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The Southwestern Buckeye League football programs kick off the 2025 season. Here are preview capsules for our member schools:

Buckeye Division

Valley View — Valley View once again showed why it’s considered the class of the Buckeye Division. The Spartans rolled through league play with a perfect 6-0 record and finished 9-3 overall, outscoring opponents 349-228. With a balanced team on both sides of the ball, Valley View heads into 2025 as the team everyone else is chasing.

Waynesville — Waynesville’s offense lit up scoreboards in 2024, putting up a staggering 505 points over 13 games. The Spartans finished 5-1 in the league and 9-4 overall, with their only conference setback coming against Valley View. Their ability to score in bunches makes them the most dangerous challenger to the defending champions.

Eaton — Defense was Eaton’s calling card in 2024, as the Eagles surrendered just 182 points over the course of the season. An 8-3 finish, including a 4-2 mark in division play, showed the consistency of a team capable of grinding out wins. If their offense can keep pace with their defense, the Eagles could be poised to move higher in the standings.

Brookville — Brookville delivered a 7-5 overall, 3-3 league performance in 2024. The Blue Devils scored 312 points while giving up nearly as many at 295 — a sign that their defense wants to take the next step. A more consistent unit could allow Brookville to become a real contender in the Buckeye race.

Carlisle — Carlisle finished 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the division, relying on an offense that scored 288 points. But defensive issues plagued the Indians, who allowed 349 points across the season. Fixing that side of the ball will be the difference between another middle-of-the-pack finish and a breakthrough year.

Madison — It was a rebuilding season for Madison, which went 4-7 overall and 1-5 in Buckeye play. The Mohawks allowed 320 points while scoring just 240, showing the gap they must close. Progress on defense will be key as they look to climb back into contention.

Oakwood — Oakwood endured a tough 2024 season, going winless in division play at 0-6 and finishing 2-8 overall. The Lumberjacks were outscored 286-153, struggling to generate enough offense to keep up in most games. A reset on both sides of the ball is needed to bring Oakwood back into the Buckeye conversation.

Southwestern Division

Bellbrook — Bellbrook dominated the Southwestern Division in 2024, storming to a 4-0 league record and a 12-2 overall mark. The Golden Eagles overwhelmed opponents with a combination of scoring punch and stingy defense, finishing with a 360-136 point differential. Bellbrook enters 2025 as the clear-cut favorite to repeat atop the division.

Franklin — Franklin battled through an up-and-down season, splitting league play at 2-2 and finishing 4-6 overall. The Wildcats struggled to generate consistent offense, scoring just 140 points while giving up 207. To take a step forward, Franklin must find a way to get more production on the offensive side.

Ross — Ross matched Franklin with a 2-2 league record but finished 4-7 overall. The Rams managed 208 points of offense but were undone by a defense that surrendered 278. If Ross can find more balance and tighten up its defense, it could be a sleeper team to watch in 2025.

Edgewood — Edgewood endured a rough year, going just 3-8 overall despite managing a 2-2 record in the Southwestern Division. The Cougars were outscored 267-137, highlighting their struggles on both ends of the field. Turning around their offensive output will be critical if Edgewood hopes to improve in 2025.

Monroe — Monroe went winless in league play at 0-4, finishing 4-7 overall. The Hornets put up 206 points but allowed 281, leaving them near the bottom of both offensive and defensive categories. To get out of the cellar, Monroe must find answers on both sides of the ball and rebuild its confidence in divisional matchups.

Southwestern Buckeye League girls soccer has been a tale of two familiar forces in recent seasons. Bellbrook and Waynesville have taken turns running their divisions, and both return enough talent in 2025 to keep the rest of the league chasing. Still, several teams have reloaded and could make the title races tighter than a year ago.

Buckeye Division | At a Glance

Waynesville rolled to a 17–4–0 record and a perfect 6–0 SWBL mark last fall, and the Spartans have the talent to do it again.

Oakwood went 14–5–0 in 2024 and returns plenty of firepower and scoring depth to challenge for the division crown.

Eaton (11–6–3) might be the Buckeye’s dark horse after winning four out of its last five — including two tournament games — a year ago.

Madison finished 7–9–2 but split its league games evenly at 2-2-2. The Mohawks bring back a veteran midfield that can control possession and give them a shot at competing.

Valley View (5-12-1) showed flashes last season, using its speed up top to stretch opposing defenses. If the Spartans can finish more consistently, they could make a push toward the upper half of the table.

Brookville went 8-8-2 and team defense will be key for the Blue Devils to turn narrow losses into wins.

Carlisle returns a roster loaded with underclassmen and will use experience gained from last season to set the foundation for a turnaround.

