High School Football Conference Realignment – a closer look
This first of a three part series takes a look at the changes in store for area high school football conferences, beginning with the 2024-25 season. The WIAA endorsed conference realignment plans that formed 8 team conferences, and we take a look at area conferences and their changes.
Part 1 – structure
Part 2 – coach feedback and thoughts
Part 3 – Fan feedback
The Braintrust Analysis
CWC Large – Colby and Marathon join up with longtime successful programs Amherst, Stratford and Spencer. W-B has a solid program, and the co-op of Loyal and Greewood joining the mix will make for a heck of a tight conference race.
CWC Small – A mix of several recent conferences, including the Cloverwood, Marawood and CWC Small. Abbotsford and Assumption get back together, along with longtime Marawood faces Edgar, Auburndale and Pittsville. Adding Iola-Scandinavia, Rosholt and Pacelli gives this conference an exciting mix of teams that easily could be the most competitive from top to bottom.
Cloverbelt – Same alignment. Familiar faces.
Great Northern – Adding Tomahawk and Wausau East to the existing mix of GNC teams should result in the continuation of great Great Northern battles.
Fox Valley Large – no real big changes here. Hortonville in the mix will make for an always tough battle to earn conference title honors.
South Central – Ripon, Berlin and Waupun join forces with familiar South Central foes Adams-Friendship, Wisconsin Dells, Wautoma, Nekoosa and Mauston.
Big Rivers/VFA East – Taking longtime Wisconsin Valley/VFA teams Stevens Point, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, D.C. Everest and Wausau West and adding in Eau Claire Memorial and Eau Claire North will make for an incredibly strong half of the VFA East/West combo. Gaining a seventh conference game by crossover action of teams in the VFA West(Chippewa Falls, Hudson, New Richmond, Menomonie, Rice Lake, River Falls and Superior) will not only impact conference title runs but also provide huge playoff seeding implications.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
