Lumberjack Conference
{{Short description|Former Wisconsin high school athletic conference}}
The Lumberjack Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in north central Wisconsin. Originating as a football-only conference in 1946, the Lumberjack Conference competed as an all-sport conference from 1953 to 2008. All member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
= 1946-1953 =
The Lumberjack Conference was organized in 1946 as a football-only conference by a group of small- to medium-sized schools in north central Wisconsin.{{Cite news |date=9 November 1945 |title=New Grid Loop Being Organized |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243531362/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22 |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=5}} Original members were Medford, Mosinee, Stanley, Tomahawk and the "B" team from Wausau High School. In 1948, Wausau "B" left the conference and were replaced by Nekoosa High School, formerly of the Wisconsin Valley Conference.{{Cite news |date=4 November 1948 |title=Await Conference Meeting to Decide Lumberjack Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243263943/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings |archive-url= |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=13}} Stanley left the league in 1950 and were replaced by Park Falls and Phillips.{{Cite news |date=25 March 1950 |title=Lumberjack Conference Elects New Officers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267171633/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings}} By 1951, conference officials began discussing sponsorship of sports other than football, contingent upon Nekoosa and Tomahawk leaving the larger Wisconsin Valley Conference.{{Cite news |date=14 February 1951 |title=Nekoosa High to Quit Valley |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11692762/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Rhinelander Daily News |pages=6}} Park Falls left the Lumberjack Conference in 1952 to become an all-sport member of the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference (which they already belonged to for basketball).{{Cite news |date=7 November 1951 |title=Officials of Lumberjack Conference to Meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267470355/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20%22park%20falls%22 |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=14}} Nekoosa followed them out to join the South Central Conference, and the Lumberjack was down to four members for the 1952 football season.{{Cite news |date=11 December 1951 |title=Nekoosa Gridders to Compete in New Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243476462/?match=1&terms=%22south%20central%20conference%22%20nekoosa |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=4}} In 1953, the newly opened D.C. Everest High School in Schofield was accepted into the Lumberjack Conference as its fifth football member.{{Cite news |date=29 November 1952 |title=Football at Everest High School in '53 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/271701198/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings%20rothschild |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=14}}
= 1953-1976 =
{{OSM Location map
| title =
| coord = {{coord|45.2500|-90.0000}}
| float = right
| zoom = 7
| width = 250
| height = 250
| mark-size1=10
| mark-title1=D.C. Everest
| mark-coord1={{coord|44.8975|-89.5940}} | mark-description1=Location:
| shape-color1=#115740 | shape1=circle
| mark-title2=Medford
| mark-coord2={{coord|45.1418|-90.3652}} | mark-description2=Location:
| shape-color2=#d50032 | shape2=circle
| mark-title3=Mosinee
| mark-coord3={{coord|44.7942|-89.7085}} | mark-description3=Location:
| shape-color3=#582c83 | shape3=circle
| mark-title4=Phillips
| mark-coord4={{coord|45.6937|-90.4139}} | mark-description4=Location:
| shape-color4=#e35205 | shape4=circle
| caption = Location of Original Lumberjack Conference Members
| auto-caption=
| wrap=wrap}}
A few months after D.C. Everest was welcomed into the Lumberjack Conference, the loop elected to sponsor additional sports, starting with basketball in the 1953–54 school year.{{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=23 December 2024 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=18}} Four of the football members (D.C. Everest, Medford, Mosinee and Phillips) would compete in the inaugural season. The fifth football member, Tomahawk, joined the Lumberjack the next year as a full member after leaving the Wisconsin Valley Conference.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=1 July 1954 |title=4 Schools Form New Prep League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/518417868/?match=1&terms=%E2%80%9Clumberjack%2520conference%E2%80%9D%2520standings |access-date=26 December 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=26}} Park Falls joined the conference in 1955 after their exit from the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference.{{Cite news |date=12 November 1954 |title=Park Falls Coming Back To Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272023664/?match=1&terms=%E2%80%9Clumberjack%2520conference%E2%80%9D%2520tomahawk%2520%E2%80%9Cpark%2520falls%E2%80%9D |access-date=26 December 2024 |work=Wausau Dailu Herald |pages=14}} In 1957, D.C. Everest left the Lumberjack Conference when they were invited to join the Wisconsin Valley Conference.{{Cite news |date=13 November 1956 |title=D.C. Everest Admitted Into Valley Circuit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250806680/?match=1&terms=everest%20%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22 |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=1}} They were replaced by Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua (formerly of the Northern Lakes Conference) in 1958,{{Cite news |date=24 October 1957 |title=Lakeland Board Reaffirms Shift to New Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11010212/?match=1&terms=%E2%80%9Clumberjack%2520conference%E2%80%9D%2520lakeland%2520minocqua |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Rhinelander Daily News |pages=3}} and the conference remained a six-member circuit for fifteen years. Ashland and Hurley joined the Lumberjack in 1973, leading to the dissolution of the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference.{{Cite news |date=9 May 1972 |title=Lumberjack Conference Accepts Hurley’s Bid |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/55237750/?match=1&terms=%E2%80%9Clumberjack%2520conference%E2%80%9D%2520ashland |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=5}}
= 1976-2008 =
{{OSM Location map
| title =
| coord = {{coord|45.4500|-90.0000}}
| float = right
| zoom = 6
| width = 250
| height = 250
| mark-size1=10
| mark-title1=Ashland
| mark-coord1={{coord|46.5737|-90.8839}} | mark-description1=Location:
| shape-color1=#330072 | shape1=circle
| mark-title2=Auburndale
| mark-coord2={{coord|44.6324|-90.0058}} | mark-description2=Location:
| shape-color2=#005eb8 | shape2=circle
| mark-title3=Colby
| mark-coord3={{coord|44.9203|-90.3180}} | mark-description3=Location:
| shape-color3=#115740 | shape3=circle
| mark-title4=Hurley
| mark-coord4={{coord|46.4560|-90.2018}} | mark-description4=Location:
| shape-color4=#ff8200 | shape4=circle
| mark-title5=Lakeland Union
| mark-coord5={{coord|45.8866|-89.7058}} | mark-description5=Location:
| shape-color5=#000000 | shape5=circle
| mark-title6=Medford
| mark-coord6={{coord|45.1418|-90.3652}} | mark-description6=Location:
| shape-color6=#d50032 | shape6=circle
| mark-title7=Mosinee
| mark-coord7={{coord|44.7942|-89.7085}} | mark-description7=Location:
| shape-color7=#582c83 | shape7=circle
| mark-title8=Nekoosa
| mark-coord8={{coord|44.3094|-89.9089}} | mark-description8=Location:
| shape-color8=#041e42 | shape8=circle
| mark-title9=Northland Pines
| mark-coord9={{coord|45.9363|-89.2528}} | mark-description9=Location:
| shape-color9=#005eb8 | shape9=circle
| mark-title10=Park Falls
| mark-coord10={{coord|45.9459|-90.4546}} | mark-description10=Location:
| shape-color10=#ba0c2f | shape10=circle
| mark-title11=Phillips
| mark-coord11={{coord|45.6937|-90.4139}} | mark-description11=Location:
| shape-color11=#e35205 | shape11=circle
| mark-title12=Tomahawk
| mark-coord12={{coord|45.4769|-89.7104}} | mark-description12=Location:
| shape-color12=#ffc72c | shape12=circle
| caption = Location of Lumberjack Conference Members (1976-1978)
| auto-caption=
| wrap=wrap}}
In 1976, the Lumberjack Conference added four schools: Auburndale, Colby, Nekoosa and Northland Pines in Eagle River. Auburndale and Nekoosa were former members of the Marawood Conference, Colby came from the Cloverbelt Conference, and Northland Pines was late of the Northern Lakes Conference. To accommodate the expansion of the Lumberjack to twelve member schools, the conference subdivided into North and South Divisions:{{Cite news |date=27 June 1975 |title=Papers, Apaches Shifted to Lumberjack |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243931832/?match=1&terms=%22marawood%20conference%22%20granton%20realignment |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=6}}{{Cite news |last=Orcutt |first=Rob |date=1 July 1975 |title=Medium, small school officials display mixed emotions in wake of realignment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273152932/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20realignment |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=15}}
| class="wikitable"
!North Division !South Division |
| Ashland
|Auburndale |
| Hurley
|Colby |
| Lakeland Union
|Medford |
| Northland Pines
|Mosinee |
| Park Falls
|Nekoosa |
| Phillips
|Tomahawk |
{{OSM Location map
| title =
