Vermilion Valley Conference

The Vermilion Valley Conference is a high school conference in east-central Illinois, in the United States. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference comprises 13 small public high schools and one small private school, with enrollments between 100 and 400 students in Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion counties.

Vermilion Valley Conference
ConferenceIHSA
Founded2003
No. of teams13
RegionEast-central Illinois (Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion counties)
Official websiteVermilion Valley Conference
Locations
The Vermilion Valley Conference within IllinoisThe Vermilion Valley Conference within Illinois
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Locations of Vermilion Valley Schools

History

The original Vermilion Valley Conference was founded in 1933 with schools from Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, and Kankakee counties in east-central Illinois. The five charter members included: Chatsworth, Cullom, Forrest Township, Herscher, and Saunemin.[1][2] This version of the Vermilion Valley disbanded in 1989.

The Vermilion Valley Conference was resurrected in 2003 with a new group of high schools. The charter members of the "new" Vermilion Valley included: Armstrong, Bismarck Henning, Chrisman, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Hoopeston Area, Oakwood, Rossville-Alvin, Salt Fork, Schlarman and Westville High Schools. In 2005, Rossville-Alvin High School closed and with the students attending Bismarck Henning, however, Milford joined the league the following year. [3][4]

In 2020, the conference expanded its football presence by adding several schools from other conferences into a "football only", two division league. Schools from the Tri-County Conference; including Dwight and Seneca, as well as Clifton Central, Iroquois West and Watseka from the Sangamon Valley Conference united under the Vermilion Valley moniker.[5] The two divisions included a North Division of Seneca, Momence, Dwight, Clifton Central, Watseka and Iroquois West and a South Division of Hoopeston Area, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Westville, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Salt Fork and Oakwood.[6] This unusual mix of three conferences only lasted two years with the development of the Chicago Prairie Football League. [7][8]

In 2021, the Sangamon Valley Conference disbanded,[9] therefore, Cissna Park, Iroquois West, and Watseka Community High Schools joined as full members of the Vermilion Valley, taking the total number of teams up to 13.[10]

Currently, the league consists of the following teams: Armstrong, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Catlin-Salt Fork, Chrisman, Cissna Park, Danville-Schlarman, Fithian-Oakwood, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Gilman-Iroquois West, Hoopeston Area, Milford, Watseka and Westville[11]

Member schools
School Location County Mascot Colors Joined Enrollment[12] IHSA Classes 1/2/3/4[12] IHSA Football Class[12] IHSA Football
Type[13]		 Coop/Team
Armstrong Township[14] Armstrong, IL Vermilion Trojans    
Purple, Gold		 2003 136 A/1A/1A 3A 11-Man Yes
Hoopeston
Bismarck Henning Rossville-Alvin[15] Bismarck, IL Vermilion Blue Devils      
Blue, Silver, White		 2003 338 A/1A/1A 2A 11-Man None
Salt Fork[16] Catlin, IL Vermilion Storm      
Black, Silver, White		 2003 254 A/1A/1A 1A 11-Man None
Chrisman[17] Chrisman, IL Edgar Cardinals    
Red, Black		 2003 100 A/1A/1A 2A 11-Man Yes
Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Cissna Park[18] Cissna Park, IL Iroquois Timberwolves      
Navy Blue, Silver, Columbia Blue		 2021 99 A/1A/1A 1A 8-Man Yes
Milford
Schlarman[19] Danville, IL Vermilion Hilltoppers    
Blue, Gold		 2003 145 A/1A/1A 1A 8-Man None
Oakwood[20] Fithian, IL Vermilion Comets    
Purple, White		 2003 305 A/1A/1A 1A/2A 11-man None
Georgetown-Ridge Farm[21] Georgetown, IL Vermilion Buffaloes      
Purple, Gold, White		 2003 277 A/1A/1A 2A 11-Man Yes
Chrisman
Hoopeston Area[22] Hoopeston, IL Vermilion Cornjerkers    
Blue, White		 2003 320 A/1A/1A 3A 11-Man Yes
Armstrong
Iroquois West[23] Gilman, IL Iroquois Raiders      
Blue, Red, White		 2021 310 A/1A/1A 1A/2A 11-man None
Milford[24] Milford, IL Iroquois Bearcats
Lady Bearcats		    
Blue, White		 2006 174 A/1A/1A 1A 8-Man Yes
Cissna Park
Watseka[25] Watseka, IL Iroquois Warriors    
Maroon, White		 2021 300 A/1A/1A 1A/2A 11-man None
Westville[26] Westville, IL Vermilion Tigers
Lady Tigers		    
Orange, Black		 2003 370 A/1A/1A 2A 11-man None

