Upper Wisconsin Conference

{{Short description|Former Wisconsin high school athletic conference}}

The Upper Wisconsin Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership base in the northern part of the state. Founded in 1926 and disbanded in 1937, the conference and its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

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| mark-title1=Butternut

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| mark-title2=Fifield

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| mark-title3=Glidden

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| mark-title4=Hurley

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| mark-title5=Iron Belt

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| mark-title6=Mellen

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| mark-title7=Park Falls

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| caption = Location of Original Upper Wisconsin Conference Members

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The Upper Wisconsin Conference was formed in 1926 by seven small high schools in far northern Wisconsin: Butternut, Fifield, Glidden, Hurley, Iron Belt, Mellen and Park Falls.{{Cite news |date=2 December 1926 |title=New Prep League for North State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250607372/?match=1&terms=%22upper%20wisconsin%20interscholastic%22 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=4}}{{Cite news |date=28 January 1927 |title=Mellen Leads Basket League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/358579070/?match=1&terms=butternut%20fifield%20glidden%20iron%20belt%20mellen%20park%20falls%20standings |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Iron County Miner |pages=2}} Charter members of the conference were located in three counties (Ashland, Iron and Price) and five of the original seven schools were located along Wisconsin Highway 13, a major north-south thoroughfare connecting Wisconsin Dells and Superior. Hurley left the Upper Wisconsin Conference in 1928,{{Cite news |date=10 February 1928 |title=Glidden Still On Top |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/358594851/?match=1&terms=%22upper%20wisconsin%20interscholastic%22 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Iron County Miner |pages=2}}{{Cite news |date=23 November 1928 |title=Mellen Has First Game Next Tuesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54880670/?match=1&terms=iron%20belt%20basketball%20schedule |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=3}} only to return the next year.{{Cite news |date=8 March 1930 |title=First Road Game Lost By Midgets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54579299/?match=1&terms=%22upper%20wisconsin%20league%22 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}} Their second stint in the conference ended in 1932, and the circuit continued with six member schools.{{Cite news |date=8 March 1933 |title=No Tourney for Iron Belt Quint |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54830241/?match=1&terms=butternut%20fifield%20glidden%20iron%20belt%20mellen%20park%20falls%20standings |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}} In 1935, Fifield left the Upper Wisconsin Conference and were replaced by Saxon to keep the roster at six schools.{{Cite news |date=2 October 1935 |title=School League Officers Named |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54882768/?match=1&terms=%22upper%20wisconsin%20league%22 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=8}} By this time, the conference was referred to informally as the Soo Line League.{{Cite book |url=https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/1000247215?page=75 |title=1936 Torch |publisher=Park Falls High School |publication-date=1936 |pages=39-40}} Fifield rejoined the conference the next year, offsetting the loss of Mellen and Park Falls to independent status.{{Cite news |date=25 January 1937 |title=Saxon Quintet Leads League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54561960/?match=1&terms=saxon%20glidden%20butternut%20basketball |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}} The conference ended play in 1937 after failing to agree to a league schedule.{{Cite news |date=18 October 1937 |title=School News in Iron Belt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54566737/?match=1&terms=glidden%20basketball |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=4}}{{Cite news |date=16 November 1937 |title=Saxon Cagers to Open Play |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/54567962/?match=1&terms=mellen%20basketball |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=7}}