Wisconsin Valley Conference

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| mark-title5=Stevens Point

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| mark-title7=Wisconsin Rapids

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| caption = Location of Original Wisconsin Valley Conference Members

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The Wisconsin Valley Conference was founded in 1920{{Cite news |date=27 April 1920 |title=Valley Schools Arrange Games |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250609033/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%22%20football%20conference |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=1}} by seven medium- to large-enrollment high schools in north central Wisconsin: Antigo, Marshfield, Merrill, Rhinelander, Stevens Point, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln. After sponsoring a full football schedule for the first two seasons, basketball played their first full schedule for the 1921-1922 school year.{{Cite news |date=30 September 1921 |title=Antigo Giants Here Saturday for First Game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/451042764/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20river%20valley%20conference%22 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=7}} The early years of the Wisconsin Valley Cofnerence saw many smaller schools join for short periods of time, especially for basketball. In 1922, Edgar, Medford and Nekoosa joined and Tomahawk joined the conference for that sport,{{Cite news |date=19 February 1923 |title=Antigo Trims Wausau, Stevens Point Preps Tie for League Lead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250417047/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=7}} with Tomahawk also joining the conference's football roster.{{Cite news |date=1 November 1922 |title=Look to Wausau and Point for Tie in League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/266496257/?match=3&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%22%20football%20conference%20standings |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=7}} Edgar left the following year, and in 1924, Shawano and Wautoma joined the WVC.{{Cite news |date=2 February 1925 |title=Medford in Nearly Invincible Position in Conference, Point Slips Notch Below in Cage Race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250777478/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=6}} Shawano also became members in football, along with basketball members Medford, for the 1924 season.{{Cite news |date=18 November 1924 |title=Gerbert Given Real Praise |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1101670624/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%22%20football%20conference%20standings |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Merrill Daily Herald |pages=6}} Nekoosa became the WVC's eleventh football playing member when it joined the group for the 1925 season.{{Cite news |date=12 November 1925 |title=Antigo-Shawano Battle Will Decide Second Place |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243157254/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%22%20football%20conference%20standings |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=5}} In 1926, Shawano and Wautoma left the Wisconsin Valley Conference, and after Medford's exit in 1928,{{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=20 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=5}} membership stayed stable at nine schools for just over two decades.

Over time, tensions grew between the larger and smaller schools in the conference, with the smaller schools seeking other options outside the WVC. Tomahawk was the first of these schools to take action: first becoming charter members of the football-only Lumberjack Conference in 1946,{{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=13 June 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=5}} then joining as full members in 1954 after the league began to sponsor other sports the year prior.{{Cite news |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=13 June 2025 |work=The Capital Times |pages=26 |agency=Associated Press}} Nekoosa followed Tomahawk out of the WVC, joining the Lumberjack for football in 1948,{{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=13 June 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=13}} then becoming full members of the newly reformed South Central Conference in 1952.{{Cite news |date=30 November 1951 |title=South Central League Expands |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/400550893/?match=1&terms=%22south%20central%20conference%22 |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=34}} After the loss of Tomahawk as full members in 1954, the Wisconsin Valley Conference faced an even greater challenge the next year. Citing competitive imbalance in football,{{Cite news |date=28 March 1955 |title=Expect Discussion on Valley's Future |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250408591/?match=1&terms=%22lumberjack%20conference%22%20standings%20tomahawk |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=6}} the four smallest schools in the conference (Antigo, Marshfield, Merrill and Rhinelander) left the Wisconsin Valley to start a new conference called the Northern Wisconsin Conference.{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=30 June 1954 |title=Northern Wisconsin Conference Formed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/250363620/?match=1&terms=%22northern%20wisconsin%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=13}} These four schools continued to schedule WVC members Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids as non-conference opponents,{{Cite news |date=11 November 1954 |title=Point, Rapids Domination of Valley Cage Race Threatened |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267690625/?match=1&terms=%22northern%20wisconsin%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=16}} but not Wausau, who had been the dominant force in football for decades. Wausau claimed one last Wisconsin Valley Conference title for football{{Cite news |date=29 October 1955 |title=Wausau and Eau Claire Play 14-14 (Tie) Game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272555729/?match=2&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%22%20football%20champions |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=14}} before they joined the new Big Rivers Conference{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=24 April 1956 |title=Wausau, Four Other Schools to Play Next Fall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/12450672/?match=1&terms=wausau%20%22big%20rivers%20conference%22 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The Rhinelander Daily News |pages=6}} and the four schools who left the WVC rejoined in 1956.{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Ben |date=13 April 1956 |title=WVC Reorganization Is Almost Certainty |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/12447965/?match=1&terms=%22northern%20wisconsin%20conference%22%20standings |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The Rhinelander Daily News |pages=6}}

The revamped Wisconsin Valley Conference began play in 1956 with six schools (Antigo, Marshfield, Merrill, Rhinelander, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln). A seventh school was added to the Wisconsin Valley in 1957 when former Lumberjack Conference members D.C. Everest High School in Schofield joined the 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=%22d.c.%20everest%22%20%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Stevens Point Journal |pages=1}} In 1970, Shawano became the eighth school to join the conference after leaving the disbanded Mid-Eastern Conference.{{Cite news |last=Kloppenburg |first=Dick |date=19 December 1969 |title=Valley Conference takes in Shawano |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272765198/?match=1&terms=shawano%20%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=17}} Wausau East was invited to rejoin the Wisconsin Valley Conference from the Big Rivers in 1973, along with newcomer Wausau West to bring conference membership to ten schools.{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=24 February 1970 |title=Wausau Schools Will Join WVC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/294001540/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22%20%22leaving%20the%20big%20rivers%20conference%22 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter |pages=14}} Shawano left the Wisconsin Valley Conference to join the Bay Conference in 1979,{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=John |date=12 February 1978 |title=Realignment pleases New London officials |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/288352640/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22%20%22bay%20conference%22%20shawano |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Appleton Post-Crescent |pages=E6}} and the membership group would remain at nine schools for nearly thirty years.

