7-C Conference

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The 7-C Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in central Wisconsin. It existed from 1926 to 1962, and its members belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1926-1934

The 7-C Conference was formed in 1926 as the Four-County Conference, named after the four counties where member schools were located (Adams, Marquette, Portage and Waushara). It was initially made up of eleven small schools located in central Wisconsin: Adams-Friendship, Almond, Coloma, Hancock, Montello, Oxford, Plainfield, Redgranite, Wautoma, Westfield and Wild Rose. [1] In 1929, the Four-County Conference added Neshkoro and Princeton to bring membership to thirteen schools. [2] Despite the expansion into Green Lake County, the league did not change its name. Green Lake and Omro joined the 4-C Conference in 1931, and Winneconne became members of the conference in 1932. That same year, the conference's name was changed to the 6-C Conference, representing its expanded geographic footprint: [3]

Big 6-C ConferenceLittle 6-C Conference
Adams-FriendshipAlmond
MontelloColoma
OmroGreen Lake
RedgraniteHancock
WautomaNeshkoro
WestfieldOxford
Plainfield
Princeton
Wild Rose
Winneconne

1934-1942

In 1934 the conference renamed itself the 7-C Conference because of the expansion into Wood County, adding Markesan to the Little 7-C [4] and Port Edwards (formerly of the Wood County League) to the Big 7-C. [5] Winneconne left to join the Little Nine Conference in 1935, [6] and in 1937, the 7-C Conference realigned itself by geography instead of enrollment size: [7]

Eastern 7-C Conference [8] Northern 7-C Conference [9] Western 7-C Conference [10]
Green LakeAlmondAdams-Friendship
MarkesanColomaMontello
OmroHancockPlainfield
PrincetonNeshkoroPort Edwards
RedgraniteOxfordWautoma
Wild RoseWestfield

Endeavor joined the 7-C Conference in 1938 as its eighteenth overall member, and was assigned to the Northern 7-C. [11] In 1940, Wild Rose moved back to the Eastern 7-C after Omro's exit from the conference: [12]

Eastern 7-C ConferenceNorthern 7-C ConferenceWestern 7-C Conference
Green LakeAlmondAdams-Friendship
MarkesanColomaMontello
PrincetonEndeavorPlainfield
RedgraniteHancockPort Edwards
Wild RoseNeshkoroWautoma
OxfordWestfield

1942-1946

In 1942, the 7-C Conference disbanded for basketball because of wartime travel issues. [13] The conference was revived for the 1943-44 school year, albeit with a reduced grouping of Adams-Friendship, Almond, Hancock, Plainfield, Port Edwards, Wautoma and Westfield. [14] Former conference member Montello returned to the 7-C in 1944 [15] along with several other schools, and the league split into two divisions by school enrollment size:

Big 7-C Conference [16] Little 7-C Conference [17] [18]
Adams-FriendshipColoma
AlmondEndeavor
MontelloGreen Lake
PlainfieldHancock
Port EdwardsMarkesan
WautomaOxford
WestfieldPrinceton

In 1945, the league welcomed back former members Omro and Wild Rose after the end of World War II. [19] These two schools, along with Green Lake from the Little 7-C, were placed into the Big 7-C. The Little 7-C was left with five members following Green Lake's move and Markesan joining the Dual County Conference. [20] Neshkoro was reinstated as a sixth member to the Little 7-C before the start of league competition, and the 7-C started the 1945-46 season with a sixteen-member roster: [21]

Big 7-C Conference [22] Little 7-C Conference [21]
Adams-FriendshipColoma
AlmondEndeavor
Green LakeHancock
MontelloNeshkoro
OmroOxford
PlainfieldPrinceton
Port Edwards
Wautoma
Westfield
Wild Rose

1946-1962

After the end of World War II, the 7-C Conference began to lose members to school district consolidation. Coloma was the first to leave the conference for this reason, with their district folded into Westfield in 1946. [23] To offset this loss, the Little 7-C added former members Redgranite and Wild Rose after the latter's shift from the Big 7-C. [24] The next year, Hancock High School closed and its students were redistricted to Plainfield, which named itself Tri-County High School soon thereafter. [25] Almond moved over from the Big 7-C as their replacement. [26] In 1948, the 7-C Conference lost two high schools to consolidation: Neshkoro (redistricted to Westfield) [27] and Redgranite (redistricted to Berlin and Wautoma). [28] In 1951, Endeavor High School closed its doors when it was consolidated into Oxford. [29] The next year, Green Lake of the Big 7-C joined the four Little 7-C schools in seceding from the conference to form the new Central Lakes Conference. [30] The seven members of what was formerly known as the Big 7-C continued on until Omro left to join the Little Nine Conference in 1956. [31] Membership was whittled down to five schools in 1958 when Port Edwards left to join the Central Lakes Conference. [32] Montello joined the Dual County Conference in 1961, [33] further decreasing conference membership to four schools. Due in part to the rapid decline in membership, the 7-C Conference ceased operations in 1962. Three of its former members (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) aligned with the five Central Lakes Conference schools and Madonna High School in Mauston to form the new Central-C Conference. [34] The fourth school (Wautoma) joined the Central Wisconsin Conference [35] in the aftermath of the 7-C Conference's demise.

