How can you have a website about schools that are now only a memory without having a listing of the once hundreds
of great conferences that they participated in? This one has skipped us for many months but here it is. This
is only a start. If you have a conference you wish to add please write to us at:
Please try to include the dates the conference was active and the schools were members. This should really jog some
memories as well!
A Special thank you goes out to Tom Sikorski who supplied much of the information for nearly all of
the conferences on this page. Tom is obviously a true fan of high school sports and has spent a great deal of time
researching high school team conferences, especially the GREAT CONFERENCES that many of our schools were once a
part of. If you have any questions regarding a conference you wish to learn more about you can contact Tom
directly at Tom471@earthlink.net .
Though most of the Conferences listed speak of football only, this page is for conferences of ALL sports.
*Schools with Bold Letters that are underlined denote a deactivated school
covered on this website. Just place your pointer on the school's name. "left click," and you will be taken to that
particular school's page on this site.
ABC League
Western Military Academy of Alton was the sole Illinois school in this league which included various small private academies in
Missouri. Western Military last fielded a football team in 1970.
Academic League (aka Interacademic League)
(from Robert Pruter) In the East, the primary athletic powers in
the 1890’s and first decades of the twentieth century were the private boarding schools, notably
Hill Academy in Pottstown, Pennsylvania; Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania; and Lawrenceville Academy in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. In the Chicago area, the balance of power was just the reverse.
It was the public schools that generally produced the top teams and athletes. Private boarding schools in the
Chicago area were mainly served by the Academic League, or Interacademic League as it was called, founded in 1896 with a track and field tournament.
The three charter members and mainstays of the league were the boarding academies—Morgan Park Academy in the then-southwest suburb of Morgan Park, Northwestern Academy (after 1907, Evanston Academy)
in the near north suburb of Evanston, and Lake Forest Academy in the far north suburb of Lake Forest. In 1900, the Academic League added two new members, two day schools:
South Side Academy, an associate institution of the University of Chicago; and Armour Academy, an associate institution of the Armour Institute.
South Side Academy was organized in 1892, and was designed to prepare
students for the University of Chicago. The institution became an associate institution of the University in 1897, and after the 1902-03 season, merged with Manual Training to form University High. The newly merged institution developed a strength in track and field, and chose to compete in the sport in the
Cook County League.
In the 1904-05 season, University High joined
the Cook County League in basketball competition as well, a sport not offered by the
Academic League at the time. The school completely left the league at the end of the season
to join the Cook County League.
Armour Academy was established as the preparatory department of the Armour Institute, opened on the South Side in 1893 by meatpacking
king Philip D. Armour. The school originally
went by the name Armour Scientific Academy, but around 1900, the shortened version became the norm. The school began competiting in an independent
schedule of interscholastic athletics in 1895.
Also in 1900, another institution, Lewis Institute, requested to join the league. The school was a West Side technical school founded
in 1898 with elementary, high school, and college
departments. The two-year college department was problematic for the league, but Lewis made the request under the stipulation
that only students under 21 would compete in league contests. Notwithstanding the concession, the league denied entrance. The Academic League
at this time also reorganized with a new constitution
and bylaws.
The new bylaws imposed new regulations, mirroring the regulations that
the Cook County League imposed with its reorganization in 1898. Under the bylaws, a student:
1. Must be making
a passing grade in at least ten school
hours of regular academic study.
2. He must have completed over fifteen units of academic study (or its equivalent); the word unit to mean one study for four hours a week, carried for one school year.
3. He must not have matriculated in any college or university.
4. He must not have participated in any intercollegiate
game or contest.
5. He must not have participiated in interacademic athletics for more than four years.
6. He must never have received any renumeration
for his services in athletics.
These new regulations reflected precisely the problems that most secondary
school athletics faced during the previous decade. Most tellingly, most of them related to the eligibility of the student-athletes.
The league was vigorous in its football, track & field, and baseball
programs, but was slow in adopting basketball, in 1907. However, upon adoption of the sport, Evanston Academy and Morgan Park Academy proved as formidable as the public schools.
Compared to developments in the Eastern
boarding schools, the Academic League had a poor program of minor sports, except for tennis. Evanston Academy was particularly
outstanding in swimming (producing 1908 Olympian Robert Foster) and golf
(producing Chick Evans).
In 1907, the league began to fall apart, when
no football schedule could be adopted as a result of Evanston Academy dropped football at the behest of its parent institution,
Northwestern University, which had eliminated
the sport. The spring of 1908 saw the dropping of the annual track and field meet, the event that had given birth to the league.
At the end of the 1910 season, the Academic League broke up when two of
the four members withdrew. In subsequent years,
the schools that used to make up the league would claim to titular titles, such as “Western champion,” “Midwest champion,” “state champion,” and even
“Academic League
champion.” The situation remained unorganized until the formation of the Midwest Prep Conference in 1927, when these same schools organized as a track and
field meet along with other private schools, followed in subsequent years by other sports competition.
Ambraw Valley Conference
According to Young America alum Harold Stone:
"The athletic conference we were in in my time and would have been the conference prior-1949 until
at least 1955, was the "Ambraw Valley Conference". which in the early 50's was the schools of Brocton-Redmon, Chrisman, Kansas, Scottland and Young America."
Marlin Wilson (Chrisman HS Class of '64) advises the Ambraw Valley existed at least through
the 1960s, possibly into the early 1970s. Marlin goes on to state, "The Ambraw was primarily a basketball conference, and
because all of the schools were very small, there was no football. We competed in baseball in the fall, playing each member
school once. Basketball was always a home and home schedule in the Winter and there was a conference track meet at Paris (neutral site) in the Spring."
Apollo
The Apollo conference was formed in 1970 and its four charter football members were Charleston, Newton,
Paris and Robinson. In 1972, Decatur Lakeview and Mt. Zion joined, and in 1981 Effingham and Taylorville were added. Robinson played an independent schedule in football
from 1981 through 1983. Decatur Lakeview closed in 1982. In 1993 Taylorville left to join the newly
forming Central State 8 and in 2003, Olney and Salem became the league's newest members.
