I schools would be in the top enrollment division.  The below linked article from the Columbus Dispatch shows how the divisions would align in 2012 and 2013 based on current enrollment figures.

Dispatch: High-school football: OHSAA approves seventh division - New format will separate largest Division I schools

[mrnyc]

interesting. i'll have to read up on this, but at face value its a good idea. it was much, much worse back when there were only three divisions, lots of recruiting and cheating on school size, its been so much more fair as the number of divisions expanded.

[Clevelander17]

I sort of like the idea, but I think it should be an "open" division.  That is, take the largest two dozen schools with the biggest enrollment disparities from the rest of the division, but also allow some of the other smaller powers the chance to "play up."  Under the new format, I think some traditional powers like Massillon will not be in the big school division.

[jam40jeff]

I think we should have 500 divisions so everyone can say they're champions.

[MyTwoSense]

this is so stupid.

Bring back "AAA", "AA" and "A". 

Stop trying to make schools feel "special".

This sucks for sports!

[Hts121]

Last year was no fluke!  Heights 56 - Toledo St. John's 24

[MyTwoSense]

Go Red Raider!  LOL  I know...I can't keep a straight face either!  LOL

[MyTwoSense]

Last year was no fluke!  Heights 56 - Toledo St. John's 24

Oh God.  You sound like my cousins.  You Heights grads and your school pride.  Lets see what happens when they play other big schools.  What is Heights schedule like and what is the strength of their non league schedule?

[Hts121]

St. John's might have been their toughest non-league test this year.  Within the league, they play Maple Heights, Warren Harding, and Euclid all at home.  Things might get a little tougher overall though with Shaker tucking tail and leaving the LEL.  At least Shaker's best skill player (Laster) decided he didn't want to be in a league with a bunch of creampuffs and transferred to Heights

Any showdown with the Catholic schools (or the other tuck-tailer - Mentor) will just have to wait until the playoffs.  With the scare they gave St. Ed's last year, I suspect they are hoping to avoid the Tigers.

[GCrites80s]

this is so stupid.

Bring back "AAA", "AA" and "A". 

Stop trying to make schools feel "special".

This sucks for sports!

I think we should have 500 divisions so everyone can say they're champions.

Hahahaha, as if high school kids don't get warped enough by having 10,000 people watching them play every week, their faces on TV and in the paper all the time in high school. Then the minute they graduate people stop paying attention to them. Let's dole out some more championships!

[Clevelander17]

Shaker surprisingly played Solon tough last night (I was really hoping they'd pull it off).  In fact the Comets needed a miraculous comeback to come away with the victory.  Shaker's probably going to have a decent shot at winning the Lake Division of the NOC, especially if they keep playing like they did last night.

As for Heights, last night's win was impressive, but I'm having a hard time gauging how good they are this year.  I know their QB is pretty good.  Within the LEL, Heights' biggest challenge may come from an experienced Euclid team, though I still think the Tigers are better and should win the league again this year.  I want to see how Bagley progresses.

[MyTwoSense]

Hell.  I'm still in shock Shaker left the LEL.  Granted Half the Old LEL teams are there now.  Which makes no sense, since the Old Greater Cleveland Conference was split up (then merged into the LEL), mainly, due to travel since teams spanned three counties.

[Clevelander17]

Hell.  I'm still in shock Shaker left the LEL.  Granted Half the Old LEL teams are there now.  Which makes no sense, since the Old Greater Cleveland Conference was split up (then merged into the LEL), mainly, due to travel since teams spanned three counties.

The Northeast Ohio Conference exists, in my opinion, almost solely to accomodate the football scheduling needs a few elite public school programs (Mentor, Solon, Strongsville) and a few others that think they can someday be elite (Twinsburg, Medina, Brunswick).  Personally I think this five county agglomeration won't last because it hasn't done enough to consider the needs (particularly travel) of the Olympic sports programs.  Additionally there has been some backlash from some of the Summit County schools--even talks of forming a more local conference. 

Hopefully the NOC breaks up sooner rather than later and a new eastside version of the LEL can be formed with a big school division consisting of at least Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Euclid, Brush, Mayfield, Mentor, and maybe even Willoughby South, Eastlake North, and/or Solon.  A new Summit County league could consist of Twinsburg, Hudson, Nordonia, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, and maybe Solon and some others.

