The Northwest Upstate Illini Conference is a high school conference in northwest and north central Illinois. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference comprises 21 small public high schools with enrollments between 60-340 students in Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.
History In 1996 the Northwestern Illinois Conference (NWIC) and Upstate Illini Conference (UIC) merged under the Upstate Illini banner. Initially three divisions were formed for all team sports except football: West - Dakota, East Dubuque, Galena, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville, River Ridge, Stockton, and Warren East - Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Pecatonica, Rockford Lutheran and South Beloit, and South - Forreston, Freeport Aquin, Fulton Unity Christian, Eastland, Pearl City, Milledgeville, Mt. Carroll and Polo. In 1999 Savanna was added to the South Division and Rockford Christian Life to the East Division for a total of 24 teams. In 2000, after six schools (Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Pecatonica and South Beloit) left to form the Four Rivers Conference, the two remaining schools from the East, Rockford Christian Life and Rockford Lutheran, also left the conference looking for competition within closer proximity.
Based on all of these changes, the remaining schools realigned under the new moniker '"Northwest Upstate Illini"' starting with the 2001 school year. The 18 remaining schools maintained divisional balance in all sports for 4 years, however, during the 2004-05 school year, the school districts of Savanna, Mt. Carroll and Thomson consolidated into the West Carroll School District, becoming the largest high school in the conference. This consolidation reduced the teams in the Northwest Division of football to 6 and also created a scheduling issue due to an odd number of teams within the conference. To correct this, prior to the 2005-06 school year, four schools, Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Pecatonica, and South Beloit, joined the conference. These four schools were previously members of the Four Rivers Conference and raised the number of schools from 17 to its highest total of 21. Fulton Unity left the conference to join the Northern Illinois Christian Conference after the 2007 school year, reducing the conference to a total of 20.
South Beloit left the NUIC after the 2015-16 season. The Sobos joined the Northeastern Athletic Conference to compete against schools from Chicago, Rockford, Aurora, Arlington Heights, Elgin, Hebron, Crystal Lake, Ottawa, Mooseheart and Kirkland.The Times, Ottawa, IL To replace the exiting team, the NUIC added Amboy High School, formerly a member of the Three Rivers Conference. The Clippers began competition in the NUIC during the 2016-17 school year.SaukValley.com
Between 2019 and 2020, seven teams within the conference announced that they would begin playing 8-man football. This change, as well as several schools cooping, reduced the number of 11-man football teams to nine. In order to maintain competitive balance, Fulton High School joined the NUIC for the 2021-22 school year from the Three Rivers Conference. A member of the Three Rivers Conference since the league's inception in 1975, Fulton made the move to the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference prior to the 2021-22 school year. The addition of Fulton brought the total number of schools back to 21.QCOnline.com The Morrison Mustangs joined the NUIC starting in 2024, also leaving the Three Rivers Conference. This addition reunites Fulton and Morrison in the Battle for the Wooden Shoe, a rivalry game that began in 1977 and was halted in 2021 after Fulton left the conference.WIFR.comShawLocal.comClintonHerald.com The addition of Morrison took the total number of schools in the conference to its highest total, 22. However, due to drastic decline in enrollment, Aquin Catholic High School closed in May 2024 reverting the total number of schools back to 21.
NUIC Sportsmanship Creed Prior to every varsity sporting event, the following creed is read to everyone in attendance.
Current Membership The Northwest Upstate Illini Conference comprises 21 high schools, grades 9-12. There are 21 public high schools within the conference.