Previous Members
School Location Mascot Colors Year
Joined		 Year
Exited		 School
In Use		 Consolidated
Closed		 Current
District/Conference
Chatsworth[27] Chatsworth, IL Bluebirds    
Blue, Orange		 1933[1] 1985 No Consolidated Prairie Central
Cullom Community[28] Cullom, IL Ramblers    
Blue, White		 1933[1] 1968 Yes Consolidated Tri-Point
Forrest Township[29] Forrest, IL Eskimos      
Red, Black, White		 1933[1] 1949 No Consolidated
Forrest-Strawn-Wing		 Prairie Central
Herscher Herscher, IL Tigers    
Gold, Black		 1933[1] 1956 Yes Left the Conference Illinois Central Eight Conference
Saunemin[30] Saunemin, IL Eagles    
Purple, White		 1933[1] 1987 No Closed Pontiac Township
Kempton[31] Kempton, IL Red Devils    
Red, White		 1939[32] 1946 No Consolidated
Kempton-Cabery		 Tri-Point
Piper City[33] Piper City, IL Blue Streaks    
Blue, White		 1939[32] 1974 Yes Consolidated
Ford Central		 Tri-Point
Ford Central[34] Piper City, IL Cougars    
Columbia Blue, Gold		 1939[32] 1983 Yes Consolidated Tri-Point
Reddick[35] Piper City, IL Bulldogs      
Orange, Black, White		 1939[32] 1944 No Left the Conference Herscher
Onarga[36] Onarga, IL Indians    
Maroon, White		 1941[37] 1983 Yes Consolidated Iroquois West
Kempton-Cabery[38] Kempton, IL Komanches      
Red, Black, White		 1946[39] 1968 Yes Consolidated Tri-Point
Forrest-Strawn-Wing[40] Forrest, IL Eskimos      
Red, Black, White		 1949[41] 1985 No Consolidated Prairie Central
Roberts-Thawville[42] Roberts, IL Leprechauns    
Green, White		 1953[43] 1974 No Consolidated
Ford Central		 Tri-Point
Melvin-Sibley[44][45] Melvin, IL Rams    
Orange, Black		 1956[46] 1988 No Consolidated Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
Onarga Military[47] Onarga, IL YellowJackets
Spartans		    
Purple, Gold		 1956[46] 1970 No Closed Iroquois West
Reddick R.U.C.E.[35] Piper City, IL Bulldogs      
Orange, Black, White		 1962[48][49] 1988 No Consolidated Herscher
Gilman[50] Gilman, IL Owls    
Red, Blue		 1962[49] 1983 Yes Consolidated Iroquois West
Tri-Point Cullom, IL Chargers      
Scarlet, White, Royal		 1968[51] 1988 Yes Conference
Disbanded		 River Valley Conference
Cornell[52] Cornell, IL Cardinals    
Maroon, White		 1972[53][54][55] 1987 No Consolidated Flanagan-Cornell
Milford Milford, IL Bearcats
Lady Bearcats		    
Blue, White		 1972[55] 1982 Yes Left the Conference Vermilion Valley Conference
Gardner-South Wilmington Gardner, IL Panthers
Lady Panthers		    
Orange, Black		 1986 1988 Yes Conference
Disbanded		 River Valley Conference
Mazon-Verona-Kinsman[56] Mazon, IL Red Devils    
Red, White		 1986 1988 Yes Consolidated Seneca

