Little Eight Conference (Wisconsin)

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The Little Eight Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Founded in 1926 and dissolved in 1937, the conference and its member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

The Little Eight Conference was formed in 1926 by eight small high schools in west central Wisconsin: Altoona, Augusta, Black River Falls, Fairchild, Fall Creek, Humbird, Merrillan and Osseo. [1] Most conference members were located in Eau Claire County or in the neighboring counties of Clark, Jackson and Trempealeau. A ninth member was added to the Little Eight in 1931 when Elk Mound moved over from the Dunn-St. Croix Conference. [2] The next year, Neillsville joined as members and the conference was realigned into Northern and Southern sections: [3]

Northern SectionSouthern Section
AltoonaBlack River Falls
AugustaFairchild
Elk MoundHumbird
Fall CreekMerrillan
OsseoNeillsville

This alignment lasted for three seasons before four members left the Little Eight Conference in 1935: Augusta, Black River Falls, Neillsville and Osseo. [4] Augusta left for membership in the Mississippi Valley Conference [5] along with Osseo, who relinquished dual membership in the Little Eight to join the MVC on a full-time basis. Black River Falls and Neillsville both became independents before forming the Mississippi Valley Triangular League with Augusta in 1936. [6] The six remaining members carried on for two more seasons before the Little Eight Conference ceased operations in 1937. [7] Elk Mound returned to the Dunn-St. Croix Conference [8] and Merrillan became members of the Trempealeau Valley Conference. [9] The other four schools (Altoona, Fairchild, Fall Creek and Humbird) became independents until joining new conferences after World War II.

Conference membership history

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Altoona Altoona, WI Public560Railroaders  1926 [1] 1937 [7] Independent Middle Border
Augusta Augusta, WI Public226Beavers  1926 [1] 1935 [4] Mississippi Valley Dairyland
Black River Falls Black River Falls, WI Public481Tigers  1926 [1] 1935 [4] Independent Coulee
Fairchild Fairchild, WI PublicN/APurple Dragons  1926 [1] 1937 [7] IndependentClosed in 1968 (merged into Osseo-Fairchild)
Fall Creek Fall Creek, WI Public243Crickets  1926 [1] 1937 [7] Independent Cloverbelt
Humbird Humbird, WI PublicN/AGame BirdsUnknown1926 [1] 1937 [7] IndependentClosed in 1949 (merged into Alma Center Lincoln)
Merrillan Merrillan, WI PublicN/AYellow Jackets  1926 [1] 1937 [7] Trempealeau Valley Closed in 1949 (merged into Alma Center Lincoln)
Osseo Osseo, WI Public255Chieftains  1926 [1] 1935 [4] Mississippi Valley Cloverbelt
Elk Mound Elk Mound, WI Public344Mounders  1931 [2] 1937 [7] Dunn-St. Croix
Neillsville Neillsville, WI Public269Warriors  1932 [3] 1935 [4] Independent Cloverbelt

Membership timeline

Little Eight Conference (Wisconsin)

List of state champions

Fall sports

None

Winter sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Fall Creek1937Class C

Spring sports

Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Altoona1934Class C

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Osseo Remains Undefeated in "Little Eight"". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 21 December 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Little Eight Cards Games; Keeps Title". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 1 October 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Little Eight Conference Opens Two-Division Schedule Tomorrow". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 7 December 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Little Eight Cage Conference to be Reorganized". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 12 February 1935. p. 6. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  5. "Durand Cagers Beat Hudson, 21 to 12". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 30 November 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  6. "Basketball Work Attracts 30 Boys". Marshfield News-Herald. 6 November 1936. p. 8. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fairchild Will Open Cage Term on November 16". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 28 October 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  8. "Dunn-St. Croix Is Set For Basketball". Dunn County News. 28 October 1937. p. 12. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  9. "Five Lettermen Back at Hixton". La Crosse Tribune. 18 October 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 14 March 2025.