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Western Big 6 Conference

{{Short description|High school conference in Illinois, US}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox sports league

| name = Western Big 6 Conference

| color = black

| font_color = white

| conference = IHSA

| teams = 8

| region = West Central Illinois

}}

The Western Big 6 Conference is a high school conference in western central Illinois. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The conference comprises public high schools with large enrollments, as well a private school, in the Illinois Quad Cities, Galesburg, Illinois, and Quincy, Illinois.

Current membership

{{Location map+|USA Illinois|width=450|float=center|caption=Western Big 6 Conference Members (clickable map)|places=

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|41|29|21|N|90|34|23|W}} |position=top|label=Alleman}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Gold pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|40|57|8|N|90|22|7|W}} |position=left|label=Galesburg}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|41|27|0|N|90|9|12|W}} |position=right|label=Geneseo}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Purple pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|41|29|14|N|90|29|4|W}} |position=bottom|label=Moline}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Blue pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|39|55|56|N|91|23|19|W}} |position=right|label=Quincy}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Red pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|41|29|21|N|90|34|23|W}} |position=left|label=Rock Island}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Blue pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|41|47|48|N|89|41|36|W}} |position=right|label=Sterling}}

{{Location map~|USA Illinois|mark=Orange pog.svg|label_size=70 | coordinates = {{coord|41|30|43|N|90|26|7|W}} |position=right|label=United}}

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
School

! Location
(Population)

! Mascot

! Colors

! 2019-20 Enrollment

! IHSA Classes 2/3/4{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihsa.org/school/enrolla.htm|title=School Enrollments (Alphabetical) | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523105237/https://www.ihsa.org/school/enrolla.htm | archive-date=2009-05-23}}

! IHSA Music Class{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihsa.org/school/enrollments.htm|title=How IHSA Enrollments and Classifications are Determined | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227204709/http://www.ihsa.org/school/enrollments.htm | archive-date=2011-02-27}}

! IHSA Football Class{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/2009-10/playoffs.htm| title=How the Football Playoff Pairings are Determined — 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515141332/http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/2009-10/playoffs.htm | archive-date=2010-05-15}}

! IHSA Cheerleading Class

Alleman High School

| Rock Island, IL
(57,108)

| Pioneers

| {{color box|green|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

| 435 / 709.50 (multiplied)

| A/1A/2A

| B

| 4A

| Medium squad

Galesburg High School

| Galesburg, IL
(30,052)

| Silver Streaks

| {{color box|silver|border=silver}} {{color box|gold|border=silver}}

| 1,284

| AA/2A/3A

| AA

| 6A

| Medium squad

Geneseo High School

| Geneseo, IL
(6,539)

| Maple Leafs

| {{color box|green|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

| 840.5

| AA/2A/3A

| A

| 4A

| Medium squad

Moline High School

| Moline, IL
(42,985)

| Maroons

| {{color box|maroon|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

| 2,061

| AA/3A/4A

| AA

| 7A

| Large squad

Quincy High School

| Quincy, IL
(39,463)

| Blue Devils

| {{color box|blue|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}

| 1,788

| AA/3A/4A

| AA

| 7A

| Large Squad

Rock Island High School

| Rock Island, IL
(57,108)

| Rocks

| {{color box|crimson|border=silver}} {{color box|gold|border=silver}}

| 1,626

| AA/2A/3A

| A

| 6A

| Medium squad

Sterling High School

| Sterling, IL
(14,782)

| Golden Warriors

| {{color box|navy|border=silver}} {{color box|gold|border=silver}}

| 1,021

| AA/2A/3A

| A

| 5A

| Medium squad

United Township High School

| East Moline, IL
(21,374)

| Panthers

| {{color box|orange|border=silver}} {{color box|black|border=silver}}

| 1,666

| AA/3A/4A

| AA

| 6A

| Medium squad

Sources:IHSA Conferences{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihsa.org/school/conf.htm|title=Conferences and Leagues | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527202257/http://www.ihsa.org/school/conf.htm | archive-date=2011-05-27}} and IHSA Member Schools Directory{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihsa.org/Schools|title=Schools | IHSA|website=www.ihsa.org}}

History

The Western Big 6 Conference was established in 1969. The conference consisted of four schools from the Quad Cities area, one from Quincy, and one from Galesburg. The charter members were Moline High School, Rock Island High School, Rock Island Alleman High School, United Township High School (East Moline), Quincy Senior High School, and Galesburg High School. Enrollments have ranged from over 2000 students, to Alleman, the league's only private school, with about 300.{{Cite web | url=http://streaks.org/athletics/wb6.html | title=Western Big 6 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302220425/http://streaks.org/athletics/wb6.html | archive-date=2012-03-02}}

Prior to the advent of the Western Big 6 Conference, the schools of the present day conference are known to have participated in several other conferences:{{Cite web|url=http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id349.html|title=The Great Conferences}}

