Northwestern Illinois Conference
FormerlyStephenson County Conference
Northwest Conference
ConferenceIHSA
Founded1958
Ceased1995
No. of teams11
RegionNorthwest Illinois (Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties)
Locations
The Northwestern Illinois Conference within IllinoisThe 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.

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.

Locations of NWIC Schools

Member schools

School Location Mascot Colors Year Joined Year Left IHSA Classes A/AA[1] IHSA Music Class[1] IHSA Football Class[1]
Aquin Catholic
High School
Freeport, IL Bulldogs    
Navy Blue, Gold
1959 1996 A D 1A
Dakota
High School
Dakota, IL Indians    
Maroon, White
1958 1996 A C 1A
Durand
High School
Durand, IL Bulldogs    
Royal Blue, White
1958 1974 A C 1A
East Dubuque
High School
East Dubuque, IL Warriors    
Royal Blue, White
1989 1995 A C 1A
Eastland
High School
Lanark, IL Cougars    
Royal Blue, Orange
1986
consolidated with
Shannon High School
1996 A C 1A
Galena
High School
Galena, IL Pirates    
Royal Blue, White
1959 1996 A C 1A
Lanark
High School
Lanark, IL Beavers    
Blue, White
1966 1986 A C 1A
Lena-Winslow
High School
Lena, IL Panthers    
Black, Gold
1958 1996 A C 1A
Orangeville
High School
Orangeville, IL Broncos    
Purple, Gold
1958
1977
1974
1996
A D 1A
Pearl City
High School
Pearl City, IL Wolves      
Red, White, Black
1960 1974 A D 1A
Stockton
High School
Stockton, IL Blackhawks    
Maroon, Gold
1959 1996 A D 1A
Warren
High School
Warren, IL Warriors    
Orange, Black
1959 1988 A D 1A

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

Membership timeline

Northwest 8 ConferenceUpstate Illini Conference

Full members Various Conferences/Independent US 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

School Sport/Activity Gender Year Class
Stockton Football Boys 1978-79 2A
Aquin Central Catholic Football Boys 1981-82 1A
Aquin Central Catholic Football Boys 1986-87 1A
Orangeville Football Boys 1989-90 1A
Stockton Football Boys 1991-92 1A

Individual

Athlete(s) School Sport/Activity Event/Level Gender Year Class
Toni Logemann Stockton Track & Field 800m Run Girls 1994-95 A
Jerry Raab Stockton Wrestling 98 lbs Boys 1975-76 A
Pete Alber Dakota Wrestling 98 lbs Boys 1980-81 A
Jerry Raab Stockton Wrestling 105 lbs Boys 1976-77 A
Mike Lizer Dakota Wrestling 105 lbs Boys 1978-79 A
Tony Alber Dakota Wrestling 105 lbs Boys 1979-80 A
Dennis Lizer Dakota Wrestling 112 lbs Boys 1976-77 A
Steve Webster Dakota Wrestling 126 lbs Boys 1973-74 A
Greg Alber Dakota Wrestling 126 lbs Boys 1987-88 A
Brian Woodley Dakota Wrestling 167 lbs Boys 1993-94 A
Jeff Eastlick Stockton Wrestling 185 lbs Boys 1977-78 A
Andy McPeek Lena-Winslow Wrestling 189 lbs Boys 1992-93 A
Wes Folk Dakota Wrestling 189 lbs Boys 1994-95 A
Dave Eaton Galena Track & Field 100m Dash Boys 1986-87 A
Jeremy Daughenbaugh
Kurt Kramer
Jayson Lietzen
Jeremy Spencer
Lena-Winslow Track & Field 4x100m Relay Boys 1992-93 A

References

  1. 1 2 3 "IHSA Enrollments-Classifications". www.ihsa.org.
  2. โ†‘ "IHSA.org Conferences". www.ihsa.org.
  3. โ†‘ "Schools - IHSA". www.ihsa.org.
  4. โ†‘ "Records & History - Boys Baseball - IHSA Sports & Activities". www.ihsa.org.
  5. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  6. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  7. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  8. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  9. 1 2 "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  10. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  11. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  12. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  13. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  14. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  15. 1 2 "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  16. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  17. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
  18. โ†‘ "Records & History". www.ihsa.org.
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