Central Wisconsin Conference

Last updated

USA Wisconsin location map.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Orange pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Black pog.svg
Green pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Green pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Purple pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Green pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Purple pog.svg
Orange pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
Black pog.svg
Purple pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Central Wisconsin Conference Member School Locations in Wisconsin

The Central Wisconsin Conference is a high school athletic conference comprising twenty-one high schools in three divisions in central Wisconsin. Founded in 1926, the conference and its member schools are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

Early Years and Wolf River Valley Split (1926-1950)

The Central Wisconsin Conference was formed in 1926 by six small high schools in Waupaca County: Amherst, Iola, Little Wolf (later renamed Manawa), Marion, Waupaca and Weyauwega. [1] Tigerton and Wittenberg joined the conference in 1927 to create an eight-member circuit. [2] The conference expanded to ten with the entrance of Birnamwood and Rosholt in 1929, and the conference split into Northern and Southern sections: [3]

Northern SectionSouthern Section
BirnamwoodAmherst
MarionIola
RosholtLittle Wolf
TigertonWaupaca
WittenbergWeyauwega

This alignment lasted for three years before going back to the original six member schools in 1932, when Birnamwood, Rosholt, Tigerton and Wittenberg joined with Mattoon High School to form the Wolf River Valley Conference. [4] The Central Wisconsin Conference remained the same six schools until the early 1950s.

Expansion and Reshuffling (1950-1970)

In 1950, the Central Wisconsin Conference experienced its first changes to membership in nearly two decades, with the entrance of Mosinee and the return of Wittenberg from the Wolf River Valley Conference. [5] Mosinee left the Marathon County League in 1949, [6] shortly before the merger of the Marathon County and Wood County Leagues into the Marawood Conference. Their stay in the CWC would be brief, lasting only a single season. Mosinee's spot in the CWC would be taken in 1951 by Bonduel, [7] who joined after the Mid-Valley Conference disbanded the year prior. [8] The conference would continue with eight members until the early 1960s. Iola High School merged with Scandinavia High School in 1960, and the new Iola-Scandinavia High School took Iola's place in the conference. [9] A ninth school would be added in 1962, as Wautoma joined after the 7-C Conference dissolved. [10] Bonduel left to join the Northeastern Wisconsin Conference in 1964, [11] and Wautoma did the same two years later to become a charter member of the short-lived Vacationland Conference. [12] The recently opened high school in Little Chute joined the CWC in 1969, [13] bringing the loop back up to eight members, but significant changes would be coming in the 1970s.

Continued Membership Upheaval (1970-1984)

Major changes came to Central Wisconsin Conference membership in 1970. Four schools left the conference that year: Waupaca and Weyauwega became charter members of the East Central Conference, and Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia joined the new Central State Conference with former members of the disbanded Central-C Conference and Wolf River Valley Conference. Wittenberg and Birnamwood also consolidated into Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School while retaining Wittenberg's CWC affiliation. Bonduel and Wautoma rejoined the CWC; Bonduel from the NEW Conference and Wautoma from the shuttered Vacationland Conference. A third new member (Shiocton) made their CWC debut, joining from the recently dissolved Little Nine Conference. [14] The seven-member group would remain for three seasons before Weyauwega rejoined the CWC in 1973 after leaving the East Central Conference. [15] They traded affiliations with Little Chute, who experienced a bump in enrollment after the closing of St. John High School and outgrew the CWC. Little Chute entered the Eastern Wisconsin Conference in 1974. [16] Shiocton would leave to join the Central State Conference in 1977, [17] and Wautoma would follow them out two years later for membership in the East Central Conference. Oconto and Oconto Falls moved over from the Bay Conference in 1979 to put the league at seven members, which it would remain at for the next five years. [18]

Central State Conference Merger (1984-2008)

In 1984, Oconto and Oconto Falls both left the Central Wisconsin Conference to join the Packerland Conference, leaving the CWC at five schools. That same year, the twelve-member Central State Conference, another conference of small schools with a similar geographic footprint, was absorbed by the CWC. [19] To accommodate the expansion and facilitate scheduling, the conference divided into Large and Small School divisions that year: [20]

Large SchoolsSmall Schools
AmherstAlmond-Bancroft
BonduelBowler
ManawaGresham
MarionIola-Scandinavia
RosholtMenominee Indian
ShioctonPort Edwards
Weyauwega-FremontTigerton
Wittenberg-BirnamwoodTri-County
Wild Rose

Menominee Indian and Rosholt swapped divisions in 1986, and the alignment remained stable for fourteen years. [21] In 2000, Pacelli High School in Stevens Point joined the conference's Large Schools division after the breakup of the Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference and the merger of the WIAA and WISAA became final, bringing membership to eighteen schools. [22] Two years later, Marion and Shiocton switched divisions with Rosholt (making their return to the Large Schools division) and Tri-County before further changes came a few years later. [23]

