Fox Valley Tri-County League

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The Fox Valley Tri-County League is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, founded in 1924 and dissolved in 1970. Its membership was concentrated in the southern Fox River watershed and all public school members belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1924-1939

Fox Valley Tri-County League
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19miles
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Location of Original Fox Valley Tri-County League Members

The Fox Valley Tri-County League, also known by its original name of the Tri-County Interscholastic Association, was founded in 1924 by eight small high schools in east central Wisconsin (Brandon, Campbellsport, Glenbeulah, Kewaskum, Lomira, Oakfield, Rosendale and Slinger). [1] Despite the Tri-County moniker, original league members were located in four Wisconsin counties (Dodge, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Washington). The number of members decreased to seven in 1928 when Glenbeulah left to join the Kettle Moraine Conference. [2] North Fond du Lac joined the Fox Valley Tri-County League in 1929, bringing the loop back up to eight member schools. [3] Slinger left the conference in 1935 to join the 4-C Conference, [4] bringing membership down to seven schools. In 1939, the Fox Valley Tri-County League started sponsorship of six-man football, with all seven members participating in the first season. [5]

1939-1962

By the late 1940s, North Fond du Lac and Rosendale (who ended their program) had both dropped out of the conference as football members, leaving the conference with five football-playing schools. Green Lake, a member of the 7-C Conference for other sports, joined in 1949 for football and played for three seasons [6] [7] [8] until the formation of the Central Lakes Conference in 1952. [9] North Fond du Lac, who rejoined the conference for football in 1951, took their place. [8] They, along with all other league members, switched from six-man to eight-man football for the 1952 football season. [10] 1955, Hustisford High School joined the Fox Valley Tri-County League after nearly two decades of competing as an independent, [11] and Random Lake of the Kettle Moraine Conference joined for football when the conference dropped sponsorship of the sport. [12] [13] Random Lake rejoined the KMC when the conference reinstated football as a competitive sport for the 1958 season. [14] The Fox Valley Tri-County League experienced a three-member loss in 1958 when the new Scenic Moraine Conference was formed, with three of the largest high schools in the conference (Campbellsport, Kewaskum and North Fond du Lac) leaving to join. [15] Rosendale reinstated their football program in 1958, [16] and Lowell-Reeseville formed their first team, [17] joining the conference for football a year before full membership was attained. Three schools joined as full members in 1959: Fox Lake (formerly of the Dual County Conference), Green Lake (a former football-only member who previously competed in the Central Lakes Conference) and Lowell-Reeseville. [18]

1962-1970

Fox Valley Tri-County League
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19miles
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Location of Final Fox Valley Tri-County League Members

Like many conferences in rural areas during the 1950s and 1960s, consolidation of school districts had a great effect on conference affiliation. Fox Lake was the first conference member affected, as they left after consolidating with Waupun in 1962. [19] Winnebago Lutheran Academy would become the first private school to join the Fox Valley Tri-County League: first as a football-only member for the 1962 and 1963 seasons, [20] and then as a full member in 1964 after the dissolution of the short-lived Badger Lutheran Conference. [21] The conference also made the transition from eight-man to eleven-man football for the 1963 football season. [22] Two consolidations further whittled away conference membership in 1969. Brandon and Rosendale agreed to a merger of their two districts, and they combined to form a single athletic program until Laconia High School was completed in 1972. [23] [24] In addition, Lowell-Reeseville consolidated with Juneau High School to form the new Dodgeland High School. [25] [26] Rosendale-Brandon remained in the Fox Valley Tri-County League for its first season, while Dodgeland took Juneau's spot in the Eastern Suburban Conference. [27] St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary was added to the conference that year to put membership back up to seven schools. [28] They would only play one season in the Fox Valley Tri-County League, as the conference disbanded in 1970. Three members (Lomira, Oakfield and Rosendale-Brandon) became charter members of the Flyway Conference, two schools (St. Lawrence Seminary and Winnebago Lutheran) joined the new Bay-Lakes Conference, Green Lake joined the Dual County Conference and Hustisford joined the Eastern Suburban Conference. [29]

Conference membership history

Full members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Brandon Brandon, WI PublicN/ATanagers  1924 [1] 1969 [23] Closed (consolidated into Laconia)
Campbellsport Campbellsport, WI Public470Cougars  1924 [1] 1958 [15] Scenic Moraine Wisconsin Flyway
Glenbeulah Glenbeulah, WI PublicN/ABoosters  1924 [1] 1928 [2] Kettle Moraine Closed in 1957 (consolidated into Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah)
Kewaskum Kewaskum, WI Public572Indians  1924 [1] 1958 [15] Scenic Moraine Glacier Trails (2025)
Lomira Lomira, WI Public323Lions  1924 [1] 1970 [29] Flyway Wisconsin Flyway
Oakfield Oakfield, WI Public158Oaks  1924 [1] 1970 [29] Flyway Trailways
Rosendale Rosendale, WI PublicN/ADalers  1924 [1] 1969 [23] Closed (consolidated into Laconia)
Slinger Slinger, WI Public1,052Redmen  1924 [1] 1935 [4] 4-C North Shore
North Fond du Lac North Fond du Lac, WI Public466Orioles  1929 [3] 1958 [15] Scenic Moraine Wisconsin Flyway
Hustisford Hustisford, WI Public105Falcons  1955 [11] 1970 [29] Eastern Suburban Trailways
Fox Lake Fox Lake, WI PublicN/ALakers  1959 [18] 1962 [19] Closed (consolidated into Waupun)
Green Lake Green Lake, WI Public101Lakers  1959 [18] 1970 [29] Dual County Trailways (co-op with Princeton)
Lowell-Reeseville Reeseville, WI PublicN/ACardinals  1959 [18] 1969 [25] Closed (consolidated into Dodgeland)
Winnebago Lutheran Fond du Lac, WI Private (Lutheran, WELS)319Vikings  1964 [21] 1970 [29] Bay-Lakes Wisconsin Flyway
Rosendale-Brandon Rosendale, WI Public317Spartans  1969 [23] 1970 [29] Flyway Wisconsin Flyway
St. Lawrence Seminary Mount Calvary, WI Private (Catholic, Capuchin)256Hilltoppers  1969 [28] 1970 [29] Bay-Lakes Wisconsin Flyway (2025)