Bi County
Formed in 1960, its charter football members were Biggsville Union, Media Wever, Monmouth Warren, Monmouth Yorkwood and Stronghurst. In 1961 Roosevelt Military joined and in 1962 Roseville was added. La Harpe joined in 1970. In 1971, Stronghurst and Media
Wever consolidated forming Stronghurst Southern. In 1972 Sciota NW joined in, while in 1973, Roosevelt Military closed. Avon took their place and played its first
full football schedule in this conference in 1975. The league was remarkably stable until 1991 when the Sciota
NW and La Harpe co-op was formed as well as the Avon-Roseville co-op which left the league with
6 teams. In 1993 Alexis was added and in 1995 Spoon River Valley. The league's final football season was 1997.
Big 7
The Big 7 formed in 1919. This conference started out with seven schools: Freeport, Rockford H.S., Joliet H.S., Elgin, DeKalb and Aurora's East and West. DeKalb departed in 1929 and LaSalle-Peru replaced
them. In 1940 Rockford H.S. split in two (East/ West) and the conference was renamed the "Big 8." In 1960, Rockford Auburn was built and it took the place of Joliet,
who left for the South Suburban Conference. In 1963, Elgin and the Aurora schools left and Machesney Park Harlem, Belvidere
and newly built Rockford Guilford joined. LaSalle-Peru leaves for the NCIC in 1964 and is replaced with Rockford Boylan. Jefferson
Junior High in Rockford becomes a high school and joins in 1971, renaming the conference the "Big 9". Rockton Hononegah joins
from the defnuct Shark Conference in 1982 and the name is changed to "NIC-10."
Big 8 (1980 to 1990)
This version of the Big 8 was formed in 1980 with Burlington Central, Genoa-Kingston, Hampshire, Huntley, Richmond-Burton,
Sandwich and St. Charles Valley Lutheran as its charter members. Genoa-Kingston dropped football in 1983, but the program was resurrected in
1984 by playing an independent schedule and fully returned to the conference frays in 1985. Meanwhile, Harvard was
added in 1984. North Boone joined in 1985, taking the place of Sandwich who had departed that same year to join the Interstate
8. North Boone and Valley Lutheran dropped out in 1990, the league's final football season. Remaining member schools
formed the Big Northern Conference with members of the Mid-Northern.
Big Northern
Formed in 1991, its charter members were Burlington Central, Byron, Forreston, Genoa-Kingston, Hampshire, Harvard, Marengo,
Oregon, Ottawa Marquette, Richmond-Burton, Stillman Valley and Winnebago/Pecatonica coop in a two division format. They
played in split divisions in each sport, having different realignments frequently. In 1994 Pecatonica left when it split
from its coop with Winnebago. In 1995 Forreston left and Huntley joined. In 1998 Ottawa Marquette left and Johnsburg
joined. In 2003 Huntley left and Rockford Lutheran joined. Johnsburg left in 2006 and North Boone replaced them.
Big 12
The charter members of the Big 12 were Bloomington, Champaign, Danville, Stephen Decatur, Lincoln, Mattoon, Pekin, Peoria Central, Peoria Manual, Springfield, Streator and Urbana. In 1958, Pekin,
Peoria Central, Peoria Manual and Streator left. Springfield played an independent schedule in football from 1977 through
1979. In 1983, the league was back to 12 teams with the departure of Springfield and the addition of Champaign Centennial,
Decatur Eisenhower, Decatur Macarthur, Normal Community and Rantoul. The 2 division format was initiated with Centennial,
Champaign Central, Danville, Mattoon, Rantoul and Urbana in the East and Bloomington, Decatur, Eisenhower, Macarthur, Lincoln
and Normal in the West. Lincoln left in 1994 and Normal West played its first full varsity schedule in the loop in 1995. 1999
was Stephen Decatur's final season and in 2004, Rantoul left.
Bi-County (1917-19)
(from Robert Pruter) The Bi-County League was briefly in existence for two years during the war. The league
was formed when Wheaton, Naperville, and West Chicago
from the DuPage County League joined Batavia, Dundee, Geneva, and St. Charles of the Kane County Conference. Apparently, the members
were not happy with the arrangement, because the league broke up within two
years. Wheaton, Naperville, and West Chicago joined a reorganized DuPage County League.
Bi State (Iowa)
This conference existed for 3 short seasons from 1972 to 1974, featuring Erie and Prophetstown in Illinois and
Camanche, Pleasant Valley and Northeast in Iowa.
Bi State (Missouri)
Formed in 1966, this league featured Alton Marquette, Belleville Althoff and East St Louis Assumption with various Missouri private schools. Alton Marquette left the league in 1970 and ESL Assumption left in 1974. Belleville
Althoff's last season in the Bi State was 1975.
Black Diamond
The conference roots may have began in the 1930's. Research by Mark Jurenga revealed a boys'
softball conference in 1937 called the Black Diamond that included Carlyle, Greenville, Nashville, Ashley, and Sandoval. The conference also had a conference track meet that year. Basketball was a part of the conference competition
as well.
The conference was later formed by 5 former members of the Coal Belt in 1955 -Carterville, Christopher, Elkville, Sesser and Ziegler. In 1962 Carbondale U-High joined and consolidations changed Ziegler to Ziegler-Royalton and Elkville to Elkville-Elverado. The following
year, Sesser and Vallier consolidated. In 1967 Carbondale U-High dropped football. The league suspended football
for one season in 1974 when Carterville and Christopher joined the Southern Illini and the remaining schools played independent
schedules. The league was reformed in 1975 with the return of Carterville and Christopher and the addition of Johnston
City. The resulting 6 team league was stable for 15 years when in 1990 Christopher and Ziegler-Royalton began their coop
and McLeansboro was added. Cairo and Eldorado joined in 1992 and Carmi and Fairfield in 2003. More information on the Black Diamond has been offered by Adam Rosoho:
The Black Diamond Conference was created first as a football-only conference in 1949. The original
schools were members of the Coal Belt Conference for other sports.
The original conference schools were Carterville, Christopher, Elkville, Sesser,
Zeigler, and Carbondale University High.
The first Black Diamond basketball race was in 1956 when the conference became full time.
Trico joined the Black Diamond in the 1968-69 season and won three consecutive BDC Basketball Titles. They left the
BDC after the 1970-71 season after failing to start a football program. In 1990, McLeansboro joined for football only. Cairo
and Eldorado joined for football only in 1992. During the years, McLeansboro (Hamilton Co.) and Eldorado were involved
in some conference races and not others. Eldorado was a member of Girls Basketball replacing Christopher when ZR and
Christopher became ZRC. They also participated in Track and Softball. I am not sure of baseball. Hamilton Co. was
a member for boys and girls Track and baseball, not sure of softball. Cairo only participated in Football.
