The Wisconsin Valley Conference is a high school athletic conference composed of the largest public schools in north-central Wisconsin centered on the Wausau, Wisconsin metro area. The Wisconsin Valley is one of Wisconsin's oldest athletic conferences.[citation needed] The conference sponsors a variety of high school sports for girls and boys. In 2008, Antigo and Merrill, which had been charter members for 87 years, moved to the Great Northern Conference. This was the first change of the Wisconsin Valley Conference since 1980 when member Shawano moved to the Bay Conference. In the summer of 2010 Merrill returned to the Wisconsin Valley Conference and Rhinelander moved to the Great Northern Conference. In 2010 The WVC Schools petitioned to the WIAA for scheduling assistance in Football. Therefore, a football only conference was formed made up of Fox Valley Association schools named the Valley Football Association. Due to the Valley Football Association subsequently having 16 teams and the inability to have all teams play one another, the conference was forced to split into two divisions: North & South.
Member schools
edit| School | Location | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. Everest | Schofield, WI | 1,824 | Evergreens | |
| Marshfield | Marshfield, WI | 1,250 | Tigers | |
| Merrill | Merrill, WI | 801 | Bluejays | |
| Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI | 2,105 | Panthers | |
| Wausau East | Wausau, WI | 948 | Lumberjacks | |
| Wausau West | Wausau, WI | 1,535 | Warriors | |
| Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | 1,467 | Red Raiders |
- Merrill left in 2008 & joined back in 2010 and will leave the conference again in 2025
Former member schools:
- Antigo Red Robins (Left 2008), Antigo
- Rhinelander Hodags (Left 2010)Rhinelander
- Shawano Hawks (Left 1980), Shawano
- Medford Raiders (Left 1920s/30s), Medford
- Nekoosa Papermakers (Left 1920s/30s), Nekoosa
- Tomahawk Hatchets (Left 1920s/1930s), Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Valley football and wrestling
editSince the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association began the state football playoffs in 1976, the Wisconsin Valley has had a team in the state championship 17 times, and won the championship 11 times (including 5 title wins by the D.C. Everest Evergreens), more than any other large school conference.
Wisconsin Valley Conference football rivalries
editRivalries in the conference include Marshfield and D.C. Everest, Wausau East and Wausau West, and Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids