Gogebic Range Conference

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The Gogebic Range Conference is a former high school athletic conference with most of its members located in the upper peninsula of Michigan and one in Wisconsin. Founded in 1980 and disbanded in 1986, conference members belonged to the Michigan High School Athletic Association and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

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Wakefield
Ironwood
Hurley
Bessemer
Location of Gogebic Range Conference Members

The Gogebic Range Conference, named after the region in which its member schools were located, was formed in 1980 by four former members of the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference: Bessemer, Hurley, Ironwood and Wakefield.[1] For the three Michigan-based schools, this was a dual affiliation: Bessemer and Wakefield were part of the Great Western Conference[2][3] while Ironwood was affiliated with the Superior Six Conference.[4] Hurley's sole affiliation was with the Gogebic Range,[5][6] as they had left the WIAA's Lumberjack Conference after the 1979-80 school year.[1] The Gogebic Range Conference was disbanded in 1986 after Hurley's exit to become members of the Indianhead Conference of the WIAA. The three Michigan-based schools continued their previous affiliations.

Conference membership history

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School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Bessemer Bessemer, MI Public 109[7] Speedboys     1980[1] 1986[2] Great Western Independent
Hurley Hurley, WI Public 192[8] Midgets     1980[1] 1986[5][6] Northern Lights (WIAA)
Ironwood Ironwood, MI Public 219[7] Red Devils     1980[1] 1986[4] Superior Six Independent
Wakefield Wakefield, MI Public 88[7] Cardinals     1980[1] 1986[3] Great Western Independent

Membership timeline

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List of conference champions

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Boys Basketball

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School Quantity Years
Hurley 3 1981, 1982, 1983
Ironwood 2 1984, 1985
Bessemer 1 1986
Wakefield

Football

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School Quantity Years
Bessemer 3 1980, 1981, 1985
Ironwood 3 1982, 1983, 1984
Hurley
Wakefield

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Torrid Teams Tangle in Tuesday Feature". Ironwood Daily Globe. 21 January 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Bessemer Speedboys". Michigan High School Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Wakefield Cardinals". Michigan High School Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Ironwood Red Devils". Michigan High School Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Hurley High School Boys Basketball Records" (PDF). Hurley School District. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Hurley High School Football Records" (PDF). Hurley School District. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "2024-25 MHSAA Enrollment List" (PDF). Michigan High School Athletic Association. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  8. ^ Wilson, Travis (27 November 2023). "All school enrollment figures for 2023-24 sports year with one- and five-year enrollment comparisons". Wisconsin Sports Network. Retrieved 26 February 2025.