Middle Border Conference

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The Middle Border Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership base concentrated in western Wisconsin. Formed in 1931, the conference is composed entirely of public schools and is affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1931-1967

Middle Border Conference
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Location of Original Middle Border Conference Members

The Middle Border Conference was founded in 1931 by seven small- to medium-sized high schools on the outskirts of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in western Wisconsin: Colfax, Ellsworth, Hudson, Menomonie, New Richmond, River Falls and Spring Valley. [1] Baldwin and Glenwood City joined the Middle Border in 1949 to bring membership to nine schools. [2] Chippewa Falls was also rumored to be joining the conference as the tenth member but not accepted due to their enrollment size being larger than their potential new rivals. [3] The Middle Border's membership roster decreased to eight when Menomonie left the conference to compete as an independent after the 1951 football season. [4] Several years later, they would become members of the Big Rivers Conference. [5]

1967-1989

Membership in the Middle Border Conference would remain stable until 1967, when Colfax left to compete with smaller schools in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference. [6] They were replaced by Durand, who were competing as independents after the collapse of the original Mississippi Valley Conference two years prior. [7] The addition of Mondovi and Prescott in 1970 briefly brought the Middle Border Conference to ten members, [8] until the exit of Glenwood City and Spring Valley for the Dunn-St. Croix Conference in 1972. [9] They were followed by Prescott in 1977, and Amery (formerly of the Upper St. Croix Valley Conference) took their place to keep the roster at eight schools. [10] Membership stayed at eight schools for just over another decade.

1989-1998

By the end of the 1980s, two members of the Middle Border Conference (Hudson and River Falls) had grown to the point where they were the largest schools in the conference. They were both invited to join the Big Rivers Conference in 1989 to compete with other schools more comparable in enrollment size. [11] Bloomer moved over from the Heart O'North Conference to take their place and bring the Middle Border to seven schools. [12] This figure would return to eight in 1994, after the loss of two schools (Bloomer returning to the Heart O'North and Mondovi joining the Dunn-St. Croix) and the addition of three schools from the defunct Upper St. Croix Valley Conference (Osceola, St. Croix Falls and Unity). [13] That same year, the Middle Border Conference joined forces with the Heart O'North Conference to create the eighteen-member Northwest Football League, the first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin: [14] [15]

Red ConferenceWhite ConferenceBlue Conference
AmeryBarronBaldwin-Woodville
Durand-ArkansawBloomerChetek
EllsworthLadysmithCumberland
HaywardNorthwesternMondovi
New RichmondOsceolaPrescott
SpoonerUnitySt. Croix Falls

This arrangement lasted for two seasons until the Northwest Football League was dissolved due to dissatisfaction about long travel distances among conference members. [16] The Heart O'North Conference and Middle Border Conference resumed sponsoring their own football conferences for the 1996 season.

1998-present

As part of the 1994 realignment plan, New Richmond was kept in the Middle Border Conference but was due to move into the Big Rivers Conference by 1998 due to projected growth in the district. [17] While the district did experience growth, it wasn't to the level expected and their stay in the Big Rivers would only last for four years before returning to the Middle Border in 2002. [18] They were joined by two schools who exited the Dunn-St. Croix Conference: Prescott (who were previously members from 1970-1977) and Somerset. Their addition offset the loss of St. Croix Falls and Unity to the Lakeland Conference that year. [19] Durand-Arkansaw left to become members of the Dunn-St. Croix Conference in 2016, [20] exchanging affiliations with St. Croix Central in Hammond. [21] New Richmond returned to the Big Rivers Conference in 2021, [22] and longtime Cloverbelt Conference members Altoona joined the Middle Border as their replacement. [23]

Football (since 2020)

In February 2019, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, the WIAA released a sweeping football-only realignment for Wisconsin to commence with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle. [24] The Middle Border Conference's membership roster was kept intact for football with the exception of New Richmond joining the Big Rivers Conference in 2020, with full membership coming in the next year. The conference also entered into a scheduling alliance with the Coulee Conference that would provide one mandatory crossover game for each member. [25] For the 2022-2023 realignment cycle, the Coulee Conference partnership was ended, and Rice Lake was added as an associate member from the Big Rivers Conference to bring the roster to eight schools. [26] In 2024, Rice Lake made their return to the Big Rivers Conference with full members Altoona shifting over from the Coulee Conference as their replacement. [27] This alignment is set to remain in place through at least the 2027 football season. [28]

