Tri-Valley Conference (Wisconsin)

The Tri-Valley Conference is a former high school football conference with its membership concentrated in west central Wisconsin. Founded in 1953 and dissolved after the 1958 football season, the conference's member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

The Tri-Valley Conference was formed in 1953 by four small high schools in west central Wisconsin: Blair, Eleva-Strum, Independence and Onalaska.[1] It was named after the three rivers (Mississippi, Black and Trempealeau) that flowed through its catchment area. Three of the conference's original members (Blair, Eleva-Strum and Independence) belonged to the Trempealeau Valley Conference and Onalaska was a member of the Coulee Conference, neither of which sponsored football at that time. Melrose and Sacred Heart in Lima joined the Tri-Valley Conference for the 1955 season, bringing the roster to six schools.[2] Sacred Heart only spent one season in the Tri-Valley Conference and were replaced by former Mississippi Valley Conference members Whitehall for the 1956 season.[3] Just like the school they replaced, their time in the conference was short-lived and they returned to the MVC for the 1957 football season.[4] Bi-County League member Alma joined for the league's final season in 1958,[5] after which the Tri-Valley Conference ceased to exist. Three schools (Blair, Eleva-Strum and Independence) became members of the new Dairyland Conference, and two schools (Melrose and Onalaska) joined the Coulee Conference after it started sponsorship of football in 1959.[6]

Conference membership history

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Seasons Primary Conference
Blair Blair, WI Public N/A Cardinals     1953-1958 Trempealeau Valley
Eleva-Strum Strum, WI Public 187 Cardinals     1953-1958 Trempealeau Valley
Independence Independence, WI Public 143 Indees     1953-1958 Trempealeau Valley
Onalaska Onalaska, WI Public 923 Hilltoppers     1953-1958 Coulee
Melrose Melrose, WI Public N/A Eagles     1955-1958 Coulee
Sacred Heart Lima, WI Private (Catholic) N/A Redmen     1955 Independent
Whitehall Whitehall, WI Public 216 Norse     1956 Mississippi Valley
Alma Alma, WI Public 65 Rivermen     1958 Bi-County

Membership timeline

List of conference champions

School Quantity Years
Onalaska 3 1955, 1957, 1958
Blair 2 1953, 1954
Independence 1 1957
Whitehall 1 1956
Alma 0
Eleva-Strum 0
Melrose 0
Sacred Heart 0

References

  1. ^ "Old Abes, Ramblers Play Home Games This Week". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 16 September 1953. p. 19. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Logan Entertains Aquinas; Central Goes To Marinette". La Crosse Tribune. 5 October 1955. p. 10. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Prep Football Picks Up Momentum This Week". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 13 September 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ^ Gunderson, Jim (31 August 1957). "Tri-Valley Champion Whitehall Returns To M-V Football League". La Crosse Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Three Area Leagues Have Full Schedule". La Crosse Tribune. 10 September 1958. p. 25. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  6. ^ Gunderson, Jim (10 September 1959). "Coulee Loop Opens Play". La Crosse Tribune. p. 24. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
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