Central Lakes Conference

The Central Lakes Conference is a former high school athletic conference in central Wisconsin. Founded in 1951 and dissolved in 1962, the conference and its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

30km
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Location of Original Central Lakes Conference Members

The Central Lakes Conference was formed in 1951 by five schools who seceded from the larger 7-C Conference in central Wisconsin: Almond, Green Lake, Oxford-Endeavor, Princeton and Wild Rose.[1][2] Eight-man football was first sponsored for the 1953 season with all five members participating.[3] Princeton exited the conference in 1954 to join the Dual County Conference,[4] bringing membership down to four schools. Endeavor and Oxford also ended their academic and athletic partnership that year, with Endeavor's school district area being reassigned to Portage.[5] Green Lake dropped out of the Central Lakes Conference’s football roster for the 1955 and competed as an independent before rejoining in 1956.[6] That same year, Necedah's entry into the conference from the Juneau County League brought the roster back up to five members, though they did not sponsor football.[7] A sixth school was added in 1958 when Port Edwards left the 7-C Conference for Central Lakes Conference membership.[8] They were the only member of the conference that competed in eleven-man football,[9] which made them ineligible for the conference championship (though the league relented on this at the end of the season). Port Edward’s left as football members for the 1959 season to compete against other 11-man programs[10] and were replaced by Montello of the 7-C Conference after they switched to eight-man football.[11] Green Lake joined the Fox Valley Tri-County League in 1959,[12] leaving the Central Lakes Conference with five members. After the 1960-61 school year, Montello left for full membership in the Dual County Conference,[13] and Port Edwards rejoined for football in 1961 after transitioning to eight-man football.[14] The Central Lakes Conference was dissolved in 1962, and the five remaining members of the conference joined with three former members of the 7-C Conference (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) and Madonna High School in Mauston to form the new Central-C Conference.[15]

Conference membership history

Full members

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Almond Almond, WI Public 109 Eagles     1951[1][2] 1962[15] Central-C Central Wisconsin
Green Lake Green Lake, WI Public 101 Lakers     1951[1][2] 1959[12] Fox Valley Tri-County Trailways (coop with Princeton)
Oxford-Endeavor Oxford, WI & Endeavor, WI Public N/A Oxen     1951[1][2] 1954[5] Athletic cooperative ended, Endeavor closed (consolidated into Portage)
Princeton Princeton, WI Public 109 Tigers     1951[1][2] 1954[4] Dual County Trailways (coop with Green Lake)
Wild Rose Wild Rose, WI Public 153 Wildcats     1951[1][2] 1962[15] Central-C Central Wisconsin
Oxford Oxford, WI Public N/A Bluejays     1954[5] 1962[15] Central-C Closed in 1963 (consolidated into Westfield)
Necedah Necedah, WI Public 213 Cardinals     1956[7] 1962[15] Central-C Scenic Bluffs
Port Edwards Port Edwards, WI Public 133 Blackhawks     1958[8] 1962[15] Central-C Central Wisconsin

Football-only members

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Seasons Primary Conference
Montello Montello, WI Public 251 Hilltoppers     1959-1960 7-C

Membership timeline

Full members

Football members

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

School Quantity Years
Oxford 5 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1961
Almond 3 1953, 1958, 1959
Necedah 2 1957, 1962
Oxford-Endeavor 1 1952
Wild Rose 1 1962
Green Lake 0
Princeton 0
Port Edwards 0

Football

School Quantity Years
Oxford 6 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960
Montello 2 1959, 1960
Port Edwards 2 1958, 1961
Green Lake 1 1953
Oxford-Endeavor 1 1953
Almond 0
Princeton 0
Wild Rose 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Princeton Loses to Wild Rose Five". Oshkosh Northwestern. 8 December 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Green Lake To Enter New Loop". Oshkosh Northwestern. 2 October 1952. p. 17. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Wild Rose Grid Candidates Get Order to Report". Oshkosh Northwestern. 19 August 1955. p. 15. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Dual County Loop Admits Princeton". Portage Daily Register. 17 February 1954. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b c "School Detachment Action Clarified by Superintendent". Portage Daily Register. 3 May 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  6. ^ "High School Rolls Down at Wild Rose". Oshkosh Northwestern. 7 September 1956. p. 20. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Three Area Quintets Eye Conference Titles". Oshkosh Northwestern. 11 February 1957. p. 13. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Nekoosa, Port 9's Open Prep Slate". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 5 April 1958. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Port Edwards 11 Eyes Unbeaten CLC Record". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 30 October 1958. p. 6. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Sports Lookout with Don Lindstrom". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 2 September 1959. p. 6. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Coach Fenley Readies Montello Grid Squad". Portage Daily Register. 11 September 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b "High School Opens Football Season Friday". Fox Lake Representative. 10 September 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Montello Is To Join Dual Loop". Portage Daily Register. 26 September 1960. p. 6. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Black Hawks Prepare to Play Eight-Man Football". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 8 September 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Central-C Conference Is Formed". The Capital Times. 25 January 1962. p. 20. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
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