3-C Conference
{{Short description|Former Wisconsin high school athletic conference}}
The 3-C Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in central Wisconsin. Founded in 1928 and ending operations in 1962, all members were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
= 1928–1933 =
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| mark-title1=Abbotsford
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| mark-title2=Colby
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| mark-title3=Dorchester
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| mark-title4=Granton
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| mark-title5=Greenwood
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| mark-title6=Neillsville
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| mark-title7=Unity
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| caption = Location of Original 3-C Conference Members
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The 3-C Conference, originally known as the Tri-County Basketball Conference for its first sponsored sport,{{Cite news |date=22 January 1929 |title=Granton and Unity Top Tri-County Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273008623/?match=1&terms=abbotsford%20colby%20dorchester%20granton%20greenwood%20neillsville%20unity |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=12}} was formed in 1928 by seven small high schools in central Wisconsin: Abbotsford, Colby, Dorchester, Granton, Greenwood, Neillsville, and Unity{{Cite news |date=25 August 1928 |title=Association of Men Teachers of Clark County Holds Meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/271678942/?match=1&terms=abbotsford%20colby%20dorchester%20granton%20greenwood%20neillsville%20unity |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=6}} (not to be confused with the Unity High School that was later opened in Balsam Lake). An eighth school (Loyal) was part of this initial group,{{Cite news |date=30 October 1928 |title=Gerhardt Elected 1928 Grid Captain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/265921273/?match=1&terms=abbotsford%20colby%20dorchester%20granton%20greenwood%20neillsville%20unity |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=9}} but wouldn't join in athletic competition until a few years later. The conference's name originated with the three counties that member schools were located in (Clark, Marathon and Taylor). Rib Lake and Spencer joined the 3-C Conference in 1929,{{Cite news |date=9 October 1929 |title=Ten Schools in Tri-County Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/268979597/?match=1&terms=%22tri-county%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=8}} and Medford became its tenth member in 1930{{Cite news |date=24 February 1931 |title=Granton is Winner in Tri-County Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272612103/?match=1&terms=%22tri-county%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=12}} after leaving the Wisconsin Valley Conference a few years earlier.{{Cite news |date=10 January 1929 |title=Sport Ink-Lings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243421832/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=5}} Spencer would leave the next year with Loyal entering competition,{{Cite news |date=7 January 1932 |title=Three Teams Tied For First in the Tri-County Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/518493772/?match=1&terms=%22tri-county%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=The Capital Times |pages=11}} and in 1932, Neillsville departed for membership in the Little Eight Conference.{{Cite news |date=30 March 1932 |title=Neillsville Leaves Tri-County Conference for "Little Eight" Circuit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273029262/?match=1&terms=%22tri-county%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=12}}
= 1933–1955 =
In 1933, Westboro entered the 3-C Conference, and the conference split into geographically aligned sections:{{Cite news |date=7 March 1934 |title=Three-C Conference (Final) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/404753583/?match=1&terms=%22tri-county%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=20}}
| class="wikitable"
!Northern Section !Southern Section |
| Abbotsford
|Colby |
| Dorchester
|Granton |
| Medford
|Greenwood |
| Rib Lake
|Loyal |
| Westboro
|Unity |
Spencer reentered the 3-C Conference in 1934 and were assigned to the conference's Southern Section.{{Cite news |date=19 December 1934 |title=Tri-County Conference Standings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273013881/?match=1&terms=%22tri-county%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=12}} In 1935, Loyal left the conference and were replaced by Prentice High School in Price County, entering the league's Northern Section.{{Cite news |date=14 January 1936 |title=Three Unbeaten Teams in 3-C Cage Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272996661/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=10}} Despite the addition of a fourth county to the membership stable, the 3-C Conference kept its name. Loyal rejoined the 3-C Conference's Southern Section in 1938,{{Cite news |date=6 December 1938 |title=Granton and Unity Will Play Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267472558/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=8}} bringing membership back up to twelve schools. Prentice's membership lasted until the middle of World War II,{{Cite news |date=11 November 1943 |title=3-C Conference to Start Play Nov. 23 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/266993916/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=10}} and the conference went back down to eleven schools until Phillips joined the loop's Northern Section in 1949.{{Cite news |date=31 March 1949 |title=Phillips Is Admitted to 3-C League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/266317456/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22%20phillips |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=16}} Unity High School was consolidated into Colby in 1954,{{Cite news |date=8 May 1954 |title=Unity School Commencement |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272869074/?match=1&terms=%22unity%20high%20school%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=3}} leaving the conference with eleven members.
