Interstate 8 Athletic Conference

Last updated

Interstate 8 Athletic Conference
Founded2014
No. of teams7 (6 in 2027–28)
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States

The Interstate 8 Athletic Conference is an athletic conference for high schools in Michigan formed in 2014 with eight schools in south central Michigan. The conference currently consists of seven Class A and B schools from Barry, Branch, Calhoun, and Jackson counties. The name of the conference derives from the I-69 and I-94 corridors.

Contents

History

The conference was founded in 2014 with the following charter members: Charlotte, Coldwater, Harper Creek, Jackson Lumen Christi, Jackson Northwest, Marshall, Parma Western, and Pennfield.

After the 2015-16 school year, Charlotte left the conference and eventually rejoin the Capital Area Activities Conference. Hastings from the Ottawa-Kent Conference was selected to replace Charlotte starting in the 2016-17 school year. [1]

In August 2022, it was announced that Lumen Christi, the smallest member and the only private school in the conference would depart the Interstate 8 to join the Catholic High School League beginning in the 2023-24 school year. [2] With Lumen Christi's departure, the remaining seven schools at some point or another participated in the old Twin Valley Conference that existed from 1931 to 2001.

In February 2026, it was announced that Northwest, the largest member in the conference would depart the Interstate 8 to join the Southeastern Conference (MHSAA) in the 2027-2028 school year. [3]

Member schools

Current members

School [4] NicknameLocationClassEnrollment [a] JoinedPrevious ConferenceColors
Battle Creek Harper Creek Beavers Emmett Township, Calhoun County A7932014 Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference   
Battle Creek Pennfield Panthers Pennfield Township, Calhoun County B6342014Kalamazoo Valley Association  
Coldwater Cardinals Coldwater, Branch County A9002014 Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference   
Hastings Saxons Hastings, Barry County B7662016 Ottawa-Kent Conference   
Jackson Northwest [b] Mounties Blackman Township, Jackson County A9352014 Capital Area Activities Conference   
Marshall Redhawks Marshall, Calhoun County B7822014 Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference   
Parma Western [c] Panthers Spring Arbor Township, Jackson County B7772014 Capital Area Activities Conference   
Notes
  1. Updated for the 2024-25 school year
  2. Jackson Northwest is leaving the Interstate 8 for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) effective the 2027-28 school year. [3]
  3. Also known as Jackson County Western

Former members

SchoolNicknameLocationJoinedPrevious ConferenceDepartedSuccessive ConferenceCurrent Conference
Charlotte Orioles Charlotte, Eaton County 2014 Capital Area Activities Conference 2016Independent Capital Area Activities Conference
Jackson Lumen Christi Titans Summit Township, Jackson County 2023 Catholic High School League

Membership Timeline

Western High School (Parma, Michigan)Marshall High School (Michigan)Southeastern Conference (MHSAA)Northwest High School (Michigan)Catholic High School LeagueLumen Christi Catholic High SchoolHastings High School (Michigan)Ottawa-Kent ConferenceColdwater High School (Michigan)Capital Area Activities ConferenceCharlotte High School (Michigan)Pennfield Senior High SchoolHarper Creek High SchoolInterstate 8 Athletic Conference

Full membersOther Conference

Champions

Football

YearTeamRecord
2014Jackson Lumen Christi7–0
2015Coldwater7–0
2016Harper Creek
Jackson Lumen Christi
6–1
2017Harper Creek7–0
2018Jackson Lumen Christi7–0
2019Jackson Lumen Christi7–0
2020Hastings4–1
2021Harper Creek
Hastings
Jackson Lumen Christi
6–1
2022Hastings7–0
2023Hastings6–0
2024Harper Creek6–0
2025Harper Creek6–0

References

  1. Wenzel, Matt (October 6, 2015). "Hastings picked over Jackson to replace Charlotte in Interstate-8 Athletic Conference". MLive. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  2. Watson, Sean (August 13, 2022). "Lumen Christi announces plans to leave Interstate 8 in 2023-24". WTVB. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Rice, David (February 10, 2026). "Northwest to Join SEC; Two New Schools Joining Cascades Conference". JTV. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  4. "MHSAA > About the MHSAA > Leagues & Conferences > League Membership".