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West Central Conference (Wisconsin)

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The West Central Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, competing from 1959 to 1977. Most of its members were public schools affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

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The West Central Conference was formed in 1959[1] by eight small high schools in west central Wisconsin: Alma, Arkansaw, Fairchild, Gilmanton, Hixton, Lincoln in Alma Center, Pepin and Taylor.[2] The conference's eighteen-year history was marked by instability, as they were constantly affected by defections, rural consolidation and school closings. Only two years after it was formed, the West Central Conference lost three member schools. Alma Center Lincoln left to join the Dairyland Conference,[3] Arkansaw became a member of the Dunn-St. Croix Conference,[4] and Hixton was closed after its district consolidated with Black River Falls.[5] Three years after they left the West Central Conference, Arkansaw rejoined to bring membership back up to six schools.[6] Pepin left the West Central in 1966 to join the Dunn-St. Croix Conference,[7] and they were replaced by two private high schools: Immanuel Lutheran[8] in Eau Claire and St. Felix[9] out of Wabasha, Minnesota. Two members left the conference in 1968, as Fairchild merged with Osseo[10][11] and St. Felix discontinued their high school program.[12] The conference was left with four members in 1971, as Alma left to join the Dairyland Conference.[13] The West Central Conference met its end in 1977, as Gilmanton and Taylor joined the Dairyland Conference,[14] Arkansaw rejoined the Dunn-St. Croix Conference,[15] and Immanuel Lutheran was left to compete as an independent. Two years later, Immanuel Lutheran joined the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association,[16] where they competed before its merger with the WIAA and entry into the Dairyland Conference in 2000.[17]

Conference Membership History

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School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Alma Alma, WI Public 65 Rivermen     1959[1] 1971[13] Dairyland Dairyland (coop with Pepin)
Alma Center Lincoln Alma Center, WI Public 164 Hornets     1959[1] 1961[3] Dairyland
Arkansaw Arkansaw, WI Public N/A Travelers     1959,[1] 1964[6] 1961,[4] 1977[15] Dunn-St. Croix Closed in 1992 (consolidated into Durand)
Fairchild Fairchild, WI Public N/A Purple Dragons     1959[1] 1968[10][11] Closed (merged into Osseo-Fairchild)
Gilmanton Gilmanton, WI Public 39 Panthers     1959[1] 1977[14] Dairyland Dairyland (coop with Independence)
Hixton Hixton, WI Public N/A Vikings     1959[1] 1961[5] Closed (consolidated into Black River Falls)
Pepin Pepin, WI Public 84 Lakers     1959[1] 1966[7] Dunn-St. Croix Dairyland (coop with Alma)
Taylor Taylor, WI Public N/A Trojans     1959[1] 1977[14] Dairyland Closed in 1989 (merged into Blair-Taylor)
Immanuel Lutheran Eau Claire, WI Private (Lutheran, CLC) 96 Lancers     1966[8] 1977[16] Independent Dairyland
St. Felix Wabasha, MN Private (Catholic) N/A Yellowjackets     1966[9] 1968[12] Closed (discontinued high school grades)

Membership Timeline

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List of State Champions

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Fall Sports

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None

Winter Sports

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None

Spring Sports

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None

Summer Sports

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Baseball
School Year Division
Alma 1971 Single Division

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Onalaska, Salem, Bangor Triumph". La Crosse Tribune. 18 November 1959. p. 17. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Fifty Area Cage Teams Slate Pre-Holiday Action". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 24 November 1959. p. 14. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Four Area Grid Loops Open Schedules Friday". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 14 September 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Dunn-St. Croix Opens Friday; Boyceville to Defend Crown". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 16 November 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Black River School Registration Slated". La Crosse Tribune. 20 August 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Taylor Five Falls 54-44 to Fairchild". La Crosse Tribune. 12 December 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Young Elk Mound Team May Surprise". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 6 November 1966. p. 16. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Immanuel Opens Play Friday at Arkansaw". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 17 November 1966. p. 15. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Gilmanton, Alma Gain Loop Wins". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 19 November 1966. p. 11. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Fairchild Scholars (photo insert)". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 5 May 1968. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  11. ^ a b "NOTICE: First Annual School District Meeting". Eau Claire Daily Telegram. 14 March 1968. p. 21. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  12. ^ a b "History of St. Felix Catholic School". St. Felix Catholic School. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Lincoln Football Prospects Good". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 20 August 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Whitehorn, Dave (25 August 1977). "New look for area preps". La Crosse Tribune. p. 12. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Travelers to enter Dunn-SC basketball". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 17 November 1977. p. 15. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  16. ^ a b Lindstrom, Don (24 August 1979). "Friday remains traditional prep football night". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 23. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  17. ^ Holmes, Kirk (24 April 1999). "Ramblers, Lancers, Macks get the OK". La Crosse Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
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