Southern Ohio Conference

The Southern Ohio Conference (S.O.C.) is an athletic conference in Ohio. The conference is also a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the governing body of Ohio athletics. There are currently seventeen member schools in the conference. The S.O.C. includes teams from five different Ohio counties - Jackson County (Oak Hill High School), Gallia County (South Gallia High School) Lawrence County (St. Joe High School and Symmes Valley High School), Pike County (Waverly High School, Eastern High School, and Western High School), and Scioto County (Clay High School, Green High School, Glenwood High School, Sciotoville Community School, Valley High School, Northwest High School, Minford High School, Portsmouth West High School, Notre Dame High School, South Webster High School, and Wheelersburg High School). The conference recognizes: baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' cross country, football, boys' and girls' soccer, fast pitch softball, boys' and girls' swimming, boys' and girls' tennis, boys' and girls' track and field athletics, and girls' volleyball.

It is listed as part of the Ohio High School Athletic Conferences.

Conference Information
SOC Division I: Clay, East (Sciotoville), Glenwood/New Boston, Green, Notre Dame, Symmes Valley, Western (Pike), Ironton St. Joseph

SOC Division II: Minford, Northwest (D-I football), Oak Hill, Portsmouth West, South Webster (D-I golf & boys soccer), Valley (D-I boys soccer), Waverly, Eastern (Pike, D-I football) & Wheelersburg

The league president changes each year based on an alphabetical rotating basis with the principal of member schools. The current league secretary (voted on each year by the league) is Dave Stamm.

==Southern Ohio Conference Member Schools ==

S.O.C. Division I (Smaller Schools)

 * Portsmouth Clay Panthers4 (1979–present)
 * New Boston Glenwood Tigers (1946–present)
 * Franklin Furnace Green Bobcats4 (1979–present)
 * Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans (Portsmouth Central Catholic until 1984, 1954–present)
 * Ironton St.Joseph Central Flyers (2019–present)
 * Sciotoville Community East Tartans (formerly Portsmouth East, 1946–present)
 * Crown City South Gallia Rebels (2023–present)
 * Willow Wood Symmes Valley Vikings (1991–present)
 * Latham Western Indians (2002–present)

S.O.C. Division II (Larger Schools)

 * Minford Falcons2 (1947–58, to Scioto County League, 1959–present)
 * McDermott Northwest Mohawks2 (1960–present) *plays in smaller division for football
 * Oak Hill Oaks (1991–present)  *played in smaller division for football until 2019
 * West Portsmouth Portsmouth West Senators (Washington Twp. until 1950, 1946–present)
 * South Webster Jeeps4 (1979–present)   *plays in smaller division for golf and boys soccer until 2019
 * Lucasville Valley Indians2 (1958–present)   *plays in smaller division for boys soccer
 * Waverly Tigers1 (1946–70, to Southeastern Ohio Athletic League, 1983–present)
 * Wheelersburg Pirates2, 3 (1950–present)
 * Beaver Eastern Eagles4 (1981–present)


 * 1) Concurrent with Pike County League 1946-64.
 * 2) Concurrent with SCL from entry into SOC until 1979.
 * 3) Concurrent with Ohio Valley Conference 1954-57.
 * 4) Concurrent with southeastern Tri-County League from entry into SOC until 1985

Former Members

 * Portsmouth Holy Redeemer Wildcats (1946–54, consolidated into Portsmouth Central Catholic)
 * Portsmouth St. Mary's Titans (1946–54, consolidated into Portsmouth Central Catholic)
 * Chesapeake Panthers (1948–1954, to Ohio Valley Conference)
 * South Point Pointers1 (1948–51, to Lawrence County)
 * Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant Hornets1 (1950–1952, to Lawrence County)
 * Piketon Redstreaks (1958–62, to Scioto Valley League)
 * Ironton St. Joseph Central Flyers (1982–89)


 * 1) Concurrent with Lawrence County League for the duration of SOC membership.

Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships and appearances

 * Portsmouth Clay
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearance
 * 1969 (Arcanum def. Clay 76-61)
 * Girls' Basketball
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearance
 * 1980
 * Boys' Golf
 * OHSAA Division III State Championship Appearances
 * 2004, 2005, 2006
 * Girls' Softball
 * OHSAA State Championships
 * 1980 - (d. Archbold 18-6 & d. New Madison Tri-Village 12-3 to finish season at 25-0)
 * 1981 - (d. Jeromesville Hillsdale 7-2 & d. Beverly Fort Frye 21-0 to finish season at 29-0)
 * 1983 - (d. Pioneer North Central 8-7 & d. Mineral Ridge 6-2 to finish season at 24-1)
 * OHSAA State Runner-up
 * 1979 - (d. New Madison Tri-Village 11-2 & lost to Jeromesville Hillsdale 1-4 to finish the season at 19-1)
 * 1988 - (d. Sycamore Mohawk 10-0 & lost to Strasburg-Franklin 0-14 to finish the season at 27-3)
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances (besides the Championships and Second Place Finishes)
 * 1978 - (lost to Jeromesville Hillsdale 5-0)
 * 1984 - (lost to Arcanum 10-4)
 * 1986 - (lost to Archbold 5-4)
 * 2007 - (lost to Triad 13-3 to finish season at 22-5)
 * OHSAA Softball Tournament Records
 * Most Runs (Game, One Team) - Portsmouth Clay (Division III) 21 v. Beverly Fort Frye, 1981
 * Most Hits (Game) - Portsmouth Clay (Division III) 19 v. Archbold, 1980
 * Most Hits (Game) - North Lewisburg Triad (Division IV) 13 v. Portsmouth Clay, 2007
 * Most Hits (Game, Both Teams) - Portsmouth Clay (Division III) 28 v. Archbold, 1980
 * Teresa Ruby - played in first four OHSAA state softball tournaments (1978-1981), coach (2007)


 * East (Sciotoville Community)
 * Boys' Baseball -
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 1973 (East def. Adena Buckeye West 5-3)


 * Eastern Pike
 * Boys' Golf
 * OHSAA Division III State Championship Appearance
 * 2006


 * Franklin Furnace Green
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearance
 * 1939


 * Minford
 * Girls' Softball
 * OHSAA Runner-up
 * 1997 - (d. LaGrange Keystone 1-0 & lost to Tallmadge 7-0 to finish season at 27-4)
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances (besides the Second Place Finish)
 * 1994 - (lost to LaGrange Keystone 2-0)
 * 1996 - (lost to Alliance Marlington 4-0)


 * New Boston
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances
 * 1938
 * 1960 - (Salem Local d. New Boston 67-59)
 * 2021 (Columbus Grove d. New Boston 58-53)


 * Notre Dame
 * Football - 1967 & 1970 Associated Press state championships


 * Oak Hill
 * Girls' Basketball
 * OHSAA Runner-ups
 * 2004 - (Youngstown Ursuline d. Oak Hill 66-52)
 * 2009 - (South Euclid Regina d. Oak Hill 63-48)
 * 2011 - (Anna d. Oak Hill 50-32)
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 2009 - ( d. Kalida 48-43 2OT)


 * South Webster
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 2006 - (d. Lockland 61-58 & d. Columbus Grove 83-65)
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances
 * 2004 - (Holgate d. South Webster 31-28)


 * Symmes Valley
 * Boys' Basketball (as Waterloo High School before consolidation, "Waterloo Wonders")
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 1934 - (d. Lowellville 43-32 & d. Mark Center 40-26)
 * 1935 - (d. Fremont St. Joseph 48-21 & d. Oxford Stewart 25-22)
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances (besides the Championships)
 * 1941
 * Girls' Softball
 * OHSAA State Runner-up
 * 2005 (d. Cortland Maplewood 3-2 & lost to Convoy Crestview 6-4 to finish season at 28-5)


 * Lucasville Valley
 * Boys' Baseball
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 1975 (Valley def. Russia 5-0)
 * Girls' Softball
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances
 * 1993 - (lost to North Robinson Colonel Crawford 9-3)
 * 1994 - (lost to Jeromesville Hillsdale 6-1)


 * Waverly
 * Boys' Baseball
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 1954 (Waverly def. Sycamore 2-1)
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearance
 * 1970 (Dayton Chaminade d. Waverly 73-55)
 * 1973 - Associated Press Class AA Boys' Basketball Poll Champion (17-1)


 * Portsmouth West
 * Football
 * Division IV State Final Appearance
 * 2002 (Kenton def. Portsmouth West 45-13)
 * Girls' Softball
 * OHSAA State Runner-up
 * 1987 - (d. Marion Elgin 4-3 & lost to Akron Hoban 5-1 to finish season at 22-6)
 * 1988 - (d. Newark Licking Valley 5-4 & lost to Tallmadge 16-2 to finish season at 28-1)
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances (besides the Second Place Finishes)
 * 1986 - (lost to Newark Licking Valley 11-1)
 * 1989 - (lost to Springfield Northwestern 8-4)
 * 1998 - (lost to Keystone LaGrange 2-1)
 * 1999 - (lost to Keystone LaGrange 1-0)
 * 2000 - (lost to Lima Bath 3-2)
 * 2001 - (lost to Keystone LaGrange 3-0)
 * 2002 - (lost to Springfield Kenton Ridge 4-0)
 * 2003 - (lost to Convoy Crestview 5-0)


