Great Northern Conference

The Great Northern Conference is a high school athletic conference based in north central Wisconsin. Founded in 2008, the conference and its member schools belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

The Great Northern Conference was formed in 2008 by seven medium-sized high schools in north central Wisconsin. Four of its original members (Lakeland Union, Medford, Northland Pines and Tomahawk) were previously members of the Lumberjack Conference, which had disbanded the year prior.^[1] Two schools joined from the Wisconsin Valley Conference (Antigo and Merrill)^[2] and Mosinee moved over from the Cloverbelt Conference.^[1] For Antigo and Merrill, this move grouped them with schools more in line with their enrollment size instead of being two of the smallest schools in their former conference.^[2] Two years after the Great Northern Conference was formed, Merrill swapped affiliations with Wisconsin Valley Conference member Rhinelander.^[3]^[4] They rejoined in 2025 from the Wisconsin Valley Conference, bringing the Great Northern Conference's membership group to eight schools.^[5]

List of member schools

Current full members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Joined
Antigo	Antigo, WI	Public	687	Red Robins	2008^[2]
Lakeland Union	Minocqua, WI	Public	717	Thunderbirds	2008^[1]
Medford	Medford, WI	Public	738	Raiders	2008^[1]
Merrill	Merrill, WI	Public	801	Bluejays	2008,^[2] 2025^[5]
Mosinee	Mosinee, WI	Public	621	Indians	2008^[1]
Northland Pines	Eagle River, WI	Public	451	Eagles	2008^[1]
Rhinelander	Rhinelander, WI	Public	747	Hodags	2010^[3]^[4]
Tomahawk	Tomahawk, WI	Public	371	Hatchets	2008^[1]

Current associate members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Primary Conference	Sports
Ashland	Ashland, WI	Public	635	Oredockers	Heart O'North	Gymnastics,^[a] Boys Tennis
Colby	Colby, WI	Public	309	Hornets	Cloverbelt	Girls Swim & Dive^[b]
Columbus Catholic	Marshfield, WI	Private (Catholic)	146	Dons	Marawood	Girls Tennis
Marshfield	Marshfield, WI	Public	1,250	Tigers	Wisconsin Valley	Gymnastics
Newman Catholic	Wausau, WI	Private (Catholic)	128	Cardinals	Marawood	Girls Tennis
Pacelli	Stevens Point, WI	Private (Catholic)	169	Cardinals	Central Wisconsin	Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis
Phillips	Phillips, WI	Public	217	Loggers	Marawood	Girls Tennis
Stevens Point	Stevens Point, WI	Public	2,105	Panthers	Wisconsin Valley	Gymnastics
Waupaca	Waupaca, WI	Public	589	Comets	North Eastern	Boys Hockey
Wausau East	Wausau, WI	Public	948	Lumberjacks	Wisconsin Valley	Football
Wisconsin Rapids	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	Public	1,467	Red Raiders	Wisconsin Valley	Gymnastics

Notes

^ Co-operative with Drummond, Mellen and Washburn
^ Co-operative with Abbotsford

Current co-operative members

Team	Colors	Host School	Co-operative Members	Sport(s)
Trident Swim Team		Ladysmith	Bloomer, Bruce, Flambeau, Lake Holcombe	Girls Swim & Dive

Former associate members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Seasons	Sports	Primary Conference
Ashland	Ashland, WI	Public	635	Oredockers	2011-2023	Football	Lake Superior, Heart O'North
Merrill	Merrill, WI	Public	801	Bluejays	2011-2024	Football	Wisconsin Valley
Hayward	Hayward, WI	Public	604	Hurricanes	2020-2023	Football	Heart O'North

Membership timeline

Full members

Football members

Membership map

Great Northern Conference

30km
19miles

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Location of Great Northern Conference full members:

1

Antigo

2

Lakeland Union

3

Medford

4

Merrill

5

Mosinee

6

Northland Pines

7

Rhinelander

8

Tomahawk

Sanctioned sports


	Baseball	Boys Basketball	Girls Basketball	Boys Cross Country	Girls Cross Country	Football	Boys Golf	Gymnastics	Boys 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
Antigo	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X^[a]	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Lakeland Union	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X^[b]	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Medford	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X^[c]	X^[d]	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Merrill	X	X	X	X	X	X	X			X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X	X	X
Mosinee	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X			X	X	X	X	X
Northland Pines	X	X	X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X					X	X	X
Rhinelander	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X^[e]	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Tomahawk	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X			X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X

