Marinette & Oconto Conference
The Marinette & Oconto Conference is a high school athletic conference in northeastern Wisconsin. Founded in 1927, the conference and its members are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
[edit]1927-1951
[edit]
The Marinette & Oconto Conference was formed in 1927 by seven small high schools in Marinette and Oconto Counties in northeastern Wisconsin: Coleman, Crivitz, Lena, Marinette Normal, Our Lady of Lourdes, Peshtigo and Wausaukee.[1] In 1929, the M&O lost Marinette Normal and Our Lady of Lourdes, with Niagara joining to bring the conference to six members.[2] Peshtigo left the loop in 1931,[3] with Gillett moving over from the Northeastern Wisconsin Conference in 1932 to take their place.[4] The membership roster for the Marinette & Oconto Conference increased to nine in 1933 when Florence, Mountain and Suring entered the league.[5] Peshtigo would return to the M&O in 1934,[6] and Florence and Niagara left a year later, bringing the conference to eight schools.[7] Football was first sponsored by the Marinette & Oconto Conference in 1937, with five schools (Coleman, Crivitz, Gillett, Lena and Peshtigo) participating in the six-player variant.[8] In 1938, Mountain and Wausaukee exited the conference,[9] and along with Amberg and Pembine they formed the new Nicolet Conference.[10][11] Bonduel spent a short stint in the conference during World War II, joining in 1941[12] and leaving two years later.[13] The M&O transitioned to sponsoring eight-player football in 1944,[14] and two years later the conference unanimously voted to adopt eleven-player football for the 1946 season.[15] After numerous changes in the conference's first two decades, the circuit entered a period of stability that would last until the 1950s.
1951-1999
[edit]In 1951, the four-member Granite Valley Conference merged with the six members of the Marinette & Oconto Conference: Amberg, Crivitz, Pembine and Wausaukee. Crivitz was previously a member of both conferences, and Wausaukee reentered the M&O after a thirteen-year absence.[16] With the addition of Goodman, the Marinette & Oconto Conference became a ten-member group, but this arrangement would end up being short-lived. In 1954, Amberg, Goodman, Pembine and Wausaukee split off to reform the Granite Valley Conference, leaving the conference with six member schools.[17] Wausaukee rejoined the Marinette & Oconto Conference for a third time in 1961 after displacement by the Granite Valley's dissolution in 1960.[18] In 1968, Niagara left the Menominee Range Conference in the upper peninsula of Michigan to rejoin as the M&O's eighth member.[19] The Marinette & Oconto Conference entered a three-decade period of stability after Niagara's return.
1999-present
[edit]In 1999, Marinette Central Catholic (formerly Our Lady of Lourdes) came back to the Marinette & Oconto Conference[20][21] after the dissolution of the Fox Valley Christian Conference, a result of the merger between the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association and the WIAA that was finalized in 2000.[22] The school became St. Thomas Aquinas Academy in 2005 after changing its enrollment model from high school to K-12.[23] The Oneida Nation High School joined the M&O in 2015, its first conference membership in their twenty-year history.[24] With Peshtigo's exit in 2017 to join the Packerland Conference,[25] the Marinette & Oconto Conference became the nine-member league that currently exists. Football sponsorship was ended that season as well, as the M&O partnered with the Northern Lakes and Packerland Conferences to form the MONLPC Football Conference.[26]
List of conference members
[edit]Current members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman | Coleman, WI | Public | 229 | Cougars | 1927[1] | |
| Crivitz | Crivitz, WI | Public | 215 | Wolverines | 1927[1] | |
| Gillett | Gillett, WI | Public | 158 | Tigers | 1932[4] | |
| Lena | Lena, WI | Public | 133 | Wildcats | 1927[1] | |
| Niagara | Niagara, WI | Public | 136 | Badgers | 1929,[2] 1968[19] | |
| Oneida Nation | Onʌyoteˀa·ká, WI | Federal (Tribal) | 127 | Thunderhawks | 2015[24] | |
| St. Thomas Aquinas | Marinette, WI | Private (Catholic) | 38 | Cavaliers | 1927,[1] 1999[20][21] | |
| Suring | Suring, WI | Public | 117 | Eagles | 1933[5] | |
| Wausaukee | Wausaukee, WI | Public | 126 | Rangers | 1927,[1] 1951,[16] 1961[18] |
Former members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marinette Normal | Marinette, WI | Public | N/A | Unknown | Unknown | 1927[1] | 1929[2] | Closed in 1965 | |
| Peshtigo | Peshtigo, WI | Public | 339 | Bulldogs | 1927,[1] 1934[6] | 1931,[3] 2017[25] | Packerland | ||
| Florence | Florence, WI | Public | 118 | Bobcats | 1933[5] | 1935[7] | Little Seven (MHSAA) | Northern Lakes | |
