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| Conference | IHSAA / IGHSAU |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1925 |
| Sports fielded |
|
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Region | North central Iowa |
| Official website | www |
The North Central Conference (NCC) is an athletic conference comprising eight high schools located in North Central Iowa. The member schools are classified as 3A (the second largest classification in Iowa), 2A, and 1A (the smallest classification). Established in 1925, the conference boasts a rich history and numerous intense rivalries.
Historically, the North Central Conference has maintained its status as an eight-team league. The participating schools include Algona, Clarion, Clear Lake, Eagle Grove, Hampton, Humboldt, Iowa Falls, and Webster City. In the 1980s, both Hampton and Clarion initiated whole grade-sharing agreements with smaller adjacent districts, leading to the formation of Hampton–Dumont and Clarion–Goldfield, respectively.
During the 1993–94 academic year, the conference welcomed two prominent Catholic institutions: Bishop Garrigan from Algona and St. Edmond from Fort Dodge.
In 2004, Iowa Falls and Alden began whole grade-sharing, followed by Clarion-Goldfield and Dows in 2005. The latter two eventually consolidated to form Clarion–Goldfield–Dows in 2014.
In 2012, Humboldt and Twin Rivers entered into a whole grade-sharing agreement. Additionally, Algona and Titonka began whole grade-sharing in 2012, culminating in their consolidation in 2014. Lu Verne also initiated a whole grade-sharing arrangement with Algona in 2015. Furthermore, Webster City and Northeast Hamilton are set to commence a whole grade-sharing agreement in 2015.
The longstanding affiliations of member schools with the conference have recently been challenged by the significant differences in school sizes, prompting concern among league members. CAL (in Latimer) is considering the possibility of initiating whole grade-sharing with Hampton–Dumont starting in 2018.
In October 2012, Bishop Garrigan Catholic explored the option of joining the North Iowa Conference. By December 2012, the NIC approved Bishop Garrigan's application, and the transition was finalized in 2014.
On December 10, 2012, the Eagle Grove Community School Board voted to pursue membership in the North Iowa Conference, a decision that received approval from the NIC. Clarion–Goldfield–Dows has also engaged in discussions regarding NIC membership, although no formal steps have been taken by CGD. Other institutions within the NCC, including Iowa Falls-Alden, Hampton–Dumont, and St. Edmond, have expressed interest in potentially departing from the NCC.
In February 2013, the superintendents of the NCC voted unanimously, with results of 9–0 and 8–0, to implement divisional play. This structure will feature a large school division and a small school division, categorized by enrollment numbers. In sports such as basketball, baseball, and softball, teams will compete against schools within their own division twice, as well as against schools in the opposite division twice. This initiative aims to maintain cohesion among the remaining eight NCC teams while also attracting nearby schools to join the league. The large school division comprises Webster City, Algona, Humboldt, and Iowa Falls-Alden, while the small school division includes Clear Lake, Hampton–Dumont, Clarion–Goldfield–Dows, and St. Edmond.
In July 2024, it was announced that the Charles City Community School would serve as a non-voting member of the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years, transitioning to full membership in the 2027-28 school year. In their initial two years, they will participate in all NCC sports with the exception of volleyball, as well as girls' and boys' basketball, baseball, and softball. Charles City is transitioning from the Northeast Iowa Conference, where it has been a founding member since 1920. Other members of the NEIC, including Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah, also took part in mediation hearings last week, while Crestwood, New Hampton, and Waukon are scheduled to join the Upper Iowa Conference in 2025.
Charles City will be the first new addition to the North Central Conference since St. Edmond and Bishop Garrigan became members in 1993, with Bishop Garrigan departing alongside Eagle Grove after the 2013-14 school year.
On Monday, November 11, 2024, the school boards of Eagle Grove, Forest City, and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura made the decision to join the North Central Conference. The Eagle Grove board approved rejoining the NCC with a unanimous 5-0 vote, contingent upon the affirmative votes from Forest City and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura. The Forest City board voted 7-0 in favor of joining the NCC, while the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura board voted 3-2 against it.
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School announced that it would reconsider its decision regarding joining the NCC. They have until December 1, 2024, to cast a new vote; if they do not, the NCC will proceed with the addition of other schools to achieve a total of 12 members, enabling the conference to establish two divisions based on the size of each institution.