List of conference members

Current members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoined
Altoona Altoona, WI Public560Railroaders  2021 [23]
Amery Amery, WI Public467Warriors  1977 [10]
Baldwin-Woodville Baldwin, WI Public506Blackhawks  1949 [2]
Ellsworth Ellsworth, WI Public518Panthers  1931 [1]
Osceola Osceola, WI Public552Chieftains  1994 [13]
Prescott Prescott, WI Public431Cardinals  1970, [8] 2002 [19]
St. Croix Central Hammond, WI Public514Panthers  2016 [21]
Somerset Somerset, WI Public470Spartans  2002 [19]

Former members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Colfax Colfax, WI Public224Vikings  1931 [1] 1967 [6] Dunn-St. Croix
Hudson Hudson, WI Public1,800Raiders  1931 [1] 1989 [11] Big Rivers
Menomonie Menomonie, WI Public1,022Mustangs  1931 [1] 1951 [4] Independent Big Rivers
New Richmond New Richmond, WI Public1,112Tigers  1931, [1] 2002 [18] 1998, [17] 2021 [22] Big Rivers Big Rivers
River Falls River Falls, WI Public1,114Wildcats  1931 [1] 1989 [11] Big Rivers
Spring Valley Spring Valley, WI Public198Cardinals  1931 [1] 1972 [9] Dunn-St. Croix
Glenwood City Glenwood City, WI Public195Hilltoppers  1949 [2] 1972 [9] Dunn-St. Croix
Durand-Arkansaw Durand, WI Public307Panthers  1967 [7] 2016 [20] Dunn-St. Croix
Mondovi Mondovi, WI Public250Buffaloes  1970 [8] 1994 [13] Dunn-St. Croix
Bloomer Bloomer, WI Public429Blackhawks  1989 [12] 1994 [13] Heart O'North Cloverbelt
St. Croix Falls St. Croix Falls, WI Public345Saints  1994 [13] 2002 [19] Lakeland Heart O'North
Unity Balsam Lake, WI Public295Eagles  1994 [13] 2002 [19] Lakeland

Former football-only members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsSeasonsPrimary Conference
Rice Lake Rice Lake, WI Public714Warriors  2022-2023 Big Rivers

Membership timeline

Full members

Middle Border Conference

Football members

Middle Border Conference

Membership map

Middle Border Conference
Middle Border Conference
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Location of Middle Border Conference full members:

Source: [29]

Fall sports

Winter sports

Spring sports

List of state champions

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
Amery1997Division 2
Amery1998Division 2
Football
SchoolYearDivision
Baldwin-Woodville1987Division 4
Ellsworth1990Division 3
Baldwin-Woodville1992Division 4
Somerset2002Division 5
Somerset2012Division 4
Somerset2014Division 4
Osceola2015Division 4
St. Croix Central2016Division 4
Girls Golf
SchoolYearDivision
Prescott2020Division 2
Prescott2021Division 2
Prescott2022Division 2
Prescott2023Division 3

Winter sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Prescott2018Division 3
Girls Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Durand1986Class B
Durand1987Class B
Boys Wrestling
SchoolYearDivision
Ellsworth1985Class B
Baldwin-Woodville1993Division 2
Ellsworth2000Division 2
Ellsworth2007Division 2
Ellsworth2009Division 2
Ellsworth2011Division 2
Ellsworth2014Division 2
Ellsworth2016Division 2
Ellsworth2017Division 2
Amery2021Division 2
Amery2022Division 2

Spring sports

Baseball
SchoolYearDivision
Prescott2012Division 2
Boys Golf
SchoolYearDivision
New Richmond1992Division 2
New Richmond1993Division 2
Ellsworth2000Division 2
Softball
SchoolYearDivision
Baldwin-Woodville2012Division 2
Prescott2024Division 3
Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Hudson1973Class B
New Richmond1982Class B
Baldwin-Woodville1983Class C
Amery2001Division 2
Osceola2004Division 2
Osceola2005Division 2
Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Osceola2023Division 2

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

Source: [30]