 * Wheelersburg
 * Boys' Baseball
 * OHSAA State Championships
 * 1996 - def. Middlefield Cardinal 4-1
 * 2012 - def. Lima Central Catholic 1-0
 * 2013 - def. Bloom-Carroll 5-4
 * Boys' Basketball
 * OHSAA State Runner-up
 * 1984 - (d. Willard 70-64 & lost to Akron St. Vincent - St. Mary 75-71 to finish season at 23-5)
 * 1995 - (d. Columbus Bishop Hartley 76-60 & lost to Orrville 79-50 to finish season at 23-4)
 * OHSAA Final Four Appearances
 * 1982 - Youngstown Rayen d. Wheelersburg 61-45)
 * 1989 - (Cincinnati North College Hill d. Wheelersburg 71-67 (2OT))
 * 2006 - (Cleveland Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph d. Wheelersburg 71-62)
 * 2007 - (Cincinnati North College Hill d. Wheelersburg 69-66 (OT))
 * OHSAA State Basketball Tournament Records
 * Largest Margin of Victory - Championship Game (Division III) - Orrville 79 d. Wheelersburg 50 in 1995
 * Most Two-Point Field Goals - Championship Game - Orrville (35) v. Wheelersburg in 1995
 * Most Two-Point Field Goals, Both Teams - Championship Game - 53 (Orrville 35 & Wheelersburg 18) in 1995
 * Most Rebounds - Championship Game - Orrville (44) v. Wheelersburg in 1995
 * Football
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 1989 (def. Warren John F. Kennedy 14-7)
 * 2017 (def. Pemberville Eastwood 21-14OT)
 * Girls' Softball
 * OHSAA State Runner-up
 * 2004 (d. Archbold 2-1 & lost to Woodsfield Monroe Central 1-0 to finish season at 25-6)
 * OHSAA State Championship
 * 2016 (d. Johnstown-Monroe, 1-0, within the state semifinals, and then d. South Range, 8-3, within the championship final. The Pirates finished the season 26-2.

Conference awards and championships
Conference Awards & Championships in each Sport

Notable coaches' and player awards

 * Terri Boldman (Clay) - Clay Coaches' Hall of Fame, one of only two S.O.C. coaches to lead girls' basketball team to OHSAA Final Four (1980)
 * Ed Cable (Northwest) - Recipient of the Ohio Sportsmanship, Ethics, & Integrity Softball Coaches' Award (2002)
 * Odie Estep (Willow Wood Symmes Valley) - Ohio Softball Coaches' Hall of Fame (2007)
 * Arch Justus (Clay, Minford & Valley) - Ohio Basketball Coaches' Hall of Fame, Clay Coaches' Hall of Fame, won 532 total basketball games
 * David Leightenheimer (Clay) - Clay Coaches' Hall of Fame & OHSAA Officials' Hall of Fame
 * Kinney Long (Clay) - Clay Coaches' Hall of Fame
 * Ed Miller (Notre Dame & Wheelersburg) - Ohio Football Coaches' Hall of Fame (1996), won two Associated Press state titles with Notre Dame in 1967 and 1970 and a Division IV OHSAA title with Wheelersburg in 1989
 * Teresa Ruby (Clay) - played in the first four OHSAA state softball Final Four tournaments (1978–1981), won two state softball championships (as a player) in 1980 & 1981 and finished second in 1979, played in the 1980 girls' basketball Final Four, led her softball team (as a coach) to the 2007 state Final Four, holds many Clay basketball records (including leading scorer), has her number (#14) retired by the school. She also has a star on the Portsmouth Wall of Stars (2009).
 * Carol Vice (Clay) - Clay Coaches' Hall of Fame, Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2010); Star on Portsmouth's Wall of Stars, made it to the Final Four in softball 9 of 10 years as a coach, won three OHSAA state softball titles (1980, 81, & 83) while also finishing as runners-up twice (1979 & 1988), only softball coach from S.O.C. to win a softball title
 * Norm Persin - Oak Hill Basketball - voted National Basketball Coach of The Year in 2009.

External links & gallery
Member Schools & Websites


 * Sciotoville Community East
 * Eastern Pike
 * Green
 * McDermott Northwest
 * Willow Wood Symmes Valley
 * Lucasville Valley
 * Waverly
 * Western Pike
 * History of the Southern Ohio Conference