| coord = {{coord|45.5500|-89.8500}}
| float = right
| zoom = 7
| width = 250
| height = 250
| mark-size1=10
| mark-title1=Lakeland Union
| mark-coord1={{coord|45.8866|-89.7058}} | mark-description1=Location:
| shape-color1=#000000 | shape1=circle
| mark-title2=Medford
| mark-coord2={{coord|45.1418|-90.3652}} | mark-description2=Location:
| shape-color2=#d50032 | shape2=circle
| mark-title3=Northland Pines
| mark-coord3={{coord|45.9363|-89.2528}} | mark-description3=Location:
| shape-color3=#005eb8 | shape3=circle
| mark-title4=Nekoosa
| mark-coord4={{coord|45.9459|-90.4546}} | mark-description4=Location:
| shape-color4=#ba0c2f | shape4=circle
| mark-title5=Phillips
| mark-coord5={{coord|45.6937|-90.4139}} | mark-description5=Location:
| shape-color5=#e35205 | shape5=circle
| mark-title6=Tomahawk
| mark-coord6={{coord|45.4769|-89.7104}} | mark-description6=Location:
| shape-color6=#ffc72c | shape6=circle
| caption = Location of Final Lumberjack Conference Members
| auto-caption=
| wrap=wrap}}
This alignment would be short-lived, as four schools left the Lumberjack to join the Cloverbelt Conference in 1978: Auburndale, Colby, Mosinee and Nekoosa. Mosinee had long wanted out of the Lumberjack because of the long travel distances they experienced as members of the conference and were closer to their new rivals in the Cloverbelt.{{Cite news |last=McNichols |first=Mike |date=24 September 1977 |title=Mosinee, Colby, two other LJ schools move into Cloverbelt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273416556/?match=1&terms=lumberjack%20cloverbelt%20realignment |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=11}} The conference went back down to a single division and continued as an eight-member conference until Hurley left in 1980 to join with former rivals in the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference to form the Gogebic Range Conference.{{Cite news |date=31 January 1980 |title=Lumberjack Stats |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/268220350/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20hurley |archive-url= |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=Marshfield News Herald |pages=15}}{{Cite news |date=22 January 1981 |title=Lumberjack Cage Stats |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/268192014/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=12}}{{Cite news |date=21 January 1980 |title=Torrid Teams Tangle in Tuesday Feature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/4721772/?match=1&terms=%22gogebic%20range%20conference%22 |access-date=9 April 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=10}} The remaining seven members continued until Ashland left the Lumberjack Conference in 2006 to join the Lake Superior Conference, a Minnesota-based conference that included nearby Superior High School as members.{{Cite news |last=Weegman |first=Rick |date=8 September 2006 |title=Ashland feels right at home in Minnesota-based conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1132761155/?match=1&terms=ashland%20%22lake%20superior%20conference%22 |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=Duluth News Tribune |pages=14}} The Lumberjack played on with six members until 2008, when the conference was dissolved. Four of its member schools (Lakeland Union, Medford, Northland Pines and Tomahawk) went on to help form the Great Northern Conference,{{Cite news |last=Lueck |first=Collin |date=11 June 2008 |title=Merrill High School ready for move to brand new conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1092368936/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20realignment |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Merrill Foto News |pages=31}} and the other two schools (Park Falls and Phillips) joined the Marawood Conference. Park Falls High School would close in 2009 after consolidation with Glidden to form Chequamegon High School.{{Cite news |date=26 July 2009 |title=School District Consolidation History (graphic insert) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/304868762/?match=1&terms=%E2%80%9Cpark%2520falls%E2%80%9D%2520glidden%2520Chequamegon |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |pages=6A}}{{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 |
| D.C. Everest
|Public |1,824 |Evergreens |{{color box|173f35}} {{color box|ffc72c}} | colspan="2" |Wisconsin Valley |
| Medford
|Public |738 |Raiders |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|black}} | colspan="2" |Great Northern |
| Mosinee
|Public |621 |Indians |{{color box|582c83}} {{color box|white}} |
| Phillips
|Public |217 |Loggers |{{color box|e35205}} {{color box|black}} | colspan="2" |Marawood |
| Tomahawk
|Public |371 |Hatchets |{{color box|041e42}} {{color box|ffc72c}} | colspan="2" |Great Northern |
| Park Falls
