Apollo Conference

The Apollo Conference is a high school athletic conference represented by 6 schools in the central portion of Illinois. It is a member of the Illinois High School Association.

Apollo Conference
ConferenceIHSA
Founded1970
No. of teams6
Class 4A
RegionCentral Illinois (Champaign, Christian, Coles, Effingham, and Macon counties)
State titles10

The conference offers championships for girls in basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. In boys' sports, the Apollo offers championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.

History

The conference was formed in 1970 by charter members Charleston, Newton, Paris and Robinson who left from the Eastern Illinois Conference. In 1972 Decatur Lakeview and Mt. Zion joined the conference after departing the Cenois Conference.[1] Effingham and Taylorville joined in 1981, leaving the Mid-State Conference.[2] Lakeview closed in 1982, bringing the conference back to seven members. In 1993 Taylorville left to join the newly formed Central State Eight Conference. Olney and Salem joined from the North Egypt Conference, which was dissolved in 2003.[3]

Significant changes have occurred for the Apollo Conference. Founding members Newton and Robinson, as well as Olney, left for the Little Illini Conference in the 2012–13 school year. Mattoon joined the league in that same school year, departing from the Big 12 Conference.[4] Teutopolis was invited to join the conference, but declined the invitation.[5][6][7][8] The Taylorville Tornadoes rejoined the conference in 2014,[9] while another Apollo founding school, Paris, left for the Little Illini Conference.[10] In 2015, Corn Belt Conference member Mahomet-Seymour was accepted into the conference starting with the 2017–2018 school year.[11] Later in the same year, Central State Eight conference member Lincoln was accepted to join in 2017–2018.[12] Shortly after, Salem elected to join the Cahokia Conference in 2017–18.[13] In 2023, Lincoln will leave the conference and head back to their previous league, The Central State Eight.[14]

Geographical concerns and school enrollment has played a part in the switching between Apollo and Little Illini Conferences. Charleston is the only founding member of the conference to stay in the Apollo, while Newton, Paris and Robinson have moved into the LIC

Current members
Apollo Conference is located in Illinois
Charleston
Charleston
Mattoon
Mattoon
Effingham
Effingham
Mahomet
Mahomet
Mt. Zion
Mt. Zion
Taylorville
Taylorville
Apollo Conference Members (clickable map)
School Location
(Population)		 Nickname Colors Affiliation Enrollment

2022-23

 Year Joined Previous Conference School Website
Charleston High School Charleston, Illinois
(20,117)		 Trojans Scarlet and Gold

   

 Public 796 1970 Eastern Illinois Conference http://www.charleston.k12.il.us/chs/
Effingham High School Effingham, Illinois
(12,511)		 Flaming Hearts Red, White and Forest Green

     

 Public 736 1981 Mid-State Conference http://www.effingham.k12.il.us
Mahomet-Seymour High School Mahomet, Illinois
(8,605)		 Bulldogs Orange and Navy

   

 Public 987 2017 Corn Belt Conference https://www.ms.k12.il.us/o/high-school
Mattoon High School Mattoon, Illinois
(17,615)		 Green Wave Green and Gold

   

 Public 930 2012 Big Twelve Conference http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us
Mt. Zion High School Mount Zion, Illinois
(5,795)		 Braves Red and White

   

 Public 763 1972 Cenois Conference http://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/pages/mtzion
Taylorville High School Taylorville, Illinois
(10,360)		 Tornadoes Purple and Gold

   

 Public 756 1981, 2014 Central State Eight Conference http://www.tcusd3.org

Former members
School Nickname Colors Location Enrollment Year Departed Conference Joined
Newton Community High School Eagles     Newton, IL 434 2012 Little Illini Conference
Richland County High School Tigers     Olney, IL 735 2012 Little Illini Conference
Paris High School Tigers     Paris, IL 561 2014 Little Illini Conference
Robinson High School Maroons     Robinson, IL 464 2012 Little Illini Conference
Salem Community High School Wildcats     Salem, IL 647 2017 Cahokia Conference
Lincoln High School Railsplitters     Lincoln, Illinois 810 2023 Central State Eight Conference

Membership timeline

Full members Full members (non-football) Full members (8-man football) Full members (Football Coop) Other Conference Central State Eight Conference Little Illini Conference)

See also

References
  1. "Decatur Lakeview High School "Spartans"".
  2. "Mid-State Conference - History of Membership". Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  3. "IHSFW.com; North Egypt Conference". www.ihsfw.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  4. "Mattoon CUSD 2 - Mattoon High School Sports to Join Apollo Conference 2012-2013". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  5. "Apollo conference back from brink".
  6. "Residents discuss pros and cons of conference change » Local News » Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL". effinghamdailynews.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. Bridges, Leroy (July 13, 2010). "Teutopolis turns down Apollo". Herald-Review.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  8. Board declines the invitation thexradio.com
  9. Taylorville High School approved to join Apollo Conferencesj-r.com Archived June 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Mike Monahan (June 27, 2012). "Paris leaving Apollo Conference for Little Illini". JG-TC.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  11. "Mahomet-Seymour accepted into Apollo - IllinoisHomePage.net". Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. "Lincoln High School board votes to leave CS8, join Apollo Conference".
  13. "UPDATE: Salem leaving Apollo Conference, heading to Cahokia".
  14. "Lincoln to rejoin Central State Eight Conference".
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