In 2003, the conference re-aligned and expanded. Two divisions were created with the 5 remaining
original members in the West Division (Carterville, Christopher, Elverado, Sesser-Valier, and Zeigler-Royalton) being added
with former member Trico. The East was created with Johnston City, partial members Cairo, Eldorado and Hamilton Co.,
and Carmi/White Co. and Fairfield. After the reallignment, the BDC offered new championships in Golf, Cross Country,
and Wrestling, as well as Basketball, Football, Track, Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball.
From Adam Rosoho: At the conclusion of this past school year (2007-08) Cairo
was voted out of the conference. Vienna will join the BDC this fall in all sports except football, which they will join
in the fall of 2009 when Vienna has their first varsity football season."
Chester joins in 2010-11 school year and will be in the West Division.
Blackhawk (West)
By 1952 this conference had 8 schools playing football: Bradford, Elmwood, Galva, Kewanee Wethersfield, Princeville, Toulon, Walnut and Wyoming. In 1958 Dunlap moved over from the Illio conference and Manlius from the Little 8. In 1968 Galva left for the Little 6 and Buda Western joined from the Little 8. There was a major shakeup in 1976 with Buda Western,
Bradford, Manlius and Walnut leaving to form the Indian Valley and Kewanee Wethersfield and Toulon departing
for the Lincoln Trail. Cuba, Peoria Heights, Spoon River Valley and Tremont were added
as replacements. In 1982 another major shakeup as Cuba, Elmwood, Spoon River Valley
and Wyoming left to form the Prairieland Conference and Eureka was the only replacement leaving the circuit with just 5 football schools - Dunlap, Eureka, Peoria Heights, Princeville and Tremont. These
5 teams continued to play a round-robin schedule in football through the 1988 season although the IHSA didn't recognize the
conference because it had fewer than the minimum 6 teams for football.
The following extensive history of the Blackhawk Conference (west) was written by John Ballentine:
"A History of the Blackhawk Conference"
"Administrators and coaches from Bradford, Galva, Toulon, Wethersfield, and Wyoming met
and agreed, in 1933, to establish the Blackhawk Conference. Each affiliated school began competition with one another
in the fall of 1934. Bradford won the first ever Blackhawk championship that year in football. Wethersfield captured
the first Blackhawk basketball championship for the 1934-35 season. Toulon became the first track/field champion in 1936,
the second year of conference existence. The schools had decided too many other activities were scheduled in the spring
of 1935 to hold the first Blackhawk Conference track/field meet.
The 5 charter member schools
of the conference were joined by Geneseo for the 1940-41 school year. The Maple Leafs of Geneseo won the football championship
with a 5-0 record in 1940. They captured the basketball championship by posting a 10-0 record. Continuing their
winning streak, Geneseo took home the 1941 Blackhawk track/field trophy. They did not return for a second season in the Blackhawk.
In the fall of 1942, Walnut replaced Geneseo as the 6th team of the conference. After 1 year, Walnut broke off a string of
9 football championships in 11 years, beginning with the 1943 season. While Walnut ruled the Blackhawk on the gridiron,
Galva captured 6 basketball championships during those same years. Prior to these 2 runs, Toulon won 9 championships
in 3 sports with 7 of these in a row, between 1936 and 1939.
Wyoming captured their first ever
Blackhawk championship, in basketball, during the 1942-43 season. The Indians repeated as champions in basketball the
next year to interrupt Galva's run. Between 1943 and 1953, as Walnut and Galva celebrated their wins, the conference
welcomed 2 additional members.
Princeville's first year, as a Blackhawk member, occurred in 1946. Elmwood
signed on in 1951. They became the 7th and 8th members of the Blackhawk. The 9th and 10th members joined in 1958 with
the addition of Dunlap and Manlius. Baseball did not gain significance within the Blackhawk Conference until the mid-1950's. Unfortunately,
scant information is available for baseball. Although the list of years champions is complete, baseball seemingly has
always been the forgotten sibling of football, basketball, and track/field.
The Blackhawk Conference
first played baseball on a championship basis in the spring of 1956. It consisted of 2 divisions, north and south, with
4 teams in each. The divisional winners played one another in a single championship game. Toulon, the 1956 southern
division champ, went up against northern division champ Wethersfield. The teams played to a 10-10 tie the first game. Wethersfield
claimed the first ever Blackhawk Conference baseball championship with a 6-2 decision in the second game. Beginning in
1968, divisions were eliminated and the championship was determined on a best record basis.
Baseball,
as with football, was now set up with each school playing all other schools in the conference. Although 10 teams were
in the conference, various championship teams had 6-1 or 7-0 records in baseball. Why? Only 8 schools sponsored
baseball. Toulon-LaFayette (1970-71 consolidation) discontinued baseball after the spring of 1975 and 20 Blackhawk seasons. It
still hadn't gained complete and unanimous acceptance throughout the conference.
Between 1934
and 1976, there were 12 members, but never more than 10 at any one time. A review of who won championships during this
period reveals some interesting facts. For example, every conference member won at least 1 basketball championship.
The only track/field co-champions occurred in 1973, with Toulon-LaFayette and Wethersfield sharing the honors. All other
years produced a single track champion.
Those schools accumulating the most championships while
Blackhawk members were Walnut with 12 in football and 10 in baseball, Princeville and Galva with 12 apiece in
basketball, and Toulon/Toulon-LaFayette winning 13 in track and field.
Besides Geneseo, the other
pre-1976 members were known as the Bradford Panthers, Dunlap Eagles, Elmwood Trojans (right face), Galva Wildcats, Manlius
Red Devils, Princeville Princes, Toulon Trojans (left face), Walnut Blue Raiders, Western Rams, Wethersfield Flying Geese,
and the Wyoming Indians. These teams were a source of pride for their communities. It was icing on the cake if your team
brought home a trophy at the end of the season. It was particularly satisfying if it said Blackhawk Champion.
