The Lincoln Trail Conference is a high school conference in western central Illinois. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The conference comprises public high schools with small enrollments in portions of Bureau, Henderson, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Peoria, Rock Island, Stark, and Warren counties.
Current membership School Location Mascot Colors Enrollment IHSA Classes 2/3/4 IHSA Music Class IHSA Football Class IHSA Cheerleading ClassAbingdon-Avon High SchoolAbingdon, ILTornadoes 2631A AlWood High School Woodhull, IL Aces 116 A/1A/1A D 1A Small squad Annawan High School Annawan, IL Braves 120 A/1A/1A D 2A Small squad Cambridge High School Cambridge, IL Vikings 146 A/1A/1A D 1A Small squad Galva High School Galva, IL Wildcats 179 A/1A/1A D 3A Small Squad Knoxville High School Knoxville, IL Blue Bullets 358C2A Mercer County High School Aledo, IL Golden Eagles 395 A/1A/2A B 3A Small squad Princeville High School Princeville, IL Princes 242 A/1A/1A C 1A Small squad ROWVA High School Oneida, IL Tigers 191 A/1A/1A C 1A(Williamsfield Coop) Small squad Stark County High School Toulon, IL Rebels 271 A/1A/1A C 1A Small squad United Senior High School Monmouth, IL Red Storm 321 A/1A/1A C 2A Small squad Wethersfield High School Kewanee, IL Flying Geese 189 A/1A/1A C 2A Small squad Williamsfield High School Williamsfield, IL Bombers 79 A/1A/1A C 1A(ROWVA Coop) Sources:IHSA Conferences and IHSA Member Schools Directory
History The Lincoln Trail Conference (LTC) was established in 1976. The eight charter members included Cambridge, Winola, and Alwood from the Corn Belt Conference; Alexis, Galva and ROVA from the Little 6 Conference; and Wethersfield and Toulon-LaFayette from the Blackhawk Conference.
Wethersfield played an independent schedule that first season and its first full conference slate wasn't until 1977. In 1988 Viola-Winola closed and Joy-Westmer replaced them in 1989. In 1992 Toulon consolidated with Wyoming and became known as Stark County. Alexis left briefly in 1993 and Annawan and Princeville joined in 1995. In 1998 Alexis was back in along with newcomers Biggsville Union and Monmouth Warren. The league divided into two divisions with Cambridge, Galva, Wethersfield, ROWVA, Princeville and Stark County in the East, and Alexis, Annawan, Biggsville, Westmer, Warren and Alwood in the West. In 2004 Alexis and Monmouth Warren consolidated forming Alexis United, and Biggsville Union left the loop to coop with Stronghurst Southern and the division set up was dropped. In 2005 Oneida ROWVA and Woodhull-Alwood co-oped in football and Biggsville Union rejoined under the name of West Central having consolidated with Stronghurst Southern. Football was not a conference sport from 2006–2009. During that time the Lincoln Trail Conference was a component of the West Prairie Trail mega conference for football only. The components of the West Prairie Trail conference were the West Central Conference, Prairieland Conference and Lincoln Trail Conference. The Lincoln Trail may reform as a football conference moving forward with the following teams: Annawan/Wethersfield co-op, Cambridge/AlWood co-op, Galva/Williamsfield co-op, Mercer County, Stark County, Princeville, Sciota West Prairie, West Central, and the River Valley co-op (Henry, Low Point-Washburn, Midland) which is not a member for other sports.