[MyTwoSense]

Hell.  I'm still in shock Shaker left the LEL.  Granted Half the Old LEL teams are there now.  Which makes no sense, since the Old Greater Cleveland Conference was split up (then merged into the LEL), mainly, due to travel since teams spanned three counties.

The Northeast Ohio Conference exists, in my opinion, almost solely to accomodate the football scheduling needs a few elite public school programs (Mentor, Solon, Strongsville) and a few others that think they can someday be elite (Twinsburg, Medina, Brunswick).  Personally I think this five county agglomeration won't last because it hasn't done enough to consider the needs (particularly travel) of the Olympic sports programs.  Additionally there has been some backlash from some of the Summit County schools--even talks of forming a more local conference. 

Hopefully the NOC breaks up sooner rather than later and a new eastside version of the LEL can be formed with a big school division consisting of at least Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Euclid, Brush, Mayfield, Mentor, and maybe even Willoughby South, Eastlake North, and/or Solon.  A new Summit County league could consist of Twinsburg, Hudson, Nordonia, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, and maybe Solon and some others.

When the GCC broke up, the main reason was travel time and costs and parity among schools.  I cant imagine wanting to cheer for my school, if I lived in Lorain and we're playing Mentor.  Not to mention being a parent and traveling all those miles.

I went to Shaker and would always go to any game we had against/vs. Heights, JFK or Shaw.  I didn't want to drive to a Parma or Lakewood, because I thought it was far, so I cannot imagine what kids, parents, supports of these large conferences do.  Its too much. 

Luckily the Football season schedule isn't that bad, but my brother, cousins, Aunts/Uncles and my parents are now trying to figure out how to manage attending games for other sports seasons.   On top of that, since Shaker & Heights are no longer in the same league our 20 year intra family rivalry has pretty much come to end.  No more smack talking unless its they meet in the playoffs.

[jam40jeff]

MTS, I think we've had this discussion before, but I'm pretty sure you're referring to the WRC, which was formed from teams leaving the GCC, which wasn't all that spread out.  The WRC spanned a much larger area and eventually many teams broke off into the already existing LEL to make it a two division conference.

[Clevelander17]

When the GCC broke up, the main reason was travel time and costs and parity among schools.  I cant imagine wanting to cheer for my school, if I lived in Lorain and we're playing Mentor.  Not to mention being a parent and traveling all those miles.

I went to Shaker and would always go to any game we had against/vs. Heights, JFK or Shaw.  I didn't want to drive to a Parma or Lakewood, because I thought it was far, so I cannot imagine what kids, parents, supports of these large conferences do.  Its too much. 

Luckily the Football season schedule isn't that bad, but my brother, cousins, Aunts/Uncles and my parents are now trying to figure out how to manage attending games for other sports seasons.   On top of that, since Shaker & Heights are no longer in the same league our 20 year intra family rivalry has pretty much come to end.  No more smack talking unless its they meet in the playoffs.

All of these reasons are exactly why I was more than a little surprised and disappointed that Shaker ditched the LEL after helping to start the conference almost a century ago in favor of a Johnny-Come-Lately conference that makes almost no sense on a number of levels.  Do you have any contacts at the school that can give some insight into the reasoning behind the decision?

MTS, I think we've had this discussion before, but I'm pretty sure you're referring to the WRC, which was formed from teams leaving the GCC, which wasn't all that spread out.  The WRC spanned a much larger area and eventually many teams broke off into the already existing LEL to make it a two division conference.

I don't know about this, from my recollection it seems like you both are sort of right on this one.

Here's what I remember about the fluctuating membership of the GCC, which during its heyday I believe had nine teams (in order of departure):

1. Mentor - joined LEL in early 1990s after being "asked" to leave GCC
2. Euclid - joined LEL in mid or late 1990s
3. Bedford - joined LEL after GCC broke up
4. Maple Heights - see Bedford
5. Brush - joined WRC North after GCC broke up
6. Mayfield - see Brush
7. Nordonia - see Brush
8. Eastlake North - charter member of PAC after GCC broke up
9. Willoughby South - see Eastlake North

[jam40jeff]

Yeah, I believe you have it pretty much correct.  But the GCC broke up more because the school sizes varied than travel problems (the furthest schools were no more than 30 min apart after Mentor was booted).