School Location County Mascot Colors Joined Enrollment IHSA Classes 2/3/4 IHSA Music Class IHSA Football Class Team DivisionPrevious Conference Amboy High School Amboy, IL Lee Clippers Red, White, Black 2017 216 A/1A/1A(LaMoille Coop- A/1A/2A) C 8-man SouthThree Rivers Ashton-Franklin CenterHigh School Ashton, IL Lee Raiders Black, Gold, White 2005 163 A/1A/1A C 8-man South Four Rivers DakotaHigh School Dakota, IL Stephenson Indians Maroon, White 2001 250 A/1A/1A C 1A North Upstate Illini DurandHigh School Durand, IL Winnebago Bulldogs Royal Blue, White 2005 172 A/1A/1A C 3A (Coop) North Four Rivers East DubuqueHigh School East Dubuque, IL Jo Daviess Warriors Royal Blue, White 2001 221 A/1A/1A C WI (Coop) West Upstate Illini EastlandHigh School Lanark, IL Carroll Cougars Royal Blue, Orange 2001 202 A/1A/1A C 2A (Coop) South Upstate Illini ForrestonHigh School Forreston, IL Ogle Cardinals Red, White, Black 2001 246 A/1A/1A C 1A North Upstate Illini FultonHigh School Fulton, IL Whiteside Steamers Red, Black 2021 289 A/1A/2A C 1A South Three Rivers GalenaHigh School Galena, IL Jo Daviess Pirates Royal Blue, White 2001 243 A/1A/1A C 1A West Upstate Illini Lena-WinslowHigh School Lena, IL Stephenson Panthers Black, Gold 2001 236 A/1A/1A C 1A North Upstate Illini MilledgevilleHigh School Milledgeville, IL Carroll Missiles Orange, Black 2001 160 A/1A/1A D 8-man South Upstate Illini Morrison High School Morrison, IL Whiteside Mustangs/Fillies Red, White 2024 286 A/1A/1A C 1A South Three Rivers OrangevilleHigh School Orangeville, IL Stephenson Broncos Purple, Gold 2001 102 A/1A/1A D 8-man North Upstate Illini Pearl CityHigh School Pearl City, IL Stephenson Wolves Red, White, Black 2001 135 A/1A/1A D 2A (Coop) North Upstate Illini PecatonicaHigh School Pecatonica, IL Winnebago Indians Purple, Vegas Gold 2005 256 A/1A/1A C 3A (Coop) North Four Rivers Polo CommunityHigh School Polo, IL Ogle Marcos Blue, Gold 2001 160 A/1A/1A C 8-man South Upstate Illini River RidgeHigh School Hanover, IL Jo Daviess Wildcats Navy Blue, Grey 2001 142 A/1A/1A D 8-man West Upstate Illini Scales MoundHigh School Scales Mound, IL Jo Daviess Hornets Kelly Green, White 2001 63 A/1A/1A D WI (Coop) West Upstate Illini StocktonHigh School Stockton, IL Jo Daviess Blackhawks Maroon, Gold 2001 180 A/1A/1A D 1A West Upstate Illini WarrenHigh School Warren, IL Jo Daviess Warriors Orange, Black 2001 110 A/1A/1A D WI (Coop) West Upstate Illini West CarrollHigh School Savanna, IL Carroll Thunder Black, White, Forest Green 2001 340 A/1A/2A B 2A West Upstate Illini
Previous members School Location County Mascot Colors Joined Exited Enrollment IHSA Classes 2/3/4 IHSA Music Class IHSA Football Class NewConference Aquin CatholicHigh School Freeport, IL Stephenson Bulldogs Navy Blue, Gold 2001 2024 107 A/1A/1A D 8-man School Closed South Beloit High School South Beloit, IL Winnebago Sobos Scarlet Red, White 2005 2016 248 A/1A/1A C 1A NEAC Unity Christian High School Fulton, IL Whiteside Knights Blue & Gray 2001 2007 34 A/1A/1A D -- NICC
Divisions and alignments
Basketball divisions In 2001, as the conference realigned under its new label, the divisions were broken into 2; nine team divisions.