| Mountain | Mountain, WI | Public | N/A | Mountaineers | 1933[5] | 1938[9] | Nicolet | Closed in 1948 (consolidated into Suring) | |
| Bonduel | Bonduel, WI | Public | 262 | Bears | 1941[12] | 1943[13] | Independent | Central Wisconsin | |
| Amberg | Amberg, WI | Public | N/A | Ravens | 1951[16] | 1954[17] | Granite Valley | Closed in 1960 (consolidated into Wausaukee) | |
| Goodman | Goodman, WI | Public | 30 | Falcons | 1951[16] | 1954[17] | Granite Valley | Northern Lakes (co-op with Pembine) | |
| Pembine | Pembine, WI | Public | 68 | Panthers | 1951[16] | 1954[17] | Granite Valley | Northern Lakes (co-op with Goodman) | |
Former football-only members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Seasons | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausaukee | Wausaukee, WI | Public | 126 | Rangers | 1947-1948, 1950 | Granite Valley | |
| Goodman | Goodman, WI | Public | 30 | Falcons | 1950, 1954 | Granite Valley | |
| Pembine | Pembine, WI | Public | 68 | Panthers | 1950, 1954 | Granite Valley | |
| Niagara | Niagara, WI | Public | 136 | Badgers | 1966-1967 | Menominee Range (MHSAA) | |
| Lena/ St. Thomas Aquinas |
Lena, WI | Public, Private (Catholic) | 171 | Titans | 2003-2013 | Marinette & Oconto |
Membership timeline
[edit]Full members
[edit]
Northern Division Southern Division
Football members
[edit]
Membership map
[edit]
List of state champions
[edit]Fall sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Peshtigo | 1983 | Division 5 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 1991 | Division 4 |
Winter sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 1979 | Class C |
| Wausaukee | 1993 | Division 4 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Lena | 1980 | Class C |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Coleman | 1960 | Single Division |
| Coleman | 1962 | Single Division |
| Coleman | 1963 | Single Division |
| Coleman | 1964 | Single Division |
| Coleman | 1966 | Single Division |
| Coleman | 2000 | Division 3 |
| Coleman | 2010 | Division 3 |
| Coleman | 2011 | Division 3 |
| Coleman | 2012 | Division 3 |
| Coleman | 2014 | Division 3 |
| Coleman | 2020 | Division 3 |
Spring sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Coleman | 2012 | Division 4 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wausaukee | 1996 | Division 3 |
| Peshtigo | 2010 | Division 3 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Peshtigo | 1957 | Class C |
| Lena | 1960 | Class C |
| Peshtigo | 1966 | Class C |
| Peshtigo | 1971 | Class C |
| Coleman | 2016 | Division 3 |
| Coleman | 2017 | Division 3 |
List of conference champions
[edit]Boys Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Crivitz | 27 | 1928, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1952, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1985, 1988, 1993, 1994, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Peshtigo | 25 | 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1971, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Wausaukee | 18 | 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2015 |
| Lena | 11 | 1929, 1939, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1963, 2005 |
| Gillett | 10 | 1935, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1976 |
| Niagara | 10 | 1929, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1987 |
| Suring | 9 | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2018 |
| Coleman | 7 | 1957, 1960, 1987, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Amberg | 0 | |
| Bonduel | 0 | |
| Florence | 0 | |
| Goodman | 0 | |
| Marinette Normal | 0 | |
| Mountain | 0 | |
| Oneida Nation | 0 | |
| Pembine | 0 | |
| St. Thomas Aquinas | 0 |
Girls Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Peshtigo | 11 | 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1997, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Coleman | 9 | 1991, 1995, 1996, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Crivitz | 9 | 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2018, 2019 |
| Lena | 9 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1998, 2003, 2024, 2025 |
| Gillett | 6 | 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 |
| Niagara | 6 | 1984, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2007, 2008 |
| Wausaukee | 5 | 1987, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2019 |
| Oneida Nation | 2 | 2019, 2020 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas | 2 | 2000, 2001 |
| Suring | 1 | 2023 |
Football
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Peshtigo | 34 | 1938, 1939, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013 |