After the 1967-68 school year, Galva resigned its' charter membership. This signaled the beginning of the end for the
conference. When other members followed with their own change of venue in the mid-1970's, the Blackhawk started
its trek down a path of nonexistence. Times were changing due to financial hardships and school consolidations began to form
creating larger student enrollments.
The Blackhawk, a 10-team conference, watched Galva leave
in the spring of 1968. Western, a consolidation of Buda, Sheffield, and Wyanet, stepped in as the 10th member for the
1968-69 school year. Western's historical mark in the Blackhawk is noted by capturing the 1975-76 championship in basketball
and track/field. This was the final year the Blackhawk existed with its' original members.
In 1972, 5 schools petitioned for admittance to the Blackhawk. The Annawan Braves, Atkinson Tigers, LaMoille Lions, Tampico
Trojans, and Tiskilwa Indians were rejected as new members. The spring of 1976 marked the last time Bradford, Manlius,
Toulon-LaFayette, Walnut, Western, and Wethersfield competed in the Blackhawk. Galva, Toulon-LaFayette, and Wethersfield
joined the fledgling Lincoln Trail Conference for the fall of 1976. Bradford, Manlius, Walnut, and Western were now members
of the Indian Valley Conference. Geneseo was a member of the North Central Conference.
The
fall of 1976 was the start of a realigned Blackhawk Conference. Now, with only 8 members, the conference included existing
members Dunlap, Elmwood, Princeville, and Wyoming. The 4 new schools were the Cuba Cardinals, Peoria Heights Patriots,
Tremont Turks, and (Spoon River) Valley Vikings (Ellisville, Fairview, London Mills, Maquon consolidation). The 8 team
conference existed for 6 years when change once more occurred.
Cuba, Elmwood, and Valley departed
the Blackhawk after the 1981-82 school year. These 3 schools became part of the Prairieland Conference. Wyoming, the
last charter member from 1934, also left at the end of the 1981-82 school year. After forty-eight years, and being the
longest standing member of the Blackhawk, Wyoming joined the east division of the Indian Valley Conference. Five new
members were recruited to join the Blackhawk, but only 2 accepted an invitation. Six teams comprised the Blackhawk for
the start of the 1982-83 school year. Dunlap and Princeville remained in the conference along with Peoria Heights and
Tremont. The 2 new members were the Eureka Hornets and Forman Braves (Forest City, Manito, Topeka consolidation).
In 1982, the Peoria Journal Star began covering the Blackhawk while other local newspaper coverage had all but ceased. This
was due to the conference's continued geographical migration to the southeast from its' original landmark. The Kewanee
Star Courier newspaper discontinued issuing the "Blackhawk Conference Traveling Trophy." It was established for the Blackhawk
teams because they were all local area schools. The only conference the Star Courier awarded a trophy was the
Blackhawk. The award was for best overall sports performance during the school year. Prior to the 1933 formation
of the Blackhawk Conference, The Stark County News and the Galva News newspapers had a similar trophy award
system between the schools of Toulon and Galva. The "NEWS" football trophy was first awarded in 1928.
Memorabilia of the Blackhawk is disappearing. Toulon, Wethersfield, and Wyoming no longer have their Blackhawk championship
trophies. Princeville's are boxed up and stored in a shed. It is assumed that other schools of the Blackhawk have
acted similarly. Hopefully, local history and memories of the conference will be preserved and somehow not be erased entirely.
The conference that began in 1934 amid the Great Depression was active during World War II and the Korean, Vietnam, and
Gulf Wars. Ten U. S. Presidents from Roosevelt to Bush Sr. held terms of office during the Blackhawk's existence. The
fifty-six year old conference of 'home teams' did not survive the continual membership changes and school consolidations. The
Blackhawk tradition ended after the spring of 1990 when the Blackhawk was disbanded and became a part of history."
Blackhawk (North)
Formed in 1947, its charter members were Lanark, Mt. Carroll, Mt. Morris, Oregon and Polo. In 1954 Milledgeville started its football program and joined the league. In 1959 Erie and Prophetstown
were added and in 1965 Milledgeville moved to the Route 72 conference and Amboy took their place. Lanark moved to the
smaller Northwest conference in 1966 and league continued with 7 football teams until its final season in 1971.
Blackhawk (Wisconsin)
Hanover IL high played for many years in the 50's and 60's in yet another conference known as the Blackhawk. They were
the only Illinois school in this league which featured several schools in SW Wisconsin.
Cahokia
Formed in 1983, the leagues charter members were Breese Central, Columbia, Dupo, Freeburg, Red Bud and Waterloo. Carlyle
joined in 1988 and Waterloo left in 1997. Trenton-Wesclin is the leagues newest football playing member joining in 2003. This
school year (2006-07) the Cahokia has become a 12-team conference with the addition of Steeleville and Valmeyer. The
circuit is split into a large and small school format. The large schools (6 of them) all play football. They play in the Mississippi Division. The smaller schools, play in the
Kaskaskia division. Dupo is the only member of the Kaskaskia Division that plays football.
Mississippi Division includes: Breese Central, Carlyle, Columbia, Freeburg, Red Bud, Trenton-Wesclin
Kaskaskia Division: Dupo, Lebanon, Marissa, New Athens, Steeleville, Valmeyer
Capitol
The Capitol conference was formed in 1964 with Decatur Eisenhower, Decatur Macarthur, Jacksonville, Springfield Griffin and Springfield Lanphier. In 1967 Springfield SE joined and in 1968 Champaign Centennial participated fully in football
for the first time. The addition of Normal Community made this an 8-team loop in 1971 and the league's final football
season was 1982.
Catholic League (St Louis Metro)
Alton Marquette and Belleville Cathedral participated in this league with Missouri catholic schools until 1963.
Cenois
This conference name was derived from the first two letters of Central and the last four letters of Illinois. In waged
football battles from 1963 through 1969 and consisted of four schools - Argenta-Oreana, Decatur Lakeview, Mt Zion and Warrensburg-Latham.
Central
This league was described in a 1956 article in the Springfield State Journal Register as a "...very loose, uncoordinated
organization..." It featured at various times in the 1950's Beardstown, Carlinville, Clinton, Decatur Lakeview, Decatur St Teresa, Jacksonville, Springfield Cathedral, Springfield Feitshans and Springfield Lanphier. The teams never played a complete round robin schedule in football and some participated
concurrently in other conferences. 1958 appears to have been the last "official" season for football in the conference
but little data has been found regarding it in the regions newspapers.
