The Sandusky Bay Conference (SBC) is undergoing a major restructuring, and Vermilion is positioned to be part of the changes. During Monday night’s Vermilion Local School District Board of Education meeting, Vermilion Athletic Director Andy Stillman explained why the conference’s Lake and Bay Divisions are breaking away from the River Division and what that means for the school’s athletic programs.
A Move to Simplify and Strengthen Competition
According to Stillman, the decision to separate from the River Division comes after months of discussion about how to balance divisions and improve scheduling, especially for football.
“The Lake and Bay schools realized it’s gonna be a lot easier for us to get things done for the betterment of those 10 schools if we separate from the River Division and go on our own,” Stillman said. “Makes things cleaner, easier to understand, and more attractive to potential new members.”
Under the current SBC structure, football scheduling has been a challenge due to the uneven number of teams in each division. A proposal to reorganize into three six-team divisions was voted down by the River Division in December. After that rejection, Lake and Bay schools determined that breaking away entirely was the best option.
What This Means for Vermilion
For Vermilion, the move does not significantly change the competition the Sailors have been facing in recent years. The new 10-team league will still feature the same Bay Division rivals Vermilion has played for the past eight years, including Huron, Edison, Bellevue, and Port Clinton.
Geographically, the decision could benefit Vermilion by reducing travel distances for some sports. The River Division includes schools located farther west, some requiring over an hour of travel for competitions.
Stillman emphasized that Vermilion is happy with its place in the current alignment and has no plans to explore a move to the Lorain County League (LC8), despite speculation.
“I’m not willing to sacrifice swimming, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls golf for whatever attractiveness there is with the LC8,” he said.
What’s Next?
The decision to break away from the SBC is moving quickly. Sandusky was the first school to officially approve the move on Tuesday, with other Lake and Bay schools set to vote in the coming weeks. Perkins and Norwalk are scheduled to vote Wednesday, while Clyde, Huron, and Tiffin will hold their meetings on Feb. 24.
While the new conference will need a name, Stillman noted that the SBC title might remain with the breakaway schools since the River Division’s future is still uncertain.
For now, Vermilion’s athletic future remains stable, with no major disruptions expected to schedules, opponents, or travel. The goal, Stillman explained, is to create a more organized and competitive league that benefits student-athletes and their communities.
“We’ve been playing the same teams for years,” Stillman said. “Nothing’s really changing for us.”
