Draft:South Central Conference (Wisconsin)

The South Central Conference is a high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Originally founded in 1926, it disbanded in 1941 only to reconstitute eleven years later.

History

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Origins and Breakup (1926-1941)

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The South Central Conference was formed in 1926 by seven medium-sized high schools in south central Wisconsin: Baraboo, Portage, Reedsburg, Richland Center, Sparta, Tomah and Viroqua. Logan High School in La Crosse joined two years later, and Wisconsin Dells joined in 1939. Two years later, the conference disbanded and most of its members became members of two new conferences. Baraboo, Portage, Reedsburg, Richland Center and Wisconsin Dells went on to form half of the new Southern Ten Conference (along with former Southern Six members Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Monroe, Stoughton and Wisconsin High). Sparta, Tomah and Viroqua joined with Mauston and Westby to form the new West Central Conference.

Reformation (1952-1966)

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In 1952, most of the schools that were involved with the original incarnation of the South Central Conference grouped together and reformed the conference. Baraboo, Portage, Reedsburg, Richland Center and Wisconsin Dells all rejoined from the Southern Ten Conference (with the other five schools forming the nucleus of the new Badger Conference). Sparta, Tomah and Viroqua rejoined from the West Central Conference, along with newcomers Mauston and Nekoosa. In 1963, the conference added two schools to bring membership to twelve: Black River Falls from the Mississippi Valley Conference and Sauk Prairie from the Tri-County League.

Minor Adjustments (1966-2001)

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Membership of the South Central Conference underwent a few changes after the initial reformation and expansion period. Nekoosa left the conference in 1966 to join the short-lived Vacationland Conference, Viroqua joined the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League in 1969 and Richland Center joined the SWAL two years later. They were replaced by Adams-Friendship, who were left without a conference after the Vacationland disbanded in 1970. After entering the league together fourteen years earlier, Black River Falls and Sauk Prairie exited the South Central in 1977 to join the Coulee Conference and Badger Conference, respectively. Nekoosa rejoined the South Central Conference in 1982, after a four-year stint in the Cloverbelt Conference. Seven years later, Sparta and Tomah left to join with the larger La Crosse-area schools to form the new Mississippi Valley Conference. Membership through the 1990s remained consistent at seven schools, but more significant changes were coming at the turn of the century.

Present Day (2001-present)

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As the South Central Conference approached the fiftieth anniversary of its reformation, three of its original member schools (Baraboo, Portage and Reedsburg) left to join the Badger Conference. They were replaced by Lodi and Poynette from the Capitol Conference and Westfield from the disbanded Dual County Conference. Five seasons after they joined the South Central, Lodi and Poynette returned to the Capitol Conference and were replaced by Wautoma (formerly of the East Central Flyway Conference), bringing conference membership to six schools. This figure is set to expand in 2025, when Berlin and Ripon join from the East Central Conference, which is set to be realigned out of existence by the WIAA.

Conference Membership History (1952-present)

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Current Members

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School Location Affiliaton Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined
Adams-Friendship Adams, WI Public 432 Green Devils     1971
Mauston Mauston, WI Public 474 Golden Eagles     1952
Nekoosa Nekoosa, WI Public 295 Papermakers     1982
Wautoma Wautoma, WI Public 381 Hornets     2006
Westfield Westfield, WI Public 295 Pioneers     2001
Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Dells, WI Public 596 Chiefs     1952

Future Members

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School Location Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Colors Joining Former Conference
Berlin Berlin, WI Public 474 Indians     2025 East Central
Ripon Ripon, WI Public 484 Tigers     2025 East Central

Former Members

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School Location Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Baraboo Baraboo, WI Public 919 Thunderbirds     1952 2001 Badger
Nekoosa Nekoosa, WI Public 295 Papermakers     1952 1966 Vacationland South Central
Portage Portage, WI Public 705 Warriors     1952 2001 Badger
Reedsburg Reedsburg, WI Public 897 Beavers     1952 2001 Badger
Richland Center Richland Center, WI Public 418 Hornets     1952 1971 SWAL Southwest Wisconsin
Sparta Sparta, WI Public 909 Spartans     1952 1989 Mississippi Valley
Tomah Tomah, WI Public 919 Timberwovles     1952 1989 Mississippi Valley
Viroqua Viroqua, WI Pubilc 339 Blackhawks     1952 1969 SWAL Coulee
Black River Falls Black River Falls, WI Public 481 Tigers     1963 1977 Coulee
Sauk Prairie Prairie du Sac, WI Public 858 Eagles     1963 1977 Badger
Lodi Lodi, WI Public 451 Blue Devils     2001 2006 Capitol
Poynette Poynette, WI Public 310 Pumas     2001 2006 Capitol

Conference Membership History (1926-1941)

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School Location Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Baraboo Baraboo, WI Public 919 Thunderbirds     1926 1941 Southern Ten Badger
Portage Portage, WI Public 705 Warriors     1926 1941 Southern Ten Badger
Reedsburg Reedsburg, WI Public 897 Beavers     1926 1941 Southern Ten Badger
Richland Center Richland Center, WI Public 418 Hornets     1926 1941 Southern Ten Southwest Wisconsin
Sparta Sparta, WI Public 909 Spartans     1926 1941 West Central Mississippi Valley
Tomah Tomah, WI Public 919 Indians     1926 1941 West Central Mississippi Valley
Viroqua Viroqua, WI Public 339 Blackhawks     1926 1941 West Central Coulee
La Crosse Logan La Crosse, WI Public 738 Rangers     1928 1941 Independent Mississippi Valley
Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Dells, WI Public 596 Chiefs     1939 1941 Southern Ten South Central

List of State Champions

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Fall Sports

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Boys Cross Country
School Year Division
Sauk Prairie 1968 Small Schools
Sauk Prairie 1969 Small Schools
Football
School Year Division
Wautoma 2008 Division 4
Boys Volleyball
School Year Division
Portage 1956 Single Division
Girls Volleyball
School Year Division
Portage 1981 Class B
Wisconsin Dells 1984 Class B
Portage 1987 Class A

Winter Sports

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Boys Baksetball
School Year Division
Portage 1982 Class B
Wisconsin Dells 1987 Class B
Girls Basketball
School Year Division
Portage 1982 Class B
Curling
School Year Division
Portage 1960 Single Division
Portage 1973 Single Division
Boys Wrestling
School Year Division
Reedsburg 1981 Class B
Reedsburg 1981 Class B
Lodi 2004 Division 2

Spring Sports

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Baseball
School Year Division
Nekoosa 1984 Class B
Nekoosa 1985 Class B
Wisconsin Dells 1989 Class B
Boys Golf
School Year Division
Baraboo 1941 Single Division
Softball
School Year Division
Wisconsin Dells 1995 Division 2
Poynette 2005 Division 3
Boys Track & Field
School Year Division
Sauk Prairie 1969 Class B
Baraboo 1971 Class A
Wisconsin Dells 1977 Class B
Wisconsin Dells 1983 Class B
Wautoma 2009 Division 2
Girls Track & Field
School Year Division
Reedsburg 1971 Single Division
Nekoosa 1990 Class B
Nekoosa 1992 Division 2
Nekoosa 1993 Division 2
Nekoosa 1995 Division 2
Nekoosa 1998 Division 2

References

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