Central Eqyptian
This conference was alive and well in the 1930s, at least for football it was. In 1934, DuQuoin and Zeigler fought for the title in a season-ending title match (DuQuoin won 6 - 0). This is currently the only information we have,
though we are certain their were many other schools who paricipated in this conference.
Central State 8
Formed in 1993 its charter members were Chatham Glenwood, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Springfield, Springfield SH-Griffin, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield SE and Taylorville. There have been no alignment changes in the history of the
league, however, Rochester will be joining the league in 2010.
Central Suburban
Formed in 1965 its charter members were Deerfield, Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South, Maine South, Niles North and
Niles West. Maine West joined in 1967 along with new school New Trier West. New school Maine North was added in 1971. In 1972, Highland Park and Skokie Niles East came over from the Suburban League and Maine East from the West Suburban as the league divided into two divisions with a
championship game at season's end in 1972 and 1973. Maine North left in 1974 and in 1975 Evanston, New Trier
East, Waukegan East and West joined the loop. Niles North left in 1979. Niles East closed in 1980. The two New Trier schools consolidated
in 1981 as did the Waukegan schools in 1990. Niles North rejoined the league in 1991.
Chartres
According to the Belleville St. Henry's "Gleeman", 1967-68 was St. Henry's first year in the
Chartres Conference. Partial list of schools: Belleville (St. Henry's), Coulterville, East St. Louis (Assumption), Waterloo (Gibault). We know they played baseball in the spring.
Chicago Catholic League
(from Robert Pruter) Catholic secondary schools had been competiting in the Chicago area since the 1870's in baseball
and since the 1890's in a variery of sports. Competition was limited against public schools, because most of the
institutions were organized along European lines, as six-year colleges that encompassed the last two years of high school
and four years of undergraduate college work. Gradually, the Catholic schools reorganized by the American system, and
some emerged as colleges and others, such as St. Ignatius, St. Stanislaus, De la Salle, and St. Cyril merged as high schools. The preeminent league in the Chicago area was the Cook County League, and one school did
participate, St. Philip, during the 1911-12 school year.
The following fall, the Catholic League was formed with St. Ignatius, St. Stanislaus, De la Salle, St. Cyril, DePaul Academy, St. Philip, St. Rita, and Cathedral laying the groundwork. The league required its members to field teams in
basketball and baseball, while indoor baseball was voluntary. The following fall, football was added as Loyola, Holy Trinity,
and St. Patrick had joined the league as Cathedral left as the league attempted to complete its first full school year.
Track & field was added as a minor sport in 1917, while tennis, golf, and swimmng were added in 1924. By then,
the Catholic League was a full-fledge equal to the Public and Suburban Leagues. The Catholic League also offered four
levels of basketball, beginning with heavyweight, lightweight, flyweight, and bantamweight. The last two levels were
eliminated in 1926, while the lightweight level was replaced by junior level (for those players 5'9" and under) in 1938, and
it helped develop a strong rivalry with the Public League by virtue of the annual city championships that were contested
thru 1973 when the league joined the IHSA.
Outside of Cathedral's departure in 1913, other schools came into the Catholic League. St. Mel joined the ranks
in 1918 (which is when Cathedral changed its name to Quigley Prep), Joliet De la Salle was accepted in 1920, Chicago
Leo was admitted in 1926, Evanston St. George in 1927, and Oak Park Fenwick in 1929. St. Cyril changed its name to Mt. Carmel in 1924, while St. Stanislaus
became Weber in 1930.
(from Tom Sikorski) Football History since 1945: the football playing members in 1945 were De La Salle, DePaul, Fenwick,
Holy Trinity, Joliet Catholic, Leo, Loyola, Mt Carmel, St. George, St. Ignatius, St. Mel, St. Patrick, St. Philip, St.
Rita and Weber. St. Elizabeth fielded a team starting in 1946. Joliet Catholic dropped out in 1948. St. Patrick had no varsity football
in 1952 or 1953 but was back in 1954. Gordon Tech was added in 1953, Mendel in 1954 and Brother Rice in 1958 as the league reached its peak of 18 teams in three divisions.
In 1961, De La Salle, St. George, St. Mel, and St. Patrick left and St. Elizabeth dropped football as the league was
down to 13 teams and realigned into two divisions. St. Laurence joined in 1963, which is the same year St. Ignatius
dropped football. In 1966, De Paul and Holy Trinity dropped football and Hales Franciscan was added. In 1970,
St. Philip dropped football and De La Salle rejoined the league.
When Hales dropped football in 1971, the league went down to 11 teams and temporarily abandoned the two-division
format. St. Francis De Sales joined in 1976, but the league did not restore the two-division format until 1979. In
1988, a consolidation changed Mendel to St. Martin De Porres and this school dropped football in 1992. Kankakee McNamara joined in 1993.
From 1996 to 2002, the league's schools competed in football under the Catholic Metro banner. The Chicago Catholic
League was revived in 2003 with all of the previous members except St. Francis De Sales (independent) and Weber (closed) plus
the addition of Hales, Holy Cross and Providence. In 2004 Holy Cross changed its name to Guerin Prep and in 2005, St. Ignatius revived its football program.
Chicago Catholic Girls' High School Basketball League
From Robert Pruter: The league formed in 1928 with Academy of Our Lady (Longwood), Alvernia, Aquinas, Loretto High, Loretto Academy, St. Catherine (Siena), St. Mary, St. Scholastica, St. Xavier, Visitation, Evanston Marywood, and Wilmette Mallinckrodt. Only one conference title was awarded as St. Catherine won the 1928-29 title. The league broke up in 1932 with
the formation of the Catholic Youth Organization's girls basketball league.
Chicago Catholic Parish League
From Tyrone A. Brown (Corpus Christi Class of 1962):
Chicagoland Prep
Formed in 1961 when De La Salle, St. George, St. Mel, and St. Patrick broke off from the Chicago Catholic league. The original 4 were joined by Holy Cross and St Viator in 1963. In 1966 Holy Cross left and Marian Catholic joined. St. Mel dropped football in 1967 and in 1968
Marist and St Joseph joined. St. George dropped football in 1969 and St Francis De Sales joined that same year, which
also was the last for the league.
