Central State Eight Conference

Last updated
Central State Eight Conference
Conference IHSA
Founded1993
No. of teams11 + 1 affiliate
Region Central Illinois

The Central State Eight Conference is a high school athletic conference in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), based in Central Illinois. While the name implies that the conference has eight schools, there are actually 11 schools currently active, due to other schools changing conference affiliations. The conference was established in time for the 1993–1994 school calendar year.

Contents

History

The impetus of the conference formation can be traced as far back as 1981–1982, originating from the remnants of the defunct Capitol Conference. At that time, the existing Big Twelve Conference membership of Bloomington, Champaign Central, Danville, Stephen Decatur, Lincoln, Mattoon, Springfield & Urbana voted to drop Springfield and add existing Capitol Conference members Champaign Centennial, Decatur Eisenhower, Decatur MacArthur & Normal Community, as well as Rantoul. As a result, the Capitol Conference dissolved, leaving its remaining members (Jacksonville, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin & Springfield Southeast), as well as Big Twelve Conference castoff Springfield, to find new homes. [1]

Jacksonville joined the short-lived Greater Midwestern Conference (along with Chatham Glenwood, Hannibal (Missouri), Macomb & Quincy Notre Dame) for five years, then become an independent. Springfield, Springfield Lanphier & Springfield Southeast joined Pekin, Peoria Bergan, Peoria Central, Peoria Manual, Peoria Richwoods, Peoria Spalding & Peoria Woodruff in the Mid-State # Conference (where # indicated the number of active members at that given time). Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin competed as an independent. [2] With these five schools desiring to re-establish local rivalries and reduce travel expenses, the Central State Eight Conference came to fruition. [3]

Original membership included Chatham Glenwood, Jacksonville, Lincoln (from the Big Twelve Conference), Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield Southeast & Taylorville (from the Apollo Conference). [4] Since its inception, Taylorville (following 2013-2014, returning to the Apollo Conference) has departed and Rochester (from the Sangamo Conference, starting 2010-2011), Decatur Eisenhower (from the Big Twelve Conference, starting 2014-2015) & Decatur MacArthur (from the Big Twelve Conference, starting 2014-2015) have entered. [5] [6] Lincoln has departed for the Apollo Conference following the 2016-2017 school year, with Normal University joining at that beginning of the 2017-2018 school year from the Corn Belt Conference. [7] [8] Lincoln High School is scheduled to rejoin the conference in the 2023-2024 school year. [9] Quincy Notre Dame is expected to join the conference in 2024 for football only. The conference will then be split up into East and West divisions.

The conference is centered on high schools in the Springfield/Sangamon County (Illinois) area.

Member Schools

NameLocationNickname(s)ColorsSchoolTypeEnrollment

(2022-2023)

JoinedReference
Glenwood High School Chatham Titans  PublicCo-Educational1,5161993 [10]
Eisenhower High School Decatur Panthers  PublicCo-Educational1,0942014 [11]
MacArthur High School Decatur Generals  PublicCo-Educational1,1762014 [12]
Jacksonville High School Jacksonville Crimsons  PublicCo-Educational9961993 [13]
Lincoln High School Lincoln Railsplitters  PublicCo-Educational8101993-2017
2023
[14]
University High School Normal Pioneers  PublicCo-Educational607/910.5%

(Multiplied)

2017 [15]
Rochester High School Rochester Rockets  PublicCo-Educational8032010 [16]
Springfield High School Springfield Senators  PublicCo-Educational1,5151993 [17]
Lanphier High School Springfield Lions  PublicCo-Educational1,1361993 [18]
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School Springfield Cyclones  Non-PublicCo-Educational499/748.5%

(Multiplied)

1993 [19]
Southeast High School Springfield Spartans   PublicCo-Educational1,2851993 [20]

Associate member

NameLocationNickname(s)ColorsSchoolTypeEnrollment

(2022-2023)

SportJoinedReference
Quincy Notre Dame High School Quincy Raiders   Non-PublicCo-Educational388.5 / 641.03% (multiplied)Football2024* [21]

Former Member High Schools

NameTownNickname(s)ColorsSchoolTypeEnrollment (2015-2016) IHSA Classification (2015-2016)JoinedDepartedReference
Taylorville High School Taylorville Tornadoes  PublicCo-Educational809A, AA, 2A, 3A19932014 [22]


Membership timeline

Beginning in 1993, the Central State Eight Conference competes in 11 boys, 13 girls and 13 coed sports and activities within the IHSA.

Apollo ConferenceApollo ConferenceCentral State Eight Conference

Central State Eight Conference full membersAssoc. members (football only)

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References

  1. "An Urge To Merge". The News-Gazette, Inc. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  2. "The Great Conferences". Illinois High School Glory Days. 10 February 2005. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. "An Urge To Merge". The News-Gazette, Inc. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. "The Great Conferences". Illinois High School Glory Days. 10 February 2005. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  5. "Taylorville Accepted Into The Apollo Conference". Taylorville Daily News. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  6. "Central State Eight Votes In Decatur Schools". Herald & Review. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. "Lincoln High School Board Votes To Leave CS8, Join Apollo Conference". Lincoln Courier. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  8. "U High Opts To Join Central State Eight Conference". The Pantagraph. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  9. "Lincoln to rejoin Central State Eight Conference".
  10. "Chatham (Glenwood)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  11. "Decatur (Eisenhower)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  12. "Decatur (MacArthur)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  13. "Jacksonville". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  14. "Lincoln". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  15. "Normal (University)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  16. "Rochester". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  17. "Springfield". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  18. "Springfield (Lanphier)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  19. "Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  20. "Springfield (Southeast)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  21. "Quincy (Notre Dame)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  22. "Taylorville". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2016.