TVC History Article from Tom Metters - 1998 - Fort Frye reference

[NYBuckeye96]

This article is from Tom Metters with The Athens Messenger dated Tuesday, May 12, 1998. It discusses the history of the TVC and makes reference to Fort Frye joining, but changing its mind after only playing in the TVC in one sport - baseball - in the spring of 1969. I want to research old newspapers from December 1968 and the first half of 1969 to learn what exactly happened with Fort Frye being a member of the TVC. If it's not in the Athens Messenger, surely it's in the Marietta Times.

Future bright as TVC marks anniversary

The date slipped by quietly with little fanfare as the Tri-Valley Conference recently observed its 30th anniversary.

Although there have been some other leagues along the way, the only other one still in operation for area schools is the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League which dates back to 1925 and is one of the oldest of its type in the state outside metropolitan areas (such as the Columbus City League).

The TVC was established in the wake of consolidations which created some new school districts in the area including Alexander, Federal Hocking, Meigs and Nelsonville-York.

It was April 30, 1968 that representatives of four schools, Belpre, Federal Hocking, Vinton County and Warren, met at Federal Hocking.

Jack Watkins, athletic director at Warren, was elected as the TVC's first president while Belpre principal John Epperly was named secretary-treasurer.

The initial league competition came the following winter during the 1968-69 boys basketball campaign.

In December, 1968, the TVC admitted a fifth member, Fort Frye, which had been in the Pioneer Valley Conference. The Cadets, however, participated in only one league sport - baseball in the spring of 1969 - before changing its mind about being in the TVC.

There have been some switches in members between the TVC and the SEOAL - and the changes have worked out well for all concerned.

Nelsonville-York, which traced its roots to SEOAL charter member Nelsonville, switched leagues in the spring of 1969, although it was the 1970-71 season before it began full TVC competition.

Meigs, which had been in the SEOAL since being formed by consolidation in the fall of 1967, went to the TVC in the spring of 1982.

Wellston, another SEOAL charter member and home of the league's founder, W.E. (Bill) Thomas, made its switch in the early 1980s and began full TVC participation during the 1982-83 campaigns.

Warren, meanwhile, went the opposite direction, switching to the SEOAL from the TVC beginning with the 1985-86 school year.

Among others which joined the TVC are Alexander (September, 1972), Miller (April, 1982) and Trimble (May, 1977), all of which had been involved in earlier leagues including the Mid-Ohio Valley Conference.

More recently, the TVC expanded to 11 teams as it accepted Southern and Eastern after the Southern Valley Athletic Conference was dissolved. With that move came a split to two divisions in most sports which brought with it added chances at league titles. The league then added Waterford last spring.

Overall, the league has achieved respects, not only around Southeastern Ohio but in other parts of the state as well. Along the way, league schools have recorded their share of trips to regional and state competitions in various sports.

The future looks bright for the league and its teams.

[GRFan]

Thanks for this. Tom Metters was an institution in SEO sports reporting.