Wisconsin Valley Conference
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wisconsin Valley Conference is a high school athletic conference composed of the largest public schools in north central Wisconsin centered on the Wausau, Wisconsin metro area. The Wisconsin Valley is one of Wisconsin's oldest athletic conferences. The conference competes in a wide variety of high school sports for girls and boys.
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[edit] Member schools
Current members of the Wisconsin Valley are:
- Antigo Red Robins, Antigo
- D.C. Everest Evergreens, Schofield
- Marshfield Tigers, Marshfield
- Merrill Blue Jays, Merrill
- Rhinelander Hodags, Rhinelander
- Stevens Point Panthers, Stevens Point
- Wausau East Lumberjacks, Wausau
- Wausau West Warriors, Wausau
- Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders, Wisconsin Rapids
Former member schools:
- Medford Raiders (Left 1920s/30s), Medford
- Nekoosa Papermakers (Left 1920s/30s), Nekoosa
- Shawano Hawks (Left 1980), Shawano
- Tomahawk Hatchets (Left 1920s/1930s), Tomahawk, Wisconsin
[edit] Wisconsin Valley Football and Wrestling
Although the Wisconsin Valley is a large school division 1 conference, they are largely recognized on the basis of their incredible football success rather than basketball, baseball or volleyball.
Since the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association began the state football playoffs 29 years ago in 1976, The Wisconsin Valley has managed to have a team in the state championship 17 times, and a victory in the championshp 11 times (including 5 title wins by the D.C. Everest Evergreens), more than any other large school conference.
Most notably is that the Wisconsin Valley Conference teams have dominated the Division 1 state wrestling championships since back in the 1970's when the state championships were stated since then the Wisconsin Valley Conference has collected a total of 19 championships. Even though all teams in the conference are tough two are the most notable. Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders team have brought in 16 of these, and the Merrill Bluejays have brought in 3. These two teams have close matches every year, even as far as in the 2005-2006 state championship these two faced each other in the finals.
It should also be noted that Wausau (East) High School left the Wisconsin Valley and competed in the Big Rivers Conference for a few years in the 1960s.
[edit] Great Northern Conference
Continued unhappiness with the Lumberjack conference and no change in realignment has brough the WIAA to possibly it's final realignment plan and ending 86 years of two team's conference affiliment with the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
Ashland moved to the Lake Superior conference in 2006-2007 leaving only six teams in the broken Lumberjack conference. The WIAA made the plan to move Merrill and Antigo out of the Wisconsin Valley conference and into a new Great Northern Conference. Along with Merrill and Antigo will be Lakeland, Medford, Northland Pines and Tomahawk from the Lumberjack Conference, and Mosinee from the Cloverbelt Conference. Rumours include the addition of Rhinelander in coming years. The realignments will look like this, with approximate enrollments:
Wisconsin Valley Conference
D.C. Everest - 1700
Marshfield - 1500
Rhinelander - 1200
Stevens Point - 2600
Wausau East - 1500
Wausau West - 1700
Wisconsin Rapids - 2000
Great Northern Conference
Antigo - 1100
Lakeland - 1000
Medford - 900
Merrill - 1100
Mosinee - 700
Northland Pines - 600
Tomahawk - 600
