Lincoln Trail Conference
Encyclopedia
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
, Marshall
, Mercer
, Peoria
, Rock Island
, Stark
, Warren
and Woodford counties.
Sources:IHSA Conferences and IHSA Member Schools Directory
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:
Prior to the advent of the Lincoln Trail Conference, or before joining the conference several member schools won Illinois state championships, including:
Boys Baseball in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
Boys and Girls Basketball in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
Boys and Girls Cross Country in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
Boys Football in academic year 2009-2010
Boys and Girls Golf in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
Boys and Girls Track and Field in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
Girls Softball in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
(IHSA). The conference comprises public high schools with small enrollments in portions of Bureau
Bureau County, Illinois
Bureau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 34,978, which is a decrease of 1.5% from 35,503 in 2000. Its county seat is Princeton. Bureau County is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Henderson, Henry
Henry County, Illinois
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge...
, Knox
Knox County, Illinois
Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,919, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 55,836 in 2000...
, Marshall
Marshall County, Illinois
The median income for a household in the county was $41,576, and the median income for a family was $48,061. Males had a median income of $35,765 versus $21,452 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,065...
, Mercer
Mercer County, Illinois
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,434, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 16,957 in 2000. Its county seat is Aledo...
, Peoria
Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 186,494, which is an increase of 1.7% from 183,433 in 2000. Its county seat is Peoria....
, Rock Island
Rock Island County, Illinois
Rock Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 147,546, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 149,374 in 2000. Its county seat is Rock Island...
, Stark
Stark County, Illinois
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 5,994, which is a decrease of 5.3% from 6,332 in 2000...
, Warren
Warren County, Illinois
-External links:**...
and Woodford counties.
Current Membership
| School | Location | Mascot | Colors | Enrollment | IHSA Illinois High School Association The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High... Classes 2/3/4 |
IHSA Illinois High School Association The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High... Music Class |
IHSA Illinois High School Association The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High... Football Class |
IHSA Illinois High School Association The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High... Cheerleading Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlWood High School AlWood High School AlWood High School, or AHS, is a public four-year high school located at 301 E. Fifth Avenue in Woodhull, Illinois, a village in Clover Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. The name AlWood comes from the combination of Alpha and Woodhull, two villages in southwestern... |
Woodhull, IL | Aces | 165 | A/1A/1A | D | 1A | Small squad | |
| Annawan High School Annawan High School Annawan High School, or AHS, is a public four-year high school located at 501 W South St. in Annawan, Illinois, a village in Annawan Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. AHS is part of Annawan Community Unit School District 226, which also includes Annawan Grade... |
Annawan, IL | Braves | 125 | A/1A/1A | D | 1A | Small squad | |
| Cambridge High School Cambridge High School (Illinois) Cambridge High School, or CHS, is a public four-year high school located at 300 S. West St. in Cambridge, Illinois, a village in Cambridge Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. CHS is part of Cambridge Community Unit School District 227, which also includes Cambridge... |
Cambridge, IL | Vikings | 154 | A/1A/1A | D | 1A | Small squad | |
| Galva High School Galva High School Galva High School, or GHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1020 Center Ave. in Galva, Illinois, a small city in Galva Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. GHS is part of Galva Community Unit School District 224, which also includes Galva Junior High... |
Galva, IL | Wildcats | 178 | A/1A/1A | D | 1A | Small Squad | |
| Mercer County High School Mercer County High School Mercer County High School, or MCHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1500 South College Avenue in Aledo, Illinois, an city in Mercer County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
Aledo, IL | Golden Eagles | 435 | A/1A/2A | B | 2A | Small squad | |
| Princeville High School Princeville High School Princeville High School, or PHS, is a public four-year high school located at 302 Cordis Avenue in Princeville, Illinois, a village in Peoria County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. PHS is part of Princeville Community Unit School District 326, which also includes Princeville Grade School... |
Princeville, IL | Princes | 214 | A/1A/1A | C | 1A | Small squad | |
| River Valley Coop | Varna, IL | Falcons | 600 | A/1A/1A | C | 4A | Small squad | |