Present Day (2008-present)

In 2008, the Central Wisconsin Conference moved Rosholt to the Small Schools division of the conference, and renamed their divisions the Central Wisconsin 8 (formerly the Large Schools division) [24] and the Central Wisconsin 10 (Small Schools): [25]

Central Wisconsin EightCentral Wisconsin Ten
AmherstAlmond-Bancroft
BonduelBowler
Iola-ScandinaviaGresham
ManawaMarion
PacelliMenominee Indian
ShioctonPort Edwards
Weyauwega-FremontRosholt
Wittenberg-BirnamwoodTigerton
Tri-County
Wild Rose

This arrangement lasted for nearly a decade before the next major realignment. In 2017, the CWC added three schools: Northland Lutheran in Kronenwetter, Pittsville and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran in Mosinee. Northland Lutheran and Pittsville joined from the Marawood Conference while Wisconsin Valley Lutheran previously competed as an independent. [26] The CWC also dropped the numerical designator from their divisions and split into three seven-member divisions to accommodate the expansion:

East DivisionNorth DivisionWest Division
AmherstBowlerAlmond-Bancroft
BonduelGreshamPacelli
Iola-ScandinaviaManawaPittsville
Menominee IndianMarionPort Edwards
ShioctonNorthland LutheranRosholt
Weyauwega-FremontTigertonTri-County
Wittenberg-BirnamwoodWisconsin Valley LutheranWild Rose

White Lake joined the CWC North Division in 2021, moving over from the Northern Lakes Conference. [27] The next year, Manawa shifted to the Eastern Division, rejoining old rivals in the Central Wisconsin Eight. [28] The conference lost a member in 2023 when Wisconsin Valley Lutheran closed its doors, [29] bringing the North Division down to six schools and the Central Wisconsin Conference to its current alignment.

List of Member Schools

Current members

East Division

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoined
Amherst Amherst, WI Public344Falcons  1926, [1] 1984 [19]
Bonduel Bonduel, WI Public262Bears  1951, [7] 1970 [14]
Iola-Scandinavia Iola, WI Public197Thunderbirds  1960, [9] 1984 [19]
Manawa Manawa, WI Public215Wolves  1926 [1]
Menominee Indian Kesīqnæh, WI Federal (Tribal)349Eagles  1984 [19]
Shiocton Shiocton, WI Public221Chiefs  1970, [14] 1984 [19]
Weyauwega-Fremont Weyauwega, WI Public291Warhawks  1926, [1] 1973 [15]
Wittenberg-Birnamwood Wittenberg, WI Public336Chargers  1970 [14]

North Division

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoined
Bowler Bowler, WI Public100Panthers  1984 [19]
Gresham Gresham, WI Public82Wildcats  1984 [19]
Marion Marion, WI Public134Mustangs  1926 [1]
Northland Lutheran Kronenwetter, WI Private (Lutheran, WELS)82Wildcats  2017 [26]
Tigerton Tigerton, WI Public75Tigers  1927, [2] 1984 [19]
White Lake White Lake, WI Public43Lakers  2021 [27]

West Division

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoined
Almond-Bancroft Almond, WI Public109Eagles  1984 [19]
Pacelli Stevens Point, WI Private (Catholic)169Cardinals  2000 [22]
Pittsville Pittsville, WI Public168Panthers  2017 [26]
Port Edwards Port Edwards, WI Public133Blackhawks  1984 [19]
Rosholt Rosholt, WI Public176Hornets  1929, [3] 1984 [19]
Tri-County Plainfield, WI Public176Penguins  1984 [19]
Wild Rose Wild Rose, WI Public153Wildcats  1984 [19]

Former Members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Iola Iola, WI PublicN/AHilltoppers  1926 [1] 1960 [9] Closed (consolidated into Iola-Scandinavia)
Waupaca Waupaca, WI Public589Comets  1926 [1] 1970 [14] East Central North Eastern
Wittenberg Wittenberg, WI PublicN/AMaroons  1927, [2] 1950 [5] 1932, [4] 1970 [14] Wolf River Valley Closed (consolidated into Wittenberg-Birnamwood)
Birnamwood Birnamwood, WI PublicN/AOrioles  1929 [3] 1932 [4] Wolf River Valley Closed (consolidated into Wittenberg-Birnamwood)
Mosinee Mosinee, WI Public621Indians  1950 [5] 1951 [7] Independent Great Northern
Wautoma Wautoma, WI Public381Hornets  1962, [10] 1970 [14] 1966, [12] 1979 [18] Vacationland, East Central South Central
Little Chute Little Chute, WI Public514Mustangs  1969 [13] 1974 [16] East Central North Eastern
Oconto Oconto, WI Public282Blue Devils  1979 [18] 1984 [19] Packerland
Oconto Falls Oconto Falls, WI Public521Panthers  1979 [18] 1984 [19] Packerland North Eastern
Wisconsin Valley Lutheran Mosinee, WI Private (Lutheran, LCMS)N/AWolves  2017 [26] 2023 [29] Closed in 2023

