Midland Conference (IHSAA)

The Midland Conference in Indiana

The Midland Conference was an IHSAA-sanctioned conference located in North Central and Northeast Indiana. Except for having three members between 1981 and 1984 notwithstanding, the conference stayed between four and six members through its lifetime. The conference consisted mostly of private schools, with one public school and one military academy holding membership at some point.

History

The conference was formed in 1971 with 6 schools: Bethany Christian, Divine Heart, Huntington Catholic, Kewanna, Wawasee Prep, and White's. Divine Child left after the first year, and was replaced by Marion Bennett in 1973-74. Wawassee Prep closed in 1975, leaving the conference at 5 until 1981. That year, Kewanna was consolidated into Caston Jr.-Sr. High School, and Bethany Christian became independent. The remaining schools (Huntington Catholic, Marion Bennett, and White's) continued the conference unofficially until 1984-85, when Fort Wayne Christian (later Fort Wayne Keystone) and Howe Military joined. This only lasted one season, as Fort Wayne Canterbury replaced the closing Huntington Catholic. Bethany Christian joined for the 1987-88 school year, and were replaced by Lakeview Christian in 1988. Once Marion Bennett closed in 1993, the conference entered its most stable lineup, not changing until Lakewood Park Christian joined in 2000. Canterbury left in 2002, followed by Lakewood Park leaving in 2009, leaving four schools. Keystone closed after the 2009-10 school year, and with Howe, Lakeview, and White's unable to find replacement schools, the conference disbanded after that season.

Membership

Members at folding

School Location Mascot Colors IHSAA
Class
County Year Joined Previous Conference Year Left Conference Joined
Howe Howe Wildcats           A 44
La Grange
1984 Independents
(NECC 1980)
2010 Independents
Fort Wayne
Keystone
Fort Wayne Eagles           A 02
Allen
1984 2010 none (school
closed)
Lakeview
Christian
Marion Lions                A 27
Grant
1988 2010 Independents
White's Wabash Warriors           A 85
Wabash
1971 Independents 2010 Independents
(left IHSAA 2011)

Former Members

School Location Mascot Colors County Year Joined Previous Conference Year Left Conference Joined
Bethany Christian Goshen Bruins           20
Elkhart
1971
1987
Independents
1981
1988
Independents
Independents
Divine Heart Donaldson Chargers           50
Marshall
1971 1972 Independents
(closed 1979)
Fort Wayne
Canterbury
Fort Wayne Cavaliers           2
Allen
1985 2002 Independents
Huntington
Catholic
Huntington Ramblers           35
Huntington
1971 Independents 1985 Independents
none (school closed)
Kewanna Kewanna Indians           25
Fulton
1971 Independents
(TVAC 1968)
1981 none (consolidated
into Caston)
Lakewood Park
Christian
Auburn Panthers                17
Dekalb
2000 Independents 2009 Independents
Marion
Bennett
Marion Trojans           27
Grant
1973 1993 Independents
none (school closed)
Wawassee Prep Syracuse Lakers           50
Marshall
1971 Independents
(opened 1968)
1975 none (school closed)

Membership Timeline

Membership timeline

Howe Military Academy Bethany Christian Schools

Resources