856 Conference
Former Wisconsin high school football conference
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The 856 Conference is a former high school football conference with members in northwestern Wisconsin. Active from the 1953 through the 1956 season, the conference's members were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
The 856 Conference was created by six small high schools in northwestern Wisconsin for the 1953 football season after the Dunn-St. Croix Conference suspended sponsorship of the sport.[1] Four of its original members were affiliated with the Dunn-St. Croix (Boyceville, Elmwood, Hammond and Prescott) while the other two came from the Flambeauland Conference (Lake Holcombe and Tony).[2] The 856 Conference sponsored eight-player football, a common variant used by smaller high schools in Wisconsin at that time. Somerset was added to the group in 1955 after the dissolution of the Northwest Border Conference, and the conference was briefly renamed the 857 Conference.[3] The next year, Tony left for membership in the Lakeland Conference for football,[4] and the 856 Conference competed for one more season after disbanding after its conclusion. The Dunn-St. Croix Conference resumed sponsorship of eight-player football at that time, and all six members of the 856 Conference landed there along with new arrival Plum City.[5]
Conference membership history
| School | Location | Affiliation | Mascot | Colors | Seasons | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyceville | Boyceville, WI | Public | Bulldogs | 1953–1956 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
| Elmwood | Elmwood, WI | Public | Raiders | 1953–1956 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
| Hammond | Hammond, WI | Public | Bluejays | 1953–1956 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
| Lake Holcombe | Lake Holcombe, WI | Public | Chieftains | 1953–1956 | Flambeauland | |
| Prescott | Prescott, WI | Public | Cardinals | 1953-1956 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
| Tony | Tony, WI | Public | Tornadoes | 1953–1955 | Flambeauland | |
| Somerset | Somerset, WI | Public | Spartans | 1955–1956 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Membership timeline
List of conference champions
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Hammond | 2 | 1955, 1956 |
| Elmwood | 1 | 1954 |
| Prescott | 1 | 1953 |
| Boyceville | 0 | |
| Lake Holcombe | 0 | |
| Somerset | 0 | |
| Tony | 0 |