Coal Belt
Cook County League
(from Robert Pruter) The Cook County League began in 1889 with Englewood, Hyde Park, Oak Park, North Division, Lake View, Austin, Evanston, English High & Manual Training, South Division, West Division, Lake, Manual Training, and Harvard as charter members in football. Harvard left after the first year, replaced by LaGrange, and Northwest Division joined in 1892. Jefferson and Winnetka (later called New Trier) came in 1896. Winnetka left after that school year, while in 1898, South Chicago, Marshall, and Medill all came onboard.
Calumet entered the league wars in 1900, then North Division changed its name to Waller in 1901. West Division
became known as McKinley in 1904, which was also when University High School joined the league to replace Manual Training. Harvey (known as Thornton) also joined that year. In 1905, English became Crane, while South Division
was renamed Phillips, and Curtis became a new member. Then in 1906, both Hoyne and Chicago Heights (later called Bloom) joined the league and Northwest Division was renamed Tuley. Evanston
left the league in 1907 over a basketball dispute, and Chicago Heights left. Hoyne left in 1908, Lane Tech joined in 1909,
while South Chicago changed its name to Bowen in 1910.
Parker and Farragut (later renamed Parker in 1913) came to the league in 1911, as Schurz became the new name for
Jefferson in 1912. St. Philip was admitted in 1912, as was Clyde (aka Cicero Morton). 1913 saw the end of the league, which had 24 members
at the time, and reformed itself as the Chicago Public Athletic League (aka Chicago Public League).
Corn Belt (Central)
In 1950, this loop featured Bloomington Trinity, Clinton, Normal Community, Normal U-High and Pontiac. Washington joined in 1957. Bloomington Trinity
changed their name to Bloomington Central Catholic in 1967. Decatur St. Teresa participated in football from 1967 through
1969. In 1971, Normal Community left for the Capitol Conference. From 1972 through 1977, this league did
not exist for football, as its members participated in the Heart of Illinois Conference instead. The Corn Belt name was
resurrected in 1978 with Bloomington Central Catholic, Clinton, Eureka, Metamora, Normal U-High, Pontiac and Stanford
Olympia. In 1982 Eureka and Metamora left and Peru St. Bede joined. In 1986 Mahomet-Seymour
joined. In 1990 Clinton left and Prairie Central replaced them. Peru St. Bede left in 1996 and in 2002 Herscher and Rochester
joined and in 2004 Eureka rejoined along with new member Rantoul. Herscher left the loop for the 2006 season, and
Rochester will also leave to join the Central States Eight Conference in 2010.
Corn Belt (West)
By 1952 the football playing members of this league were Atkinson, Cambridge, Orion, Sherrard, Viola-Winola, Williamsfield and Woodhull-Alwood. Reynolds joined in 1953. In 1955 Williamsfield dropped football and Joy was added. In 1957 consolidations
changed Reynolds to Taylor Ridge-Rockridge. In 1960 Joy consolidated with New Boston and Keithsburg forming Joy-Westmer. 1975 was the loop's final football season.
Des Plaines Valley
Formed in 1963. its charter members were East and West Leyden, Morton West, Niles West, Proviso West and Willowbrook. In 1964, Palatine and new school Maine South were in the league for
this one season only. In 1965, Niles West was also moved out and Glenbard East joined as well as new school Downers Grove
South. Proviso West left in 1966 and new schools Addison Trail and Hinsdale South were added. Morton East was added in 1975. West Leyden left in 1979 but returned in 1981 when they consolidated with East Leyden. Riverside-Brookfield
joined in 1982 and Glenbard East left in 1983. In 1985 Riverside-Brookfield left and Morton East and West consolidated
down to 6 teams, which was the loop's last season.
DuPage County League (1913-17, 1919-23)
(from Robert Pruter) The DuPage County League was in the
mode of many early Illinois high school conferences, in that it was
organized for all the schools in a particular county. It was formed in 1913, but some of the schools had been competiting against each other informally
for several years earlier. The league seemed to have
been disbanded for the better part of two seasons, 1917-18
and 1918-19. The DuPage County League came back together again for the 1919-20 season. But in 1922, Wheaton and Naperville
left the league to join the newly formed Little
Seven Conference, formed by the smaller schools in the Fox River valley, notably Geneva and St. Charles. The DuPage County conference
with only five schools existed for little more
than a year after that and then disbanded. The remaining schools reorganized in the winter of 1924
as the West Suburban Conference. Member schools included Wheaton, Naperville, and West Chicago (all charter members), as well as Elmhurst York, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, and Hinsdale.
Du Page Valley
Formed in 1975 its charter members were Glenbard North, Glenbard South, Naperville Central, Naperville North, West
Chicago and Wheaton Central, Wheaton North and Wheaton-Warrenville. Wheaton-Warrenville closed in 1982 and Glenbard East replaced them. In 1992, Wheaton Central officially became
Wheaton Warrenville South. Glenbard South left in 1996 and was replaced by West Aurora in 1997.
East Central
Played its first football in 1955 and the charter members were Broadlands ABL, Catlin, Homer, Rossville, Ridge Farm, St Joseph and Sidell-Jamaica. Young America fielded a team in the league for the 1958 season only. In 1962 Bismark added football. At some point, unknown consolidations formed Bismark-Henning, Rossville-Alvin and St Joesph-Ogden. In 1971 Homer and St Joseph-Ogden left the league. In 1978 Ridge
Farm played its last season in the loop. In 1981 Broadlands ABL left and in 1982 Gilman and Milford joined. In 1983 Gilman and Onarga consolidated to form Iroquois West. In 1984 Sidell-Jamaica left and this was the loop's final season.
East Okaw
The East Okaw was formed in 1981 by 6 East Central Illinois schools who felt they were too small to compete effectively
in football in their old conferences. Broadlands ABL jumped from the East Central conference, Deland-Weldon from the Sangamon Valley, Homer, Newman and Oakland from the Little Okaw Valley and Ridge Farm was an independent. In 1985 Rossville-Alvin was added after DeLand-Weldon dropped football and the league lost Ridge Farm in 1986 when
it consolidated with Georgetown. In 1987 Homer dropped football and Milford was added. In
1989 Newman started co-oping with Hume Shiloh. This same year Broadlands ABL consolidated
with a neighboring district and went by Broadlands Heritage. Martinsville joined in 1991 and Palestine in 1992. Sidell-Jamaica
dropped out in 1995, the league's final season.