[MyTwoSense]

When the GCC broke up, the main reason was travel time and costs and parity among schools.  I cant imagine wanting to cheer for my school, if I lived in Lorain and we're playing Mentor.  Not to mention being a parent and traveling all those miles.

I went to Shaker and would always go to any game we had against/vs. Heights, JFK or Shaw.  I didn't want to drive to a Parma or Lakewood, because I thought it was far, so I cannot imagine what kids, parents, supports of these large conferences do.  Its too much. 

Luckily the Football season schedule isn't that bad, but my brother, cousins, Aunts/Uncles and my parents are now trying to figure out how to manage attending games for other sports seasons.   On top of that, since Shaker & Heights are no longer in the same league our 20 year intra family rivalry has pretty much come to end.  No more smack talking unless its they meet in the playoffs.

All of these reasons are exactly why I was more than a little surprised and disappointed that Shaker ditched the LEL after helping to start the conference almost a century ago in favor of a Johnny-Come-Lately conference that makes almost no sense on a number of levels.  Do you have any contacts at the school that can give some insight into the reasoning behind the decision?

MTS, I think we've had this discussion before, but I'm pretty sure you're referring to the WRC, which was formed from teams leaving the GCC, which wasn't all that spread out.  The WRC spanned a much larger area and eventually many teams broke off into the already existing LEL to make it a two division conference.

I don't know about this, from my recollection it seems like you both are sort of right on this one.

Here's what I remember about the fluctuating membership of the GCC, which during its heyday I believe had nine teams (in order of departure):

1. Mentor - joined LEL in early 1990s after being "asked" to leave GCC
2. Euclid - joined LEL in mid or late 1990s
3. Bedford - joined LEL after GCC broke up
4. Maple Heights - see Bedford
5. Brush - joined WRC North after GCC broke up
6. Mayfield - see Brush
7. Nordonia - see Brush
8. Eastlake North - charter member of PAC after GCC broke up
9. Willoughby South - see Eastlake North

You're forgetting about Lorain, Admiral King, Elyria, Elyria West, Lorain Southview, Painesville Riverside and I forgot the other westside GCC schools.  Even after Mentor left, teams still had to travel to Lorain County. 

Also in play, was parity, some schools were not large enough to field V, JV and Freshmen teams.   Some schools had additional sports.  For example some of the schools in the area do not have Golf, Hockey, Gymnastics, indoor track(b/g), lacrosse (b/g) or boys volleyball.  When I was in High School, Garfield had very few girls sports teams.

I have no idea why shaker left, but some of shakers facilities are not up to snuff, the football field and track has been horrible since the 80s.

[mrnyc]

aww man pains me to say it, but there is just lorain high now, no more lorain senior, southview or admiral king anymore. no more steelmen, saints or admirals, not to mention the closed parochial high schools. the new team is the titans. its a big uproar believe me lol! but what are are ya gonna do? the town done shrunk.

so now the 'new' lorain high is housed in the former admiral king. they are building a new hs soon. i just found all this out like yesterday lol!

historically lorain teams would play cle schools the first 3 games, before conference games. no idea how it goes now.

[jam40jeff]

You're forgetting about Lorain, Admiral King, Elyria, Elyria West, Lorain Southview, Painesville Riverside and I forgot the other westside GCC schools.  Even after Mentor left, teams still had to travel to Lorain County.

MTS, I think you're getting the GCC mixed up with another conference.  None of those teams were ever in it, and no school west of Euclid/Brush/Maple Heights was in the conference.  Clevelander17 is right about the only 9 teams to ever play in that conference, except that there were actually never more than 8 in the conference at one time (Nordonia left a couple years after Mentor left).

[Clevelander17]

You're forgetting about Lorain, Admiral King, Elyria, Elyria West, Lorain Southview, Painesville Riverside and I forgot the other westside GCC schools.  Even after Mentor left, teams still had to travel to Lorain County. 

