Ohio recorded 347,994 student-athletes during the 2025-26 school year, ranking third in the nation behind only Texas (911,405) and California (859,022). Loveland and Milford athletes are among those filling the rosters as fall sports hit full stride.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association released the data Sept. 9, citing the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Annual Participation Survey. Ohio ranks seventh nationally in total population but placed ahead of Illinois (326,756), Pennsylvania (315,647), New York (312,563), Florida (311,233) and Michigan (295,634) in the participation count.

OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said in the release that the ranking reflects the depth of programs across the association's 813 member schools. He credited coaches for building opportunities that keep kids competing and said Ohio's tradition of high school sports runs deep, with students growing up eager for their chance to play for their schools.

Ohio leads the country in the number of high schools fielding teams in three sports: girls wrestling (525 schools), girls bowling (505) and boys bowling (517). Growth in girls wrestling and girls flag football helped push the national total to a record 8,415,684 participants, according to AL.com's report on the NFHS survey. That figure includes 4,761,095 boys and 3,654,589 girls, both all-time highs.

Football remains the top boys sport in Ohio with 40,302 participants, third nationally behind Texas and California per the same AL.com report. Track and field (28,964), baseball (20,892), basketball (20,246) and soccer (17,540) round out the top five. For girls, competitive spirit and cheerleading, a combined OHSAA category, led at 26,635, followed by track and field (23,739), volleyball (19,867), soccer (14,605) and softball (13,977).

Locally, Loveland and Milford athletes are contributing across fall sports. Loveland golfer Casey Kopecky earned medalist honors at the Lakota East Invitational and the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Preview, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Milford senior Elle Campbell won the Rick Weinheimer Classic cross country race in Columbus, Indiana, clocking 18:17.6. Milford golfer Cooper Young shot a 34 at Grizzly Course for medalist honors in a win over Mariemont, per the Enquirer's Sept. 7 roundup.

Loveland junior Blake Rohlfs scored both goals in a 2-0 soccer win over Indian Hill. Anna Feeney led the Tigers' cross country team at their home meet, finishing fourth with a time of 20:10.4. On the Milford side, freshman Masyn Rockey scored two goals in a 3-1 girls soccer win over Kings.

The football side has been tougher. Neither team has a win. The Tigers fell to Monroe 39-6 in Week 1 and to Kings 41-14 in Week 2. Milford lost to Harrison 35-0 in the opener and to Winton Woods 50-28.

The OHSAA fall playoff brackets take shape in October, with both programs looking to turn the page.