| Coleman | 22 | 1940, 1942, 1947, 1951, 1958, 1959, 1965, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Crivitz | 9 | 1958, 1961, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2007 |
| Gillett | 9 | 1937, 1941, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1963, 1971, 1979, 1993 |
| Niagara | 9 | 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1994, 1995, 2004 |
| Lena | 6 | 1937, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1974, 1991 |
| Suring | 5 | 1966, 1967, 1970, 1978, 2005 |
| Wausaukee | 3 | 1978, 2001, 2002 |
| Lena/ St. Thomas Aquinas |
1 | 2005 |
| Goodman | 0 | |
| Pembine | 0 | |
| Champions from 1946 and 1950 unknown | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h "New Scholastic Sport Conference Is Formed". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 21 September 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Marinette-Oconto Cage Teams to Play Friday". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 8 January 1930. p. 13. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Crivitz and Niagara to Meet in Cage Game". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 9 February 1932. p. 13.
- ^ a b "Gillett Highs Quit N.E. Loop". Appleton Post-Crescent. 23 December 1932. p. 13. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Nine Teams to Play in M-O Conference". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 21 March 1933. p. 11. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Gillett, Suring to State Court Clash". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 30 January 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Crivitz Holds League in M. and O. League". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 15 January 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "M-O Schools Will Play 6-Man Football League". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 16 September 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Gillett Knocked from First Place". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 12 December 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Granite City Chips, Basketball". Amberg High School 1939 Yearbook. 1 June 1939. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Wausaukee Quintet to Invade Amberg". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 11 December 1939. p. 14. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "M-O Cage League to Resume Action". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 8 January 1942. p. 16. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Lena Invades Coleman Floor". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 9 December 1943. p. 21. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Lentz, Art (25 November 1945). "The Prep Parade". The Capital Times. p. 24. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "M-O Loop Votes To Play 11-Man Football in 1946". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 2 April 1946. p. 13. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "M-O Loop Admits Granite Valley Schools, Goodman". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 19 April 1951. p. 43. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Coleman Frosh Win M-O Conference Meet". Green Bay Press-Gazette. 19 May 1955. p. 42. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b Nuss, Pat (12 December 1963). "Wausaukee Seeks Fourth M-O Win". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 30. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b Zima, Jim (3 January 1969). "Panthers Out To Keep Little 9 Top". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 15. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Conference Member Directory (see Marinette & Oconto)". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 28 January 1999. Archived from the original on 28 January 1999. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Conference Membership Directory (see Marinette & Oconto)". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 13 October 1999. Archived from the original on 13 October 1999. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Hernandez, Rob (14 October 1999). "WISAA heading to WIAA merger with no regrets". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 25. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Saint Thomas Aquinas Academy History". Saint Thomas Aquinas Academy. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Oneida Nation Basketball History". MaxPreps. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b Pekarek, Andrew (26 November 2016). "Shorter Peshtigo team looking to go out on top". Green Bay Press-Gazette. pp. D1 & D5. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Mallien, Korey (23 January 2017). "New prep football conference finalized". Green Bay Press-Gazette. pp. D1. Retrieved 31 July 2025.