The Mid-Penn Conference (MPC) is a high school athletic conference with its membership base located in south central Pennsylvania. Founded in 1982, the conference and its members are affiliated with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, and all but three schools are located in PIAA District 3.
History
1982-2004
The Mid-Penn Conference was created in 1982 when twenty-seven schools from four different athletic conferences in south central Pennsylvania joined together to create a single organization. Members of the Blue Mountain League (Big Spring, Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Northern York, Shippensburg and Susquenita), Capital Area Conference (Cumberland Valley, East Pennsboro, Hershey, Lower Dauphin, Mechanicsburg, Middletown, Milton Hershey, Palmyra, Red Land and Susquehanna Township), South Central Athletic League (Bishop McDevitt, Carlisle, Cedar Cliff, Central Dauphin, Central Dauphin East, Chambersburg, Delone Catholic, Steelton-Highspire and Trinity) and Tri-Valley League (West Perry), along with former independents Harrisburg, composed the MPC's inaugural roster. At the time of its founding, it was the largest athletic conference in the PIAA in both membership and geographic footprint, spanning seven counties (Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry and York). The conference experienced its first membership change in 1986, when Adams County-based Delone Catholic left to join the smaller Blue Mountain League. Six years later, eight of the eleven schools in the Blue Mountain League (Bermudian Springs, Biglerville, Fairfield, Gettysburg, Greencastle-Antrim, James Buchanan, Scotland and Waynesboro) became MPC members, bringing about the demise of their former conference. Ironically, the merger came after an attempt from Waynesboro, the largest member of the conference, to join the MPC a few months earlier.
2004-2018 The Mid-Penn Conference experienced a decade-plus of stability in its membership ledger until 2004, when Biglerville was accepted as members the York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association. Bermudian Springs and Fairfield followed Biglerville into the YAIAA a few days later. At the same time, the MPC took on four former independents as football-only associate members: Altoona, Central Mountain, Hollidaysburg and State College. Only a few weeks after their entry, Central Mountain backed out on joining the Mid-Penn Conference after they were reclassified into a smaller division by the PIAA. Williamsport had also expressed interest in joining the MPC's football roster at that time but chose to remain in the Wyoming Valley Conference instead. A few years after joining, the MPC lost two football-only associate members. Hollidaysburg left after just two seasons and Altoona made their departure after the 2009 football season. That same year, the Scotland School for Veteran's Children, a state-run public school for children of active and former military members, closed its doors due to state budget cuts. In 2012, State College joined the MPC as full members after nearly a decade of associate membership, and they were joined by the newly created Mifflin County High School in Lewistown. Two years later, Gettysburg and Susquenita left the MPC for membership in the YAIAA and Tri-Valley League, respectively.
2018-present Altoona rejoined the conference for football as an associate member in 2018 along with three other sports (boys' basketball, girls' basketball and boys volleyball). Two years later, Altoona's baseball, softball and girls' volleyball programs joined the Mid-Penn. The MPC also acquired six new associate members when the Tri-Valley League dropped sponsorship of football in 2020: Halifax, Juniata, Line Mountain, Newport, Upper Dauphin and former full members Susquenita. Gettysburg also rejoined the conference in 2022, bringing the total number of member schools to its current tally of thirty-two. For the 2026 football season, the Mid-Penn Conference will be losing Big Spring and James Buchanan as members. Both schools will be joining the YAIAA as associate members for shorter travel distances and greater parity in competition, while remaining in the MPC for all other sports and activities.
