Michigan-Wisconsin Conference

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| mark-title1=Ashland

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| mark-title2=Bessemer

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| mark-title4=Ironwood

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| mark-title5=Wakefield

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| caption = Location of Original Michigan-Wisconsin Conference Members

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The Michigan-Wisconsin Conference was formed in 1937 by five high schools near the border between the two states. Three members were located in Michigan's upper peninsula (Bessemer, Ironwood and Wakefield) and two were based in Wisconsin (Ashland and Hurley).{{Cite news |date=23 September 1937 |title=Five High Schools Organize Michigan-Wisconsin Athletic Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54565887/?match=1&terms=%22michigan-wisconsin%20conference%22%20ashland%20bessemer%20hurley%20ironwood%20wakefield |access-date=26 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}} All of the original member schools in the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference were located along the U.S. Route 2 corridor near the south shore of Lake Superior. Two new schools were added in 1950 when Calumet of Michigan and Park Falls of Wisconsin became members of the conference.{{Cite news |date=5 April 1950 |title=Two Added To Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/476871078/?match=1&terms=%22michigan-wisconsin%20conference%22%20%22park%20falls%22 |work=Oshkosh Northwestern |pages=18}} Both schools already had commitments in other conferences to fulfill, and Park Falls didn't join for all of their sponsored sports until 1952.{{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=27 February 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=14}} Calument didn't join the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference at all, electing to stay members of Michigan's Copper Country Conference instead.{{Cite news |date=7 February 1951 |title=Polar Bears Are Riding High In Copper Country Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54572217/?match=1&terms=%22copper%20country%22%20%22m-w%20conference%22%20calumet |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}}{{Cite news |date=24 January 1952 |title=Polar Bears, Gremlins in C-C Classic Friday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54565593/?match=1&terms=%22copper%20country%22%20standings%20calumet |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}} Park Falls only stayed for five years as a full member before they left in 1955 to join the Lumberjack 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=27 February 2025 |work=Wausau Dailu Herald |pages=14}}

In 1960, the newly formed Northwestern High School in Maple brought membership in the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference back up to six schools.{{Cite news |date=22 January 1960 |title=Maple Tigers to Join M-W Ranks at Start of 1960-61 Basketball Season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54595435/?match=1&terms=%22michigan-wisconsin%20conference%22%20northwestern%20maple |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=6}} Superior East became the conference's seventh school in 1961,{{Cite news |date=28 October 1960 |title=Superior East in M-W Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/358538400/?match=1&terms=%22michigan-wisconsin%20conference%22%20%22superior%20east%22 |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Iron County Miner |pages=1}} but closed in 1965 after merging with Superior Central to form the new Superior High School.{{Cite news |date=24 March 1965 |title=M-W Conference Selects Dates, Sites for Spring Meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/353478/?match=1&terms=%22superior%20east%20high%20school%22 |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=10}} They were immediately replaced by Cathedral High School,{{Cite news |date=24 July 1965 |title=Superior School Appoints Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/364379/?match=1&terms=%22cathedral%20high%20school%22%20%22michigan-wisconsin%20conference%22 |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=16}} the only private school ever to play in the conference and a member of the Wisconsin Catholic Interscholastic Athletic Association. Just like their predecessor, they spent four years as conference members before closing their doors in 1969.{{Cite news |date=26 April 1969 |title=WISAA Accepts Two New Members |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/18979326/?match=1&terms=wisaa%20%22brookfield%20academy%22%20%22martin%20luther%22 |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Eau Claire Daily Telegram |pages=12}} The Michigan-Wisconsin Conference lasted for four more years before disbanding in 1973. Ashland and Hurley joined Wisconsin's Lumberjack 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 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=5}} and two Michigan schools (Bessemer and Wakefield) became charter members of the Western Upper Peninsula Athletic Conference.{{Cite news |date=12 June 1973 |title=Bessemer Joins New Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/55112070/?match=1&terms=%22michigan-wisconsin%20conference%22 |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=5}} Northwestern spent a year as an independent before they became members of the Heart O'North Conference in Wisconsin,{{Cite news |date=6 September 1973 |title=No Major Power Shifts Expected in Northern Wisconsin Football |url=14 |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=14}} and Ironwood entered the Great Northern UP Conference in Michigan.{{Cite news |date=29 August 1973 |title=New looks in EUPC and GLC Conferences |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/4035874/?match=3&terms=%22great%20northern%20conference%22%20ironwood |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=The Hiawathaland |pages=42}}

DateFormat = yyyy

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Period = from:1937 till:1973

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width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:m

bar:1 color:tan1 from:1937 till:1973 text:Ashland (1937-1973)

bar:2 color:tan1 from:1937 till:1973 text:Bessemer (1937-1973)

bar:3 color:tan1 from:1937 till:1973 text:Hurley (1937-1973)

bar:4 color:tan1 from:1937 till:1973 text:Ironwood (1937-1973)

bar:5 color:tan1 from:1937 till:1973 text:Wakefield (1937-1973)

bar:6 color:tan1 from:1950 till:1955 text:Park Falls (1950-1955)

bar:7 color:tan1 from:1960 till:1973 text:Northwestern (1960-1973)

bar:8 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1965 text:Superior East (1961-1965)

bar:9. color:tan1 from:1965 till:1969 text:Superior Cathedral (1965-1969)

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== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Wisconsin high school athletic conferences}}

Category:Wisconsin high school sports conferences

Category:Michigan high school sports conferences

Category:1937 establishments in Wisconsin

Category:1937 establishments in Michigan

Category:1973 disestablishments in Wisconsin

Category:1973 disestablishments in Michigan