- Northern Lakes Conference of Indiana
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An IHSAA-sanctioned conference located within Elkhart, Kosciusko, and Marshall Counties.
Contents
History
With schools across Northern Indiana reorganizing and consolidating in the 1960’s, the need to develop friendly interscholastic competition initiated early conversations concerning forming a new athletic conference. The organizational meeting for the formation of the Northern Lakes Conference was held on February 3, 1963. Charter members of the NLC were the high schools of Bremen, Manchester, Nappanee, Plymouth, Rochester and Warsaw. The conference began competition in 1964-65 in the sports of Boys’ Baseball, Football, Basketball and Track. In 1965, Boys’ Tennis and Golf were added; in 1966 Cross-Country; and Wrestling became a conference sport in 1968. The conference was “intended to provide good, clean competition and fellowship for the boys, the coaches, and the school bodies of the Northern Lakes region.”
The late 60’s saw new memberships in the NLC with Concord High School joining in 1967 and Wawasee High School in 1968. By 1970, all school participated in all eight boys’ sports. Nappanee became NorthWood High School in 1969.
The decade of the 1970’s saw girls’ sports come of age in the NLC. Conference competition began in 1976-77 in Basketball, Tennis, Track and Volleyball. In 1980 Swimming was added; 1986 Cross-Country; 1987 Softball; 1994 Golf; and 1997 Soccer.
Additional sports added to NLC Boys’ competition included Swimming in 1980 and Soccer in 1994.
Membership in the Northern Lakes Conference has fluctuated between six and eight schools throughout conference history. In 1976, Manchester changed conferences. 1987 and 1989, Rochester and Bremen withdrew memberships to begin competition with school of lesser size and less travel than those of the NLC membership. Additions to the Northern Lakes Conference were Goshen in 1976, and Northridge in 1987. Elkhart Memorial begins competition in winter sports in 2000 and all other sports in 2001-02.
Today, the Northern Lakes Conference is recognized as one of the athletic conferences in the state of Indiana. Competitions at the state level include NLC student athletes in most every sport.[clarification needed] Leading the state by example, the NLC initiated offering a formal coaching education course in 1991. Today, NLC principals and athletic directors are regularly seated in governing bodies for athletic administration at the state level.[citation needed]
Membership
School Location Mascot Colors Size IHSAA
ClassCounty Year Joined Concord Elkhart, IN Minutemen 1,473 AAAA 20
Elkhart1967 Elkhart
MemorialElkhart, IN Crimson Chargers 2,000 AAAA 20
Elkhart2001 Goshen Goshen, IN Redskins 1,740 AAAAA 20
Elkhart1976 Northridge Middlebury, IN Raiders 1,282 AAAA 20
Elkhart1987 NorthWood Nappanee, IN Panthers 919 AAA 20
Elkhart1969 Plymouth Plymouth, IN Rockies / Pilgrims 1,100 AAAA 50
Marshall1963 Warsaw
CommunityWarsaw, IN Tigers 2,100 AAAA 43
Kosciusko1963 Wawasee Syracuse, IN Warriors 1,031 AAAA 43
Kosciusko1968 Former Members
School Mascot Location Years In
ConferenceReason for Leaving Bremen Lions Bremen, IN 1963 - 1989 Left to join Northern State Conference Manchester Spartans North Manchester, IN 1963 - 1976 Left to Join Three Rivers Conference Nappanee Bulldogs Nappanee, IN 1963 - 1968 Merged with Wakarusa High School to
form NorthWood High SchoolRochester Zebras Rochester, IN 1963 - 1987 Left to Join Three Rivers Conference Resources
Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Boy's Sports Baseball • Basketball (Championship) • Cross Country • Football (Large School, Small School) • Golf • Soccer • Swimming & Diving • Tennis • Track and field • WrestlingGirl's Sports Basketball • Cross Country • Golf • Gymnastics • Soccer • Softball • Swimming & Diving • Tennis • Track and field • VolleyballAthletic Conferences Allen County • Big Eight • Blue Chip • Central Indiana • Conference Indiana • Duneland • Eastern Indiana • Great Lakes • Greater South Shore Athletic • Hoosier • Hoosier Crossroads • Hoosier Heartland • Hoosier Heritage • Hoosier Hills • Indiana Crossroads • Indianapolis Public • Metropolitan • Mid-Eastern • Mid-Hoosier • Mid-Indiana • Mid-Indiana Football • Mid-Southern • Mid-State • Midwest • North Central • Northeast Corner • Northeast Hoosier • Northern Indiana • Northern Lakes • Northern State • Northwest Crossroads • Northwestern • Ohio River Valley • Patoka Lake • Pioneer • Pocket • Porter County • Sagamore • Southern • Southern Indiana • Southwest Indiana • Southwest Seven Football • Summit • Three Rivers • Tri-Eastern • Wabash River • West Central • Western Indiana • IHSAA IndependentsDisbanded Conferences Big Blue River • Calumet Athletic • Capital District • Central Suburban • Classic • Fort Wayne City • Indiana H.S. Football • Indiana Lake Shore • Lake Athletic • Lake Suburban • Little Seven • Midland • Mississinewa Valley • Northeastern Indiana • Northwest Hoosier • Northern Indiana Valley • Northland • Olympic • Rangeline • South Central • Tiny Ten • Tri-City League • Tri-County • Tri-River • White RiverConference Rosters List of high school athletic conferences in Indiana
Detailed Lists: Allen County – Metropolitan • Mid-Eastern – Northwestern • Ohio River Valley – Western Indiana • IndependentCity Championships Cross-Conference Tournaments Christian Academy Tournament • Columbus Christian Tournament • Gibson County Toyota Teamwork Classic • Indianapolis City Tournament • Madison County Tournament • Perry-Spencer County Classic • Shawe Memorial Tournament • Wabash Valley ClassicCategories:- Indiana high school athletic conferences
- High school sports conferences and leagues in the United States
- Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)
- Education in Elkhart County, Indiana
- Education in Kosciusko County, Indiana
- Education in Marshall County, Indiana
- Indiana school stubs
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