Northwestern Conference (IHSAA)
Encyclopedia
A three-member IHSAA
-sanctioned athletic conference involving schools from Gary, Indiana
.
split. At this time, the conference encompassed most of the schools in Gary
(except for Edison, Roosevelt, and Wirt; Edison would close in 1968, the other two would join later), Hammond
(except for Gavit and Morton, who would join in 1966), and East Chicago
schools, as well as the schools from Valparaiso
and Whiting
.
The conference expanded to 16 schools in 1966, adding Hobart
High School, as well as Gary Roosevelt, Hammond Gavit and Hammond Morton. The expansion moved the conference into divisions: the East Division consisted of the Gary schools, Hobart, and Valparaiso, the West Division consisting of the East Chicago, Hammond, and Whiting schools.
The conference changed its name to the Gary City Series in 1968, as Hobart and Valparaiso became independent, with the rest of the non-Gary schools formed the Indiana Lake Shore Conference. These schools would be replaced by parochial school Andrean
, and the new Gary West Side
. The next year, Gary Froebel and Tolleston closed, and the conference reverted to the Northwestern Conference moniker. Roosevelt would join in 1970 from the old Calumet Conference, and Andrean left to be independent in 1975.
The conference membership has decreased over the years as schools closed (Emerson in 1981, Mann in 2004, and Wirt in 2009), leaving the current number of schools at three.
Indiana High School Athletic Association
The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as...
-sanctioned athletic conference involving schools from Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
.
History
The conference was formed in 1963, after the West Division of the Northern Indiana ConferenceNorthern Indiana Conference
-About:The Northern Indiana Conference is a high school athletic conference that was founded in 1927 and spanned from Hammond and Gary over to South Bend/Mishawaka and Elkhart and all the way down to Plymouth...
split. At this time, the conference encompassed most of the schools in Gary
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
(except for Edison, Roosevelt, and Wirt; Edison would close in 1968, the other two would join later), Hammond
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
(except for Gavit and Morton, who would join in 1966), and East Chicago
East Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....
schools, as well as the schools from Valparaiso
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
and Whiting
Whiting, Indiana
Whiting is a city located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Lake County, Indiana, which was founded in 1889. The city is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It is roughly 16 miles from the Chicago Loop and just short of two miles from Chicago's South Side. Whiting is home to Whiting...
.
The conference expanded to 16 schools in 1966, adding Hobart
Hobart, Indiana
Hobart is home to many thriving businesses in its downtown shopping district, including the historic Art Theatre.Hobart is also home to the Westfield Southlake Shopping Mall and many surrounding retailers and restaurants, although most businesses are required to list their addresses as Merrillville...
High School, as well as Gary Roosevelt, Hammond Gavit and Hammond Morton. The expansion moved the conference into divisions: the East Division consisted of the Gary schools, Hobart, and Valparaiso, the West Division consisting of the East Chicago, Hammond, and Whiting schools.
The conference changed its name to the Gary City Series in 1968, as Hobart and Valparaiso became independent, with the rest of the non-Gary schools formed the Indiana Lake Shore Conference. These schools would be replaced by parochial school Andrean
Andrean High School
Andrean High School is a coeducational Catholic college preparatory school located in Merrillville, Indiana. The school was founded in 1959, and named after the first bishop of the diocese of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary, Andrew Grutka...
, and the new Gary West Side
West Side High School (Gary)
West Side High School is a four year public school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana, United States.- History :...
. The next year, Gary Froebel and Tolleston closed, and the conference reverted to the Northwestern Conference moniker. Roosevelt would join in 1970 from the old Calumet Conference, and Andrean left to be independent in 1975.
The conference membership has decreased over the years as schools closed (Emerson in 1981, Mann in 2004, and Wirt in 2009), leaving the current number of schools at three.
Current members
| School (IHSAA ID#) |
Mascot | Colors | Enrollment | IHSAA Indiana High School Athletic Association The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as... Class |
Year joined | Previous conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Roosevelt (123) Theodore Roosevelt High School (Gary) Theodore Roosevelt High School is a four year public high school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana, United States... |
Panthers | 890 | 4A football, 3A basketball | 1966 | independent | |
| Gary Wallace (124) Lew Wallace High School Lew Wallace High School is a four year public high school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana, United States.- History :... |
Hornets | 931 | 3A football, 3A basketball | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | |
| Gary West Side (125) West Side High School (Gary) West Side High School is a four year public school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana, United States.- History :... |
Cougars | 1,326 | 4A football, 4A basketball | 1968 | none (new school) |
Former members
| School | Mascot | Colors | Year joined | Previous Conference | Year Left | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Chicago Roosevelt | Roughriders | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| East Chicago Washington | Senators | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Hammond Hammond High School (Indiana) Hammond High School is a public secondary school located in Hammond, Indiana. It is part of the School City of Hammond district.-Vision:Hammond High School provides students with the opportunity to develop attitudes, knowledge and skills suited to their individual needs so that they may be... |
Wildcats | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Hammond Clark | Pioneers | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Hammond Tech | Tigers | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Valparaiso Valparaiso High School Valparaiso High School is a public high school in Valparaiso, Indiana. This high school is currently a four star and accredited high school, cited by US News and World Report as a "Best High School 2008". The current principal is Mr... |
Vikings | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | independent (to Duneland Duneland Athletic Conference The Duneland Athletic Conference is a high school athletic conference in Indiana serving eight members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Member schools are located in the counties of Lake, LaPorte, and Porter along Indiana's Lake Michigan shore... 1970) |
|
| Whiting | Oilers | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Hammond Gavit | Gladiators | 1966 | independent | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Hammond Morton | Governors | 1966 | independent | 1968 | to Lake Shore | |
| Hobart Hobart High School Hobart High School is an English mixed sex secondary comprehensive school situated in the village of Loddon, near Norwich. It typically has around 850 students. The school has specialist science college status.... |
Brickies | 1966 | independent | 1968 | independent (to Duneland Duneland Athletic Conference The Duneland Athletic Conference is a high school athletic conference in Indiana serving eight members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Member schools are located in the counties of Lake, LaPorte, and Porter along Indiana's Lake Michigan shore... 1970) |
|
| Gary Froebel | Blue Devils | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1969 | school became middle school, then closed in 1977 | |
| Gary Tolleston | Blue Raiders | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1969 | school became middle school, closed in 2007 | |
| Andrean Andrean High School Andrean High School is a coeducational Catholic college preparatory school located in Merrillville, Indiana. The school was founded in 1959, and named after the first bishop of the diocese of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary, Andrew Grutka... |
59ers | 1968 | independent | 1975 | independent (to Lake Lake Athletic Conference The Lake Athletic Conference was a high school athletic conference serving members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. The LAC existed in multiple guises from the fall of 1993 through the spring of 2007, at which time it comprised sixteen member high schools... 1997) |
|
| Gary Emerson Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts is a seven year school for the visual and performing arts, located in the Miller Beach neighborhood of Gary, Indiana, in the United States... |
Tornado | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 1981 | school closed, later reopened as Emerson VPA | |
| Gary Mann | Horsemen | 1963 | Northern Indiana (West) | 2004 | school closed | |
| Gary Wirt William A. Wirt High School William A Wirt Senior High School was a four year public high school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana. In May 2009 the school announced that after over 70 years, it would finally be closing... |
Troopers | 1970 | Calumet Conference | 2009 | school closed |