|Public |N/A |Cardinals |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|white}} |Closed in 2009 (consolidated into Chequamegon) |
| Lakeland Union
|Public |717 |Thunderbirds |{{color box|black}} {{color box|white}} | colspan="2" |Great Northern |
| Ashland
|Public |635 |Oredockers |{{color box|330072}} {{color box|ffc72c}} |
| Hurley
|Public |192 |Midgets |{{color box|black}} {{color box|ff8200}} |
| Auburndale
|Public |229 |Apaches |{{color box|005eb8}} {{color box|white}} |
| Colby
|Public |309 |Hornets |{{color box|115740}} {{color box|b3a369}} | colspan="2" |Cloverbelt |
| Nekoosa
|Public |292 |Papermakers |{{color box|041e42}} {{color box|white}} |
| Northland Pines
|Public |451 |Eagles |{{color box|005eb8}} {{color box|d50032}} | colspan="2" |Great Northern |
Membership timeline
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1953 till:2008
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:30 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:1953 till:1957 text:D.C. Everest (1953-1957)
bar:2 color:tan1 from:1953 till:1976 text:Medford (1953-2008)
bar:2 color:skyblue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:2 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2008 text:
bar:3 color:tan1 from:1953 till:1976 text:Mosinee (1953-1978)
bar:3 color:skyblue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:4 color:tan1 from:1953 till:1976 text:Phillips (1953-2008)
bar:4 color:blue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:4 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2008 text:
bar:5 color:tan1 from:1955 till:1976 text:Park Falls (1955-2008)
bar:5 color:blue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:5 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2008 text:
bar:6 color:tan1 from:1955 till:1976 text:Tomahawk (1955-2008)
bar:6 color:skyblue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:6 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2008 text:
bar:7 color:tan1 from:1958 till:1976 text:Lakeland Union (1958-2008)
bar:7 color:blue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:7 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2008 text:
bar:8 color:tan1 from:1973 till:1976 text:Ashland (1973-2006)
bar:8 color:blue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:8 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2006 text:
bar:9 color:tan1 from:1973 till:1976 text:Hurley (1973-1980)
bar:9 color:blue from:1976 till:1978 text:
bar:9 color:tan1 from:1978 till:1980 text:
bar:10 color:skyblue from:1976 till:1978 text:Auburndale (1976-1978)
bar:11 color:skyblue from:1976 till:1978 text:Colby (1976-1978)
bar:12 color:skyblue from:1976 till:1978 text:Nekoosa (1976-1978)
bar:13 color:blue from:1976 till:1978 text:Northland Pines (1976-2008)
bar:13 color:tan1 from:1978 till:2008 text:
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1953
{{Font color||{{RGB|0|102|204}}| North Division }} {{Font color||{{RGB|178|204|255}}| South Division }}
List of state champions
= Fall sports =
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/State_Records/bteamchamps.pdf Boys Cross Country] !School !Year !Division |
| Tomahawk
|1977 |Class B |
| Phillips
|1990 |Division 2 |
| Phillips
|1992 |Division 2 |
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/State_Records/gteamchamps.pdf Girls Cross Country] !School !Year !Division |
| Tomahawk
|1976 |Single Division |
| Tomahawk
|1978 |Class B |
| Tomahawk
|1979 |Class B |
| Phillips
|1985 |Class B |
| Phillips
|1986 |Class B |
| Park Falls
|1988 |Class B |
| Park Falls
|1991 |Division 2 |
| Tomahawk
|2004 |Division 2 |
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Football/State_Records/teamchamps.pdf Football] !School !Year !Division |
| Lakeland Union
|1983 |Division 3 |
| Ashland
|1984 |Division 2 |
| Ashland
|1993 |Division 3 |
= Winter sports =
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Basketball_Boys/State%20Records/teamchamps.pdf?ver=2019-03-25-161230-947 Boys Basketball] !School !Year !Division |
| Park Falls
|1999 |Division 3 |
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Basketball_Girls/State%20Records/teamchamps.pdf?ver=2019-03-25-103336-893 Girls Basketball] !School !Year !Division |
| Lakeland Union
|1992 |Division 2 |
| Park Falls
|1995 |Division 3 |
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF//Results/statechampsbyschool.htm Curling] !School !Year !Division |
| Medford
|1968 |Single Division |
| Medford
|1970 |Single Division |
| class="wikitable"
|+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/hockey_boys/State_Records/teamchamps.pdf Boys Ice Hockey] !School !Year !Division |
| Northland Pines
|1984 |Single Division |
| Northland Pines
|1986 |Single Division |
| Northland Pines
|1989 |Single Division |
= Spring sports =
None
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wisconsin high school athletic conferences}}
Category:Wisconsin high school sports conferences