Central State Conference

Former Wisconsin high school athletic conference

The Central State Conference is a former high school athletic conference in central Wisconsin, in operation from 1962 to 1984. Its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

## History

[edit]

### 1962-1970

[edit]

30km
19miles

Location of Original Central-C Conference Members

The Central State Conference, originally known as the Central-C Conference, was formed in 1962 by eight small- to medium-sized public high schools and one private Catholic high school in central Wisconsin. Five schools were former members of the Central Lakes Conference (Almond, Necedah, Oxford, Port Edwards and Wild Rose), three belonged to the 7-C Conference (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) and one formerly competed as an independent (Madonna).[1] Almost immediately, the conference began to lose members to rural school district consolidation and closings. The first such change occurred in 1963, when Oxford was closed[2] and its students were redistricted to Westfield. In 1966, conference membership was cut in half due to the closing of Madonna High School[3] and the defection of three schools (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) to the newly formed Vacationland Conference.[4] Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia joined as football-only members from the Central Wisconsin Conference the next year to bring the football roster to five schools.[5] In 1968, Bowler joined the conference from the Wolf River Valley Conference as a football-only member,[6] and the loop changed its name to the Central State Conference.[7] Rosholt and Tigerton joined the football alignment the next year, and the conference had eight football-playing members.[8]

### 1970-1984

[edit]

30km
19miles

Location of Central State Conference Members (1970-1977)

In 1970, the Central State Conference underwent a significant expansion with six schools becoming full members. All five football-only members became full members of the conference: three from the shuttered Wolf River Valley Conference (Bowler, Rosholt and Tigerton) and two from the Central Wisconsin Conference (Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia). Tri-County, making their return after the dissolution of the Vacationland Conference, rounded out the expanded group.[9] Granton and Gresham would join the Central State Conference in 1972; Granton was previously in the Marawood Conference and Gresham competed as an independent for two years after the collapse of the Wolf River Valley Conference.[10] Granton's stay would be brief, as they would return to the Marawood Conference in 1976.[11] Shiocton moved over from the Central Wisconsin Conference in 1977 to take their place,[12] and Necedah left to become a charter member of the Scenic Bluffs Conference in 1979. They were replaced by Menominee Indian High School, who acquired their first ever conference affiliation after opening a few years earlier.[13] The Central State Conference merged with the Central Wisconsin Conference in 1984, taking the more established conference's name in the process.[14]

## Conference membership history

[edit]

### Full members

[edit]

School  | Location  | Affiliation  | Enrollment | Mascot  | Colors  | Joined  | Left  | Conference Joined  | Current Conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Adams-Friendship | Adams, WI | Public  | 432  | Green Devils  |  | 1962[1] | 1966[4] | Vacationland | South Central
Almond-Bancroft | Almond, WI | Public  | 109  | Eagles  |  | 1962[1] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Madonna | Mauston, WI | Private (Catholic)  | N/A  | Cowboys  |  | 1962[1] | 1966[3] | Closed
Necedah | Necedah, WI | Public  | 213  | Cardinals  |  | 1962[1] | 1979[13] | Scenic Bluffs
Oxford | Oxford, WI | Public  | N/A  | Bluejays  |  | 1962[1] | 1963[2] | Closed (consolidated with Westfield)
Port Edwards | Port Edwards, WI | Public  | 133  | Blackhawks  |  | 1962[1] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Tri-County | Plainfield, WI | Public  | 176  | Penguins  |  | 1962,[1] 1970[9] | 1966,[4] 1984[14] | Vacationland, Central Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Westfield | Westfield, WI | Public  | 295  | Pioneers  |  | 1962[1] | 1966[4] | Vacationland | South Central
Wild Rose | Wild Rose, WI | Public  | 153  | Wildcats  |  | 1962[1] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Amherst | Amherst, WI | Public  | 344  | Falcons  |  | 1970[9] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Bowler | Bowler, WI | Public  | 100  | Panthers  |  | 1970[9] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Iola-Scandinavia | Iola, WI | Public  | 197  | Thunderbirds  |  | 1970[9] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Rosholt | Rosholt, WI | Public  | 176  | Hornets  |  | 1970[9] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Tigerton | Tigerton, WI | Public  | 75  | Tigers  |  | 1970[9] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Granton | Granton, WI | Public  | 62  | Bulldogs  |  | 1972[10] | 1976[11] | Marawood | Cloverbelt
Gresham | Gresham, WI | Public  | 82  | Wildcats  |  | 1972[10] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Shiocton | Shiocton, WI | Public  | 221  | Chiefs  |  | 1977[12] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin
Menominee Indian | Kesīqnaeh, WI | Federal (Tribal)  | 349  | Eagles  |  | 1979[13] | 1984[14] | Central Wisconsin

### Football-only members

[edit]

