Wikipedia

Northern Indiana Athletic Conference

The Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) is a high school athletic conference that was founded in 1927 and spanned from as far west as Hammond and Gary to South Bend/Mishawaka and Elkhart to the east and south to Plymouth. Since its start in 1927, a total of 32 separate schools have at one time called the NIC home. From its inception until 1963, the conference had been divided into East and West divisions. The West Division (as well as Valparaiso) left to form the Northwestern Conference in 1963. With membership dwindling to 7 members by the 1970s, the conference added former members of the Northern Indiana Valley Conference to its ranks. Currently, every former NIVC member is now a part of the NIC except for South Bend Jackson, which closed in 1973, and South Bend LaSalle, which joined the NIC in 1977, but closed in 2001.

Northern Indiana Conference
Founded1927
No. of teams1 Class 6 A, 2 Class 5A, 5 Class 4A, 4 Class 3A, 1 Class 2A
RegionNorth Central Indiana
Locations
The Northern Indiana Conference in Indiana. Current Areas are in red, Former Areas are in MaroonThe Northern Indiana Conference in Indiana. Current Areas are in red, Former Areas are in Maroon

History

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Like the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference, the NIAC was also a superconference that spanned several counties, and a lot of driving miles, for a period between 1940 and 1965. Throughout the 1970s the membership dwindled as many schools left to form new conferences. From 1995 to 2015 the two conferences share the same setup with 7 or 8 schools in one county, 8 in this case from St. Joseph County and 1 from an adjacent county, Elkhart in this case. This will change in 2015, as four schools from the folding Northern State Conference will join, making a 13 school conference.[1] This will also expand the conference footprint into two counties formerly represented in the NIAC: LaPorte (last represented in 1995) and Marshall (last represented in 1930). 2020 will bring more change, as Elkhart Central merges with former member Elkhart Memorial to form Elkhart high school, and Mishawaka leaves for the Northern Lakes Conference, taking Memorial's spot in that league.[2]

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Boys

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Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, Wrestling

Girls

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Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball

Current members

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School Location Mascot Colors County Enrollment [1]
24-25
IHSAA Class 		Joined Previous
Conference
Elkhart1 Elkhart Lions       20
Elkhart 		3,166
4A 		2020 Elkhart County
Mishawaka
Marian 		Mishawaka Knights       71
St. Joseph 		735
3A 		2005 Independents
(NIVC 1978)
New
Prairie 		New
Carlisle 		Cougars       46
LaPorte 		970
3A 		2015 Northern State
Penn2 Mishawaka Kingsmen       71
St. Joseph 		3,480
4A 		1974 Northern IN Valley
South Bend
Adams 		South Bend Eagles       71
St. Joseph 		2,062
4A 		1941 none (new school)
South Bend
Riley 		South Bend Wildcats       71
St. Joseph 		1,298
4A 		1931 Independent (School Opened in 1924)
South Bend
St. Joseph3 		South Bend Huskies       71
St. Joseph 		849
3A 		2005 Independents
(NIVC 1978)
South Bend
Washington 		South Bend Panthers     71
St. Joseph 		886
3A 		1938 none (new school)
  1. Elkhart was known as Elkhart Central between 1972-2020. In 2020, Elkhart Central consolidated with Elkhart Memorial.
  2. Played concurrently in NIC and NIVC 1974-78.
  3. South Bend St. Joseph was known as South Bend St. Joseph's until 2012.

