A big change confronts the athletic teams this fall season. An OCC change is shifting the tides and  coaches are wondering how their teams will fare this year in  the new division.

   The OCC, also known as the Ohio Capital Conference, is a high school athletic conference within Central Ohio, and has  recently switched some schools between divisions. The OCC has four divisions, which shift every few years. This change in particular, might alter the tides of competition to North’s favor. 

   As they enter a season with new divisions, Westerville North’s fall teams anticipate how they’ll hold up. 

   The division change was ultimately put forth by the OCC in an effort to make competitions within the divisions more fair.

   Johnny Jackson is  the girls cross country  coach for the 2020 season. 

“Smaller schools, like North, were put into divisions where we were outmatched with bigger schools… it was a concern of fairness,”Jackson said.

   A positive air surrounds this division change as coaches expect a season filled with Westerville North victories and room to grow. 

   Caitlin Luby is a member of the girls volleyball coaching staff, and thinks this new division change will give their team an opportunity to mature and explore. 

   “I think the OCC division change will affect the season in a way that allows us to be more competitive and grow more as a program,” Luby said. 

   A concern for many coaches this year, however, is the distance between North and new schools within the division. With divisions being altered, they rely less on location and more on skill and strength. 

   “A negative aspect to this change would be travel, as some of these schools are a lot farther out,” Coach Jackson said. 

   Westerville North continues their fall season in high spirits with this OCC division change. The possibilities are endless as Warriors train hard in hopes of a successful season.