Northern Indiana Athletic Conference

Northern Indiana ConferenceFounded| 1927

|

No. of teams| 1 Class 6 A, 2 Class 5A, 5 Class 4A, 4 Class 3A, 1 Class 2A
Region| North Central Indiana
Locations
The Northern Indiana Conference in Indiana. Current Areas are in red, Former Areas are in Maroon

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.

## History[edit]

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]

## Sponsored Sports[edit]

### Boys[edit]

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

### Girls[edit]

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

## Current members[edit]

School  | Location  | Mascot  | Colors  | County  | Enrollment
IHSAA Class  | Joined  | Previous
Conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Bremen | Bremen | Lions  |  | 50
Marshall | 509
2A  | 2015  | Northern State
Elkhart1 | Elkhart | Lions  |  | 20
Elkhart | 1,618
6A  | 2020  | Elkhart County
Jimtown | Elkhart | Jimmies  |  | 20
Elkhart | 595
3A  | 2015  |  Northern State
John Glenn | Walkerton | Falcons  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 594
3A  | 2015  | Northern State
Mishawaka
Marian | Mishawaka | Knights  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 645
3A  | 2005  | Independents
(NIVC 1978)
New
Prairie | New
Carlisle | Cougars  |  | 46
LaPorte | 961
4A  | 2015  | Northern State
Penn2 | Mishawaka | Kingsmen  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 3,338
6A  | 1974  | Northern IN Valley
South Bend
Adams | South Bend | Eagles  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 1,913
5A  | 1941  | none (new school)
South Bend
Clay | South Bend | Colonials  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 988
4A  | 1978  | Independents
(NIVC 1978)
South Bend
Riley | South Bend | Wildcats  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 1,148
4A  | 1931  | Independent (School Opened in 1924)
South Bend
St. Joseph3 | South Bend | Indians  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 857
3A  | 2005  | Independents
(NIVC 1978)
South Bend
Washington | South Bend | Panthers  |  | 71
St. Joseph | 778
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[edit]

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

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[edit]

## Rivalries[edit]

Main rivalries:

* Riley Wildcats vs. Penn Kingsmen
* Clay Colonials vs. Washington Panthers
* 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
* Bremen Lions vs. Jimtown Jimmies (Rivalry published in November 1994 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine "Unrivaled Rivalries")

Notable sub-rivalries

* Riley vs. Clay
* Adams vs. Clay
* St. Joseph vs. Penn
* Riley vs. Marian (often called "The South Side Brawl")
* Jimtown vs. NorthWood* (often called "The Border War")
* Bremen vs. Triton* (also often called "The Border War")
* Penn vs. Fort Wayne Snider*
* Marian vs. Mishawaka* (often called "The Civil War")
* St. Joseph vs. Clay
* Mishawaka* vs. Washington
* Marian vs. Penn (baseball only)
* St. Joseph vs. Culver Military Academy (hockey and lacrosse only)*°
* Mishawaka vs. Clay (football 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.

(Asterisk indicates non-member of NIC)

(Degree indicates a non-NIC sanctioned sport)

## State championships[edit]

### Bremen (3)[edit]

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

### Elkhart Central (6)[edit]

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

### Jimtown (6)[edit]

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

### Glenn (0)[edit]

### Mishawaka (7)[edit]

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

### Mishawaka Marian (12)[edit]

* 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)[edit]

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

### Penn (24)[edit]

* 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)[edit]

* 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)[edit]

* 1970 Baseball
* 1994 Boys Basketball

### South Bend Riley (10)[edit]

* 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)[edit]

* 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)[edit]

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

## See also[edit]

* Hoosier Hysteria
* Largest high school gyms in the United States

## Related links[edit]

* Northern Indiana Football History
* Indiana High School Athletic Association
* List of high school athletic conferences in Indiana
* Indiana big school football champions

## References[edit]

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[edit]

* Basketball Champions
* Football Champions

* v
* t
* e

The Northern Indiana Athletic Conference (NIAC)

Current membership|

* Bremen (Lions)
* Elkhart (Lions)
* Glenn (Falcons)
* Jimtown (Jimmies)
* Mishawaka Marian (Knights)
* New Prairie (Cougars)
* Penn (Kingsmen)
* South Bend John Adams (Eagles)
* South Bend Clay (Colonials)
* South Bend Riley (Wildcats)
* South Bend St. Joseph (Indians)
* South Bend Washington (Panthers)

Former membership|

* East Chicago (Senators)
* East Chicago Roosevelt
* East Chicago Roosevelt (Rough Riders)
* East Chicago Washington
* Elkhart Central (Blue Blazers)
* Elkhart Memorial (Crimson Chargers)
* Fort Wayne North Side (Redskins)
* Gary Emerson (Golden Tornadoes)
* Gary Froebel (Blue Devils)
* Gary Mann (Horsemen)
* Gary Tolleston (Blue Raiders)
* Gary Wallace (Hornets)
* Goshen (Redskins)
* Hammond (Wildcats)
* Hammond Clark (Pioneers)
* Hammond Tech (Tigers)
* LaPorte (Slicers)
* Michigan City (Red Devils)
* Michigan City Elston (Red Devils)
* Mishawaka (Cavemen)
* Plymouth (Rockies)
* South Bend (Bears)
* South Bend Central (Bears)
* South Bend LaSalle (Lions)
* Valparaiso (Vikings)
* Whiting (Oilers)

* v
* t
* e

Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)

Boys' sports|

* Baseball
* Basketball (Championship)
* Cross country
* Football (large school, small school)
* Golf
* Soccer
* Swimming & diving
* Tennis
* Track and field
* Wrestling

Girls' sports|

* Basketball
* Cross country
* Golf
* Gymnastics
* Soccer
* Softball
* Swimming & diving
* Tennis
* Track and field
* Volleyball

Athletic
conferences|

* Allen County
* Blue Chip
* Central Indiana
* Circle City
* Conference Indiana
* Duneland
* Eastern Indiana (Southern)
* Great Lakes
* Greater Indianapolis
* Greater South Shore
* Hoosier
* Hoosier Crossroads
* Hoosier Heartland
* Hoosier Heritage
* Hoosier Hills
* Hoosier North
* Hoosier Plains
* Indiana Crossroads
* Metropolitan
* Mid-Eastern
* Mid-Hoosier
* Mid-Indiana Football
* Mid-Southern
* Mid-State
* Midwest
* North Central
* Northeast Corner
* Northeast Eight
* Northern Indiana
* Northern Lakes
* Northwest Crossroads
* Ohio River Valley
* Patoka Lake
* Pioneer
* Pocket
* Porter County
* Sagamore
* Southern
* Southern Indiana
* Southern Roads
* Southwest Football
* Southwest Indiana
* Summit
* Three Rivers (Northern)
* Tri-Eastern
* Wabash River
* Western Indiana
* IHSAA Independents

Disbanded
conferences|

* Adams
* Bartholomew-Shelby County
* Benton
* Big Blue River
* Big 4
* Big Eight
* Blackford
* Blue River
* Boone
* Brown
* Calumet Athletic
* Capital District
* Carroll
* Cass
* Central Suburban
* Clark
* Classic
* Clay
* Clinton
* Daviess
* Dearborn
* Decatur
* DeKalb
* Delaware
* Dixie
* Dixie-Monon
* East Central
* Eastern Indiana (Northern)
* Eastern Wabash Valley
* Elkhart
* Fayette
* Fort Wayne City
* Fountain
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Gibson
* Grant
* Greene
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Harrison
* Henry
* Howard
* Huntington
* Indiana H.S. Football
* Indiana Lake Shore
* Indianapolis Public
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jay
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Kankakee Valley
* Knox
* Kosciusko
* LaGrange
* Lake Athletic
* Lake-Porter
* Lake Suburban
* Laughery Valley
* Lawrence
* Little 4
* Little 7
* Little 8
* Lost River
* Marion
* Marshall
* Martin
* Miami
* Mid-Central
* Mid-Indiana
* Midland
* Mississinewa Valley
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Newton
* Noble
* Northeastern Indiana
* Northern Indiana Valley
* Northern State
* Northland
* Northwest Hoosier
* Northwestern
* Olympic
* Orange
* Owen
* Parke
* Patoka Valley
* Perry
* Posey
* Prairie
* Putnam
* Randolph
* Rangeline
* Ripley
* Rush
* South Central
* South Lake Michigan
* Southeastern Indiana
* Southern Monon
* Spencer
* Starke
* State Corner
* Steuben
* Sullivan
* Three Rivers (Southern)
* Tiny Ten
* Tippecanoe
* Tippecanoe Valley
* Tipton
* Tri-City League
* Tri-County (Central)
* Tri-County (Northern)
* Tri-County (Southern)
* Tri-County (Western)
* Tri-River
* Union
* Vermillion
* Vigo
* Wabash
* Warren
* Warrick
* Washington
* Wayne
* Wells
* West Central
* Western Indiana Small High School
* White
* White River
* White River Valley
* Whitewater Valley
* Whitley

Conference rosters|

* List of high school athletic conferences in Indiana

Detailed lists
Allen County – Metropolitan
Mid-Eastern – Northwestern
Ohio River Valley – Western Indiana
Independent

City championships|

* Evansville (SIAC)
* Fort Wayne (SAC)
* Gary
* Indianapolis
* South Bend (NIAC)

Cross-conference
tournaments|

* Christian Academy Tournament
* Columbus Christian Tournament
* Gibson County Toyota Teamwork Classic
* Indianapolis City Tournament
* Madison County Tournament
* Perry-Spencer County Classic
* Shawe Memorial Tournament
* Wabash Valley Classic

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