| ROWVA High School ROWVA High School ROWVA High School, ROWVA Senior High School, or RHS, is a public four-year high school located at 346 East ROVA Drive in Oneida, Illinois, a village in Knox County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
Oneida, IL | Tigers | 229 | A/1A/1A | C | 1A | Small squad | |
| Stark County High School Stark County High School Stark County High School, or SCHS, is a public four-year high school located at 418 S. Franklin Street in Toulon, Illinois, a village in Stark County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. SCHS is part of Stark County Community Unit School District 100, which also includes Stark County Junior... |
Toulon, IL | Rebels | 322 | A/1A/1A | C | 2A | Small squad | |
| United High School United Senior High School (Illinois) United High School, also known as United Senior High School, or UHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1905 100th Street near Monmouth, Illinois, a city of Warren County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
Alexis, IL | Red Storm | 275 | A/1A/1A | C | 1A | Small squad | |
| Wethersfield High School Wethersfield High School (Illinois) Wethersfield High School, also known as Kewanee High School, is a public four-year high school located at 439 Willard St. in Kewanee, Illinois, a city in Kewanee and Wethersfield Townships of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
Kewanee, IL | Flying Geese | 195 | A/1A/1A | C | 1A | Small squad | |
| West Central High School West Central High School West Central High School, or WCHS, is a public four-year high school located near Biggsville, Illinois, a village in Henderson County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
Biggsville, IL | Heat | 308 | A/1A/1A | C | 1A | Small squad | |
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 Mercer County High School Mercer County High School, or MCHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1500 South College Avenue in Aledo, Illinois, an city in Mercer County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
2006–2009 | Aledo+Westmer=Mercer County (2009) | Olympic Olympic Conference (Illinois) The Olympic Conference was a high school conference in northwest Illinois in existence from 1976 to 2010. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association... (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 AlWood High School AlWood High School, or AHS, is a public four-year high school located at 301 E. Fifth Avenue in Woodhull, Illinois, a village in Clover Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. The name AlWood comes from the combination of Alpha and Woodhull, two villages in southwestern... |
1976–Present | Alpha+Woodhull=AlWood (1948) | Corn Belt (1976) | |
| Annawan High School Annawan High School Annawan High School, or AHS, is a public four-year high school located at 501 W South St. in Annawan, Illinois, a village in Annawan Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. AHS is part of Annawan Community Unit School District 226, which also includes Annawan Grade... |
1995–Present | Indian Valley (1995) | ||
| Cambridge High School Cambridge High School (Illinois) Cambridge High School, or CHS, is a public four-year high school located at 300 S. West St. in Cambridge, Illinois, a village in Cambridge Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. CHS is part of Cambridge Community Unit School District 227, which also includes Cambridge... |
1976–Present | Corn Belt (1976) | ||
| Galva High School Galva High School Galva High School, or GHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1020 Center Ave. in Galva, Illinois, a small city in Galva Township of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. GHS is part of Galva Community Unit School District 224, which also includes Galva Junior High... |
1976–Present | Little 6 (1976) | ||
| Mercer County High School Mercer County High School Mercer County High School, or MCHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1500 South College Avenue in Aledo, Illinois, an city in Mercer County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
2009–Present | Aledo+Westmer=Mercer County (2009) | Consolidation of 2 LTC members (2009) | |
| Princeville High School Princeville High School Princeville High School, or PHS, is a public four-year high school located at 302 Cordis Avenue in Princeville, Illinois, a village in Peoria County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. PHS is part of Princeville Community Unit School District 326, which also includes Princeville Grade School... |
1995–Present | Indian Valley (1995) | ||
| River Valley Coop | Football only 2010–Present | 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 ROWVA High School ROWVA High School, ROWVA Senior High School, or RHS, is a public four-year high school located at 346 East ROVA Drive in Oneida, Illinois, a village in Knox County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
1987–Present | ROVA+Galesburg (Wataga students)=ROWVA (1987) | Consolidation of LTC member and some Western Big 6 Western Big 6 Conference The Western Big 6 Conference is a high school conference in western central Illinois. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association... member students (1987) |
|
| Stark County High School Stark County High School Stark County High School, or SCHS, is a public four-year high school located at 418 S. Franklin Street in Toulon, Illinois, a village in Stark County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. SCHS is part of Stark County Community Unit School District 100, which also includes Stark County Junior... |
