
The Big Rivers Conference is a high school athletic conference consisting of large high schools in western Wisconsin. Formed in 1956, its member schools are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
[edit]1956-1989
[edit]The Big Rivers Conference was formed by five large high schools in northern and western Wisconsin.[1] Four long-time independents (Eau Claire, La Crosse Central, Marinette and Menominee (MI)) joined with Wausau, who was forced out of the Wisconsin Valley Conference by the other league members to create greater parity in competition.[2][3] The twin cities of Marinette and Menominee left the conference in 1963, primarily due to travel issues and lack of competitiveness in basketball.[4] The two exiting schools were replaced by four newcomers: Chippewa Falls from the disbanded Mississippi Valley Conference, the newly opened Eau Claire North, and two former independents in La Crosse Logan and Menomonie.[5] The conference added an eighth member in 1970 when Wausau High School split into Wausau East and the new Wausau West High School.[6] The two Wausau high schools would go back to the Wisconsin Valley Conference in 1973,[7][8] and membership stayed consistent until realignment in the late 1980s.
1989-present
[edit]In 1989, the two La Crosse high schools (Central and Logan) left the Big Rivers Conference to become charter members of the new Mississippi Valley Conference,[9] along with other schools that were geographically closer than the Eau Claire-area schools.[10] In 1986, Hudson of the Middle Border Conference and Rice Lake of the Heart O'North Conference joined the Big Rivers Conference as football-only members,[11] attaining full membership three years later along with fellow MBC member River Falls.[12] They replaced the two La Crosse high schools, who became charter members of the Mississippi Valley Conference in 1989.[13] New Richmond briefly joined the Big Rivers in 1998 from the Middle Border Conference,[14] which they returned to after a four-year stint.[15] In football, New Richmond was replaced by Lake Superior Conference members Superior in 2002 after they joined as associate members.[16] New Richmond would return to the Big Rivers in 2020,[17] first as a football-only member and then as a full member in 2021.[18]
Football-only alignment
[edit]In February 2019, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, the WIAA released a sweeping football-only realignment for Wisconsin to commence with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle.[19] For the first competition cycle, the Big Rivers Conference lost River Falls to the Mississippi Valley Conference, replacing them with New Richmond of the Middle Border Conference.[20] River Falls made their return to the Big Rivers for the 2022-2023 realignment cycle, replacing the departing Rice Lake, who became football-only members of the Middle Border Conference.[21] For the 2024-2025 cycle, both Eau Claire schools joined the Wisconsin Valley Conference as football-only members and were replaced by Rice Lake after being shifted back from the Middle Border Conference. The BRC and WVC also entered into a scheduling partnership where each member would play a mandatory crossover game that would count towards their conference's standings.[22] This alignment is set to remain in place through at least the 2026-2027 competition cycle.[23]
List of member schools
[edit]Current full members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Falls | Chippewa Falls, WI | Public | 1,454 | Cardinals | 1963 | |
| Eau Claire Memorial | Eau Claire, WI | Public | 1,589 | Old Abes | 1956 | |
| Eau Claire North | Eau Claire, WI | Public | 1,720 | Huskies | 1963 | |
| Hudson | Hudson, WI | Public | 1,800 | Raiders | 1989 | |
| Menomonie | Menomonie, WI | Public | 1,022 | Mustangs | 1963 | |
| New Richmond[a] | New Richmond, WI | Public | 1,112 | Tigers | 1998,
2021 | |
| Rice Lake | Rice Lake, WI | Public | 714 | Warriors | 1989 | |
| River Falls | River Falls, WI | Public | 1,114 | Wildcats | 1989 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Left for Middle Border Conference in 2002, returned to Big Rivers Conference in 2021
Current associate members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Primary Conference | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | Superior, WI | Public | 1,308 | Spartans | Lake Superior (MSHSL) | Football, Gymnastics |
Current co-operative members
[edit]| Team | Colors | Host School | Co-operative Members | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire Area Stars | Eau Claire North | Eau Claire Memorial, Altoona, Fall Creek | Girls Hockey | |
| Western Wisconsin Stars | Somerset | Amery, New Richmond, Osceola, St. Croix Falls | Girls Hockey |
Former members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse Central | La Crosse, WI | Public | 1,029 | RiverHawks | 1956 | 1989 | Mississippi Valley | ||
| La Crosse Logan | La Crosse, WI | Public | 738 | Rangers | 1963 | 1989 | Mississippi Valley | ||
| Marinette | Marinette, WI | Public | 623 | Marines | 1956 | 1963 | None (independent) | North Eastern | |
| Menominee | Menominee, MI | Public | 353 | Maroons | 1956 | 1963 | N/A | Great Northern UP | |
| Wausau East[a] | Wausau, WI | Public | 948 | Lumberjacks | 1956 | 1973 | Wisconsin Valley | ||
| Wausau West | Wausau, WI | Public | 1,535 | Warriors | 1970 | 1973 | Wisconsin Valley | ||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Known as Wausau High School prior to 1970
Membership timeline
[edit]Full members
[edit]
Football members
[edit]
Membership map
[edit]Sanctioned sports
[edit]Baseball
|
