Lakewood, Newark Catholic, Northridge, Utica leave Licking County League

Four Licking County League schools are on their way out.Lakewood, Newark Catholic, Northridge and Utica notified league officials Nov. 10 of their plans to leave the LCL and form a new league.“Pending a vote by the school boards at Lakewood, Newark Catholic, Northridge and Utica, those schools will leave the Licking County League beginning with the 2028-29 school year,” LCL commissioner Ron Bowman confirmed via text. “They will become charter members of a new league of like size schools. The LCL will become an eight-team league which will continue looking at future expansion.”Utica athletic director Howard Hill said details on the new league will be provided soon.Granville, Heath, Johnstown, Licking Heights, Licking Valley, Mount Vernon, Watkins Memorial and Zanesville will remain in the LCL. The LCL re-formed for the 2013-14 school year with 10 Licking County schools, and Zanesville in 2020 and Mount Vernon in 2024 have since been added.This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Lakewood, Newark Catholic, Northridge, Utica leave Licking County League