Former members

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School Location Mascot Colors County Joined Previous
Conference 		Left Conference
joined
East Chicago Washington1 East Chicago Senators     45
Lake 		1927 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Gary Emerson Gary Golden Tornadoes     45
Lake 		1927 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Gary Froebel Gary Blue Devils     45
Lake 		1927 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Gary Mann Gary Horsemen     45
Lake 		1927 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Goshen Goshen Redskins     20
Elkhart 		1927 Elkhart County 1969 Independents
Hammond Hammond Wildcats     45
Lake 		1927 Independents 1963 Northwestern
La Porte LaPorte Slicers     46
La Porte 		1927 Independents 1976 Duneland
Michigan City Elston2 Michigan City Red Devils     46
La Porte 		1927 Independents 1995 none (consolidated
into Michigan City)
Plymouth Plymouth Pilgrims     50
Marshall 		1927 Independents 1930 Independents
South Bend Central3 South Bend Bears     71
St. Joseph 		1927 Independents 1970 none (school closed)
Valparaiso Valparaiso Vikings     64
Porter 		1927
1945
1953 		Independents
Independents
Independents 		1930
1948
1963 		Independents
Independents
Northwestern
Whiting Whiting Oilers     45
Lake 		1927 Independents 1963 Northwestern
East Chicago Roosevelt East Chicago Rough Riders     45
Lake 		1929 Little 7 1963 Northwestern
Gary Wallace Gary Hornets     45
Lake 		1935 Little 7 1963 Northwestern
Hammond Tech Hammond Tigers     45
Lake 		1937 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Gary Tolleston Gary Blue Raiders     45
Lake 		1941 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Hammond Clark Hammond Pioneers     45
Lake 		1941 Independents 1963 Northwestern
Fort Wayne North Side4 Fort Wayne Redskins     02
Allen 		1942 Ft. Wayne City Series 1965 Ft. Wayne City Series/Summit
Elkhart Memorial5 Elkhart Crimson Chargers     20
Elkhart 		1972 Northern Indiana Conference 2000 Northern Lakes
Elkhart Central Elkhart Blue Blazers     20
Elkhart 		1972 Independents 2020 Consolidated into Elkhart
South Bend LaSalle6 South Bend Lions     71
St. Joseph 		1976 Northern IN Valley 2001 none (school closed)
Mishawaka Mishawaka Cavemen     71
St. Joseph 		1927 Independents 2020 Northern Lakes
Bremen Bremen Lions     50
Marshall 		2015 Northern State 2024 Northern State
Jimtown Elkhart Jimmies       20
Elkhart 		2015 Northern State 2024 Northern State
John Glenn Walkerton Falcons       71
St. Joseph 		2015 Northern State 2024 Northern State
South Bend
Clay 		South Bend Colonials       71
St. Joseph 		1978 Independents
(NIVC 1978) 		2024 none (school closed)
  1. East Chicago Washington was known as East Chicago until 1928.
  2. Michigan City Elston was known as Michigan City until 1972.
  3. South Bend Central was known as South Bend until 1930.
  4. Played concurrently in the NIC and FWCS their entire membership in the NIC.
  5. Played concurrently in the NIC and NLC 1999-2000.
  6. Played concurrently in the NIC and NIVC 1976-78.

Membership timeline

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New Prairie High SchoolJimtown High SchoolJohn Glenn High School (Walkerton, Indiana)Bremen High School (Indiana)St. Joseph High School (South Bend, Indiana)Marian High School (Mishawaka, Indiana)Clay High School (Indiana)South Bend LaSalle High SchoolPenn High SchoolNorth Side High School (Fort Wayne, Indiana)John Adams High School (South Bend, Indiana)Hammond Clark High SchoolTolleston Middle SchoolWashington High School (South Bend, Indiana)Hammond Technical High SchoolLew Wallace High SchoolJames Whitcomb Riley High SchoolCentral High School (East Chicago, Indiana)Whiting High SchoolValparaiso High SchoolSouth Bend Central High SchoolPlymouth High SchoolMishawaka High SchoolMichigan City High SchoolLaPorte High School (Indiana)Hammond High School (Indiana)Goshen High SchoolGary Mann High SchoolGary Froebel High SchoolGary Emerson High SchoolElkhart Central High SchoolCentral High School (East Chicago, Indiana)

Rivalries

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Main rivalries:

  • Riley Wildcats vs. Penn Kingsmen
  • Penn Kingsmen vs. Mishawaka Cavemen* (often called "The Backyard Brawl")
  • St. Joseph High School vs. Marian Knights (often called "The Holy War")
  • Riley Wildcats vs. Adams Eagles
  • New Prairie Cougars vs. La Porte* Slicers

Notable sub-rivalries

  • St. Joseph vs. Penn
  • Riley vs. Marian (often called "The South Side Brawl")
  • Marian vs. Mishawaka* (often called "The Civil War")
  • Mishawaka* vs. Washington
  • Marian vs. Penn (baseball only)
  • St. Joseph vs. Culver Military Academy (hockey and lacrosse only)*°
  • Mishawaka vs. Adams (basketball only)

Former rivalries

  • Elkhart Central Blue Blazers vs. Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers* (often called "The Battle of Elkhart")
  • Lasalle vs Washington
  • Bremen Lions vs. Jimtown Jimmies (Rivalry published in November 1994 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine "Unrivaled Rivalries")
  • Clay Colonials vs. Washington Panthers
  • Riley vs. Clay
  • Adams vs. Clay
  • Jimtown vs. NorthWood* (often called "The Border War")
  • Bremen vs. Triton* (also often called "The Border War")
  • St. Joseph vs. Clay
  • Mishawaka vs. Clay (football only).