Also in play, was parity, some schools were not large enough to field V, JV and Freshmen teams.   Some schools had additional sports.  For example some of the schools in the area do not have Golf, Hockey, Gymnastics, indoor track(b/g), lacrosse (b/g) or boys volleyball.  When I was in High School, Garfield had very few girls sports teams.

I have no idea why shaker left, but some of shakers facilities are not up to snuff, the football field and track has been horrible since the 80s.

A few thoughts:

1) I don't recall there ever being any Lorain County schools in the GCC, at least not when the league disbanded in the mid-1990s.  I'm also fairly certain that Painesville Riverside wasn't in the league at the time, either.

2) Hockey and lacrosse have their own leagues which are self-governed and based on more than just enrollment, so that's never come into play with league affiliation.  And in the sports of gymnastics and boys volleyball, so few schools have teams in those sports that I also believe that they don't matter in league affiliation, either.

3) Shaker Heights just re-did its football field (and track, too?) and I think it looks very nice.  And actually, SHHS has one of the most unique and charming high school stadium setups that I've ever come across, even if it's perhaps not as state-of-the-art as some other stadiums.

One more point of clarification, now that I think about it: I actually believe Euclid joined the LEL along with Bedford and Maple Heights when the GCC disbanded.  For some reason I thought Euclid joined a year or two before those two schools, but I'm not sure that's correct.

[Clevelander17]

You're forgetting about Lorain, Admiral King, Elyria, Elyria West, Lorain Southview, Painesville Riverside and I forgot the other westside GCC schools.  Even after Mentor left, teams still had to travel to Lorain County.

MTS, I think you're getting the GCC mixed up with another conference.  None of those teams were ever in it, and no school west of Euclid/Brush/Maple Heights was in the conference.  Clevelander17 is right about the only 9 teams to ever play in that conference, except that there were actually never more than 8 in the conference at one time (Nordonia left a couple years after Mentor left).

Actually it's my understanding that there were other teams in the GCC over the years including Garfield Heights and surprisingly Berea and Midpark, but this was before the 1980s.  However the nine schools I listed were the last teams in the conference (though I think you're right about them not all being there at the same time with Nordonia replacing Mentor in the final years).

[MyTwoSense]

You're forgetting about Lorain, Admiral King, Elyria, Elyria West, Lorain Southview, Painesville Riverside and I forgot the other westside GCC schools.  Even after Mentor left, teams still had to travel to Lorain County. 

Also in play, was parity, some schools were not large enough to field V, JV and Freshmen teams.   Some schools had additional sports.  For example some of the schools in the area do not have Golf, Hockey, Gymnastics, indoor track(b/g), lacrosse (b/g) or boys volleyball.  When I was in High School, Garfield had very few girls sports teams.

I have no idea why shaker left, but some of shakers facilities are not up to snuff, the football field and track has been horrible since the 80s.

A few thoughts:

1) I don't recall there ever being any Lorain County schools in the GCC, at least not when the league disbanded in the mid-1990s.  I'm also fairly certain that Painesville Riverside wasn't in the league at the time, either.

2) Hockey and lacrosse have their own leagues which are self-governed and based on more than just enrollment, so that's never come into play with league affiliation.  And in the sports of gymnastics and boys volleyball, so few schools have teams in those sports that I also believe that they don't matter in league affiliation, either.

3) Shaker Heights just re-did its football field (and track, too?) and I think it looks very nice.  And actually, SHHS has one of the most unique and charming high school stadium setups that I've ever come across, even if it's perhaps not as state-of-the-art as some other stadiums.

One more point of clarification, now that I think about it: I actually believe Euclid joined the LEL along with Bedford and Maple Heights when the GCC disbanded.  For some reason I thought Euclid joined a year or two before those two schools, but I'm not sure that's correct.

Honey I'm older than you.  When I was in High School those schools were apart of the GCC and then LEL.  Even back in 2000 those teams were apart of the LEL.

You're right about the stadium, I asked my nephew/niece, the stadium was finished last week.  I dont know what it will be like now, but my experience in the stadium wasn't good, compared to other schools.

In regards to the sports, the point that Mentor made in leaving is that they have a ton of sports that other schools cannot field teams in.