Prior to the advent of the Lincoln Trail Conference, the schools of the present day conference are known to have participated in several other conferences. During the life of the conference many changes have occurred, the following table and timeline summarize major events:
School Years Consolidations Conference Came From Conference Went To Aledo High School 2006–2009 Aledo+Westmer=Mercer County (2009) Olympic (2006) Mercer County remained in LTC (2009) Alexis High School 1976–1993;1998–2004 Alexis+Warren=United (2004) Little 6 (1976);Bi County(1998) Bi County (1993);United remained in LTC (2004) AlWood High School 1976–Present Alpha+Woodhull=AlWood (1948) Corn Belt (1976) Annawan High School 1995–Present Indian Valley (1995) Cambridge High School 1976–Present Corn Belt (1976) Galva High School 1976–Present Little 6 (1976) Mercer County High School 2009–Present Aledo+Westmer=Mercer County (2009) Consolidation of 2 LTC members (2009) Princeville High School 1995–Present Indian Valley (1995) River Valley Coop Football only 2010–2012 Henry+Low Point-Washburn+Midland=River Valley Coop Big Rivers ROVA High School 1976–1987 Rio+Oneida+Victoria+Altona=ROVA (1948);ROVA+Galesburg (Wataga students)=ROWVA (1987) Little 6 (1976) ROWVA remained in LTC (1987) ROWVA High School 1987–Present ROVA+Galesburg (Wataga students)=ROWVA (1987) Consolidation of LTC member and some Western Big 6 member students (1987) Stark County High School 1992–Present Toulon-LaFayette+Wyoming=Stark County (1992) Consolidation of LTC member and Indian Valley member (1992) Toulon-LaFayette High School 1976–1992 Toulon Township+LaFayette=Toulon-LaFayette (1970);Toulon-LaFayette+Wyoming=Stark County (1992) Blackhawk & Inter County Athletic Conference (1976) Stark County remained in LTC (1992) Union High School (Biggsville) 1998–2004 Biggsville+Gladstone-Qquawka=Union (1960);Union+Stronghurst Southern=West Central (2005) Bi County (1998) West Central (2004) United High School 2004–Present Alexis+Warren=United (2004);added Yorkwood (2007) Consolidation of 2 LTC members (2004);added Prairieland member (2007) Warren High School (Monmouth) 1998–2004 Alexis+Warren=United (2004) Bi County (1998) United remained in LTC (2004) Westmer High School 1989–2009 Joy+Keithsburg+New Boston=Westmer (1960);Aledo+Westmer= Mercer County (2009) Olympic 1976–1987;Unknown 1987–1989 Mercer County remained in LTC (2009) Wethersfield High School 1976–Present Blackhawk (1976) West Central High School 2005–Present Union+Stronghurst Southern=West Central (2005) Consolidation of 2 West Central members (2005) West Prairie High School (Sciota) 2010–2014 Winola High School 1976–1988 New Windsor+Viola=Winola (19??);Winola into Sherrard (1988) Corn Belt (1976) Olympic (1988)
Timeline 1976 – Lincoln Trial Conference forms with initial members Alexis, AlWood, Cambridge, Galva, ROVA, Toulon-LaFayette, Wethersfield, and Winola 1987 – ROVA consolidates with Wataga students attending Galesburg to become ROWVA 1988 – Winola leaves 1989 – Westmer joins 1992 – Toulon-LaFayette consolidates with Wyoming to become Stark County 1993 – Alexis leaves 1995 – Annawan and Princeville join 1997 – Divisional east and west format adopted for boys football 1998 – Alexis returns, Union joins, and Warren joins 2004 – Union leaves, Alexis consolidates with Warren to become United, divisional format dropped for boys football 2005 – West Central joins 2006 – Aledo joins and boys football leaves to participate in the West Prairie Trail mega conference 2007 – Yorkwood consolidates into United 2009 – Aledo and Westmer consolidate to become Mercer County 2010 – Boys football returns 2021- Abingdon-Avon and Knoxville join from Prairieland Conference
Membership timeline
Competitive success The Lincoln Trail Conference has won 3 team state championships and 1 individual championship in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities. Through the 2008–2009 season the conference has won Illinois state titles in: Boys Football (Wethersfield 2001–2002; United 2004–2005; Mercer County 2012–2013) Girls Track and Field (West Central High School Theresa Brokaw Class A 1600 meter run 2006)
Prior to the advent of the Lincoln Trail Conference, or before joining the conference several member schools won Illinois state championships, including: Boys Football (Aledo in the Olympic Conference 1998–1999, 2000–2001, 2002–2003) Boys Golf (Aledo in the Olympic Conference 1984–1985) Boys Track & Field (Bigssville 1898–1899, 1899–1900)
Cooperative arrangements Due to the small enrollment, several Lincoln Trail Conference schools form cooperative arrangements. The current arrangements are shown below.
Boys Baseball AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Boys Basketball AlWood and Cambridge ROWVA and Williamsfield Girls Basketball AlWood and Cambridge ROWVA and Williamsfield Boys Cross Country AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Girls Cross Country AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Boys Football AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Girls Volleyball AlWood and Cambridge ROWVA and Williamsfield Boys Golf AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Girls Golf AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Boys Track and Field AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Girls Track and Field AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield Girls Softball AlWood and Cambridge Annawan and Wethersfield ROWVA and Williamsfield
References
External links
Lincoln Trail Conference AlWood Annawan