In 2008, two of the smaller schools in the conference left to become member of the new Great Northern Conference: Antigo and Merrill.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |date=12 December 2006 |title=Changes will strip Valley of tradition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267018838/?match=1&terms=%22great%20northern%20conference%22 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=11}} Rhinelander left to compete as an independent in football for the 2009 season before leaving to join the Great Northern Conference as full members in 2010. Merrill, who left the WVC two years earlier to become GNC members, rejoined the WVC for all sports but football as Rhinelander's replacement.{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Rob |date=26 June 2009 |title=Five-division basketball plan among two going to fall area meetings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/872250283/?match=1&terms=%22great%20northern%20conference%22%20merrill%20rhinelander |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Baraboo News Republic |pages=10}}{{Cite news |date=27 June 2009 |title=Merrill moving back to WVC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/361538169/?match=1&terms=%22great%20northern%20conference%22%20merrill%20rhinelander |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=9}} After two seasons of difficulties scheduling non-conference opponents, the six football-playing members of the Wisconsin Valley Conference joined forces with the ten-member Fox Valley Association to form the Valley Football Association, which began play in 2011.{{Cite news |last=Arguello |first=Ricardo |date=4 August 2011 |title=Starting from scratch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/360857791/?match=1&terms=%22valley%20football%20association%22 |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Appleton Post-Crescent |pages=B-1}}{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Tim |date=14 August 2011 |title=Season of change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/244034353/?match=1&terms=%22valley%20football%20association%22 |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=B-1}} This arrangement lasted until the WIAA's 2024-2025 competition cycle, when the WVC was reinstated for football and entered into a scheduling partnership with the similarly sized Big Rivers Conference. Five full members of the conference (D.C. Everest, Marshfield, Stevens Point, Wausau West and Wisconsin Rapids) were joined by Big Rivers members Eau Claire Memorial and Eau Claire North in a seven-member roster.{{Cite web |date=14 December 2023 |title=2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football |url=https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Conference%20Realignment/2024-25Football/11-PlayerFB2024-Final2.pdf |access-date=13 June 2025 |website=Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association}} This arrangement is set to remain in place through at least the 2026-2027 football competition cycle.{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football |url=https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Conference%20Realignment/2026-27Football/Football11Realignment2026-27.pdf |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association}} In 2025, Merrill is set to return to the Great Northern Conference after fifteen years of Wisconsin Valley membership,{{Cite web |date=6 March 2024 |title=Board acts on conference plans; Merrill's move to GNC becomes official |url=https://www.centralwinews.com/sports/2024/03/06/board-acts-on-conference-plans-merrills-move-to-gnc-becomes-official/?destination=star-news#:~:text=All%20of%20the%20plans%20approved,in%20the%20fall%20of%202025. |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=Medford Star News}} leaving the conference with six full member schools.

{{notelist}}

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bar:2 color:tan1 from:1921 till:1955 text:Marshfield (1921-1955)

bar:2 color:tan1 from:1956 till:2030 text:(1956-present)

bar:3 color:tan1 from:1921 till:1955 text:Merrill (1921-1955)

bar:3 color:tan1 from:1956 till:2008 text:(1956-2008)

bar:3 color:tan1 from:2010 till:2025 text:(2010-2025)

bar:4 color:tan1 from:1921 till:1955 text:Rhinelander (1921-1955)

bar:4 color:tan1 from:1956 till:2010 text:(1956-2010)

bar:5 color:tan1 from:1921 till:2030 text:Stevens Point (1921-present)

bar:6 color:tan1 from:1921 till:1956 text:Wausau (1921-1956)

bar:6 color:tan1 from:1973 till:2030 text:Wausau East (1973-present)

bar:7 color:tan1 from:1921 till:2030 text:Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (1921-present)

bar:8 color:tan1 from:1922 till:1923 text:Edgar (1922-1923)

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bar:4 color:lavender from:1956 till:2009 text:(1956-2008)

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bar:5 color:lavender from:2024 till:2030 text:(2024-present)

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bar:6 color:lavender from:1973 till:2011 text:Wausau East (1973-2010)

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bar:7 color:lavender from:2024 till:2030 text:(2024-present)

bar:8 color:lavender from:1922 till:1946 text:Tomahawk (1922-1945)

bar:9 color:lavender from:1924 till:1929 text:Medford (1922-1928)

bar:10 color:lavender from:1924 till:1927 text:Shawano (1924-1926)

bar:10 color:lavender from:1970 till:1979 text:(1970-1978)

bar:11 color:lavender from:1925 till:1948 text:Nekoosa (1925-1947)

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bar:15 color:lavender from:2024 till:2030 text:(2024-present)

bar:16 color:lavender from:2024 till:2030 text:Eau Claire Memorial (2024-present)

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[https://www.wisconsinvalleyconference.org/images/files/b7_file772_39686.pdf Source]

[https://www.wisconsinvalleyconference.org/images/files/b7_file773_46465.pdf Source]

[https://www.wisconsinvalleyconference.org/images/files/b7_file758_47572.pdf Source]

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.wisconsinvalleyconference.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=63 Wisconsin Valley Conference (official website)]

{{Wisconsin high school athletic conferences}}

Category:Wisconsin high school sports conferences

Category:Sports organizations established in 1921

Category:1921 establishments in Wisconsin