Northwestern Illinois Conference

Originally known as the Stephenson County Conference, the first year of competition was 1958 with four charter schools: Dakota, Durand, Lena-Winslow and Orangeville. In 1959 Freeport Aquin, Galena, Stockton and Warren joined from the disbanded US Grant Conference. Pearl City joined the conference in 1960 increasing the total number of teams to nine. The last year of competition under the Stephenson County name was 1962.

Based on the fact that the conference contained schools from Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, in 1963 it became known as the Northwest Conference. Additionally, in 1966, Lanark, from Carroll County, joined the conference, bringing the total number of schools to 10. In 1974 after Durand, Orangeville and Pearl City left for the Upstate Illini Conference, the remaining schools changed the name to the Northwestern Illinois Conference, also known as the NWIC.

Officially formed in 1974, the 7 members were Dakota, Freeport Aquin, Galena, Lanark, Lena-Winslow, Stockton and Warren. In 1977, Orangeville returned to the fold increasing the total teams to eight. As the 1986 school year began, Lanark High School consolidated with Shannon High School, becoming Eastland High School. After 30 years of membership, in 1988 Warren dropped out of the conference. However, East Dubuque quickly replaced them in 1989, keeping the total number of teams an even eight. Unfortunately, in 1995 they decided to leave the conference. This left the conference in a situation they had not had not been in since 1976, an odd number of teams for which to schedule. The final season for the NWIC occurred in 1995. Beginning in 1996, this conference merged with the Upstate Illini.

Sources:IHSA Conferences,[2] and IHSA Member Schools Directory[3]

Membership timeline

Full members Various Conferences/Independent US Grant Conference Upstate Illini Conference Northwest 8 Conference

The Northwestern Illinois Conference won 5 team state championships in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The conference also produced 15 individual championships, including track & field,[9][15] and wrestling.[18]

• Aquin Catholic High School
• Dakota High School
• Durand High School
• East Dubuque High School
• Eastland High School
• Galena High School
• Lena-Winslow High School
• Orangeville High School
• Pearl City High School
• Stockton High School
• Warren High School