Western Big 6 Conference
Encyclopedia
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
(IHSA). The conference comprises public high schools with large enrollments, as well a private school
, in the Illinois
Quad Cities
, Galesburg, Illinois
, and Quincy, Illinois
.
Sources:IHSA Conferences and IHSA Member Schools Directory
Prior to the advent of the Western Big 6 Conference, the schools of the present day conference are known to have participated in several other conferences:
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 large enrollments, as well a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, in the Illinois
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,...
Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
, Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, and Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleman High School Alleman High School (Rock Island, Illinois) Alleman Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Rock Island, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria.-School history:Alleman High School was established in 1949. It was named in honor of Rev... |
Rock Island, IL | Pioneers | 449 (741 Adjusted) |
A/1A/2A | B | 4A | Medium squad | |
| Galesburg High School Galesburg High School Galesburg High School is a public high school in Galesburg, Illinois. Galesburg High School was established in 1861 in downtown Galesburg. It has since moved to Fremont Street on the west side of town... |
Galesburg, IL | Silver Streaks | 1444 | AA/2A/3A | A | 6A | Medium squad | |
| Moline High School Moline High School Moline High School, or Moline, is a public four-year high school located in Moline, Illinois, a city in Rock Island County, in the United States... |
Moline, IL | Maroons | 2243 | AA/3A/4A | AA | 7A | Large squad | |
| Quincy High School Quincy Senior High School -History:The first school dedicated to high school students in Quincy, Illinois opened in 1891 at the corner of 12th and Maine. This "Pride of the Gem City" served students until 1933 when the "new" Quincy Senior High opened at 14th and Maine in 1933. The building sits along Historic Maine Street... |
Quincy, IL | Blue Devils | 2051 | AA/3A/4A | AA | 7A | Large Squad | |
| Rock Island High School Rock Island High School Rock Island High School, also known as "Rocky", is a public four-year high school located in Rock Island, Illinois, USA. Rocky is within the Rock Island-Milan School District No. 41, and the school colors are crimson and gold.-Technology:... |
Rock Island, IL | Rocks | 1645 | AA/2A/3A | A | 6A | Medium squad | |
| United Township High School United Township High School United Township High School, also known as UTHS or UT, is a public four-year high school located in East Moline, Illinois, a city in Rock Island County, in the United States. The school is the only public high school in the city of East Moline, and is part of United Township High School District 30... |
East Moline, IL | Panthers | 1736 | AA/3A/4A | AA | 6A | Medium squad | |
Sources:IHSA Conferences and IHSA Member Schools Directory
History
The Western Big 6 Conference was established in 1969. The conference consisted of four schools from the Quad Cities area, one from Quincy, and one from Galesburg. The charter members were Moline High School, Rock Island High School, Rock Island Alleman High School, United Township High School (East Moline), Quincy Senior High School, and Galesburg High School. Enrollments have ranged from over 2000 students, to Alleman, the league's only private school, with just under 500.Prior to the advent of the Western Big 6 Conference, the schools of the present day conference are known to have participated in several other conferences:
- Quincy participated in Mississippi Valley Conference from 1922-1923 along with Macomb, Carthage, Fort Madison (IA), Keokuk (IA), and Pittsfield. Quincy also participated in the Tri State Conference from 1932-1935 along with Macomb, Canton (MO), Fort Madison (IA), Hannibal (MO), Keokuk (IA), Kirksville (MO).
- Canton, East Moline, Galesburg, Kewanee, Moline and Rock Island participated in football at various times in the early 1950s under the Northwest Conference (Near) banner. 1956 was the final season for the conference.