Notes

^ Co-operative with Wittenberg-Birnamwood
^ Co-operative with Northland Pines
^ Co-operative with Colby
^ Co-operative with Abbotsford, Edgar and Rib Lake
^ Co-operative with Laona, Phelps and Three Lakes

List of state champions

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
School	Year	Division
Tomahawk	2008	Division 2
Lakeland Union	2016	Division 2

Girls Cross Country
School	Year	Division
Medford	2018	Division 2

Girls Swimming & Diving
School	Year	Division
Rhinelander	2020	Division 2
Rhinelander	2023	Division 2

Winter sports

Boys Hockey
School	Year	Division
Tomahawk	2025	Division 2

Boys Swimming & Diving
School	Year	Division
Rhinelander	2023	Division 2

Spring sports

Baseball
School	Year	Division
Antigo	2019	Division 2

Boys Golf
School	Year	Division
Lakeland Union	2024	Division 2

Softball
School	Year	Division
Mosinee	2014	Division 2

List of conference champions

Source:^[6]

Boys Basketball

School	Quantity	Years
Rhinelander	7	2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2024, 2025
Antigo	4	2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Medford	4	2017, 2020, 2021, 2023
Mosinee	4	2016, 2019, 2022, 2023
Lakeland Union	0
Merrill	0
Northland Pines	0
Tomahawk	0

Girls Basketball

School	Quantity	Years
Lakeland Union	7	2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025
Mosinee	4	2014, 2016, 2021, 2022
Medford	3	2010, 2012, 2013
Rhinelander	2	2019, 2020
Antigo	1	2009
Merrill	1	2009
Northland Pines	1	2013
Tomahawk	0

Football

School	Quantity	Years
Medford	7	2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2024
Antigo	5	2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017
Mosinee	5	2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2023
Merrill	3	2009, 2014, 2016
Ashland	1	2018
Lakeland Union	1	2008
Hayward	0
Rhinelander	0
Tomahawk	0
Wausau East	0

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Lueck, Collin (June 11, 2008). "Merrill High School ready for move to brand new conference". Merrill Foto News. p. 31. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Miller, Jake (December 12, 2006). "Changes will strip Valley of tradition". Marshfield News-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Hernandez, Rob (June 26, 2009). "Five-division basketball plan among two going to fall area meetings". Baraboo News Republic. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Merrill moving back to WVC". Marshfield News-Herald. June 27, 2009. p. 9. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Board acts on conference plans; Merrill's move to GNC becomes official". Medford Star News. March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ "All-Time GNC Champions" (PDF). Great Northern Conference. Retrieved July 15, 2025.

External links

Great Northern Conference (official website)

[6] Co-operative with Drummond, Mellen and Washburn

[7] Co-operative with Abbotsford

[8] Co-operative with Wittenberg-Birnamwood

[9] Co-operative with Northland Pines

[10] Co-operative with Colby

[11] Co-operative with Abbotsford, Edgar and Rib Lake

[12] Co-operative with Laona, Phelps and Three Lakes

[Ending-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Lueck, Collin (June 11, 2008). "Merrill High School ready for move to brand new conference". Merrill Foto News. p. 31. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:0-2] Miller, Jake (December 12, 2006). "Changes will strip Valley of tradition". Marshfield News-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:1-3] Hernandez, Rob (June 26, 2009). "Five-division basketball plan among two going to fall area meetings". Baraboo News Republic. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:2-4] "Merrill moving back to WVC". Marshfield News-Herald. June 27, 2009. p. 9. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:3-5] "Board acts on conference plans; Merrill's move to GNC becomes official". Medford Star News. March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[13] "All-Time GNC Champions" (PDF). Great Northern Conference. Retrieved July 15, 2025.

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v t e Great Northern Conference
Current members	Antigo Lakeland Union Medford Merrill Mosinee Northland Pines Rhinelander Tomahawk
Football-only members	Wausau East