Football-only members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsSeasonsPrimary Conference
Green Lake Green Lake, WI Public101Lakers  1949-1951 [6] [7] [8] 7-C
Random Lake Random Lake, WI Public244Rams  1955-1957 [12] [13] [14] Kettle Moraine
Lowell-Reeseville Reeseville, WI PublicN/ACardinals  1958 [17] Independent
Winnebago Lutheran Fond du Lac, WI Private (Lutheran, WELS)319Vikings  1962-1963 [20] Badger Lutheran

Membership timeline

Full members

Fox Valley Tri-County League

Football members

Fox Valley Tri-County League

List of state champions

Fall sports

None

Winter sports

None

Spring sports

Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
North Fond du Lac1942Class C
North Fond du Lac1943Class C
North Fond du Lac1944Class C
North Fond du Lac1945Class C

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Oakfield91938, 1945, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1970
Kewaskum81939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1956
Rosendale61942, 1944, 1945, 1958, 1959, 1966
Campbellsport41941, 1950, 1951, 1954
North Fond du Lac31943, 1952, 1957
Lomira21965, 1967
Brandon11955
Green Lake11964
Fox Lake0
Glenbeulah0
Hustisford0
Lowell-Reeseville0
Rosendale-Brandon0
Slinger0
St. Lawrence Seminary0
Winnebago Lutheran0
Champions from 1925-1937 unknown

Football

SchoolQuantityYears
Kewaskum71939, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1955
North Fond du Lac61940, 1941, 1942, 1951, 1956, 1957
Oakfield61958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1969
Brandon41954, 1959, 1960, 1964
Campbellsport41949, 1950, 1952, 1953
Lomira41947, 1965, 1966, 1968
Fox Lake0
Green Lake0
Hustisford0
Lowell-Reeseville0
Random Lake0
Rosendale0
Rosendale-Brandon0
St. Lawrence Seminary0
Winnebago Lutheran0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tri-County Meet at Campbellsport". Kewaskum Statesman. April 12, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Glenbeulah in Kettle League This Season". The Sheboygan Press. November 19, 1929. p. 29. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Tri-County High School Heads Meet". Kewaskum Statesman. September 22, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "School Notes". Dodge County Independent-News. November 16, 1934. p. 8. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  5. The Chieftain. Kewaskum High School. 1940. p. 33.
  6. 1 2 "Kewaskum Ties for Second in Tri-County". Kewaskum Statesman. November 4, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Green Lake Hopes Renewed For Victory". Oshkosh Northwestern. October 25, 1950. p. 16. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Highs Trim Brandon, Oostburg; Place 3rd". Kewaskum Statesman. November 2, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  9. "Green Lake To Enter New Loop". Oshkosh Northwestern. October 2, 1952. p. 17. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  10. "Kewaskum Eight-Man Football Squad". West Bend Pilot. October 22, 1952. p. 5. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Indians to Open Season Tuesday; Oostburg Here". Kewaskum Statesman. November 25, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Indians Open Delayed Grid Season Friday". Kewaskum Statesman. September 30, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Cedar Grove Racks Up Win". Sheboygan Press. September 25, 1956. p. 23. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Oostburg in 33-0 Victory; Random Wins". Sheboygan Press. October 11, 1958. p. 42. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Indians Get Set to Open Play in New Scenic Moraine League". Kewaskum Statesman. August 22, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  16. "Unbeaten Freedom, Winneconne Featured". Oshkosh Northwestern. September 25, 1958. p. 27. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Registration of Grid Players at Reeseville Set". Beaver Dam Daily Citizen. August 25, 1958. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "High School Opens Football Season Friday". Fox Lake Representative. September 10, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Polzin, Bill (June 7, 1962). "Fox Lake High School Holds Final Graduation Exercises". Fox Lake Representative. p. 1. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Lakers Prepare For First Game With Brandon". Oshkosh Northwestern. September 7, 1962. p. 14. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Simon, Henry (February 9, 1964). "Travel Distance Cited as Big Reason for Break-Up of the BLC". Appleton Post-Crescent. pp. B2. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  22. "Lakers Boast Large Log of '62 Lettermen". Oshkosh Northwestern. August 28, 1963. p. 31. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Brandon Merges With Rosendale". Oshkosh Northwestern. January 17, 1969. p. 11. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  24. "Brandon". Waupun Leader-News. November 11, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  25. 1 2 "Reeseville High School Closing Voted By Board". Horicon Reporter. March 6, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  26. Polzin, Connie (February 25, 1969). "Juneau School Attendance Patterns Changed By 5-4 Board Vote". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. 13. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  27. Wedeward, Dave (August 14, 1969). "High Notes". Janesville Weekly Gazette. p. 13. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  28. 1 2 "Oakfield Favored in Fox Valley Tri-County Conference". Oshkosh Northwestern. November 29, 1969. p. 19. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hillstrom, Eric (March 26, 1970). "City, Area Prep Hi-Notes". The Capital Times. p. 32. Retrieved December 19, 2024.