Sources:IHSA Conferences,[57] and IHSA Member Schools Directory[58]

Membership timeline

Vermilion Valley (Original) Vermilion Valley (Current)

References
  1. "Form new prep conference including C.I. schools". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 10. Jan 15, 1933.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. The Great Conferences
  3. Vermilion Valley Conference Bylaws
  4. IHSA Archives Vermilion Valley Football Conference Standings 2004
  5. Mitchell, Michelle (Aug 4, 2020). "Vermilion Valley, Sangamon Valley Conferences Forming Football Alliance". vermilioncountyfirst.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  6. Beherns, Bret (Aug 3, 2020). "New Vermilion Valley Conference unveiled". WCIA. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  7. Smith, Cody (Nov 2, 2022). "Dwight football joins new Chicago Prairie Football League". Daily-Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. Pedelty, J.T.; Soucie, Steve; Ellerbrock, Charlie (Nov 2, 2022). "Seneca, Dwight among 8 teams forming Chicago Prairie Football League". Shaw Local News Network. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  9. LaChance, Brandon (June 1, 2021). "Dwight Trojans Find New Home in Tri-County Conference, Vermilion Valley Conference". The Paper. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  10. Wierda,Marlee; Choate, Craig (May 23, 2020). "Paxton-Buckley-Loda among four schools leaving SVC". WCIA. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  11. IHSA Conferences
  12. "Numeric Enrollments | Enrollments & Classifications | Schools | IHSA".
  13. "Football Conference Schedules, Standings & Results".
  14. Armstrong High School
  15. Bismarck Henning Rossville-Alvin High School
  16. Salt Fork High School
  17. Chrisman High School
  18. Cissna Park High School
  19. Danville Schlarman
  20. Fithian Oakwood High School
  21. Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
  22. Hoopeston Area High School
  23. Iroquois West High School
  24. Milford High School
  25. Watseka High School
  26. Westville High School
  27. Chatsworth High School
  28. Cullom Community High School
  29. Forrest Township High School
  30. Saunemin High School
  31. Kempton High School
  32. "VV Conference Takes New Members". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 8. Oct 14, 1939.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  33. Piper City High School
  34. Ford Central High School
  35. Reddick High School
  36. Onarga High School
  37. "Onarga New Vermilion Valley Loop Member". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 8. May 13, 1941.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  38. Kempton-Cabery High School
  39. "Voters Decide to Disband Cabery School". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 5. Apr 23, 1946.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  40. Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School
  41. "To Decide Unit Proposal at Strawn". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 21. Mar 24, 1949.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  42. Roberts-Thawville High School
  43. "Rob-Thaw Unit Joins Vermilion Valley League". The Paxton Record. page 5. Oct 8, 1953.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  44. Melvin-Sibley High School
  45. "Melvin-Sibley Unit Vote Set". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 5. Jan 21, 1949.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  46. "Melvin-Sibley Onarga Mil Join Vermilion Valley". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 7. Feb 20, 1955.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  47. Onarga Military Academy
  48. "Melvin-Sibley Seeks Title Repeat--Reddick a Threat". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 13. Nov 30, 1962.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  49. "Reddick, Gilman Added to VV Conference League". The Paxton Record. page 13. May 18, 1961.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  50. Gilman High School
  51. "Name Change Noted". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 7. Sep 22, 1968.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  52. Cornell High School
  53. "Cornell cagers to make Vermilion Valley debut". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 31. Nov 8, 1972.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  54. "Cornell Cardinals". The Daily Leader. page 20. Nov 24, 1972.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  55. "Cornell, Milford added to Vermilion Valley loop". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 19. Nov 5, 1971.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  56. Mazon-Verona-Kinsman High School
  57. "IHSA.org Conferences". www.ihsa.org.
  58. "Schools - IHSA". www.ihsa.org.
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