Louisville High School responds to potential opportunity to join All-American Conference

Louisville High School's days of being an independent in athletics may be coming to an end.

Louisville High School may find a new conference home as early as next year.

According to a release issued by Louisville City Schools on Monday, the All-American Conference unanimously voted to include the Leopards in the league beginning with the 2026-27 school year. The AAC is comprised of Austintown Fitch, Boardman, Canfield, Warren Harding and Warren Howland.

Louisville has made no final decision and has not signed a formal contract, accoring to the release. The district's administration and board of education will review the contract in the coming weeks.

"We appreciate the invitation from the All-American Conference and the confidence they've shown in our athletic program," Louisville Superintendent Michele Shaffer said in a statement. "While this is certainly an exciting possibility, we want to ensure we take the time necessary to fully evaluate what this move would mean for our students, staff and families moving forward."

Former Louisville head coach Tom Siegfried celebrates with his son, Beau, after the Leopards beat Aiken in the OHSAA Division III boys basketball championship game on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the University of Dayton.

Louisville has played as an independent since the 2018-19 school year. The Leopards were formally a member of the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. The league is now known as the Eastern Buckeye Conference.

"We've always been proud of how our athletes and coaches have embraced the challenges of independent scheduling, and we're grateful for the relationships we've built along the way," Louisville Athletic Director Terrie Horn said in a statement. "Being considered for membership in a strong league like the AAC is an honor, and we will continue working through the appropriate steps before any decisions are finalized."

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Louisville High School on brink of joining All-American Conference

Category: General Sports