Conference membership history

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Adams-Friendship Adams, WI Public432Green Devils  1926, [1] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1962 [34] Central-C South Central
Almond Almond, WI Public109Eagles  1926, [1] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1952 [30] Central Lakes Central Wisconsin
Coloma Coloma, WI PublicN/ACardinals  1926, [1] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1946 [23] Closed (consolidated into Westfield)
Hancock Hancock, WI PublicN/AUnknownUnknown1926, [1] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1947 [25] Closed (consolidated into Tri-County)
Montello Montello, WI Public251Hilltoppers  1926, [1] 1944 [15] 1942, [13] 1961 [33] Dual County Trailways
Oxford Oxford, WI PublicN/ABluejays  1926, [1] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1952 [30] Central Lakes Closed in 1963 (consolidated into Westfield)
Redgranite Redgranite, WI PublicN/ADemons  1926, [1] 1946 [24] 1942, [13] 1948 [28] Closed (consolidated into Berlin and Wautoma)
Tri-County Plainfield, WI Public176Penguins  1926, [1] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1962 [34] Central-C Central Wisconsin
Wautoma Wautoma, WI Public381Hornets  1926, [1] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1962 [35] Central Wisconsin South Central
Westfield Westfield, WI Public295Pioneers  1926, [1] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1962 [34] Central-C South Central
Wild Rose Wild Rose, WI Public153Wildcats  1926, [1] 1945 [19] 1942, [13] 1952 [30] Central Lakes Central Wisconsin
Neshkoro Neshkoro, WI PublicN/AUnknown  1929, [2] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1948 [27] Closed (consolidated into Westfield)
Princeton Princeton, WI Public109Tigers  1929, [2] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1952 [30] Central Lakes Trailways (coop with Green Lake)
Green Lake Green Lake, WI Public101Lakers  1931, [3] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1952 [30] Central Lakes Trailways (coop with Princeton)
Omro Omro, WI Public333Foxes  1931, [3] 1945 [19] 1940, [12] 1956 [31] Little Nine Wisconsin Flyway
Winneconne Winneconne, WI Public551Wolves  1932 [3] 1935 [6] Little Nine East Central
Markesan Markesan, WI Public254Hornets  1934, [4] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1945 [20] Dual County Trailways
Port Edwards Port Edwards, WI Public133Blackhawks  1934, [5] 1943 [14] 1942, [13] 1958 [32] Central Lakes Central Wisconsin
Endeavor Endeavor, WI PublicN/ACardinals  1938, [11] 1944 [17] [18] 1942, [13] 1951 [29] Closed (consolidated into Oxford)

Membership timeline

7-C Conference

 Big 4-C/6-C/7-C Little 4-C/6-C/7-C Eastern 7-C Northern 7-C Western 7-C

List of state champions

Fall sports

None

Winter sports

None

Spring sports

Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Wautoma1949Class C
Westfield1952Class C
Westfield1955Class C

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Sportoscope". Stevens Point Journal. 10 December 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Three Are Leading Four County Loop Not Yet Defeated". Stevens Point Journal. 19 December 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "A-F Gridders Show Spirit in Game at Dells". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 12 October 1932. p. 8. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Coloma Continues to Set Pace in 7-C Conference". Stevens Point Journal. 8 February 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Bill Chandler Port Edwards Speaker Last Night". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 19 April 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Basketball Schedule, Little Nine Conference, 1935-1936". Appleton Post-Crescent. 19 September 1935. p. 18. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ↑ "Omro High Cagers Start Practices for Court Season". Oshkosh Northwestern. 11 November 1937. p. 18. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Omro Cage Quint Beats Princeton". Oshkosh Northwestern. 11 December 1937. p. 14. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "Hancock Defeats Plainfield High in Opening Game". Stevens Point Journal. 16 November 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Port Wallops Wautoma 34 to 13; Keeps Slate Clean". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 8 January 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Hancock Ties Endeavor for League Lead". Stevens Point Journal. 30 January 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  12. 1 2 "7C Conference Shifts Made; Omro Resigns". Portage Daily Register. 18 May 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Big 7-C Conference Disbanded for the Duration". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 11 November 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "7-C League to Function Again". Oshkosh Northwestern. 1 October 1943. p. 11. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Montello High School Returns to Big 7-C Circuit". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 17 May 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "Port Edwards Loses to Wautoma in Big 7-C Opener, 23-19". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 10 November 1944. p. 5. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Endeavor School Leaders at Meet". Portage Daily Register. 4 October 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Green Lake Wins Over Hancock, 49 to 5". Oshkosh Northwestern. 11 November 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 "Seven-C Prep Conference Reorganizes Sports Plan". The Capital Times. 22 March 1945. p. 23. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Prep Notes". Wisconsin State Journal. 22 November 1945. p. 29. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  21. 1 2 "Hancock Nips Coloma 5 to Head Circuit". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 30 November 1945. p. 5. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  22. ↑ "7-C Conference is Reorganized at Plainfield". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 20 March 1945. p. 5. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Strike Against Westfield by Coloma Students Is on Wane". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 12 September 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Oxford Prep Cagers Top Little 7-C Circuit". The Capital Times. 23 December 1946. p. 11. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  25. 1 2 "Tri-County High Cops Debut, 38-21". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 19 November 1947. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  26. ↑ "Westfield Is 37-35 Victor". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 6 December 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Views of the Press (School Consolidation)". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 28 February 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  28. 1 2 "Hold Parley on School Problem". Oshkosh Northwestern. 1 May 1948. p. 13. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  29. 1 2 "School Vote is in Favor of the Planned Merger". Portage Daily Register. 18 July 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Green Lake To Enter New Loop". Oshkosh Northwestern. 2 October 1952. p. 17. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  31. 1 2 "Omro to Join Little 9 Loop in 1956-57". Appleton Post-Crescent. 21 November 1955. p. 17. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  32. 1 2 "Nekoosa, Port 9's Open Prep Slate". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 5 April 1958. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  33. 1 2 "Thrillers Played in Dual County". The Capital Times. 16 September 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "Central-C Conference Is Formed". The Capital Times. 25 January 1962. p. 20. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  35. 1 2 "Wautoma Joins Central Circuit". Wisconsin State Journal. 19 November 1961. p. 35. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
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