Why does area win so many state titles?

MERCER COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - The office at Coldwater High School looks more like a trophy shop, but they don't make them there.

It only seems that way.

"The bar has been set really high," says Coldwater football coach Chip Otten.

Just a few minutes away, Marion Local doesn't have a trophy case but trophy cases.

But what Marion Local and Coldwater share aside from success is that both are members of the Midwest Athletic Conference.

"It's unbelievable what kind of communities we have here," says Marion Local quarterback Adam Bertke. "It's awesome to grow up here."

Take a drive through any of the conference's towns and the first thing you'll notice are the giant boards listing all the state title teams.

Teams from the MAC have won more than 10 state football championships in the last decade to go along with a host of titles in other sports. Marion Local and Coldwater will both play for titles this week.

So the only question players and coaches get more than, 'How does it feel to win?,' is 'What's the conference's secret to success?' 

"I get asked that a lot," Otten says.

But everybody here says it's not much of a secret.

"Families," says Marion Local football coach Tim Goodwin. "Our kids come to school and they're kids and they can do the kids' stuff and don't have to worry about the grown-up stuff."

You can see the level of support just by walking through the towns like Coldwater.

Along with the Christmas red and green is plenty of Coldwater black and orange.

That togetherness finds it's way onto the football field as well.

"We have a lot of trust," says Marion Local football player Jacy Goettemoeller. "We're like a family and we play together really well."

Even the conference itself is like a group of brothers.

When they're not battling each other, they'll cheer on their fellow teams.

"You always like to see the MAC conference do good after you beat them," says Coldwater quarterback Austin Bruns.