  • Quincy participated in Mississippi Valley Conference from 1922-1923 along with Macomb, Carthage, Fort Madison (IA), Keokuk (IA), and Pittsfield. Quincy also participated in the Tri State Conference from 1932-1935 along with Macomb, Canton (MO), Fort Madison (IA), Hannibal (MO), Keokuk (IA), Kirksville (MO).
  • Canton, East Moline, Galesburg, Kewanee, Moline and Rock Island participated in football at various times in the early 1950s under the Northwest Conference (Near) banner. 1956 was the final season for the conference.
  • East Moline, Moline and Rock Island participated in the Quad Cities Metro Conference, along with Davenport Central and (after 1960) Davenport West, throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Rock Island Alleman joined in 1969 (as did Davenport Assumption from the Iowa side). The 1977-1978 school year was the last for the competition in this conference.
  • Simultaneous with the Quad Cities Metro Conference, East Moline, Moline and Rock Island were members of the Mississippi Valley Conference. In addition to Davenport Central and (after 1960) Davenport West, Iowa schools from Cedar Rapids, Clinton and Dubuque were also part of this conference.
  • More of an association than a league or conference for football, the Illini Conference organization featured Bartonville Limestone, Canton, East Peoria, Galesburg, Kewanee, Pekin, Peoria Richwoods, and Peoria Woodruff at various times in the 1950s and 1960s. The league's members never played a complete round robin schedule in football and most played concurrently in other conferences. The final season for football in the Illini was 1971.
  • Starting in 2019-2020 season Geneseo High School and Sterling High School joined the conference in all activities.{{Cite web|url=http://qconline.com/sports/high_school_sports/geneseo-sterling-join-western-big/article_88d59f57-1ec2-5a57-af99-5fa1ac438499.html|title=Geneseo, Sterling join Western Big 6|date=March 21, 2018 }}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
School

! Years

! Consolidations

! Conference Came From

! State Championships (1969–Present)

Alleman High School

| 1969–Present

| n/a

| Unknown

| 7

Galesburg High School

| 1969–Present

| n/a

| Illini

| 2

Geneseo High School

| 2019–Present

| Atkinson High School (1988){{Cite web|url=http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id6.html|title = The Atkinson High School "Tigers"}}

| NIB-12

| -

Moline High School

| 1969–Present

| 1952 Coal Valley{{Cite web|url=http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id32.html|title = Coal Valley High School}}

| Mississippi Valley

| 9

Quincy High School

| 1969–Present

| n/a

| Unknown

| 9

Rock Island High School

| 1969–Present

| n/a

| Mississippi Valley

| 5

Sterling High School

| 2019–Present

| N/A

| NIB-12

| 3

United Township High School

| 1969–Present

| 1920 Silvis{{Cite web|url=http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id929.html|title=Silvis High School}}

| Mississippi Valley

| 3

Competitive success

The present-day Western Big 6 Conference has won 38 state championships in IHSA-sponsored athletics and activities:

  • Boys Baseball (Galesburg 1987-1988)
  • Boys Basketball (Galesburg 1912-1913; Quincy 1980-1981; Rock Island 2010-2011; Moline 2022-2023)
  • Boys Cross Country (Alleman 2004-2005)
  • Boys Golf (Galesburg 1971-1972; Quincy 1990-1991)
  • Boys Soccer (United Township 1999-2000)
  • Boys Tennis (Moline 1992-1993)
  • Boys Track and Field (Rock Island 1960-1961, 1988-1989, 1993–1994)
  • Boys Wrestling (Rock Island 1966-1967; Moline 1995-1996)
  • Chess (Moline 1993-1994, 1994–1995; Rock Island 1977-1978)
  • Drama (Rock Island 2008-2009)
  • Fishing (Moline 2013-2014)
  • Girls Basketball (Alleman 2004-2005)
  • Girls Bowling (United Township 1990-1991; Galesburg High School 2020-2021)
  • Girls Golf (Quincy 1976-1977, 1977–1978, 1978–1979)
  • Girls Softball (Alleman 1984-85, 1991–92, 1992–1993, 1993–1994, 1997–1998, 2013–2014; Moline 1986-1987, 1987–1988, 1993–1994, 1995–1996, 2005–2006, 2010–2011; Quincy 1977-1978)
  • Girls Track and Field (Rock Island 2008-2009; United Township 1976-1977)
  • Girls Volleyball (Sterling 2019-2020)
  • Music Sweepstakes (Moline 1999-2000)
  • Scholastic Bowl (Quincy 1986-1987, 1987–1988, 1992–1993)

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://westernbig6.org/ Western Big Six Conference Web Site]
  • [http://allemanhighschool.org/ Alleman]
  • [http://ghs.galesburg205.org/ Galesburg]
  • [https://www.molineschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=384154&type=d&pREC_ID=873427 Moline]
  • [https://www.qps.org/qhs/ Quincy]
  • [https://rihs.rimsd41.org/ Rock Island]
  • [https://uths.net/ United Township]

{{Western Big 6 Conference}}

{{Illinois High School Association}}

Category:Illinois high school sports conferences

Category:Sports in the Quad Cities

Category:High school sports conferences and leagues in the United States