SchoolQuantityYears
New Richmond211958, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2020
Hudson141937, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989
Durand-Arkansaw91970, 1971, 1977, 1978, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2013
Prescott92014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
Baldwin-Woodville81959, 1988, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2012
Amery61987, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2004, 2005
Menomonie81935, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1950
River Falls81934, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1966, 1967
Spring Valley71932, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1942, 1961, 1962
Ellsworth61951, 1968, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1995
Osceola52000, 2009, 2023, 2024, 2025
Colfax41933, 1952, 1953, 1954
Glenwood City21957, 1969
Bloomer11991
Mondovi11980
Somerset12014
St. Croix Central12021
Altoona0
St. Croix Falls0
Unity0

Girls Basketball

Source: [31]

SchoolQuantityYears
Durand-Arkansaw231973, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015
New Richmond61976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 2012, 2014
Baldwin-Woodville51976, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2025
Ellsworth51973, 1974, 1975, 1991, 1995
Somerset52008, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2023
Amery41999, 2000, 2011, 2019
Bloomer41990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Hudson41973, 1981, 1988, 1989
Osceola42002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Prescott32020, 2021, 2022
St. Croix Central22018, 2025
Altoona0
Mondovi0
River Falls0
St. Croix Falls0
Unity0

Football

Source: [32]

SchoolQuantityYears
River Falls211938, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988
Baldwin-Woodville151963, 1970, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2019, 2024
Hudson111935, 1936, 1942, 1944, 1954, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1974, 1982
Durand-Arkansaw101967, 1968, 1969, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 2000, 2002, 2012
Somerset92003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
New Richmond81940, 1941, 1964, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2010, 2019
Ellsworth71977, 1990, 1999, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022
Colfax61931, 1932, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1952
Mondovi61976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1990
Menomonie51933, 1934, 1949, 1950, 1951
Osceola52001, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017
Amery31996, 2000, 2001
Spring Valley31948, 1959, 1960
Glenwood City11958
Rice Lake12023
St. Croix Central12018
Unity11998
Altoona0
Bloomer0
Prescott0
St. Croix Falls0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Middle Border Conference History". Middle Border Conference. February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sports Sidelines". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. April 11, 1948. p. 11. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  3. "Sports Slants". The Dunn County News. November 3, 1948. p. 19. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Menomonie Quits M-B Loop". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. December 5, 1951. p. 12. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  5. Buzzell, Clell (February 28, 1963). "New Big Rivers Rivalry Topped by Old Abes' 9-1". Eau Claire Daily Telegram. p. 14. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Dunn-St. Croix Opens Today, Has New Team, New Favorite". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. September 1, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Durand Opens at Thorp, Plays in Middle Border". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. September 8, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Mondovi, Prescott Newcomers in Middle Border Grid Race". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. September 2, 1970. pp. C4. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Elmwood Faces New Conference Challenge". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. August 31, 1972. pp. B2. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Middle Border campaign opens; Dairyland has key game". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. September 8, 1977. pp. 3B. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 Steinbach, Glenn (May 18, 1988). "Sideline Chatter (WIAA realigns 41 schools)". The Dunn County News. p. 13. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Peterson, Tim (February 16, 1989). "Bloomer playing up to Parr again". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. 2C. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Holmes, Kirk (May 15, 1993). "Area teams on the move". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. D1. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  14. Holmes, Kirk (August 8, 1994). "Prep football: Change in the air". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. D. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  15. "Scoreboard (see Football, Prep, Northwest Football League)". Eau Claire Leader Telegram. September 8, 1994. pp. 2D. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  16. Holmes, Kirk (December 11, 1995). "Nobody's mourning early demise of NFL". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. D. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Groskreutz, Stuart (December 17, 1998). "New Richmond would be happy to leave BRC". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. p. 14. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "WIAA approves conference realignment". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. April 8, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Holmes, Kirk (February 22, 2001). "Final chapter nears". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. p. 34. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Durand-Arkansaw Basketball History". MaxPreps. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "St. Croix Central Basketball History". MaxPreps. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Bloomer". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. March 9, 2021. pp. A7. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Blackhawks sit at 15-9 following win over Macks". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. September 29, 2021. pp. B4. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  24. "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 9, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  25. "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 6, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  26. "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 11, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  27. "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  28. "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 10, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  29. "MBC Sports" . Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  30. "Conference Champs - Boys Basketball". Middle Border Conference. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  31. "Conference Champs - Girls Basketball". Middle Border Conference. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  32. "Conference Champs - Football". Middle Border Conference. Retrieved July 14, 2025.