The Northwestern Conference was an 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. Wirt 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,Wirt in 2009, and Lew Wallace in 2014), with the remaining two schools forced to become independent in 2014.
Membership School City Mascot Colors County Year joined Previous conference Year left Conference joined East Chicago Roosevelt East Chicago Rough Riders 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City East Chicago Washington East Chicago Senators 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City Gary Emerson Gary Tornado 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1981 none (school closed, reopened as Emerson VPA) Gary Froebel Gary Blue Devils 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1969 none (school became MS, closed 1977) Gary Mann Gary Horsemen 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 2004 none (school closed) Gary Tolleston Gary Blue Raiders 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1969 none (school became MS, closed 2007) Gary Wallace Gary Hornets 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 2014 none (school closed 2014) Hammond Hammond Wildcats 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City Hammond Clark Hammond Pioneers 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City Hammond Tech Hammond Tigers 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City Valparaiso Valparaiso Vikings 64 Porter 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Independents(Duneland 1970) Whiting Whiting Oilers 45 Lake 1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City Gary Roosevelt Gary Panthers 45 Lake 1966 Independents 2014 Independents Hammond Gavit Hammond Gladiators 45 Lake 1966 Independents 1968 Tri-City Hammond Morton Hammond Governors 45 Lake 1966 Independents 1968 Tri-City Hobart Hobart Brickies 45 Lake 1966 Independents 1968 Independents(Duneland 1970) Andrean Gary 59ers 45 Lake 1968 Independents 1975 Independents (school moved to Merrillville) Gary West Side Gary Cougars 45 Lake 1968 none (new school) 2014 Independents(GLAC 2018) Gary Wirt Gary Troopers 45 Lake 1970 Calumet 2009 school closed
Membership timeline
Resources IHSAA Conferences IHSAA Directory