Those groups were: North - Dakota, East Dubuque, Galena, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville, River Ridge, Scales Mound, Stockton, and Warren South - Aquin, Eastland, Forreston, Fulton Unity, Milledgeville, Pearl City, Polo, Savanna, Mt. Carroll
Starting in 2005, after the addition of the teams from the Four Rivers Conference and the unification of Savanna, Mt. Carroll and Thomson into West Carroll, the league broke into three divisions for basketball. Each division had 7 teams, however, for girls basketball, River Ridge and Scales Mound formed a coop that would keep the West with only 6 teams.
Those groups were: North - Aquin, Dakota, Durand, Orangeville, Pearl City, Pecatonica and South Beloit. South - Ashton-Franklin Center, Eastland, Forreston, Fulton Unity, Milledgeville, Polo, and West Carroll. West - East Dubuque, Galena, Lena-Winslow, River Ridge, Scales Mound, Stockton, and Warren.
This three division system lasted only for two years when Fulton Unity Christian joined the North Illinois Christian Conference for basketball prior to the start of in 2007-2008 school year. The league realigned back into two divisions with each having 10 teams. These divisions remained constant with the only change occurring in 2016 when Amboy was added to the East to replace South Beloit after their departure.
These groups were: East - Amboy, Aquin, Ashton-Franklin Center, Dakota, Durand, Forreston, Milledgeville, Orangeville, Pecatonica, and Polo. West - East Dubuque, Eastland, Galena, Lena-Winslow, Pearl City, River Ridge, Scales Mound, Stockton, Warren and West Carroll.
Prior to the 2019-2020 school year, the conference realigned back to three divisions. The divisions would be labeled North, South and West and would be unbalanced with two divisions having 7 teams and one having 6. Fulton joined the conference for the 2021-22 season and were placed in the South Division, giving each division 7 teams. Prior to the 2023-24 season, Orangeville and Aquin boys basketball began a coop, reducing the number of teams in the North to 6.MyStateline.comWIFR.com
These divisions were: North - Dakota, Durand, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville/Aquin (coop), Pearl City, and Pecatonica South - Amboy, Ashton-Franklin Center, Eastland, Forreston, Fulton, Milledgeville, and Polo West - East Dubuque, Galena, River Ridge, Scales Mound, Stockton, Warren, and West Carroll
2024 Realignment:
Morrison's entrance into the league and Aquin's departure created an imbalance that required an adjustment in order to maintain equal numbers for each division. In the North, the Orangeville/Aquin coop was eliminated and Forreston was moved from the South to put the total number of teams at 7. The addition of Morrison to the South division kept the total number of teams at 7 with the West being untouched and also keeping 7 teams total.
These divisions are: North - Dakota, Durand, Forreston, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville, Pearl City, and Pecatonica South - Amboy, Ashton-Franklin Center, Eastland, Fulton, Milledgeville, Morrison, and Polo West - East Dubuque, Galena, River Ridge, Scales Mound, Stockton, Warren, and West Carroll
Football alignment Initially in 2001, the Northwest Upstate Illini was divided into two football divisions, each having 7 total teams. These divisions were: Northwest - Dakota, Eastland-Pearl City (coop), Forreston, Galena, Lena-Winslow, Mt. Carroll and Savanna Upstate - Aquin, East Dubuque, Milledgeville, Orangeville, Polo, Warren-River Ridge (coop), and Stockton
In 2005, Mt. Carroll and Savanna consolidated with Thomson to become West Carroll. During the same year, four teams from the Four Rivers Conference (Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Pecatonica, South Beloit) were accepted to join the conference. Durand, Pecatonica and South Beloit joined the Northwest Division and Ashton-Franklin Center entered the Upstate. In 2016, upon the departure of South Beloit, Amboy took their position in the Northwest division.
The final alignment of these divisions were: Northwest - Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio (coop), Dakota, Durand-Pecatonica (coop), East Dubuque, Eastland-Pearl City (coop), Forreston, Galena, Lena-Winslow, West Carroll Upstate - Aquin, Ashton-Franklin Center, Milledgeville, Orangeville, Polo, River Ridge, Stockton, and Warren