MIKE BROWN: Several Mahoning, Trumbull prep sports teams changing divisions

Some Mahoning and Trumbull County sports teams will be on the move this spring.

According to new divisional cutoffs announced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, a number of area schools will be competing in new divisions.

Which teams are changing divisions this spring?

The most notable change affects Poland, which is gradually getting smaller, especially in girls’ sports.

Like basketball, the Bulldog softball team has dropped from Division II to Division III this spring. Poland, which reached the Division II district title game last season, eventually falling to Canfield, should be one of the top tourney teams in Division III, along with perennial state power Warren Champion, which has won an incredible nine state championships in softball, including 1978, 1980, 1994, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Another Mahoning County softball team changing divisions is Youngstown Ursuline. The Irish competed in Division III last spring but they’ve bumped up to Division II this season.

Which Trumbull County teams are changing divisions?

In Trumbull County, two area softball teams will be switching divisions. The Howland Tigers, who competed in the big-school Division I ranks last year, have been reclassified to Division II this spring.

Also, the Newton Falls Tigers have moved down. The Tigers were a Division III OHSAA member last year but they’ll be competing in the Division IV postseason competition this time around.

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This story was originally published April 10, 2023 at 5:00 AM.