Central Ozark Conference
The Central Ozarks Conference is a high school athletic conference represented by 10 schools in the southwest portion of Missouri. As the name implies, all schools are in the Ozarks region of the state. The conference offers championships for girls in Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball. In boys sports, the COC offers championships in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Wrestling.
| Central Ozark Conference | |
|---|---|
| COC | |
| Association | Missouri State High School Activities Association |
| Members | 10 |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Region | Missouri Ozarks |
| Headquarters | N/A, N/A |
| Commissioner | N/A |
| Website | -NA- |
List of member schools
| School | Team Name | Colors | Town | County | Enrollment (2016–18) | Primary MSHSAA class* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branson High School | Pirates | Branson | Taney | 1430 | 5 | |
| Carthage High School | (Lady) Tigers | Carthage | Jasper | 1356 | 5 | |
| Carl Junction High School | (Lady) Bulldogs | Carl Junction | Jasper | 1006 | 4 | |
| Joplin High School | (Lady) Eagles | Joplin | Jasper | 2216 | 6 | |
| Neosho High School | Lady Wildcats | Neosho | Newton | 1316 | 4 | |
| Nixa High School | (Lady) Eagles | Nixa | Christian | 1733 | 5 | |
| Ozark High School | (Lady) Tigers | Ozark | Christian | 1632 | 6 | |
| Republic High School | (Lady) Tigers | Republic | Greene | 1389 | 5 | |
| Webb City High School | (Lady) Cardinals | Webb City | Jasper | 1177 | 4 | |
| Willard High School | (Lady) Tigers | Willard | Greene | 1324 | 5 |
Membership History
Carthage, Neosho, and Webb City joined the Central Ozark Conference after the collapse of the Southwest League.
Carl Junction joined the COC in July 2016, after three decades in the Big 8 Conference. Former Southwest League Member McDonald County replaced Carl Junction in the Big 8.[2]
Joplin High School joined the Central Ozarks Conference in July 2018.[3] Joplin moved from the Ozark Conference.
The small division disbanded after the 2017-18 school year. Buffalo announced in October 2016 it would become a founding member of the Ozark Highlands Conference.[4] The remaining schools, with the exception of Bolivar, will join the Big 8 conference.[5] Bolivar submitted an application to join the Ozark Conference in late December, but was rejected. They are now independent. 7.[6]
The former COC Small Division members are also joined by other schools in the Big 8 Conference, joining then-current members East Newton, Cassville, Monett, McDonald County, Aurora, Lamar, Mount Vernon, and Seneca.
References
- https://www.mshsaa.org/2016_18MemberEnrollments.aspx
- http://www.koamtv.com/story/25084919/carl-junction-to-join-the-coc
- http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/pages/22671178.php
- http://buffaloreflex.com/school/buffalo-high-school-to-join-new-conference/article_2de45ba8-958a-11e6-aa72-ef93b47ae1d9.html
- http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2016/12/05/big-8-conference-expanding-to-14-schools/
- http://bolivarmonews.com/news/the-waiting-game/article_dbd29d48-c711-11e6-ab27-d796cd68e0ed.html