Membership Timeline

Central Wisconsin Conference

List of State Champions

Fall Sports

Boys Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
Amherst1959Small Schools
Waupaca1959Small Schools
Girls Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
Iola-Scandinavia2000Division 3
Football
SchoolYearDivision
Manawa1985Division 5
Wittenberg-Birnamwood1997Division 4
Pacelli2005Division 7
Amherst2012Division 5
Shiocton2013Division 6
Amherst2015Division 5
Amherst2016Division 5
Amherst2017Division 5
Girls Volleyball
SchoolYearDivision
Iola-Scandinavia1989Class C
Iola-Scandinavia1997Division 3
Weyauwega-Fremont2005Division 3

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Marion1938Class C
Girls Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Amherst1999Division 3
Amherst2009Division 3
Curling
SchoolYearDivision
Waupaca1961Single Division
Waupaca1965Single Division
Waupaca1969Single Division
Boys Wrestling
SchoolYearDivision
Bonduel1998Division 3
Iola-Scandinavia2004Division 3

Spring Sports

Baseball
SchoolYearDivision
Manawa1983Class C
Pacelli2003Division 3
Marion2009Division 4
Boys Golf
SchoolYearDivision
Amherst2001Division 3
Pacelli2007Division 3
Softball
SchoolYearDivision
Marion1985Class C
Marion1986Class C
Marion1988Class C
Marion1990Class C
Marion1991Division 3
Marion1992Division 3
Amherst1999Division 3
Pacelli2003Division 4
Tigerton2010Division 4
Pacelli2012Division 3
Pacelli2015Division 4
Pacelli2023Division 5
Pacelli2024Division 5
Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Weyauwega1940Class C
Amherst2003Division 3
Rosholt2011Division 3
Wild Rose2016Division 3
Shiocton2023Division 3
Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Shiocton1988Class C
Rosholt1989Class C
Rosholt1990Class C
Rosholt2001Division 3
Rosholt2002Division 3
Rosholt2005Division 3
Rosholt2006Division 3
Wittenberg-Birnamwood2017Division 2
Wittenberg-Birnamwood2018Division 2

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawano County, Wisconsin</span> County in Wisconsin, United States

Shawano County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,881. Its county seat is Shawano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marathon County, Wisconsin</span> County in Wisconsin, United States

Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,013. Its county seat is Wausau. It was founded in 1850, created from a portion of Portage County. At that time the county stretched to the northern border with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is named after the battlefield at Marathon, Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area codes 920 and 274</span> Area code in eastern Wisconsin, United States

Area codes 920 and 274 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for a large area of eastern Wisconsin. Area code 920 was created on July 26, 1997, in a split of area code 414, one of the original North American area codes of 1947. 274 was added to the same numbering plan area (NPA) on May 5, 2023 to create an area code overlay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area codes 715 and 534</span> Telephone area codes for northern Wisconsin

Area codes 715 and 534 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The numbering plan area (NPA) comprises most of the northern part of the state. 715 was one of the original North American area codes created in 1947, while 534 was added in 2010 as an additional code for the same numbering plan area to form an overlay plan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay Conference</span> High school athletic conference in northeastern Wisconsin

The Bay Conference is a high school athletics conference made up of eight teams in northeastern Wisconsin, centering primarily around the Green Bay and Fox Valley metropolitan areas. Conference schools are members of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Valley Conference</span> Wisconsin high school athletic conference

The Wisconsin Valley Conference is a high school athletic conference composed of the largest public schools in north central Wisconsin. Founded in 1921, it is one of Wisconsin's oldest athletic conferences, and all members belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in northeastern Wisconsin. It has been represented by Republican Tony Wied since November 12, 2024. It was previously vacant from April 24, 2024, following the effective date of the resignation of Mike Gallagher, a Republican. Gallagher won the open seat vacated by Reid Ribble who retired in 2016. It is also one of only two congressional districts to ever elect a Catholic priest, in the case of Wisconsin’s 8th, Robert John Cornell.