School  | Location  | Affiliation  | Enrollment | Mascot  | Colors  | Seasons  | Primary Conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Amherst | Amherst, WI | Public  | 344  | Falcons  |  | 1967-1969[5] | Central Wisconsin
Iola-Scandinavia | Iola, WI | Public  | 197  | Thunderbirds  |  | 1967-1969[5] | Central Wisconsin
Bowler | Bowler, WI | Public  | 100  | Panthers  |  | 1968-1969[6] | Wolf River Valley
Rosholt | Rosholt, WI | Public  | 176  | Hornets  |  | 1969[8] | Wolf River Valley
Tigerton | Tigerton, WI | Public  | 75  | Tigers  |  | 1969[8] | Wolf River Valley

## Membership timeline

[edit]

### Full members

[edit]

### Football members

[edit]

## List of state champions

[edit]

### Fall sports

[edit]

None

### Winter sports

[edit]

Girls Basketball School  | Year  | Division

|
|

Iola-Scandinavia  | 1978  | Class C

### Spring sports

[edit]

Girls Track & Field School  | Year  | Division

|
|

Wild Rose  | 1978  | Class C
Wild Rose  | 1979  | Class C

## List of conference champions

[edit]

### Boys Basketball

[edit]

School  | Quantity  | Years

|
|

Port Edwards | 8  | 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1978, 1979
Iola-Scandinavia | 5  | 1972, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984
Almond-Bancroft | 2  | 1967, 1980
Necedah | 2  | 1974, 1977
Westfield | 2  | 1964, 1966
Adams-Friendship | 1  | 1965
Amherst | 1  | 1981
Granton | 1  | 1975
Gresham | 1  | 1977
Madonna | 1  | 1963
Wild Rose | 1  | 1976
Bowler | 0  |
Menominee Indian | 0  |
Oxford | 0  |
Rosholt | 0  |
Shiocton | 0  |
Tigerton | 0  |
Tri-County | 0  |

### Girls Basketball

[edit]

School  | Quantity  | Years

|
|

Iola-Scandinavia | 6  | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983
Almond-Bancroft | 5  | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984
Port Edwards | 1  | 1978
Tri-County | 1  | 1980
Amherst | 0  |
Bowler | 0  |
Granton | 0  |
Gresham | 0  |
Menominee Indian | 0  |
Necedah | 0  |
Rosholt | 0  |
Shiocton | 0  |
Tigerton | 0  |
Wild Rose | 0  |

### Football

[edit]

School  | Quantity  | Years

|
|

Port Edwards | 10  | 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1982, 1983
Iola-Scandinavia | 4  | 1967, 1974, 1975, 1978
Shiocton | 4  | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983
Wild Rose | 4  | 1967, 1974, 1976, 1977
Westfield | 3  | 1963, 1964, 1965
Rosholt | 2  | 1977, 1981
Tri-County | 2  | 1973, 1981
Amherst | 1  | 1977
Madonna | 1  | 1963
Adams-Friendship | 0  |
Almond-Bancroft | 0  |
Bowler | 0  |
Necedah | 0  |
Tigerton | 0  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Central-C Conference Is Formed". The Capital Times. January 25, 1962. p. 20. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
2. ^ a b "Oxford To Lose High School; May Seek Attachment Here". Wisconsin Dells Events. December 13, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
3. ^ a b "Madonna High At Mauston To Be Closed". La Crosse Tribune. May 16, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
4. ^ a b c d "New Vacationland Loop To Set Up Constitution". La Crosse Tribune. March 15, 1965. p. 11. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
5. ^ a b c "Port Enters New Grid Conference". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. November 22, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
6. ^ a b "9 starters return, form nucleus of Port eleven". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. September 5, 1968. p. 5. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
7. ^ "Central C League Now Central State". Stevens Point Journal. April 3, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
8. ^ a b c "Coach sees rebuilding season for Blackhawks". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. September 3, 1969. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
9. ^ a b c d e f g "Port to join 10-school conference next year". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. September 12, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
10. ^ a b c "CSC Admits Two New for 1971-72". Stevens Point Journal. November 22, 1971. p. 14. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
11. ^ a b "Papers, Apaches shifted to Lumberjack". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. June 27, 1975. p. 6. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
12. ^ a b "Shiocton okays sports plan". Appleton Post-Crescent. February 17, 1976. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
13. ^ a b c McGinn, Bob (February 9, 1978). "Realignment Generally Accepted". Green Bay Press-Gazette. pp. C-5. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Prep conferences realigned". Green Bay Press-Gazette. April 29, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved December 23, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Wisconsin high school athletic conferences

Organizations|

* WIAA (1895-present)
* WISAA (1968-2000)
* WCIAA (1957-1968)

Current|

* Badger
* Bay
* Big East
* Big Eight
* Big Rivers
* Capitol
* Central Wisconsin
* Classic 8
* Cloverbelt
* Coulee
* Dairyland
* Dunn-St. Croix
* Eastern Wisconsin
* Fox River Classic
* Fox Valley Association
* Glacier Trails
* Great Northern
* Greater Metro
* Heart O'North
* Indian Trails
* Lake City
* Lakeland
* Marawood
* Marinette & Oconto
* Metro Classic
* Middle Border
* Midwest Classic
* Milwaukee City
* Mississippi Valley
* North Eastern
* North Shore
* Northern Lakes
* Northern Lights
* Packerland
* Ridge & Valley
* Rock Valley
* Scenic Bluffs
* Six Rivers
* South Central
* Southeast
* Southern Lakes
* Southwest Wisconsin
* SWAL
* Trailways
* Wisconsin Flyway
* Wisconsin Valley
* Woodland

Former|

* 3-C (1928-1962)
* 4-C (1934-1953)
* 7-C (1926-1962)
* 10-12 (1946-1948)
* Badger Lutheran (1961-1964)
* Bay-Lakes (1970-1979)
* Bi-County (1928-1959)
* Big Nine (1985-1993)
* Black Hawk League (1930-1997)
* Braveland (1953-1993)
* Central Lakes (1952-1962)
* Central Lakeshore (1969-2015)
* Central State (1962-1984)
* Central Wisconsin Catholic (1956-2000)
* Classic (1973-1983)
* Dual County (1926-2001)
* East Central (1970-2001)
* East Central (2015-2025)
* East Central Flyway (2001-2007)
* Eastern Suburban (1969-2001)
* Eastern Valley (2007-2015)
* Eastern Wisconsin (1923-1970)
* Flambeau (1940-1970)
* Flambeauland (1946-1955)
* Flyway (1970-2001)
* Fox River Valley (1923-2007)
* Fox Valley Catholic (1929-1971)
* Fox Valley Christian (1971-1999)
* Fox Valley Tri-County (1924-1970)
* Gateway (1941-1952)
* Granite Valley (1945-1951)
* Granite Valley (1954-1960)
* Head of the Lakes (1918-1954)
* I-W League (1960-1964)
* Iowa County (1927-1960)
* Juneau County (1926-1958)
* Kettle Moraine (1928-1969)
* Kickapoo Valley (1907-1971)
* Lakeshore (1997-2008)
* Little Eight (1926-1937)
* Little Five (1930-1935)
* Little Nine (1928-1970)
* Little Seven (1926-1934)
* Little Ten (1925-1970)
* Lumberjack (1953-2008)
* Madison Suburban (1926-1969)
* Marathon County (1928-1949)
* Menominee Valley (1945-1947)
* Metro (1974-1997)
* Michigan-Wisconsin (1937-1973)
* Mid-Eastern (1952-1970)
* Mid-Valley (1946-1950)
* Midwest Prep (1940-1983)
* Milwaukee Catholic (1930-1974)
* Mississippi Valley (1933-1965)
* Mississippi Valley Triangular (1936-1940)
* Monroe-Vernon (1928-1958)
* Nicolet (1938-1942)
* Northeastern Wisconsin (1927-1970)
* Northern Wisconsin (1955-1956)
* Northwest Border (1940-1955)
* Olympian (1970-2015)
* Parkland (1963-2006)
* Peninsula (1933-1970)
* Rock River Valley (1922-1952)
* Scenic Central (1958-1979)
* South Central (1926-1941)
* South Shore (1970-1980)
* Southeastern Badger (1963-1970)
* Southeastern Wisconsin (1928-1963)
* Southern Eight (1971-1987)
* Southern Five (1928-1946)
* Southern Regional (1937-1958)
* Southern Six (1928-1941)
* Southern Ten (1941-1952)
* State Line (1927-1997)
* Suburban (1925-1985)
* Suburban Park (1985-1993)
* SWANI (1946-1952)
* SWAPS (1957-1961)
* SWISS (1982-2006)
* Trempealeau Valley (1927-1959)
* Tri-County (1923-1963)
* Upper St. Croix Valley (1934-1994)
* Upper Wisconsin (1926-1937)
* Vacationland (1966-1970)
* Valley 8 (1999-2007)
* West Central (1941-1952)
* West Central (1959-1977)
* West Grant (1930-1960)
* Western Wisconsin (1931-1937)
* Wisconsin Little Ten (1970-2017)
* Wisconsin River (1928-1960)
* Wisconsin Seminary (1963-1969)
* Wolf River Valley (1932-1970)
* Wood County (1925-1942)

Football-only|

* 856 (1953-1956)
* Across the Bay (2022-present)
* Chippewa-Black River Valley (1929-1944)
* Cloverwood (2008-2019)
* CWC-8 (2020-2023)
* Eastern Suburban (2020-present)
* Fox Valley Classic (Spring 2021)
* Lower Fox (1933-1936)
* MONLPC (2017-2021)
* North Central (2024-present)
* Northeast-8 (2024-present)
* Northern Border (2022-2023)
* Northwest Football League (1994-1995)
* Northwoods (2020-present)
* Olympian-Packerland (2007-2014)
* Parkland (2020-present)
* Southeast-8 (2024-present)
* Southern Dairyland (1959-1962)
* Suburban Six-Man (1939-1957)
* Tri-County Football (1934-1944)
* Tri-Valley (1953-1958)
* Valley Football Association (2011-2023)
* WCFC (1997)
* WIFA (1995-1997)

Future|

* Conference Yet To Be Named (2025-future)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template