11/7/2009 4:20:00 PM GWOC challenge ahead for Wave sports Wave teams will face much larger schools in GWOC games
CLINTON RANDALL/Advocate Photo
Greenville is pictured in the varsity football game at Harmon Field against West Carrollton during the 2009 varsity football season. Both schools have been added to the Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC).
GREENVILLE - As the euphoria on Greenville's return to the Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) fades, at least for some, the reality of the challenges that this conference presents will be seen in the day, years and decades to come.
While Greenville is well-suited, size-wise, in the GWOC North Division, some of other conference schools, in other divisions, are much larger.
This can present challenges, over time, in particular sports, more likely in sports where the number of quality athletes in a program, or just to choose to fill out a roster, can be an important factor.
At the bottom of this article are the official Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) enrollment numbers, which were recorded in Oct., 2008, and were used to set divisions for Ohio prep sports for the current 2009-10 school year, plus the 2010-11 year.
This set of numbers, which is posted at www.ohsaa.org, that Greenville's enrollment is the smallest of all 18 conference schools, even the smallest of the six schools in the GWOC North.
But all six GWOC North schools are relatively close in the numbers, with Troy as the biggest school at 564 boys and 547 girls in grades nine through 11 at the time the numbers were calculated.
Greenville was at 388 and 350, respectively, in the two categories.
The new member in the South Division, West Carrollton, is in the same slot in enrollment in the GWOC South.
West Carrollton was recorded with 440 boys and 382 girls, just slightly more than Greenville in both categories. The biggest school in the GWOC South is Lebanon, with 616 boys and 657 girls.
As for the GWOC Central, all of the schools are considerably bigger, and some by a lot of students.
The largest school is Centerville with 1,003 boys, and 961 girls, with Beavercreek not far behind at 981 and 968, respectively. The consolidated Springfield High School is at 980 and 844.
Northmont is the newest, and smallest, school in the GWOC Central, but its enrollment is still nearly twice that of Greenville, with 708 boys and 715 girls.
The argument is accurate to say that the same number of athletes compete in any sports, there are only five on a basketball court at one time, and 11 on a football field.
But the long-time breakdown of high school sports into divisions simply demonstrates the perceived advantage that a larger school, with more kids to choose from, and often more players, coaches and better and newer facilities, have a competitive advantage, over time, in many sports.
Still, history tells us that Greenville fared well in many sports during its four-year stint in the GWOC at the start of this decade.
Now, Green Wave athletes and teams will have the opportunity to do that again, and for the foreseeable future.
Officical OHSAA Enrollment Numbers (Boys and Girls), grades nine through 11:
GWOC North - Greenville, 388 and 350; Piqua, 457 and 383; Sidney, 500 and 435; Trotwood-Madison, 416 and 399; Troy, 564 and 547; Vandalia Butler, 448 and 429.
GWOC Central - Beavercreek, 981 and 968; Centerville, 1003 and 961; Fairmont, 923 and 851; Northmont, 708 and 715; Springfield, 980 and 844; Wayne, 859 and 771.
GWOC South - Fairborn, 594 and 517; Lebanon, 616 and 657; Miamisburg, 619 and 603; Springboro, 593 and 561; West Carrollton, 440 and 382; Xenia, 610 and 519.
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