East Suburban Catholic
Formed in 1974 by the members of the Suburban Catholic East division, the charter members were Carmel, Holy Cross, Marist, Notre Dame, St. Francis De Sales, St. Joseph, St. Patrick and St. Viator. St. Joseph played an independent
schedule in 1975 only and was brought back into the fold the following year when St. Francis De Sales left. Joliet
Catholic was added in 1982 and Benet and Marian Catholic in 1990. From 1996 to 2002, the league's teams competed in football
under the Catholic Metro banner. Competition in football under the East Suburban Catholic name was restored in 2003 with all
of the same schools except Holy Cross (which moved to the Chicago Catholic League) and Nazareth, which became the
league's newest member.
Eastern Illinois
By 1952 this league consisted of Casey, Charleston, Charleston University High, Effingham, Marshall, Martinsville, Newton, Oblong, Palestine, Paris, Robinson and St Elmo. Charleston University
High dropped football in 1955. In 1960 both Effingham and St Elmo dropped out. Martinsville played an independent
schedule in football in 1962 and 1963. In 1964 the league added Toledo-Cumberland and reorganized into two divisions
- Large School division consisted of Charleston, Marshall, Newton, Paris and Robinson. The Small School division consisted
of Casey, Martinsville, Oblong, Palestine and Toledo-Cumberland. The final football season for the loop was 1969.
Egyptian-Illini
This non-football conference, which offers baseball, boys and girls basketball, softball
and girls volleyball, consists of the following schools:
Mulberry Grove, Brownstown, Ramsey, Beecher City, Patoka, Odin, St. Elmo, Cowden-Herrick.
Centralia (Christ Our Rock Lutheran) joined the conference in the 2009-10 school year.
Other schools in the past that were associated with this conference include Witt and Mt. Olive.
Four Rivers (2000-2006)
This conference formed in 2000 with Ashton and Franklin Center's co-oped programs, Pecatonica, Durand, South Beloit, Poplar Grove North Boone and Kirkland-Hiawatha. The conference ceased
in 2006 with North Boone joining the Big Northern to effectively disband the Four Rivers. All but Kirkland-Hiawatha
rejoined the Northwest Upstate Illini. The Four Rivers were the Rock, Pecatonica, Kishwaukee and Sugar rivers.
Fox Valley (old)
Earlville, Orland Park, Oswego, Plainfield, Plano, Sandwich and Yorkville were football members by 1952. Orland
Park left in 1953. Marseilles joined the football frays in 1954 but left in 1960 along with Earlville. Lisle was the only replacement that season. In
1963, Oswego left for the Little 7 and Lemont took their place. Plainfield followed suit leaving for the Little 7 in 1965
and Marseilles rejoined that same year. 1965 also proved to be the league's last with the majority of the schools forming a
new Northeast conference in 1966.
Fox Valley (present day)
Cary-Grove, Crown, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Dundee, Jacobs, McHenry and Woodstock were the charter members in this rapidly growing region in 1978. Dundee and
Crown consolidated in 1983 and Lake Zurich joined in 1991. Prairie Ridge opened in 1997 and Grayslake also joined the
loop that same year. Huntley was added in 2003 and Lake Zurich left in 2005.
Gateway East
This short lived conference existed from 1979 to 1983. The charter members were Belleville Althoff, Cahokia, Edwardsville,
Granite City North and Granite City South. The Granite City schools consolidated in 1983.
Greater Egyptian
From Adam Rosoho:
A southern Illinois conference. I am not sure of the beginnings
of this league. Members include:
Carrier Mills (C.M.-Stonefort), Elizabethtown (Hardin County), Galatia,Golconda (Pope County), Junction (Gallatin County),
Marion (Crab Orchard), Norris City (N.C.-Omaha-Enfield), Thompsonville
NCOE and Thompsonville left the Mid-South conference and joined the GEC at the beginning of the
2007-2008 school year. Norris City was a member in the confernce and left to join the Mid-South. (Not sure of the
year they left) Not sure of any other schools in the conference except for schools that have consolidated into current
members.
Schools offer Boys Basketball, baseball, some offer girls basketball, volleyball, softball, track,
and cross country.
Greater Midwestern
This short lived conference was formed in 1983 and featured Chatham Glenwood, Jacksonville, Macomb and Quincy Notre Dame
plus Hannibal, MO High. Hannibal dropped out in 1986, the league's last football season.
Greater Peoria
Featured East Peoria, Pekin, Peoria Central, Peoria Manual, Peoria Spalding and Peoria Woodruff. Bartonville Limestone joined in 1955 and the loop's last for football was 1957.
Heartland
This short lived conference offered football from 1978 to 1982 and featured Canton, Chiilicothe IVC, Macomb and Morton.
Heart of Illinois (1972 to 1977)
Formed in 1972 it featured two divisions for football with a championship game at seasons end between the two division
winners. The East division featured Bloomington Central Catholic, Clinton, Normal U-High, Pontiac and Stanford Olympia
and the West division featured Canton, Chillicothe IVC, Metamora. Morton and Washington. The division format and
championship game was dropped in 1974 with the start of the state playoffs. 1977 was the loop's last season.
Illini
More of an association than a league for football, this organization featured Bartonville Limestone, Canton,
East Peoria, Galesburg, Kewanee, Pekin, Peoria Richwoods, and Peoria Woodruff at various times in the 1950's and 1960's. The
league's members never played a complete round robin schedule in football and most played concurrently in other conferences. The
final season for football in the Illini was 1971.
Illini Central
Formed in 1985 by Bismark-Henning, Catlin, Danville Schlarman, Fithian-Oakwood, Georgetown, St Joseph-Ogden, Tolono Unity and Westville. Georgetown consolidated with Ridge Farm in 1986 and in 1995, Catlin and Sidell-Jamaica began the Salt Fork coop. 1998 was the final football season for the loop.
