Apollo Conference

Last updated

Apollo Conference
Apollo Conference logo.jpeg
Conference IHSA
Founded1970
No. of teams6
Class 4A
Region Central Illinois (Champaign, Christian, Coles, Effingham, and Macon counties)
State titles10

The Apollo Conference is a high school athletic conference represented by 6 schools in the central portion of Illinois. It is a member of the Illinois High School Association.

Contents

The conference offers championships for girls in basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. In boys' sports, the Apollo offers championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.

History

The conference was formed in 1970 by charter members Charleston, Newton, Paris and Robinson who left from the Eastern Illinois Conference. In 1972 Decatur Lakeview and Mt. Zion joined the conference after departing the Cenois Conference. [1] Effingham and Taylorville joined in 1981, leaving the Mid-State Conference. [2] Lakeview closed in 1982, bringing the conference back to seven members. In 1993 Taylorville left to join the newly formed Central State Eight Conference. Olney and Salem joined from the North Egypt Conference, which was dissolved in 2003. [3]

Significant changes have occurred for the Apollo Conference. Founding members Newton and Robinson, as well as Olney, left for the Little Illini Conference in the 2012–13 school year. Mattoon joined the league in that same school year, departing from the Big 12 Conference. [4] Teutopolis was invited to join the conference, but declined the invitation. [5] [6] [7] [8] The Taylorville Tornadoes rejoined the conference in 2014, [9] while another Apollo founding school, Paris, left for the Little Illini Conference. [10] In 2015, Corn Belt Conference member Mahomet-Seymour was accepted into the conference starting with the 2017–2018 school year. [11] Later in the same year, Central State Eight conference member Lincoln was accepted to join in 2017–2018. [12] Shortly after, Salem elected to join the Cahokia Conference in 2017–18. [13] In 2023, Lincoln will leave the conference and head back to their previous league, The Central State Eight. [14]

Geographical concerns and school enrollment has played a part in the switching between Apollo and Little Illini Conferences. Charleston is the only founding member of the conference to stay in the Apollo, while Newton, Paris and Robinson have moved into the LIC

Current members

USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Charleston
Green pog.svg
Mattoon
Red pog.svg
Effingham
Blue pog.svg
Mahomet
Red pog.svg
Mt. Zion
Purple pog.svg
Taylorville
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Apollo Conference Members (clickable map)
SchoolLocation
(Population)		NicknameColorsAffiliationEnrollment

2022-23

Year JoinedPrevious ConferenceSchool Website
Charleston High School Charleston, Illinois
(20,117)		TrojansScarlet and Gold

  

Public7961970Eastern Illinois Conference http://www.charleston.k12.il.us/chs/
Effingham High School Effingham, Illinois
(12,511)		Flaming HeartsRed, White and Forest Green

   

Public7361981Mid-State Conference http://www.effingham.k12.il.us
Mahomet-Seymour High School Mahomet, Illinois
(8,605)		BulldogsOrange and Navy

  

Public9872017 Corn Belt Conference https://www.ms.k12.il.us/o/high-school
Mattoon High School Mattoon, Illinois
(17,615)		Green WaveGreen and Gold

  

Public9302012 Big Twelve Conference http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us
Mt. Zion High School Mount Zion, Illinois
(5,795)		BravesRed and White

  

Public7631972Cenois Conference http://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/pages/mtzion
Taylorville High School Taylorville, Illinois
(10,360)		TornadoesPurple and Gold

  

Public7561981, 2014 Central State Eight Conference http://www.tcusd3.org

Former members

SchoolNicknameColorsLocationEnrollmentYear DepartedConference Joined
Newton Community High SchoolEagles   Newton, IL 4342012 Little Illini Conference
Richland County High School Tigers   Olney, IL 7352012 Little Illini Conference
Paris High SchoolTigers   Paris, IL 5612014 Little Illini Conference
Robinson High SchoolMaroons   Robinson, IL 4642012 Little Illini Conference
Salem Community High SchoolWildcats   Salem, IL 6472017 Cahokia Conference
Lincoln High School Railsplitters   Lincoln, Illinois 8102023 Central State Eight Conference

Membership timeline

Apollo Conference

Full membersFull members (non-football)Full members (8-man football)Full members (Football Coop)Other Conference Central State Eight Conference Little Illini Conference) Cahokia Conference

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Decatur Lakeview High School "Spartans"".
  2. ↑ "Mid-State Conference - History of Membership". Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  3. ↑ "IHSFW.com; North Egypt Conference". www.ihsfw.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Mattoon CUSD 2 - Mattoon High School Sports to Join Apollo Conference 2012-2013". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Apollo conference back from brink".
  6. ↑ "Residents discuss pros and cons of conference change » Local News » Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL". effinghamdailynews.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ Bridges, Leroy (July 13, 2010). "Teutopolis turns down Apollo". Herald-Review.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Board declines the invitation thexradio.com [ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ Taylorville High School approved to join Apollo Conferencesj-r.com Archived June 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Mike Monahan (June 27, 2012). "Paris leaving Apollo Conference for Little Illini". JG-TC.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Mahomet-Seymour accepted into Apollo - IllinoisHomePage.net". Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Lincoln High School board votes to leave CS8, join Apollo Conference".
  13. ↑ "UPDATE: Salem leaving Apollo Conference, heading to Cahokia".
  14. ↑ "Lincoln to rejoin Central State Eight Conference".
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