List of member schools
Current full members SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedAltoonaAltoona, PAPublic1,858Mountain Lions 2020Big SpringNewville, PAPublic551Bulldogs 1982Bishop McDevittHarrisburg, PAPrivate (Catholic)545Crusaders 1982Boiling SpringsBoiling Springs, PAPublic598Bubblers 1982Camp HillCamp Hill, PAPublic317Lions 1982CarlisleCarlisle, PAPublic1,367Thundering Herd 1982Cedar CliffCamp Hill, PAPublic1,179Colts 1982Central DauphinHarrisburg, PAPublic1,516Rams 1982Central Dauphin EastHarrisburg, PAPublic1,261Panthers 1982ChambersburgChambersburg, PAPublic2,090Trojans 1982Cumberland ValleyMechanicsburg, PAPublic2,532Eagles 1982East PennsboroEnola, PAPublic680Panthers 1982GettysburgGettysburg, PAPublic913Warriors 1992, 2022Greencastle-AntrimGreencastle, PAPublic836Blue Devils 1992HarrisburgHarrisburg, PAPublic1,920Cougars 1982HersheyHershey, PAPublic872Trojans 1982James BuchananMercersburg, PAPublic543Rockets 1992Lower DauphinHummelstown, PAPublic922Falcons 1982MechanicsburgMechanicsburg, PAPublic1,209Wildcats 1982MiddletownMiddletown, PAPublic660Blue Raiders 1982Mifflin CountyLewistown, PAPublic1,114Huskies 2012Milton HersheyHershey, PAPrivate (Nonsectarian)752Spartans 1982Northern YorkDillsburg, PAPublic962Polar Bears 1982PalmyraPalmyra, PAPublic950Cougars 1982Red LandLewisberry, PAPublic907Patriots 1982ShippensburgShippensburg, PAPublic951Greyhounds 1982State CollegeState College, PAPublic1,740Little Lions 2012Steelton-HighspireSteelton, PAPublic249Steam Rollers 1982Susquehanna TownshipHarrisburg, PAPublic563Indians 1982TrinityCamp Hill, PAPrivate (Catholic)430Shamrocks 1982WaynesboroWaynesboro, PAPublic1,262Indians 1992West PerryElliottsburg, PAPublic648Mustangs 1982
Notes
Current associate members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsPrimary ConferenceJoinedSport(s)HalifaxHalifax, PAPublicWildcats Tri-Valley2020FootballJuniataMifflintown, PAPublicIndians Tri-Valley2020FootballLine MountainHerndon, PAPublicEagles Tri-Valley2020FootballNewportNewport, PAPublicBuffaloes Tri-Valley2020FootballSusquenitaDuncannon, PAPublicBlackhawks Tri-Valley2020FootballUpper DauphinElizabethville, PAPublicTrojans Tri-Valley2020Football
Former full members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsJoinedLeftConferenceJoinedCurrentConferenceBermudian SpringsYork Springs, PAPublicEagles 19922004YAIAABiglervilleBiglerville, PAPublicCanners 19922004YAIAADelone CatholicMcSherrytown, PAPrivate (Catholic)Squires 19821986Blue MountainYAIAAFairfieldFairfield, PAPublicGreen Knights 19922004YAIAAScotlandScotland, PAPublic (State)Cadets 19922009ClosedSusquenitaDuncannon, PAPublicBlackhawks 19822014Tri-Valley
Former associate members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsSeasonsPrimary ConferenceSport(s)AltoonaAltoona, PAPublicMountain Lions 2004-2009, 2018-2020Mountain Athletic, WPIALFootball, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Boys' VollebyallHollidaysburgHollidaysburg, PAPublicGolden Tigers 2004-2005Mountain AthleticFootballState CollegeState College, PAPublicLittle Lions 2004-2011Mountain AthleticFootball
Membership timeline
Full members
Football members
Membership map
Sponsored sports
SchoolAltoonaXXXXXXXBig SpringXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXBishop McDevittXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXBoiling SpringsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCamp HillXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCarlisleXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCedar CliffXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCentral DauphinXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCentral Dauphin EastXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXChambersburgXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCumberland ValleyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEast PennsboroXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXGettysburgXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXGreencastle-AntrimXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHarrisburgXXXXXXXXXXXHersheyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXJames BuchananXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXLower DauphinXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXMechanicsburgXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXMiddletownXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXMifflin CountyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXMilton HersheyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXNorthern YorkXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXPalmyraXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXRed LandXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXShippensburgXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXState CollegeXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSteelton-HighspireXXXXXXXXXSusquehanna TownshipXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTrinityXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWaynesboroXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWest PerryXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
List of state champions Fall sports Sources: +Boys Cross CountrySchoolYearClassificationHershey1990Class AACedar Cliff2001Class AAACedar Cliff2004Class AAACamp Hill2015Class AState College2024Class AAA +Girls Cross CountrySchoolYearClassificationChambersburg1989Class AAAPalmyra2012Class AATrinity2015Class A +Field HockeySchoolYearClassificationLower Dauphin1993Class AAALower Dauphin1998Class AAAPalmyra2005Class AALower Dauphin2006Class AAALower Dauphin2009Class AAALower Dauphin2012Class AAALower Dauphin2013Class AAAPalmyra2014Class AAAHershey2018Class AAABoiling Springs2022Class ALower Dauphin2022Class AAAMechanicsburg2022Class AAWest Perry2024Class A +FootballSchoolYearClassificationCamp Hill1988Class ACumberland Valley1992Class AAAAScotland1992Class ABishop McDevitt1995Class AASteelton-Highspire2007Class ASteelton-Highspire2008Class ACentral Dauphin2011Class AAAABishop McDevitt2022Class AAAASteelton-Highspire2022Class ASteelton-Highspire2023Class ABishop McDevitt2025Class A +Boys GolfSchoolYearClassificationState College2021Class AAA +Boys SoccerSchoolYearClassificationMiddletown2001Class AAPalmyra2007Class AACentral Dauphin2009Class AAACamp Hill2016Class ALower Dauphin2016Class AAACamp Hill2017Class ALower Dauphin2017Class AAALower Dauphin2019Class AAAHershey2022Class AAACamp Hill2023Class AACumberland Valley2024Class AAAA +Girls SoccerSchoolYearClassificationCumberland Valley2011Cumberland Valley2012Trinity2014Class ATrinity2016Class AACamp Hill2019Class ACentral Dauphin2022Class AAAA +Girls VolleyballSchoolYearClassificationPalmyra2019Class AAATrinity2020Class AATrinity2024Class AA
Winter sports Sources: +Boys BasketballSchoolYearClassificationCarlisle1985Class AAAACarlisle1986Class AAAACarlisle1987Class AAAACarlisle1988Class AAAASteelton-Highspire1992Class AAAAScotland1994Class AScotland1995Class ASusquehanna Township1997Class AAAHarrisburg1998Class AAAASteelton-Highspire1998Class AAASteelton-Highspire2000Class AAATrinity2001Class AAHarrisburg2002Class AAAAScotland2002Class AScotland2003Class ATrinity2003Class AASteelton-Highspire2005Class AAASteelton-Highspire2008Class AAACentral Dauphin2026Class AAAAAATrinity2026Class AAA +Girls BasketballSchoolYearClassificationTrinity1986Class AATrinity2001Class AACumberland Valley2002Class AAAACentral Dauphin2008Class AAAASteelton-Highspire2011Class ASteelton-Highspire2012Class ACumberland Valley2014Class AAAACumberland Valley2015Class AAAACumberland Valley2016Class AAAA +Competitive SpiritSchoolYearClassificationCumberland Valley2012Large SchoolsCumberland Valley2014Large SchoolsCumberland Valley2015Large SchoolsCumberland Valley2017Large Schools +GymnasticsSchoolYearClassificationRed Land1991Intermediate SchoolsRed Land1992Intermediate Schools +Boys Swimming & DivingSchoolYearClassificationHershey2003Class AAHershey2004Class AAHershey2005Class AAHershey2009Class AAHershey2010Class AAHershey2011Class AAABishop McDevitt2021Class AA +Girls Swimming & DivingSchoolYearClassificationHershey1995Class AAHershey2005Class AAHershey2006Class AAHershey2011Class AAAHershey2013Class AAAHershey2014Class AAAHershey2015Class AAA +WrestlingSchoolYearClassificationCentral Dauphin2008Class AAACentral Dauphin2009Class AAACentral Dauphin2010Class AAACentral Dauphin2011Class AAA
Spring sports Sources: