The Northwestern Illinois Conference , known locally as the NWIC, was a high school sports conference in northwest and north central Illinois. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference included small public high schools, and one small private school, with enrollments between 75-400 students in Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties.

History Originally known as the Stephenson County Conference, the first year of competition was 1958 with four charter schools: Dakota, Durand, Lena-Winslow and Orangeville. In 1959 Freeport Aquin, Galena, Stockton and Warren joined from the disbanded US Grant Conference. Pearl City joined the conference in 1960 increasing the total number of teams to nine. The last year of competition under the Stephenson County name was 1962.

Based on the fact that the conference contained schools from Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, in 1963 it became known as the Northwest Conference. Additionally, in 1966, Lanark, from Carroll County, joined the conference, bringing the total number of schools to 10. In 1974 after Durand, Orangeville and Pearl City left for the Upstate Illini Conference, the remaining schools changed the name to the Northwestern Illinois Conference, also known as the NWIC.

Officially formed in 1974, the 7 members were Dakota, Freeport Aquin, Galena, Lanark, Lena-Winslow, Stockton and Warren. In 1977, Orangeville returned to the fold increasing the total teams to eight. As the 1986 school year began, Lanark High School consolidated with Shannon High School, becoming Eastland High School. After 30 years of membership, in 1988 Warren dropped out of the conference. However, East Dubuque quickly replaced them in 1989, keeping the total number of teams an even eight. Unfortunately, in 1995 they decided to leave the conference. This left the conference in a situation they had not had not been in since 1976, an odd number of teams for which to schedule. The final season for the NWIC occurred in 1995. Beginning in 1996, this conference merged with the Upstate Illini.

Member schools

School Location Mascot Colors Year Joined Year Left IHSA Classes A/AA IHSA Music Class IHSA Football Class Aquin CatholicHigh School Freeport, IL Bulldogs Navy Blue, Gold 1959 1996 A D 1A DakotaHigh School Dakota, IL Indians Maroon, White 1958 1996 A C 1A DurandHigh School Durand, IL Bulldogs Royal Blue, White 1958 1974 A C 1A East DubuqueHigh School East Dubuque, IL Warriors Royal Blue, White 1989 1995 A C 1A EastlandHigh School Lanark, IL Cougars Royal Blue, Orange 1986 consolidated with Shannon High School 1996 A C 1A GalenaHigh School Galena, IL Pirates Royal Blue, White 1959 1996 A C 1A LanarkHigh School Lanark, IL Beavers Blue, White 1966 1986 A C 1A Lena-WinslowHigh School Lena, IL Panthers Black, Gold 1958 1996 A C 1A OrangevilleHigh School Orangeville, IL Broncos Purple, Gold 19581977 19741996 A D 1A Pearl CityHigh School Pearl City, IL Wolves Red, White, Black 1960 1974 A D 1A StocktonHigh School Stockton, IL Blackhawks Maroon, Gold 1959 1996 A D 1A WarrenHigh School Warren, IL Warriors Orange, Black 1959 1988 A D 1A Sources:IHSA Conferences, and IHSA Member Schools Directory

Membership timeline

Competitive Success The Northwestern Illinois Conference won 5 team state championships in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities. The conference also produced 15 individual championships, including track & field, and wrestling.

State Champions

Team School Sport/Activity Gender Year Class Stockton Football Boys 1978-79 2A Aquin Central Catholic Football Boys 1981-82 1A Aquin Central Catholic Football Boys 1986-87 1A Orangeville Football Boys 1989-90 1A Stockton Football Boys 1991-92 1A

Individual Athlete(s) School Sport/Activity Event/Level Gender Year Class Toni Logemann Stockton Track & Field 800m Run Girls 1994-95 A Jerry Raab Stockton Wrestling 98 lbs Boys 1975-76 A Pete Alber Dakota Wrestling 98 lbs Boys 1980-81 A Jerry Raab Stockton Wrestling 105 lbs Boys 1976-77 A Mike Lizer Dakota Wrestling 105 lbs Boys 1978-79 A Tony Alber Dakota Wrestling 105 lbs Boys 1979-80 A Dennis Lizer Dakota Wrestling 112 lbs Boys 1976-77 A Steve Webster Dakota Wrestling 126 lbs Boys 1973-74 A Greg Alber Dakota Wrestling 126 lbs Boys 1987-88 A Brian Woodley Dakota Wrestling 167 lbs Boys 1993-94 A Jeff Eastlick Stockton Wrestling 185 lbs Boys 1977-78 A Andy McPeek Lena-Winslow Wrestling 189 lbs Boys 1992-93 A Wes Folk Dakota Wrestling 189 lbs Boys 1994-95 A Dave Eaton Galena Track & Field 100m Dash Boys 1986-87 A Jeremy DaughenbaughKurt KramerJayson LietzenJeremy Spencer Lena-Winslow Track & Field 4x100m Relay Boys 1992-93 A

References

External links Aquin Catholic High School Dakota High School Durand High School East Dubuque High School Eastland High School Galena High School Lena-Winslow High School Orangeville High School Pearl City High School Stockton High School Warren High School