Lebanon leaving GWOC to join Cincinnati-based conference

Lebanon lines up for the national anthem before a game against Springfield on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Evans Stadium in Springfield. David Jablonski/Staff

Lebanon lines up for the national anthem before a game against Springfield on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Evans Stadium in Springfield. David Jablonski/Staff

UPDATE: 4:45 p.m.

Lebanon and two other high schools accepted invitations to join the Eastern Cincinnati Conference on Saturday, one day after they were asked to join.

The Warriors, currently a member Greater Western Ohio Conference, Cincinnati Winton Woods and Little Miami are joining the ECC beginning in the fall of 2020.

ORIGINAL REPORT

Lebanon was one of three high schools that received invitations to join the Eastern Cincinnati Conference on Friday. The Warriors are currently one of 20 Greater Western Ohio Conference members.

Also given invitations to join the ECC in the fall of 2020 as new members were Cincinnati Winton Woods and Little Miami of Morrow. Those three schools have until Nov. 23 to announce their intention.

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The offer to the three schools was posted on the ECC website on Friday afternoon.

Other current ECC schools are Anderson, Kings, Loveland, Milford, Turpin, Walnut Hills, West Clermont and Withrow. Lebanon has previous conference ties to many of those schools and had inquired about joining the ECC last spring.

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Lebanon’s interest in jumping to the ECC coincided with the revival of the Miami Valley League, which was announced last spring. Ten current GWOC schools – Butler, Fairborn, Greenville, Piqua, Sidney, Stebbins, Tippecanoe, Troy, West Carrollton and Xenia – will leave the GWOC after this school year and reform the MVL. Most of those teams were one-time MVL members during its initial existence.

Lebanon, anchored in Warren County, has been a GWOC member since 2006. Other current GWOC schools that are expected to remain in the conference are Beavercreek, Centerville, Fairmont, Miamisburg, Northmont, Springboro, Springfield, Trotwood-Madison and Wayne.

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Among those 10 teams, Lebanon is No. 7 this school year for total boys enrolled in grades 9-11 (698) and No. 6 among girls (666). A GWOC National West member, the Warriors also have been competitive in all sports and are a Division I girls state softball power.

Lebanon is D-I in football and boys and girls basketball.

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Fairborn, Greenville, Lebanon, Miamisburg, Springboro and West Carrollton all joined the GWOC in 2006 following the end of the Mid-Miami League. Prior to the MML, Lebanon was a longtime member of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.

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