Great Northern Conference
Wisconsin high school athletic conference
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Northern Conference is a high school athletic conference based in north central Wisconsin. Founded in 2008, the conference and its member schools belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
The Great Northern Conference was formed in 2008 by seven medium-sized high schools in north central Wisconsin. Four of its original members (Lakeland Union, Medford, Northland Pines and Tomahawk) were previously members of the Lumberjack Conference, which had disbanded the year prior.[1] Two schools joined from the Wisconsin Valley Conference (Antigo and Merrill)[2] and Mosinee moved over from the Cloverbelt Conference.[1] For Antigo and Merrill, this move grouped them with schools more in line with their enrollment size instead of being two of the smallest schools in their former conference.[2] Two years after the Great Northern Conference was formed, Merrill swapped affiliations with Wisconsin Valley Conference member Rhinelander.[3][4] They rejoined in 2025 from the Wisconsin Valley Conference, bringing the Great Northern Conference's membership group to eight schools.[5]
List of member schools
Current full members
| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigo | Antigo, WI | Public | 630[6] | Red Robins | 2008[2] | |
| Lakeland Union | Minocqua, WI | Public | 691[7] | Thunderbirds | 2008[1] | |
| Medford | Medford, WI | Public | 711[8] | Raiders | 2008[1] | |
| Merrill | Merrill, WI | Public | 755[9] | Bluejays | 2008,[2] 2025[5] | |
| Mosinee | Mosinee, WI | Public | 561[10] | Indians | 2008[1] | |
| Northland Pines | Eagle River, WI | Public | 437[11] | Eagles | 2008[1] | |
| Rhinelander | Rhinelander, WI | Public | 751[12] | Hodags | 2010[3][4] | |
| Tomahawk | Tomahawk, WI | Public | 371[13] | Hatchets | 2008[1] |
Current associate members
| School | Location | Affiliation | Mascot | Colors | Primary Conference | Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | Ashland, WI | Public | Oredockers | Heart O'North | Gymnastics,[a] Boys Tennis | |
| Colby | Colby, WI | Public | Hornets | Cloverbelt | Girls Swim & Dive[b] | |
| Columbus Catholic | Marshfield, WI | Private (Catholic) | Dons | Marawood | Girls Tennis | |
| Marshfield | Marshfield, WI | Public | Tigers | Wisconsin Valley | Gymnastics | |
| Newman Catholic | Wausau, WI | Private (Catholic) | Cardinals | Marawood | Girls Tennis | |
| Pacelli | Stevens Point, WI | Private (Catholic) | Cardinals | Central Wisconsin | Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis | |
| Phillips | Phillips, WI | Public | Loggers | Marawood | Girls Tennis | |
| Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI | Public | Panthers | Wisconsin Valley | Gymnastics | |
| Waupaca | Waupaca, WI | Public | Comets | North Eastern | Boys Hockey | |
| Wausau East | Wausau, WI | Public | Lumberjacks | Wisconsin Valley | Football | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Public | Red Raiders | Wisconsin Valley | Gymnastics |
Notes
Current co-operative members
Former associate members
| School | Location | Affiliation | Mascot | Colors | Seasons | Sports | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | Ashland, WI | Public | Oredockers | 2011-2023 | Football | Lake Superior, Heart O'North | |
| Merrill | Merrill, WI | Public | Bluejays | 2011-2024 | Football | Wisconsin Valley | |
| Hayward | Hayward, WI | Public | Hurricanes | 2020-2023 | Football | Heart O'North |
Membership timeline
Full members
Football members
Membership map
Sanctioned sports
Baseball |
Boys Basketball |
Girls Basketball |
Boys Cross Country |
Girls Cross Country |
Football |
Boys Golf |
Gymnastics |
Boys Hockey |
Boys Soccer |
Girls Soccer |
Softball |
Boys Swim & Dive |
Girls Swim & Dive |
Boys Tennis |
Girls Tennis |
Boys Track & Field |
Girls Track & Field |
Girls Volleyball |
Boys Wrestling |
Girls Wrestling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigo | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[a] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Lakeland Union | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[b] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Medford | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[c] | X[d] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Merrill | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Mosinee | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Northland Pines | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Rhinelander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[e] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Tomahawk | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Notes
List of state champions
Fall sports
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Tomahawk | 2008 | Division 2 |
| Lakeland Union | 2016 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Medford | 2018 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinelander | 2020 | Division 2 |
| Rhinelander | 2023 | Division 2 |
Winter sports
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Tomahawk | 2025 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinelander | 2023 | Division 2 |
Spring sports
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Antigo | 2019 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Union | 2024 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Mosinee | 2014 | Division 2 |
List of conference champions
Source:[14]
Boys Basketball
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinelander | 7 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2024, 2025 |
| Antigo | 4 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Medford | 4 | 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 |
| Mosinee | 4 | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Lakeland Union | 0 | |
| Merrill | 0 | |
| Northland Pines | 0 | |
| Tomahawk | 0 |
Girls Basketball
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Union | 7 | 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Mosinee | 4 | 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022 |
| Medford | 3 | 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| Rhinelander | 2 | 2019, 2020 |
| Antigo | 1 | 2009 |
| Merrill | 1 | 2009 |
| Northland Pines | 1 | 2013 |
| Tomahawk | 0 |
Football
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Medford | 7 | 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2024 |
| Antigo | 5 | 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Mosinee | 5 | 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Merrill | 3 | 2009, 2014, 2016 |
| Ashland | 1 | 2018 |
| Lakeland Union | 1 | 2008 |
| Hayward | 0 | |
| Rhinelander | 0 | |
| Tomahawk | 0 | |
| Wausau East | 0 |