Illinois Valley (North Central)
This conference existed for football from 1970 through 1972 at least although its teams never played a complete
round robin schedule and many schools also competed in the neighboring NCIC conference. The Illinois Valley teams in
1970 were La Salle-Peru, Mendota, Morris, Ottawa, Ottawa Marquette, Peru St Bede, Spring Valley Hall and Streator. Hall
and La Salle-Peru were not counted in the standings for 1971 and 1972. Information about this conference is sparse possibly
due to its informal nature (at least for football) and it may indeed have existed prior to 1970. It is believed the conference,
informal or not, was disbanded when Morris joined the Little 7 in 1973.
The Illinois Valley Conference remains as an informal conference in other sports.
Illinois Valley (South Central)
In 1928, member schools were Carrollton, Jerseyville, Pittsfield, Pleasant Hill, Roodhouse and White Hall. Greenfield joined in 1929 and Winchester in 1930. Winchester left in 1932 and was replaced by Jacksonville, who left
when Winchester rejoined in 1939. In 1956 Jerseyville and Pittsfield left and Hardin and Virginia took their place. In
1961 Virginia left and Piasa SW took their place. In 1963 Roodhouse and White Hall consolidated forming White Hall North
Green and the loop was reduced to 7 teams. Pleasant Hill left in 1968 and Piasa SW in 1970 leaving the league with 5
football playing schools. 1973 was the last year under the Illinois Valley banner.
Illio
In 1952 this league featured Chillicothe, Dunlap, Eureka, Farmington, Metamora, Morton, Tremont and Washington. Washington
left in 1956 and Dunlap did also in 1958. Monmouth joined in 1968 and in 1971 major upheaval with Chillicothe IVC, Metamora
and Morton leaving and only Peoria Heights being added as a replacement. The league continued with just 5 teams until its
final season in 1975.
Illowa
In 1952 this league featured Fulton, Morrison, Savanna and Sterling Community Catholic in Illinois and Bettendorf, Clinton Lyons, Clinton St. Mary and De Witt
Central in Iowa. Clinton Lyons closed in 1954 and Amboy replaced them. Community Catholic became Newman Central
Catholic in 1958. By 1960 Bettendorf had outgrown the league and left with Port Byron Riverdale taking their place.
Amboy left in 1965 and was replaced by Eldridge (IA) North Scott. The league's final football season was 1974.
Independent School League
Football history: Played its first football in 1966 when Chicago Latin, Elgin Academy, Francis W. Parker,
Glenwood School, Morgan Park Academy and North Shore County Day broke off from the Private School League. Lake Forest Academy
was added in 1968. Angel Guardian fielded a team in the league for just the 1969 season. In 1972, Francis W. Parker dropped football
after just one game and Elgin Academy did also at season's end. Wheaton Academy fielded a team in the league for just
the 1972 season. Chicago Latin dropped football in 1974. 1978 proved to be the last football season under the ISL
banner when Glenwood School and Morgan Park Academy dropped football after that season.
Indian Valley Conference (1976 to 1994)
The Indian Valley's charter members were Annawan, De Pue, La Moille, Tampico and Tiskilwa from the Little 8 plus Bradford, Buda Western, Manlius and Walnut from the Blackhawk plus Atkinson from the Corn Belt (West). For some reason Ohio and Wyanet played independent football schedules in 1976 and 1977 and did not fully joined the league until 1978. In
1979 the league divided into two divisions: The East Division consisted of: De Pue, La Moille, Ohio, Tiskilwa, Walnut and Wyanet
The West Division included: Annawan, Atkinson, Bradford, Buda Western, Manlius
and Tampico
In 1981 Ohio dropped football and Wyoming was added to the East division for the 1982 season. In 1988
Atkinson dropped football and in 1989 the co-ops started reducing the Indian Valley to a 6-team league as
follows: Bradford-Tiskilwa coop, Manlius-Tampico coop, Walnut-La Moille coop, Buda Western-Wyanet coop, plus Annawan
and Wyoming which did not co-op. In 1990 Wyoming and Princeville co-opted and in 1991
Peoria Heights joined the league. In 1992 the Wyoming-Princeville coop was dissolved with Princeville remaining in the
Indian Valley and Wyoming consolidating with Toulon to form Stark County which played in the Lincoln Trail (Toulon's conference). 1994 was the last football
season for the Indian Valley.
Inter-County Athletic Conference (ICAC) 1952 - 1987.
Formed around 1952 with these 5 original members:
Brimfield, Glasford, LaFayette, Williamsfield, and Yates City. Its name represented the three different counties the original members were located (Knox, Peoria, Stark). This
roster stayed the same until 1968, when then-Blackhawk Conference members Elmwood and Toulon joined the loop. LaFayette consolidated
with Toulon in 1970, and about that same time Glasford High was renamed Glasford (Illini Bluffs). Toulon left both the
Blackhawk and ICAC in 1976 to help form the Lincoln Trail. Yates City consolidated with Farmington in 1987, leaving the
league with 4 teams (Brimfield, Elmwood, Illini Bluffs, and Williamsfield) until 1989, when the league reached Fulton County
with the addition of London Mills (Spoon River Valley). In 1997, the league added Delavan in Tazewell County, and in 2002,
Valley and Cuba (which had co-oped in football in the Prairieland Conference since 1999 as the North Fulton Wildcats) began
the North Fulton coop in all their sports while participating in both the Prairieland and ICAC (and even the Bi-County in
that league's final years--rare for a school to be part of 3 conferences). In 2007-08 Brimfield will be adding the Prairieland
Conference to their plate in addtion to the ICAC.
Interim
Formed in 1959, as its name suggests, this conference was a temporary set up for mostly new schools until
enough of them were opened to form complete new leagues. Existing schools Glenbrook, East Leyden and Wheaton were
joined by new schools Prospect, Proviso West and Willowbrook that first year. The next season 1960 was Maine West's
first. In 1961 West Leyden played its first full varsity slate as did Deerfield, Glenbard East, Morton West and Niles
West. 1962 was the last season for the Interim.
Iroquois
Some of the teams in the 1970s and 1980s for this baseball, basketball, and track conference included: Armstrong,
Potomac, Rossville-Alvin, Buckley-Loda, Cissna Park, Crescent City, Milford, Donovan, Sheldon, and Rankin
Kane County (?-1917)
(from Robert Pruter) Made up of Batavia, Dundee, Geneva, and St. Charles…broke up in 1917 when they joined Wheaton, Naperville, and West
Chicago from the DuPage County League to form the Bi-County
League.
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