Northwestern Conference (IHSAA)

The Northwestern Conference was an IHSAA-sanctioned athletic conference involving schools from Gary, Indiana.

History

The conference was formed in 1963, after the West Division of the Northern Indiana Conference 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. Wirt 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,Wirt in 2009, and Lew Wallace in 2014), with the remaining two schools forced to become independent in 2014.

Membership

School City Mascot Colors County Year joined Previous Conference Year Left Conference Joined
East Chicago Roosevelt East Chicago Rough Riders     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City
East Chicago Washington East Chicago Senators     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City
Gary Emerson Gary Tornado     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1981 none (school closed,
reopened as Emerson VPA)
Gary Froebel Gary Blue Devils     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1969 none (school became MS,
closed 1977)
Gary Mann Gary Horsemen     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 2004 none (school closed)
Gary Tolleston Gary Blue Raiders     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1969 none (school became MS,
closed 2007)
Gary Wallace Gary Hornets     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 2014 none (school closed 2014)
Hammond Hammond Wildcats     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City
Hammond Clark Hammond Pioneers     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City
Hammond Tech Hammond Tigers     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City
Valparaiso Valparaiso Vikings     64
Porter
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Independents
(Duneland 1970)
Whiting Whiting Oilers     45
Lake
1963 Northern Indiana 1968 Tri-City
Gary Roosevelt Gary Panthers     45
Lake
1966 Independents 2014 Independents
Hammond Gavit Hammond Gladiators     45
Lake
1966 Independents 1968 Tri-City
Hammond Morton Hammond Governors     45
Lake
1966 Independents 1968 Tri-City
Hobart Hobart Brickies     45
Lake
1966 Independents 1968 Independents
(Duneland 1970)
Andrean Gary 59ers     45
Lake
1968 Independents 1975 Independents (school moved
to Merrillville)
Gary West Side Gary Cougars     45
Lake
1968 none (new school) 2014 Independents
(GLAC 2018)
Gary Wirt Gary Troopers     45
Lake
1970 Calumet 2009 school closed

Membership timeline

William A. Wirt High SchoolWest Side High School (Gary)Andrean High SchoolHobart High SchoolDonald E Gavit Jr./Sr. High SchoolTheodore Roosevelt High School (Gary)Whiting High SchoolValparaiso High SchoolHammond High School (Indiana)Lew Wallace High SchoolTolleston Middle SchoolHorace Mann High School (Gary, Indiana)Emerson School for Visual and Performing ArtsCentral High School (East Chicago, Indiana)Central High School (East Chicago, Indiana)

Resources

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