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 United Senior High School (Illinois) United High School, also known as United Senior High School, or UHS, is a public four-year high school located at 1905 100th Street near Monmouth, Illinois, a city of Warren County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
2004–Present | Alexis+Warren=United (2004); added Yorkwood (2007) |
Consolidation of 2 LTC members (2004); added Prairieland Prairieland Conference The Prairieland Conference is a high school conference in western central Illinois. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association... member (2007) |
|
| Warren High School (Monmouth) Warren High School Warren High School is the name of several high schools:*Warren High School *Warren High School *Warren Township High School in Gurnee, Illinois*Warren High School... |
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 Olympic Conference (Illinois) The Olympic Conference was a high school conference in northwest Illinois in existence from 1976 to 2010. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association... 1976-1987; Unknown 1987-1989 |
Mercer County remained in LTC (2009) |
| Wethersfield High School Wethersfield High School (Illinois) Wethersfield High School, also known as Kewanee High School, is a public four-year high school located at 439 Willard St. in Kewanee, Illinois, a city in Kewanee and Wethersfield Townships of Henry County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
1976–Present | Blackhawk (1976) | ||
| West Central High School West Central High School West Central High School, or WCHS, is a public four-year high school located near Biggsville, Illinois, a village in Henderson County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
2005–Present | Union+Stronghurst Southern=West Central (2005) | Consolidation of 2 West Central members (2005) | |
| West Prairie High School (Sciota) West Prairie High School West Prairie High School, also known as Sciota West Prairie, or WPHS, is a public four-year high school located at 18575 East 800th Street near Sciota, Illinois, a village of McDonough County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... |
Football only? 2010–Present? | |||
| Williamsfield High School Williamsfield High School Williamsfield High School, or WHS, is a public four-year high school located at 325 Kentucky Avenue in Williamsfield, Illinois, a village of Knox County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. WHS is part of Williamsfield Community Unit School District 210, which also includes Williamsfield... |
Football only? 2010–Present? | |||
| Winola High School | 1976–1988 | New Windsor+Viola=Winola (19??); Winola into Sherrard Sherrard High School Sherrard High School, or SHS, is a public four-year high school located at 4701 176th Avenue near Sherrard, Illinois, a village of Mercer County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States... (1988) |
Corn Belt (1976) | Olympic Olympic Conference (Illinois) The Olympic Conference was a high school conference in northwest Illinois in existence from 1976 to 2010. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association... (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
Competitive Success
The Lincoln Trail Conference has won 2 state championships in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities. Through the 2008-2009 season the conference has won Illinois state titles in:- Boys FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
(Wethersfield 2001-2002; United 2004-2005)
Prior to the advent of the Lincoln Trail Conference, or before joining the conference several member schools won Illinois state championships, including:
- Boys FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
(Aledo in the Olympic ConferenceOlympic Conference (Illinois)The Olympic Conference was a high school conference in northwest Illinois in existence from 1976 to 2010. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association...
1998-1999, 2000–2001, 2002–2003) - Boys GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(Aledo in the Olympic ConferenceOlympic Conference (Illinois)The Olympic Conference was a high school conference in northwest Illinois in existence from 1976 to 2010. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association...
1984-1985) - Boys Track & Field (Bigssville 1898-1899, 1899–1900)
Cooperative Arrangements
Due to the small enrollment of several Lincoln Trail Conference schools they may form cooperative arrangements. Examples include:Boys Baseball in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
- AlWood and Cambridge
- Annawan and Wethersfield
Boys and Girls Basketball in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
- AlWood and Cambridge
Boys and Girls Cross Country in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
- AlWood and Cambridge
- Annawan and Wethersfield (ends 2010)
- Galva and ROWVA
Boys Football in academic year 2009-2010
- AlWood and ROWVA
- Annawan and Wethersfield
- Galva and Williamsfield
Boys and Girls Golf in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
- AlWood and Cambridge
- Annawan and Wethersfield
- Galva and ROWVA
Boys and Girls Track and Field in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
- AlWood and Cambridge (ends 2010)
- Annawan and Wethersfield
Girls Softball in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010–2011
- AlWood and Cambridge
- Annawan and Wethersfield