Northwestern Conference (IHSAA)

A three-member IHSAA-sanctioned athletic conference involving schools from Gary, Indiana.

History

The conference was formed in 1963, after the West Division of the Northern Indiana Conference split. At this time, the conference encompassed most of the schools in Gary (except for Edison, Roosevelt, and Wirt; Edison would close in 1968, the other two would join later), Hammond (except for Gavit and Morton, who would join in 1966), and East Chicago schools, as well as the schools from Valparaiso and Whiting.

The conference expanded to 16 schools in 1966, adding Hobart High School, as well as Gary Roosevelt, Hammond Gavit and Hammond Morton. The expansion moved the conference into divisions: the East Division consisted of the Gary schools, Hobart, and Valparaiso, the West Division consisting of the East Chicago, Hammond, and Whiting schools.

The conference changed its name to the Gary City Series in 1968, as Hobart and Valparaiso became independent, with the rest of the non-Gary schools formed the Indiana Lake Shore Conference. These schools would be replaced by parochial school Andrean, and the new Gary West Side. The next year, Gary Froebel and Tolleston closed, and the conference reverted to the Northwestern Conference moniker. Roosevelt would join in 1970 from the old Calumet Conference, and Andrean left to be independent in 1975.

The conference membership has decreased over the years as schools closed (Emerson in 1981, Mann in 2004, and Wirt in 2009), leaving the current number of schools at three.

Current members

School (IHSAA ID#)	Mascot	Colors	Enrollment	IHSAA Class	Year joined	Previous conference
Gary Roosevelt (123)	Panthers		890	4A football, 3A basketball	1966	independent
Gary Wallace (124)	Hornets		931	3A football, 3A basketball	1963	Northern Indiana (West)
Gary West Side (125)	Cougars		1,326	4A football, 4A basketball	1968	none (new school)

Former members

School	Mascot	Colors	Year joined	Previous Conference	Year Left	Reason
East Chicago Roosevelt	Roughriders		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	to Lake Shore
East Chicago Washington	Senators		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	to Lake Shore
Hammond	Wildcats		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	to Lake Shore
Hammond Clark	Pioneers		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	to Lake Shore
Hammond Tech	Tigers		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	to Lake Shore
Valparaiso	Vikings		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	independent (to Duneland 1970)
Whiting	Oilers		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1968	to Lake Shore
Hammond Gavit	Gladiators		1966	independent	1968	to Lake Shore
Hammond Morton	Governors		1966	independent	1968	to Lake Shore
Hobart	Brickies		1966	independent	1968	independent (to Duneland 1970)
Gary Froebel	Blue Devils		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1969	school became middle school, then closed in 1977
Gary Tolleston	Blue Raiders		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1969	school became middle school, closed in 2007
Andrean	59ers		1968	independent	1975	independent (to Lake 1997)
Gary Emerson	Tornado		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	1981	school closed, later reopened as Emerson VPA
Gary Mann	Horsemen		1963	Northern Indiana (West)	2004	school closed
Gary Wirt	Troopers		1970	Calumet Conference	2009	school closed

Membership timeline

Resources

• IHSAA Conferences
• IHSAA Directory