Vacationland Conference

The Vacationland Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership roster concentrated in south central Wisconsin. A relatively short-lived conference, the Vacationland was founded in 1966 and disbanded in 1970, and all members were part of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

The Vacationland Conference was originally formed in 1966 by a group of five small high schools in south central Wisconsin: Adams-Friendship, New Lisbon, Royall, Tri-County and Westfield.[1] Three of the conference's charter members were formerly in the Central Lakes Conference (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) and two came from the Scenic Central Conference (New Lisbon and Royall). Nekoosa and Wautoma later joined from the South Central and Central Wisconsin Conferences, respectively.[2] Efforts to find an eighth member ended in vain,[3] and the Vacationland Conference began the 1966-67 school year with seven schools. They formed a stable membership roster during the conference's run, but ultimately it would be brief as the Vacationland Conference was realigned out of existence in 1970. New Lisbon and Royall rejoined the Scenic Central Conference, and four schools were dispersed to other conferences. Nekoosa joined the Marawood Conference, Tri-County became a charter member of the Central State Conference, Wautoma reentered the Central Wisconsin Conference and Westfield went to the Dual County Conference.[4] Adams-Friendship was left without a conference for the 1970-71 school year but was invited to join the South Central Conference in 1971.[5]

Conference Membership History

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Adams-Friendship Adams, WI Public 432 Green Devils     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Independent South Central
Nekoosa Nekoosa, WI Public 295 Papermakers     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Marawood South Central
New Lisbon New Lisbon, WI Public 156 Rockets     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Scenic Central Scenic Bluffs
Royall Elroy, WI Public 154 Panthers     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Scenic Central Scenic Bluffs
Tri-County Plainfield, WI Public 176 Penguins     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Central State Central Wisconsin
Wautoma Wautoma, WI Public 381 Hornets     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Central Wisconsin South Central
Westfield Westfield, WI Public 295 Pioneers     1966[1][2] 1970[4] Dual County South Central

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "New Vacationland Loop To Set Up Constitution". La Crosse Tribune. 15 March 1965. p. 11. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Wautoma in New League". Oshkosh Northwestern. 9 April 1965. p. 17.
  3. ^ "Says Change in Conference Probable in '66". Oshkosh Northwestern. 20 April 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Marawood Conference votes to enroll Nekoosa". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 22 October 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  5. ^ "A-F plans move to South Central". Portage Daily Register. 24 March 1970. p. 10. Retrieved 19 December 2024.