The Northeast 8 Athletic Conference is an Ohio High School Athletic Association athletic league that began competition for the 2018–19 school year and is made up of member schools from Trumbull and Mahoning counties in Ohio.
Members
SchoolNicknameLocationColorsTenureGirardIndiansGirardBlack, red 2018–HubbardEaglesHubbardBlue, silver 2018–LakeviewBulldogsCortlandBlue, white 2018–Niles McKinleyRed DragonsNilesRed, blue 2018–Poland SeminaryBulldogsPolandBlue, white 2018–South RangeRaidersCanfieldBurgundy, gold 2018–StruthersWildcatsStruthersRed, white 2018–
Future members SchoolNicknameLocationColorsYear joiningNotesSalemQuakersSalemRed, black 2027Joining from Eastern Buckeye Conference for all sports except football
Former members +SchoolNicknameLocationColorsTenureNotesJefferson AreaFalconsJeffersonRed, black 2018–2023Left for Chagrin Valley Conference
History The idea for the NE8 was created in May 2017 when members of the All-American Conference's Blue and White divisions decided to break away and form their own league. South Range was previously set to join the newly created Eastern Buckeye Conference in 2018, but then received an invitation to join the AAC Blue tier with Crestview High School at the same time they were invited to join the NE8. With three league invitations, South Range decided to help form the Northeast 8.
Jefferson announced in 2022 that they would be leaving the NE8 after five years to join the Chagrin Valley Conference effective the 2023–24 school year.
West Branch and Salem, both of the Eastern Buckeye Conference, applied to join the Northeast 8 in February 2026, after several members of the EBC announced their intended departure following the 2028–29 school year, to help form the Northeast Senate League. On March 13, 2026, the Northeast 8 declined their applications, citing "it was not in the best interest of the conferences core members at this time." Around this time, Crestview of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference also applied to join the Northeast 8, but were denied as well. Salem was accepted into the Northeast 8, after previously being denied in May 2026, and is expected to join beginning the 2027–28 school year.
References