= 1955–1962 =
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| mark-title1=Colby
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| mark-title2=Dor-Abby
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| mark-title3=Granton
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| mark-title4=Greenwood
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| mark-title6=Rib Lake
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| mark-title7=Spencer
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| mark-title8=Westboro
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| caption = Location of Final 3-C Conference Members
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In 1955, Medford and Phillips left the 3-C Conference to become exclusive members of the Lumberjack Conference{{Cite news |date=15 April 1953 |title=Lumberjack League Adds Basketball Slate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272635036/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings%20rothschild |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=18}} after having dual affiliation the past two years.{{Cite news |date=16 November 1955 |title=Phillips Is Too Good For Westboro Quintet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267698342/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=16}}{{Cite news |date=19 November 1955 |title=Panthers Deal Red Raiders 55-48 Defeat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267699103/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=7}} Membership decreased to eight schools in 1961 when Abbotsford and Dorchester merged,{{Cite news |date=19 July 1960 |title=Form New School District Dor-Abby |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272768816/?match=1&terms=dor-abby |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=8}} and divisional play was discontinued as well.{{Cite news |date=28 December 1961 |title=Colby Upset Leaves Dor-Abby, Greenwood Tied for 3-C Lead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267193627/?match=1&terms=%223-c%20conference%22 |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=12}} The 3-C Conference played its last game in 1962, with four members (Colby, Dor-Abby, Greenwood and Loyal) joining the Cloverbelt Conference, two members (Granton and Spencer) becoming members of the Marawood Conference, and two entered the Flambeau League (Rib Lake and Westboro).{{Cite news |date=15 November 1962 |title=Cloverbelt, Marawood Open Conference Seasons Friday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267316218/?match=1&terms=%22rib%20lake%22%20westboro%20flambeau |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=17}}{{clear}}
Conference membership history
| class="wikitable sortable"
!School !Location !Affiliation ![https://www.wissports.net/news_article/show/1292447 Enrollment] !Mascot !Colors !Joined !Left !Conference Joined !Current Conference |
| Abbotsford
|Public |244 |Panthers |{{color box|black}} {{color box|e35205}} |3-C (merged into Dor-Abby) |
| Colby
|Public |309 |Hornets |{{color box|b3a369}} {{color box|115740}} | colspan="2" |Cloverbelt |
| Dorchester
|Public |N/A |Red Devils |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|white}} |3-C (merged into Dor-Abby) |Merger dissolved in 1964, became Abbotsford |
| Granton
|Public |62 |Bulldogs |{{color box|e35205}} {{color box|black}} |
| Greenwood
|Public |112 |Indians |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|white}} | colspan="2" |Cloverbelt |
| Neillsville
|Public |269 |Warriors |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|white}} |
| Unity
|Public |N/A |Warriors |{{color box|00843d}} {{color box|white}} | colspan="2" |Closed (consolidated into Colby) |
| Rib Lake
|Public |132 |Redmen |{{color box|6f2c3f}} {{color box|ffc72c}} |
| Spencer
|Public |220 |Rockets |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|white}} |Independent, Marawood |
| Medford
|Public |738 |Raiders |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|black}} |
| Loyal
|Public |163 |Greyhounds |{{color box|6f2c3f}} {{color box|a2aaad}} | colspan="2" |Cloverbelt |
| Westboro
|Public |N/A |Trojans |{{color box|115740}} {{color box|white}} |Closed in 1967 (consolidated into Rib Lake) |
| Prentice
|Public |122 |Buccaneers |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|black}} |Independent |
| Phillips
|Public |217 |Loggers |{{color box|black}} {{color box|e35205}} |
| Dor-Abby
|Public |N/A |Falcons |{{color box|black}} {{color box|d50032}} |Merger dissolved in 1964, became Abbotsford |
Membership timeline
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1928 till:1962
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:120 left:0 bottom:50 top:5
Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)
id:line value:black
id:bg value:white
PlotData=
width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:m
bar:1 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1933 text:Abbotsford (1928-1961)
bar:1 color:blue from:1933 till:1961 text:
bar:2 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1933 text:Colby (1928-1962)
bar:2 color:skyblue from:1933 till:1961 text:
bar:2 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:3 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1933 text:Dorchester (1928-1961)
bar:3 color:blue from:1933 till:1961 text:
bar:4 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1933 text:Granton (1928-1962)
bar:4 color:skyblue from:1933 till:1961 text:
bar:4 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:5 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1933 text:Greenwood (1928-1962)
bar:5 color:skyblue from:1933 till:1961 text:
bar:5 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:6 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1932 text:Neillsville (1928-1932)
bar:7 color:tan1 from:1928 till:1933 text:Unity (1928-1954)
bar:7 color:skyblue from:1933 till:1954 text:
bar:8 color:tan1 from:1929 till:1933 text:Rib Lake (1929-1962)
bar:8 color:blue from:1933 till:1961 text:
bar:8 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:9 color:tan1 from:1929 till:1931 text:Spencer (1929-1931, 1934-1962)
bar:9 color:skyblue from:1934 till:1961 text:
bar:9 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:10 color:tan1 from:1930 till:1933 text:Medford (1930-1955)
bar:10 color:blue from:1933 till:1955 text:
bar:11 color:tan1 from:1931 till:1933 text:Loyal (1931-1935)
bar:11 color:skyblue from:1933 till:1935 text:
bar:11 color:skyblue from:1938 till:1961 text:(1938-1962)
bar:11 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:12 color:blue from:1933 till:1961 text:Westboro (1933-1962)
bar:12 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:13 color:blue from:1935 till:1943 text:Prentice (1935-1943)
bar:14 color:blue from:1949 till:1955 text:Phillips (1949-1955)
bar:15 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:Dor-Abby (1961-1962)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1928
{{Font color||{{RGB|0|102|204}}| Northern Section }} {{Font color||{{RGB|178|204|255}}| Southern Section }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wisconsin high school athletic conferences}}
Category:Wisconsin high school sports conferences
Category:Sports organizations established in 1928