v t e Wisconsin high school athletic conferences
Organizations	WIAA (1895-present) WISAA (1968-2000) WCIAA (1957-1968)
Current	Badger Bay Big East Big Eight Big Rivers Capitol Central Wisconsin Classic 8 Cloverbelt Coulee Dairyland Dunn-St. Croix Eastern Wisconsin Fox River Classic Fox Valley Association Glacier Trails Great Northern Greater Metro Heart O'North Indian Trails Lake City Lakeland Marawood Marinette & Oconto Metro Classic Middle Border Midwest Classic Milwaukee City Mississippi Valley North Eastern North Shore Northern Lakes Northern Lights Packerland Ridge & Valley Rock Valley Scenic Bluffs Six Rivers South Central Southeast Southern Lakes Southwest Wisconsin SWAL Trailways Wisconsin Flyway Wisconsin Valley Woodland
Former	3-C (1928-1962) 4-C (1934-1953) 7-C (1926-1962) 10-12 (1946-1948) Badger Lutheran (1961-1964) Baraboo Valley (1928-1929) Bay-Lakes (1970-1979) Bi-County (1928-1959) Big Nine (1985-1993) Black Hawk League (1930-1997) Braveland (1953-1993) Central Lakes (1951-1962) Central Lakeshore (1969-2015) Central State (1962-1984) Central Wisconsin Catholic (1956-2000) Classic (1973-1983) Dual County (1926-2001) East Central (1970-2001) East Central (2015-2025) East Central Flyway (2001-2007) Eastern Suburban (1969-2001) Eastern Valley (2007-2015) Eastern Wisconsin (1923-1970) Flambeau (1940-1970) Flambeauland (1946-1955) Flyway (1970-2001) Fox River Valley (1923-2007) Fox Valley Catholic (1929-1971) Fox Valley Christian (1971-1999) Fox Valley Tri-County (1924-1970) Gateway (1941-1952) Granite Valley (1945-1951) Granite Valley (1954-1960) Head of the Lakes (1918-1954) I-W League (1960-1964) Iowa County (1927-1960) Juneau County (1926-1958) Kettle Moraine (1928-1969) Kickapoo Valley (1907-1971) Lakeshore (1997-2008) Little Eight (1926-1937) Little Five (1929-1935) Little Nine (1928-1970) Little Seven (1926-1934) Little Ten (1925-1970) Lumberjack (1953-2008) Madison Suburban (1926-1969) Marathon County (1928-1949) Menominee Valley (1945-1947) Metro (1974-1997) Michigan-Wisconsin (1937-1973) Mid-Eastern (1952-1970) Mid-Valley (1946-1950) Midwest Prep (1940-1983) Milwaukee Catholic (1930-1974) Mississippi Valley (1933-1965) Mississippi Valley Triangular (1936-1940) Monroe-Vernon (1928-1958) Nicolet (1938-1942) Northeastern Wisconsin (1927-1970) Northern Wisconsin (1955-1956) Northwest Border (1940-1955) Olympian (1970-2015) Parkland (1963-2006) Peninsula (1933-1970) Rock River Valley (1922-1952) Scenic Central (1958-1979) Scenic Moraine (1958-1980) South Central (1926-1941) South Shore (1970-1980) Southeastern Badger (1963-1970) Southeastern Wisconsin (1928-1963) Southern Eight (1971-1987) Southern Five (1928-1946) Southern Regional (1937-1958) Southern Six (1928-1941) Southern Ten (1941-1952) State Line (1927-1997) Suburban (1925-1985) Suburban Park (1985-1993) SWANI (1946-1952) SWAPS (1957-1961) SWISS (1982-2006) Trempealeau Valley (1927-1959) Tri-County (1923-1963) Upper St. Croix Valley (1934-1994) Upper Wisconsin (1926-1937) Vacationland (1966-1970) Valley 8 (1999-2007) Valley-Ridge (1934-1935) West Central (1941-1952) West Central (1959-1977) West Grant (1930-1960) Western Wisconsin (1931-1937) Wisconsin Little Ten (1970-2017) Wisconsin River (1928-1960) Wisconsin Seminary (1963-1969) Wolf River Valley (1932-1970) Wood County (1925-1942)
Football-only	856 (1953-1956) Across the Bay (2022-present) Chippewa-Black River Valley (1929-1944) Cloverwood (2008-2019) CWC-8 (2020-2023) Eastern Suburban (2020-present) Fox Valley Classic (Spring 2021) Lower Fox (1933-1936) MONLPC (2017-2021) North Central (2024-present) Northeast-8 (2024-present) Northern Border (2022-2023) Northwest Football League (1994-1995) Northwoods (2020-present) Olympian-Packerland (2007-2014) Parkland (2020-present) Southeast-8 (2024-present) Southern Dairyland (1959-1962) Suburban Six-Man (1939-1957) Tri-County Football (1934-1944) Tri-Valley (1953-1958) Valley Football Association (2011-2023) WCFC (1997) WIFA (1995-1998)