The East Central Conference is a high school athletic conference of teams in the East Central Wisconsin area. The ECC was founded in 1970 and originally disbanded in 2007. The conference was revived for the 2015-2016 school year, the result of a realignment within the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern Conference</span> Athletic conference

The Great Northern Conference is a high school athletic conference in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. It comprises seven teams from Marathon, Taylor, Lincoln, Oneida, Langlade and Vilas counties in Northern Wisconsin. The Conference was formed in 2008 with former Lumberjack members Lakeland, Medford, Northland Pines and Tomahawk, Cloverbelt member Mosinee, and Wisconsin Valley's Antigo and Merrill. In 2010, Merrill returned to the Wisconsin Valley conference and Rhinelander took its place. In December 2023 Merrill had filed a request within the WIAA Conference Realignment process to move the school back to the Great Northern Conference. Merrill has cited declining enrollment as its top reason. This change was approved by the WIAA Conference Realignment Committee in December 2023 with it being effective for the 2025-2026 school year.

Katrina Shankland is an American community organizer and Democratic politician from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She served six terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 71st Assembly district from 2013 to 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin's 87th Assembly district</span> American legislative district for north-central Wisconsin

The 87th Assembly district of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in northwest Wisconsin, the district comprises the southeastquarter of Marathon County and much of the northern half of Waupaca County, along with parts of northeast Portage County and western Shawano County. It includes the cities of Mosinee, Marion, and Schofield, and the villages of Big Falls, Birnamwood, Eland, Elderon, Hatley, Iola, Rosholt, Rothschild, Scandinavia, Tigerton, and Wittenberg. The district also contains Rib Mountain State Park and Central Wisconsin Airport The district is represented by Republican Brent Jacobson, since January 2025.

The Little Nine Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Operational from 1928 to 1970, its membership was concentrated in east central Wisconsin and all member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Northeastern Wisconsin Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, opening competition in 1927 and disbanding in 1970. Its members were concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, and all members were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Central State Conference is a former high school athletic conference in central Wisconsin, in operation from 1970 to 1984. Its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Lumberjack Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in north central Wisconsin. Originating as a football-only conference in 1946, the Lumberjack Conference competed as an all-sport conference from 1953 to 2008. All member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The East Central Flyway Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, competing from 2001 to 2007. All members belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Marinette & Oconto Conference is a high school athletic conference in northeastern Wisconsin. Founded in 1927, the conference and its members are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Wolf River Valley Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, with its membership concentrated in the north central part of the state. Founded in 1932 and dissolved in 1970, its member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Central Wisconsin Sport Conference Formed; 6 Schools". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 28, 1926. p. 16. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Wega Winner of Central State Caging League". Stevens Point Journal. March 15, 1928. p. 4. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sportoscope (see "Enlarged Conference")". Stevens Point Journal. October 2, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "Five High Schools in New Conference". Wausau Daily Herald. April 26, 1932. p. 10. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Hanson, Ed (April 8, 1950). "Looking 'Em Over". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Tomahawk, Nekoosa Cagers May Quit Valley, Report". Rhinelander Daily News. April 13, 1949. p. 8. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "Rangy Comets Down Marion in CW Loop". Appleton Post-Crescent. December 1, 1951. p. 14. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Intra-City Games OK'd By Schools". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 18, 1951. p. 34. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Phants Can Clinch Share of NEW Title". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 9, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Wautoma Joins Central Circuit". Wisconsin State Journal. November 19, 1961. p. 35. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ Robertson, Jim (November 2, 1963). "Bonduel Will Be Smallest NEW Member; Replaces Largest, Preble". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 16. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Wautoma In New League". Oshkosh Northwestern. April 9, 1965. p. 17. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  13. 1 2 United Press International (March 20, 1968). "Little Chute In Conference". The Sheboygan Press. p. 42. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Walter, Tony (December 21, 1969). "High School Realignment Begins To Take Definite Shape in Area". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 47. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Lee, John (February 6, 1973). "East Central to have 7 teams". Appleton Post-Crescent. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Mustangs to join ECC". 19. June 16, 1973. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Shiocton okays sports plan". Appleton Post-Crescent. February 17, 1976. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Shawano is to leave the Valley Conference". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. February 24, 1978. p. 6. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Goff, Tom (April 28, 1983). "WIAA approves CSC, CWC league merger". Appleton Post-Crescent. p. 34. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Prep Cage Standings". Appleton Post-Crescent. December 30, 1984. p. 37. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Wildcats edge Penguins". Oshkosh Northwestern. December 17, 1986. p. 26. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  22. 1 2 "Pacelli on track to move to Central Wisconsin". Appleton Post-Crescent. April 22, 1999. pp. D-12. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  23. ↑ "CLARIFICATION". Stevens Point Journal. May 17, 2002. pp. B1. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Central Wisconsin Basketball". MaxPreps. 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Boys Basketball Standings". Wisconsin Sports Network. 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Tim (June 23, 2016). "Proposal would expand CWC to 21 schools". Wausau Daily Herald. pp. B1.
  27. 1 2 "White Lake Basketball History". MaxPreps. December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Manawa Basketball History". MaxPreps. December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Wisconsin Valley Lutheran High School to close this year". Wausau Pilot & Review. May 16, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.