(Asterisk indicates non-member of NIC)

(Degree indicates a non-NIC sanctioned sport)

State championships

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Bremen (3)

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  • 1989 Football (A)
  • 1994 Football (2A)
  • 2019 Softball (2A)

Elkhart Central (6)

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  • 1968 Wrestling
  • 1969 Boys Track
  • 1973 Boys Cross Country
  • 1979 Boys Golf
  • 1993 Boys Track
  • 2012 Baseball (4A)

Jimtown (6)

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  • 1974 Boys Gymnastics
  • 1991 Football (A)
  • 1997 Football (2A)
  • 1998 Football (2A)
  • 2004 Boys Basketball (2A)
  • 2005 Football (2A)

Glenn (0)

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Mishawaka (7)

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  • 1946 Boys Cross Country
  • 1980 Volleyball
  • 1983 Volleyball
  • 1988 Volleyball
  • 1991 Wrestling
  • 2008 Wrestling
  • 2010 Wrestling

Mishawaka Marian (12)

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  • 1973 Volleyball
  • 1973 Football (A)
  • 1975 Football (2A)
  • 1976 Football (2A)
  • 2001 Boys Golf
  • 1999 Boys Hockey
  • 2001 Boys Hockey
  • 2010 Boys Hockey
  • 2012 Girls Soccer (A)
  • 2015 Boys Soccer (A)
  • 2016 Boys Soccer (A)
  • 2023 Boys Soccer (2A)

New Prairie (2)

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  • 2023 Softball (3A)
  • 2024 Baseball (3A)

Penn (24)

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  • 1983 Football (4A)
  • 1994 Baseball
  • 1994 Girls Golf
  • 1995 Football (5A)
  • 1996 Football (5A)
  • 1997 Football (5A)
  • 1998 Baseball (4A)
  • 1999 Softball (3A)
  • 1999 Boys Soccer
  • 2000 Football (5A)
  • 2001 Baseball (4A)
  • 2002 Girls Golf
  • 2004 Girls Golf
  • 2005 Girls Golf
  • 2010 Volleyball (4A)
  • 2011 Volleyball (4A)
  • 2015 Wrestling
  • 2015 Baseball (4A)
  • 2016 Girls Basketball (4A)
  • 2016 Girls Soccer (2A)
  • 2017 Girls Soccer (3A)
  • 2022 Baseball (4A)
  • 2023 Softball (4A)
  • 2023 Baseball (4A)

South Bend Adams (8)

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  • 1966 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1966 Wrestling
  • 1967 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1968 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1973 Boys Golf
  • 1974 Boys Tennis
  • 1976 Volleyball
  • 1978 Volleyball

South Bend Clay (2)

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  • 1970 Baseball
  • 1994 Boys Basketball

South Bend Riley (10)

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  • 1938 Boys Golf
  • 1956 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1957 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1958 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1962 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1962 Boys Golf
  • 1964 Boys Golf
  • 1978 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1986 Boys Swimming & Diving
  • 1995 Boys Swimming & Diving

South Bend St. Joseph (12)

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  • 1972 Volleyball
  • 1975 Girls Tennis
  • 1995 Football (3A)
  • 1998 Girls Soccer
  • 2003 Boys Soccer
  • 2005 Girls Basketball (3A)
  • 2010 Girls Tennis
  • 2010 Girls Soccer
  • 2017 Girls Basketball (3A)
  • 2017 Baseball (3A)
  • 2022 Softball
  • 2022 Boys Lacrosse

South Bend Washington (3)

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  • 1973 Football (3A)
  • 2007 Girls Basketball (4A)
  • 2022 Girls Basketball (3A)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pete Byrne (2014-04-23). "UPDATE: NIC expands, adding Bremen, Jimtown, New Prairie and Glenn". WSBT TV, South Bend, IN. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  2. ^ Ray, Olivia (2018-07-11). "Mishawaka High School to join the Northern Lakes Conference 2020-21". WSBT 22 (South Bend, IN). Retrieved 2019-03-06.

Conference champions

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