- East Moline, Moline and Rock Island participated in the Quad Cities Metro Conference, along with Davenport CentralDavenport Central High SchoolDavenport Central High School is a four-year comprehensive high school located in Davenport, Iowa. Opened in 1907 as "Davenport High School," Central is one of three public high schools part of the Davenport Community School District. The school, whose western side is located along U.S...
and (after 1960) Davenport West, throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Rock Island Alleman joined in 1969 (as did Davenport Assumption from the Iowa side). The 1977-1978 school year was the last for the competition in this conference. - Simultaneous with the Quad Cities Metro Conference, East Moline, Moline and Rock Island were members of the Mississippi Valley Conference. In addition to Davenport CentralDavenport Central High SchoolDavenport Central High School is a four-year comprehensive high school located in Davenport, Iowa. Opened in 1907 as "Davenport High School," Central is one of three public high schools part of the Davenport Community School District. The school, whose western side is located along U.S...
and (after 1960) Davenport West, Iowa schools from Cedar Rapids, Clinton and Dubuque were also part of this conference. - More of an association than a league or conference for football, the Illini Conference organization featured Bartonville, Limestone, Canton, East Peoria, Galesburg, Kewanee, Pekin, Peoria Richwoods, and Peoria Woodruff at various times in the 1950s and 1960s. The league's members never played a complete round robin schedule in football and most played concurrently in other conferences. The final season for football in the Illini was 1971.
| School | Years | Consolidations | Conference Came From | State Championships (1969–Present) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleman High School Alleman High School (Rock Island, Illinois) Alleman Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Rock Island, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria.-School history:Alleman High School was established in 1949. It was named in honor of Rev... |
1969–Present | n/a | Unknown | 7 |
| Galesburg High School Galesburg High School Galesburg High School is a public high school in Galesburg, Illinois. Galesburg High School was established in 1861 in downtown Galesburg. It has since moved to Fremont Street on the west side of town... |
1969–Present | n/a | Illini | 2 |
| Moline High School Moline High School Moline High School, or Moline, is a public four-year high school located in Moline, Illinois, a city in Rock Island County, in the United States... |
1969–Present | 1952 Coal Valley | Mississippi Valley | 9 |
| Quincy High School Quincy Senior High School -History:The first school dedicated to high school students in Quincy, Illinois opened in 1891 at the corner of 12th and Maine. This "Pride of the Gem City" served students until 1933 when the "new" Quincy Senior High opened at 14th and Maine in 1933. The building sits along Historic Maine Street... |
1969–Present | n/a | Unknown | 9 |
| Rock Island High School Rock Island High School Rock Island High School, also known as "Rocky", is a public four-year high school located in Rock Island, Illinois, USA. Rocky is within the Rock Island-Milan School District No. 41, and the school colors are crimson and gold.-Technology:... |
1969–Present | n/a | Mississippi Valley | 5 |
| United Township High School United Township High School United Township High School, also known as UTHS or UT, is a public four-year high school located in East Moline, Illinois, a city in Rock Island County, in the United States. The school is the only public high school in the city of East Moline, and is part of United Township High School District 30... |
1969–Present | 1920 Silvis | Mississippi Valley | 3 |
Competitive Success
The present day Western Big 6 Conference has won 35 state championships in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities. Through the 2008-2009 season the conference has won Illinois state titles in:- Boys BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
(Galesburg 1987-1988) - Boys BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
(Quincy 1980-1981; Rock Island 2010-2011) - Boys Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
(Alleman 2004-2005) - 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....
(Galesburg 1971-1972; Quincy 1990-1991) - Boys Soccer (United Township 1999-2000)
- Boys TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
(Moline 1992-1993) - Boys Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
(Rock Island 1988-1989, 1993–1994) - Boys WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
(Moline 1995-1996) - ChessChessChess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
(Moline 1993-1994, 1994–1995; Rock Island 1977-1978) - DramaDramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
(Rock Island 2008-2009) - Girls Basketball (Alleman 2004-2005)
- Girls BowlingBowlingBowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
(United Township 1990-1991) - Girls Golf (Quincy 1976-1977, 1977–1978, 1978–1979)
- Girls SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
(Alleman 1984-85, 1991–92, 1992–1993, 1993–1994, 1997–1998; Moline 1986-1987, 1987–1988, 1993–1994, 1995–1996, 2005–2006; Quincy 1977-1978) - Girls Track and Field (Rock Island 2008-2009; United Township 1976-1977)
- Scholastic Bowl (Quincy 1986-1987, 1987–1988, 1992–1993)