The North Central Conference (NCC) is a high school athletic league located in north-central Iowa, affiliated with the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). Established in November 1924 during a meeting held in Eagle Grove, Iowa, the conference originally formed as the North Central Six. Over the past century, the NCC has evolved in both size and scope, adapting to changes in school enrollments and expanding its athletic offerings, all while maintaining a commitment to fostering competitive excellence among its member institutions.
The origins of the conference can be traced back to October 1924, when the Northern Iowa Electric Company of Humboldt proposed awarding a basketball championship trophy to the school with the highest standard of performance during the 1924–25 season. Five of the six eventual charter schools were included in this early contest. One of the group’s first formal acts was to retroactively issue a football championship trophy to the school with the highest winning percentage in the nearly completed 1924 season.
During its inaugural year (1924–25), the NCC sponsored football, boys’ basketball, and boys’ track and field.
In 1934, Iowa Falls was added, leading to the dropping of "Six" from the league’s name. Clear Lake joined in 1936, bringing the membership to eight schools, a number that held steady for nearly 60 years.
During the 1993–94 academic year, Bishop Garrigan (Algona) and St. Edmond (Fort Dodge) joined, expanding the league to ten teams. This structure lasted until 2014, when both Bishop Garrigan and Eagle Grove departed, returning the conference to eight schools.
Today, the conference offers 18 IHSAA- and IGHSAU-sanctioned sports, with championships recognized in volleyball, softball, baseball, boys’ and girls’ cross country, wrestling, boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ track and field, boys’ and girls’ golf, boys’ and girls’ tennis, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and most recently, girls’ wrestling, which was officially added in the 2023–24 school year.
Conference Realignment Discussions and Membership Concerns
In the early 2010s, the North Central Conference (NCC) experienced internal strain as disparities in school enrollment prompted concerns regarding competitive balance among member institutions. The growing divide between larger and smaller schools led to discussions about the long-term sustainability of the conference’s structure and membership alignment.
Bishop Garrigan Joins North Iowa Conference
In October 2012, Bishop Garrigan High School (Algona) formally explored the possibility of leaving the NCC to join the North Iowa Conference (NIC), a league composed primarily of smaller schools more aligned with Garrigan's enrollment size and competitive needs. By December 2012, Bishop Garrigan’s application to the NIC was approved. The school officially transitioned to the NIC beginning in the 2014–15 school year, ending over two decades of NCC membership.
Eagle Grove Departs NCC for NIC
Around the same period, Eagle Grove Community School District initiated its own realignment. On December 10, 2012, the Eagle Grove school board voted to apply for membership in the NIC, a move that was subsequently approved. Eagle Grove officially exited the NCC following the 2013–14 school year, joining the NIC alongside Bishop Garrigan. These decisions were largely driven by declining enrollment numbers and a desire for more equitable athletic competition.
Other Schools Explore Departure; NCC Avoids Collapse
Amid Bishop Garrigan and Eagle Grove’s departures, other member schools—including Clarion–Goldfield–Dows, Iowa Falls–Alden, Hampton–Dumont, and St. Edmond of Fort Dodge—also considered leaving the NCC or explored alternative conference affiliations. While Clarion–Goldfield–Dows engaged in discussions with the NIC, no formal application was submitted. Ultimately, these districts opted to remain, averting a broader dissolution of the NCC and preserving the league's structure.
Divisional Play Implemented to Preserve Competitive Balance
In response to ongoing concerns about enrollment disparities, NCC superintendents met in February 2013 and unanimously approved the implementation of a divisional format for conference play. The motion passed with votes of 9–0 and 8–0, establishing a two-division alignment based on school size. The structure applied to sports such as basketball, baseball, and softball, with schools competing twice against each divisional opponent and twice against teams from the opposite division. The divisions were as follows:
Large School Division: Webster City, Algona, Humboldt, Iowa Falls–Alden
Small School Division: Clear Lake, Hampton–Dumont, Clarion–Goldfield–Dows, St. Edmond
This format was implemented with the intent of maintaining competitive equity, stabilizing the conference, and appealing to potential new member schools. The divisional structure marked a pivotal moment in the NCC’s history, helping to preserve the league during a period of uncertainty and change.
In 2024, the Charles City Community School District (CCCSD) applied for membership in the North Central Conference (NCC) following the impending dissolution of the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC), which was set to disband at the conclusion of the 2024–25 academic year. The application marked Charles City’s attempt to secure a stable athletic home for its student-athletes amid growing instability in the NEIC due to long-term membership decline and competitive imbalance.
According to NCC bylaws, the addition of a new member requires unanimous approval from all existing member schools. In the initial vote, held in mid-2024, six schools voted in favor of Charles City’s inclusion, while two—St. Edmond (Fort Dodge) and Clarion–Goldfield–Dows—voted against, citing concerns regarding the school’s comparatively large enrollment and the increased travel burden it would impose on conference members. Despite majority approval, the dissent triggered a mediation process, as a single opposing vote is sufficient to deny membership under NCC policy.
The Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) facilitated discussions between Charles City and the NCC through a formal mediation process. A resolution was reached in July 2024, allowing Charles City to join the conference under a two-year probationary period as a non-voting member. This transitional status will be in place for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic years. During this period, Charles City will participate in all NCC-sanctioned sports except volleyball, girls’ and boys’ basketball, baseball, and softball, as those programs require more extensive scheduling integration.
Following the transitional period, Charles City is scheduled to receive full membership status—including voting rights and full participation in all sports—beginning in the 2027–28 academic year. This marks the first addition to the North Central Conference since the admission of Bishop Garrigan and St. Edmond in 1993. The NCC executive board cited this step as an important milestone in maintaining the competitiveness and sustainability of the league amid changing demographics and shifting conference landscapes in Iowa high school sports.
Eagle Grove and Forest City Accept NCC Invitation; Garner–Hayfield–Ventura Declines
On November 11, 2024, the school boards of Eagle Grove, Forest City, and Garner–Hayfield–Ventura voted on invitations to join the North Central Conference (NCC) as part of a strategic expansion initiative. Eagle Grove, a former and founding member of the NCC dating back to its establishment in 1924, voted unanimously (5–0) to rejoin, contingent upon approval from the other two districts. Forest City also approved the invitation with a 7–0 vote. However, Garner–Hayfield–Ventura (GHV) initially voted 3–2 against joining the conference, citing concerns related to travel demands and competitive alignment.
Garner–Hayfield–Ventura Reconsiders and Accepts Membership
In response to community input and further administrative discussion, the Garner–Hayfield–Ventura Community School District opted to revisit its initial decision. A special meeting was scheduled for November 26, 2024, during which the school board reversed its earlier stance, voting 4–1 in favor of accepting the NCC’s invitation. With this approval, Eagle Grove, Forest City, and Garner–Hayfield–Ventura confirmed membership. The trio is set to officially become part of the North Central Conference beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, expanding the league to twelve full-time member schools—its largest configuration in modern history.
In anticipation of expanded membership, NCC leadership announced plans to implement a two-division structure based on school enrollment and geography. This new format will be introduced during the 2026–27 academic year and reassessed every four years to maintain competitive balance. The divisional alignment is expected to improve scheduling efficiency and reduce travel time while preserving traditional rivalries and enhancing opportunities for postseason qualification.
The inclusion of Eagle Grove, Charles City, Forest City, and Garner–Hayfield–Ventura represents a pivotal shift in the evolution of the North Central Conference and reflects broader changes across Iowa’s high school athletic landscape. The move positions the NCC as one of the most geographically expansive and competitively balanced mid-sized school conferences in the state.
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