Boys Basketball
|
Girls Basketball
|
Boys Cross Country
|
Girls Cross Country
|
Football
|
Boys Golf
|
Girls Golf
|
Gymnastics
|
Boys Hockey
|
Girls Hockey
|
Boys Soccer
|
Girls Soccer
|
Softball
|
Boys Swim & Dive
|
Girls Swim & Dive
|
Boys Tennis
|
Girls Tennis
|
Boys Track & Field
|
Girls Track & Field
|
Girls Volleyball
|
Boys Wrestling
|
Girls Wrestling
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Falls | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[a] | X[a] | X | X[b] | X | X | X | X[a] | X[a] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Eau Claire Memorial | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[c] | X | X | X | X | X[c] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Eau Claire North | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[d] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Hudson | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Menomonie | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| New Richmond | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Rice Lake | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| River Falls | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[e] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d Co-operative with McDonell Central Catholic
- ^ Co-operative with McDonell Central Catholic and Menomonie
- ^ a b Co-operative with Eau Claire North
- ^ Eau Claire Area Stars co-operative
- ^ Co-operative with Baldwin-Woodville and St. Croix Central
List of state champions
[edit]Fall Sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau | 1957 | Large Schools |
| La Crosse Central | 1977 | Class A |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse Central | 1985 | Class A |
| La Crosse Central | 1988 | Class A |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 2014 | Division 1 |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 2015 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Menomonie | 1993 | Division 2 |
| Menomonie | 1995 | Division 2 |
| Menomonie | 1997 | Division 2 |
| Menomonie | 1999 | Division 2 |
| Menomonie | 2002 | Division 2 |
| Rice Lake | 2017 | Division 3 |
Winter sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau | 1960 | Single Division |
| Rice Lake | 1993 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson | 1998 | Division 1 |
| Hudson | 2002 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau | 1959 | Single Division |
| Wausau | 1967 | Single Division |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse Central | 1984 | Class A |
| River Falls | 2002 | Division 2 |
| River Falls | 2003 | Division 2 |
| River Falls | 2004 | Division 2 |
| River Falls | 2007 | Division 2 |
| River Falls | 2010 | Division 2 |
| River Falls | 2013 | Division 2 |
| Chippewa Falls | 2025 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Menomonie | 1991 | Single Division |
| Hudson | 2001 | Single Division |
| Hudson | 2004 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 2008 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 2013 | Single Division |
| Hudson | 2017 | Single Division |
| Hudson | 2018 | Single Division |
| Hudson | 2021 | Division 1 |
| Hudson | 2022 | Division 1 |
| Rice Lake | 2022 | Division 2 |
| New Richmond | 2023 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson | 2002 | Single Division |
| Hudson | 2003 | Single Division |
| River Falls/ St. Croix Central |
2009 | Single Division |
| River Falls/ St. Croix Central |
2010 | Single Division |
| River Falls/ St. Croix Central |
2011 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 2018 | Single Division |
| Chippewa Falls/ McDonell Central Catholic/ Menomonie |
2021 | Single Division |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau | 1958 | Single Division |
| Wausau | 1959 | Single Division |
| Wausau | 1960 | Single Division |
| Wausau | 1961 | Single Division |
| Wausau | 1962 | Single Division |
| La Crosse Central | 1969 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 1970 | Single Division |
| La Crosse Central | 1974 | Single Division |
| La Crosse Central | 1975 | Single Division |
Spring sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | 1957 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire | 1958 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire | 1961 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire | 1962 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 1964 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 1966 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 1968 | Single Division |
| La Crosse Logan | 1971 | Single Division |
| La Crosse Central | 1978 | Class A |
| La Crosse Central | 1986 | Class A |
| Eau Claire North | 2011 | Division 1 |
| Eau Claire North | 2019 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | 1959 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 1974 | Single Division |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 1977 | Single Division |
| New Richmond | 1999 | Division 2 |
| River Falls | 2002 | Division 1 |
| River Falls | 2004 | Division 1 |
| River Falls | 2005 | Division 1 |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Menomonie | 1983 | Class A |
| Rice Lake | 2004 | Division 2 |
| Chippewa Falls | 2012 | Division 1 |
| Rice Lake | 2017 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse Central | 1963 | Class A |
| Rice Lake | 2018 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson | 2007 | Division 1 |
| Rice Lake | 2024 | Division 2 |
List of conference champions
[edit]Boys Basketball
[edit]Source:[24]
