Upper Wisconsin Conference
Former Wisconsin high school athletic conference
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The Upper Wisconsin Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership base in the northern part of the state. Founded in 1926 and disbanded in 1937, the conference and its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
The Upper Wisconsin Conference was formed in 1926 by seven small high schools in far northern Wisconsin: Butternut, Fifield, Glidden, Hurley, Iron Belt, Mellen and Park Falls.[1][2] Charter members of the conference were located in three counties (Ashland, Iron and Price) and five of the original seven schools were located along Wisconsin Highway 13, a major north-south thoroughfare connecting Wisconsin Dells and Superior. Hurley left the Upper Wisconsin Conference in 1928,[3][4] only to return the next year.[5] Their second stint in the conference ended in 1932, and the circuit continued with six member schools.[6] In 1935, Fifield left the Upper Wisconsin Conference and were replaced by Saxon to keep the roster at six schools.[7] By this time, the conference was referred to informally as the Soo Line League.[8] Fifield rejoined the conference the next year, offsetting the loss of Mellen and Park Falls to independent status.[9] The conference ended play in 1937 after failing to agree to a league schedule.[10][11]
Conference membership history
| School | Location | Affiliation | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butternut | Butternut, WI | Public | Midgets | 1926[1][2] | 1937[10][11] | Independent | Northern Lights | |
| Fifield | Fifield, WI | Public | Vikings | 1926,[1][2] 1936 | 1935,[7] 1937[10][11] | Independent | Closed in 1962 (consolidated into Park Falls) | |
| Glidden | Glidden, WI | Public | Vikings | 1926.[1][2] | 1937[10][11] | Independent | Closed in 2009 (merged into Chequamegon) | |
| Hurley | Hurley, WI | Public | Midgets | 1926,[1][2] 1929[5] | 1928,[3][4] 1932[6] | Independent | Northern Lights | |
| Iron Belt | Iron Belt, WI | Public | Hornets | 1926[1][2] | 1937[10][11] | Independent | Closed in 1957 (consolidated into Hurley) | |
| Mellen | Mellen, WI | Public | Granite Diggers | 1926[1][2] | 1936[9] | Independent | Northern Lights | |
| Park Falls | Park Falls, WI | Public | Cardinals | 1926[1][2] | 1936[9] | Independent | Closed in 2009 (merged into Chequamegon) | |
| Saxon | Saxon, WI | Public | Knights | 1935[7] | 1937[10][11] | Independent | Closed in 1964 (consolidated into Hurley) |
Membership timeline
