Northwestern Illinois Conference

Last updated
Northwestern Illinois Conference
FormerlyStephenson County Conference
Northwest Conference
Conference IHSA
Founded1958
Ceased1995
No. of teams11
RegionNorthwest Illinois (Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties)
Locations
Northwest Illinois Conference locations.png The Northwestern Illinois Conference within Illinois

The Northwestern Illinois Conference , known locally as the NWIC, was a high school conference in northwest and north central Illinois. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference included small public high schools, and one small private school, with enrollments between 75-400 students in Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties.

Contents

History

Originally known as the Stephenson County Conference, the first year of competition was 1958 with four charter schools: Dakota, Durand, Lena-Winslow and Orangeville. In 1959 Freeport Aquin, Galena, Stockton and Warren joined from the disbanded US Grant Conference. Pearl City joined the conference in 1960 increasing the total number of teams to nine. The last year of competition under the Stephenson County name was 1962.

Based on the fact that the conference contained schools from Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, in 1963 it became known as the Northwest Conference. Additionally, in 1966, Lanark, from Carroll County, joined the conference, bringing the total number of schools to 10. In 1974 after Durand, Orangeville and Pearl City left for the Upstate Illini Conference, the remaining schools changed the name to the Northwestern Illinois Conference, also known as the NWIC.

Officially formed in 1974, the 7 members were Dakota, Freeport Aquin, Galena, Lanark, Lena-Winslow, Stockton and Warren. In 1977, Orangeville returned to the fold increasing the total teams to eight. As the 1986 school year began, Lanark High School consolidated with Shannon High School, becoming Eastland High School. After 30 years of membership, in 1988 Warren dropped out of the conference. However, East Dubuque quickly replaced them in 1989, keeping the total number of teams an even eight. Unfortunately, in 1995 they decided to leave the conference. This left the conference in a situation they had not had not been in since 1976, an odd number of teams for which to schedule. The final season for the NWIC occurred in 1995. Beginning in 1996, this conference merged with the Upstate Illini.

Member schools

SchoolLocationMascotColorsYear JoinedYear Left IHSA Classes A/AA [1] IHSA Music Class [1] IHSA Football Class [1]
Aquin Catholic
High School
Freeport, IL Bulldogs  
Navy Blue, Gold
19591996AD1A
Dakota
High School
Dakota, IL Indians  
Maroon, White
19581996AC1A
Durand
High School
Durand, IL Bulldogs  
Royal Blue, White
19581974AC1A
East Dubuque
High School
East Dubuque, IL Warriors  
Royal Blue, White
19891995AC1A
Eastland
High School
Lanark, IL Cougars  
Royal Blue, Orange
1986
consolidated with
Shannon High School
1996AC1A
Galena
High School
Galena, IL Pirates  
Royal Blue, White
19591996AC1A
Lanark
High School
Lanark, IL Beavers  
Blue, White
19661986AC1A
Lena-Winslow
High School
Lena, IL Panthers  
Black, Gold
19581996AC1A
Orangeville
High School
Orangeville, IL Broncos  
Purple, Gold
1958
1977
1974
1996
AD1A
Pearl City
High School
Pearl City, IL Wolves   
Red, White, Black
19601974AD1A
Stockton
High School
Stockton, IL Blackhawks  
Maroon, Gold
19591996AD1A
Warren
High School
Warren, IL Warriors  
Orange, Black
19591988AD1A

Sources:IHSA Conferences, [2] and IHSA Member Schools Directory [3]

Membership timeline

Northwest 8 ConferenceUpstate Illini ConferenceNorthwestern Illinois Conference

Full membersVarious Conferences/IndependentUS Grant Conference Upstate Illini Conference Northwest 8 Conference

Competitive Success

The Northwestern Illinois Conference won 5 team state championships in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] The conference also produced 15 individual championships, including track & field, [9] [15] and wrestling. [18]

State Champions

Team

SchoolSport/ActivityGenderYearClass
Stockton Football Boys1978-792A
Aquin Central CatholicFootballBoys1981-821A
Aquin Central CatholicFootballBoys1986-871A
OrangevilleFootballBoys1989-901A
StocktonFootballBoys1991-921A

Individual

Athlete(s)SchoolSport/ActivityEvent/LevelGenderYearClass
Toni LogemannStocktonTrack & Field800m RunGirls1994-95A
Jerry RaabStocktonWrestling98 lbsBoys1975-76A
Pete AlberDakotaWrestling98 lbsBoys1980-81A
Jerry RaabStocktonWrestling105 lbsBoys1976-77A
Mike LizerDakotaWrestling105 lbsBoys1978-79A
Tony AlberDakotaWrestling105 lbsBoys1979-80A
Dennis LizerDakotaWrestling112 lbsBoys1976-77A
Steve WebsterDakotaWrestling126 lbsBoys1973-74A
Greg AlberDakotaWrestling126 lbsBoys1987-88A
Brian WoodleyDakotaWrestling167 lbsBoys1993-94A
Jeff EastlickStocktonWrestling185 lbsBoys1977-78A
Andy McPeekLena-WinslowWrestling189 lbsBoys1992-93A
Wes FolkDakotaWrestling189 lbsBoys1994-95A
Dave EatonGalenaTrack & Field100m DashBoys1986-87A
Jeremy Daughenbaugh
Kurt Kramer
Jayson Lietzen
Jeremy Spencer
Lena-WinslowTrack & Field4x100m RelayBoys1992-93A

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