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| (Eau Claire) Memorial | 33 | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2016, 2022, 2024, 2025 |
| Eau Claire North | 10 | 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018 |
| Rice Lake | 10 | 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Hudson | 7 | 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2019, 2023 |
| River Falls | 6 | 1991, 1994, 2005, 2011, 2019, 2021 |
| Chippewa Falls | 4 | 1980, 1983, 1988, 2020 |
| (Wausau) East | 4 | 1958, 1959, 1967, 1971 |
| La Crosse Central | 3 | 1968, 1979, 1987 |
| La Crosse Logan | 2 | 1981, 1982 |
| Menomonie | 2 | 1986, 2006 |
| Marinette | 1 | 1961 |
| Wausau West | 1 | 1973 |
| Menominee (MI) | 0 | |
| New Richmond | 0 |
Girls Basketball
[edit]Source:[25]
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire North | 14 | 1984, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017 |
| Eau Claire Memorial | 12 | 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2008, 2025 |
| Hudson | 11 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Chippewa Falls | 10 | 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Menomonie | 5 | 1985, 1986, 2010, 2022, 2024 |
| Rice Lake | 2 | 2007, 2008 |
| River Falls | 1 | 2020 |
| La Crosse Central | 0 | |
| La Crosse Logan | 0 | |
| New Richmond | 0 |
Football
[edit]Source:[26]
| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Menomonie | 24 | 1984, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 |
| (Eau Claire) Memorial | 14 | 1958, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1995, 1998, 2011 |
| Chippewa Falls | 10 | 1964, 1968, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2015 |
| (Wausau) East | 9 | 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| La Crosse Central | 8 | 1962, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986 |
| Hudson | 5 | 2009, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023 |
| River Falls | 5 | 1989, 1995, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| Eau Claire North | 3 | 1974, 1980, 1991 |
| La Crosse Logan | 3 | 1972, 1973, 1975 |
| Rice Lake | 3 | 2000, 2015, 2021 |
| Marinette | 2 | 1956, 1960 |
| Menominee (MI) | 2 | 1958, 1959 |
| New Richmond | 1 | 2024 |
| Superior | 1 | 2014 |
| Wausau West | 1 | 1970 |
References
[edit]- ^ Associated Press (April 24, 1956). "Big Rivers Conference Organized". Stevens Point Journal. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Vincent Suggests Leave of Absence for Wausau". Stevens Point Journal. April 13, 1956. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Associated Press (May 15, 1956). "Okay Wausau Absence in Valley League". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. p. 9. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Menominee, Marinette Glad to Get Out of "Big Rivers"". Green Bay Press-Gazette. April 7, 1963. p. 23. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Buzzell, Clell (February 28, 1963). "New Big Rivers Rivalry Topped by Old Abes' 9-1". Eau Claire Daily Telegram. p. 14. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Wausau West to open doors to 1,800 students". Wausau Daily Herald. August 11, 1970. p. 19. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "East hosts Antigo in football opener". Wausau Daily Herald. September 6, 1973. p. 17. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "West's 1st Valley foe is Shawano "11"". Wausau Daily Herald. September 6, 1973. p. 17. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Heaton, Shannon (August 24, 1989). "WIAA breathes life into new conference". The La Crosse Tribune. pp. Special Section 2. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Seering, Jeff (February 18, 1988). "New weights and realignment". Reedsburg Times-Press. p. 28. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Miller, Pete (August 27, 1986). "Big Rivers: Hudson, Rice Lake added". La Crosse Tribune. pp. F-23 ('86 Football insert). Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ Steinbach, Glenn (May 18, 1988). "Sideline Chatter (WIAA realigns 41 schools)". The Dunn County News. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "New league given a name". The La Crosse Tribune. November 20, 1988. p. 15. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ Groskreutz, Stuart (December 17, 1998). "New Richmond would be happy to leave BRC". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. p. 14. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "WIAA approves conference realignment". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. April 8, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Kleinhans, Jim (April 11, 2001). "Conference realignment: WIAA makes changes in Big Rivers, Dunn-St. Croix Conferences". The Dunn County News. p. 9. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Berg, Brandon (July 15, 2020). "Uncommon turnover". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. pp. A7. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Bloomer". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. March 9, 2021. pp. A7. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 9, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 6, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 10, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "Big Rivers Conference Boys Basketball Champions" (PDF). Big Rivers Conference. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "Big Rivers Conference Girls Basketball Champions" (PDF). Big Rivers Conference. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "Big Rivers Conference Football Champions" (PDF). Big Rivers Conference. Retrieved July 11, 2025.