Dayton Christian enters the SWBL after going 3-13-1 in its last season in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

Southwestern Division | At a Glance

Bellbrook was nearly flawless in 2024, finishing 14–2–3 overall and unbeaten in league play at 7–0–1. The Golden Eagles will again enter as the team to beat.

Ross, which went 13–5–3 and finished just a step behind Bellbrook at 6–1–1 in league play, boasts one of the most balanced squads in the SWBL.

Monroe posted an 3-12-1 record a year ago and is looking to climb from the middle of the league pack.

Franklin finished 8-7-1 but showed signs of growth in several close matches. With a midfield group that’s a year older and more experienced, the Wildcats aim to push away from that .500 mark.

Edgewood endured a rebuilding season in 2024. The Cougars return a young core that gained valuable varsity experience.

Talawanda enters SWBL play this year after logging a 4-11-3 record in its last season in the Southwest Ohio Conference.

The 2025 SWBL boys soccer season gets underway this weekend. Waynesville posted a perfect record in the Buckeye Division in 2024, while Monroe and Bellbrook shared top honors in the Southwestern Division. Here’s a glance heading into the upcoming campaign:

Buckeye Division | At a Glance

Waynesville — Dominated the division with a 6-0-0 record (18-2-2 overall) and strong offense, powered by now-senior Nick Feldhaus — who posted the most points in the league last season.

Oakwood — Finished 5-1-0 in league (11-8-1 overall). Expect a competitive squad looking to close the gap with top rivals.

Brookville — Logged a 4-2-0 league mark (15-4-0 overall) after starting 2024 with five straight victories.

Eaton — Went 2-3-1 in league (8-8-2 overall) in 2024. The Eagles are capable of pulling off some surprises if the offense stays consistent.

Valley View — Had a 2-4-0 division record (8-8-2 overall) and could climb the league standings with some offensive uptick.

Carlisle — Went 4-10-4 overall in 2024 with a young squad, but the Indians have a slew of juniors returning with playing experience on both ends of the pitch.

Madison — The Mohawks also have a ton of talent that saw significant amounts of playing time a year ago coming back.

Dayton Christian — The Warriors are coming off an unbeaten Metro Buckeye League season and a 13-6-2 overall performance in 2024.

Southwestern Division | At a Glance

Monroe — Shared the top division record at 6-1-1, finishing 9-6-1 overall. Among the strongest in the SWBL’s Southwestern Division.

Bellbrook — Also 6-1-1 in league (9-7-3 overall) last year. The Eagles will be competitive again this season.

Ross — Recorded a solid 4-2-2 in league, and overall, they finished 5-9-2 — showing they can compete and stay in contention.

Franklin — The Wildcats graduated one player from last season and will look to take advantage of some experienced seniors this season.

Edgewood — The Cougars will rely on their seven seniors to get over the hump during league play in 2025.

Talawanda — The Brave are coming off a 4-11-3 record in their last season in the Southwest Ohio Conference.

Brookville and Bellbrook ran through their respective divisions last fall and enter the 2025 Southwestern Buckeye League girls volleyball season as the top teams to watch.

Buckeye Division | At a Glance

Brookville — The Blue Devils return nearly all of their core from last year’s perfect league run.

Waynesville — The Spartan graduated five key players from last season, but they also return a handful of players who saw decent amount of playing time in 2024. Waynesville finished among the league’s leaders in kills and digs.

Eaton — The Eagles were one of the most balanced teams in 2024 and will rely on experienced hitters to challenge at the top of the division.

Oakwood — The Jills have both the net presence and floor defense to stay in the upper tier of the standings.

Valley View — The Spartans could use a consistent attack, which will be the key to climbing the SWBL standings in 2025.

Carlisle — The Indians will look to build on flashes from last season, with a focus on limiting errors and improving defense.

Middletown Madison — With young players stepping into larger roles, the Mohawks will focus on growth and gaining experience.

Dayton Christian — The Warriors enter their first girls volleyball season in the SWBL. Dayton Christian went 22-1 overall and 8-0 in its final season in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

Southwestern Division | At a Glance

Bellbrook — The Golden Eagles are the defending champs after an undefeated league slate. They return a balanced attack and reliable serve game.

Monroe — The Hornets graduated seven seniors from last season and was one of the highest-scoring teams in the league.

Ross — The Rams’ steady play in 2024 puts them in position to take another step forward this season.

Edgewood — The Cougars bring back a slew of juniors who had plenty of playing time during the 2024 season.

Franklin — Depth and consistent setting will determine how far the Wildcats can climb in the league.

Talawanda — The Brave enter their first season in the SWBL. Talawanda went 20-4 overall and 6-0 in its final season in the Southwest Ohio Conference.