The Heart O'North Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership base in northwestern Wisconsin. Founded in 1928, the conference and its member schools are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
[edit]1928-1989
[edit]
The Heart O'North Conference (also known as the Heart o' the North Conference in its early years) was formed in 1928 by ten small- to medium-sized high schools in northwestern Wisconsin: Barron, Bloomer, Cameron, Chetek, Clayton, Cumberland, Ladysmith, Rice Lake, Shell Lake and Spooner.[1] One year later, the league added New Auburn and Turtle Lake to its roster, bringing membership up to twelve schools.[2] Football was also added as a sponsored sport,[3] with six schools (Barron, Bloomer, Cumberland, Ladysmith, Rice Lake and Spooner) comprising the initial roster. In 1934, membership in the Heart O'North was cut in half after the exit of the six non-football members (Cameron, Chetek, Clayton, New Auburn, Shell Lake and Turtle Lake). Five of these schools joined with Clear Lake and Weyerhaeuser to form the Lakeland Conference.[4] The six remaining schools continued for twelve years before Hayward was admitted as the Heart O’North’s seventh member in 1946.[5] Chetek's return to the conference from the Lakeland Conference in 1957 increased the membership ledger to eight schools, a level it would remain at for seventeen years.[6] In 1974, Northwestern High School in Maple joined the Heart O'North Conference after their longtime membership in the Michigan-Wisconsin Conference ended the year prior when the organization ceased operations.[7]
1989-present
[edit]After Northwestern joined the Heart O'North in 1974, the conference continued with a nine-member roster for fifteen years, until Bloomer and Rice Lake left in 1989. Bloomer joined the Middle Border Conference,[8] and Rice Lake became members of the larger Big Rivers Conference as an all-sport member[9] (they had previously been football-only members since 1986).[10] After five years in the Middle Border, Bloomer rejoined the Heart O'North Conference in 1994.[11] That same year, the Heart O'North briefly ended football sponsorship to join the Northwest Football League along with members of the Middle Border and Dunn-St. Croix Conferences.[12] This arrangement would last for two seasons, after which the conference resumed sponsorship of interscholastic football.[13] Membership remained stable until 2010, when Chetek High School merged with Weyerhaeuser High School of the Lakeland Conference to form the new Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School.[14] The new school inherited Chetek's place in the Heart O'North Conference.[15] In 2019, Cameron rejoined the Heart O'North after leaving the conference eighty-five years ago to help form the Lakeland Conference, which they were still members of at the time of their exit.[16] Two years later, the Heart O'North Conference accepted two new members and bid farewell to a longtime member. Bloomer exited the conference for a second time in 2021, this time to join the Cloverbelt Conference.[17] Ashland and St. Croix Falls became Heart O'North members that same year; St. Croix Falls joined from Lakeland Conference[18] and Ashland were previously members of the Minnesota-based Lake Superior Conference.[19] Chetek-Weyerhaeuser left the Heart O'North in 2025 to join the Dunn-St. Croix Conference and were replaced by outgoing Lakeland Conference members Unity.[20]
Football-only alignment
[edit]In February 2019, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, the WIAA released a sweeping football-only realignment for Wisconsin to commence with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle.[21] For the first cycle, Hayward and Ladysmith left the Heart O'North football roster to join the Great Northern Conference and Lakeland Conference, respectively, as associate football-only members.[22] This alignment would remain in place through the 2022-2023 competition cycle.[23] In 2024, Hayward made their return to the Heart O'North's football group, joined by Ashland after their exit from the Great Northern Conference. They replaced outgoing members Cameron and Chetek-Weyerhaeuser after their exit to associate membership in the Lakeland Conference for football.[24] There are no changes planned for the conference's football roster during the 2026-2027 cycle.[25]
List of member schools
[edit]Current members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | Ashland, WI | Public | 635 | Oredockers | 2021[19] | |
| Barron | Barron, WI | Public | 331 | Golden Bears | 1928[1] | |
| Cameron | Cameron, WI | Public | 284 | Comets | 1928,[1] 2019[16] | |
| Cumberland | Cumberland, WI | Public | 300 | Beavers | 1928[1] | |
| Hayward | Hayward, WI | Public | 604 | Hurricanes | 1946[5] | |
| Ladysmith | Ladysmith, WI | Public | 246 | Lumberjacks | 1928[1] | |
| Northwestern | Maple, WI | Public | 400 | Tigers | 1974[7] | |
| Spooner | Spooner, WI | Public | 365 | Rails | 1928[1] | |
| St. Croix Falls | St. Croix Falls, WI | Public | 345 | Saints | 2021[18] | |
| Unity | Balsam Lake, WI | Public | 295 | Eagles | 2025[20] |
Current football-only members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomer | Bloomer, WI | Public | 429 | Blackhawks | 2021 | Cloverbelt |
Former members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomer | Bloomer, WI | Public | 429 | Blackhawks | 1928,[1] 1994[11] | 1989,[8] 2021[17] | Middle Border, Cloverbelt | Cloverbelt | |
| Chetek | Chetek, WI | Public | N/A | Bulldogs | 1928,[1] 1957[6] | 1934,[4] 2010[14] | Lakeland | Closed (merged into Chetek-Weyerhaeuser) | |
| Clayton | Clayton, WI | Public | 93 | Bears | 1928[1] | 1934[4] | Upper St. Croix Valley | Lakeland | |
| Rice Lake | Rice Lake, WI | Public | 714 | Warriors | 1928[1] | 1989[9] | Big Rivers | ||
| Shell Lake | Shell Lake, WI | Public | 204 | Lakers | 1928[1] | 1934[4] | Lakeland | ||
| New Auburn | New Auburn, WI | Public | 95 | Trojans | 1929[2] | 1934[4] | Lakeland | ||
| Turtle Lake | Turtle Lake, WI | Public | 129 | Lakers | 1929[2] | 1934[4] | Lakeland | ||
| Chetek-Weyerhaeuser | Chetek, WI | Public | 247 | Bulldogs | 2010[14] | 2025[20] | Dunn-St. Croix | ||
Membership timeline
[edit]Full members
[edit]
Football members
[edit]
Membership map
[edit]
List of state champions
[edit]Fall sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Chetek | 1982 | Class C |
| Chetek | 1983 | Class C |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Rice Lake | 1979 | Division 3 |
| Hayward | 1987 | Division 3 |
| Northwestern | 1988 | Division 3 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Barron | 1982 | Class B |
| St. Croix Falls | 2023 | Division 3 |
| Barron | 2024 | Division 3 |
Winter sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith | 2003 | Division 3 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Hayward | 2016 | Division 3 |
Spring sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Barron | 1979 | Class B |
| St. Croix Falls | 2023 | Division 3 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 1981 | Class B |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Chetek | 1984 | Class C |
| Chetek | 1985 | Class C |
| Spooner | 1991 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Hayward | 2014 | Division 3 |
List of conference champions
[edit]Source:[26]
Boys Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith | 18 | 1933, 1942, 1951, 1953, 1958, 1959, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2011 |
| Bloomer | 15 | 1937, 1939, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1969, 1989, 1996, 2012, 2017, 2018 |
| Rice Lake | 15 | 1934, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1988 |
| Barron | 14 | 1932, 1943, 1945, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1978, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2013, 2014 |
| Spooner | 14 | 1930, 1935, 1936, 1944, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2008 |
| Cumberland | 12 | 1931, 1932, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1972, 2025 |
| Northwestern | 9 | 1984, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Hayward | 7 | 1951, 1952, 1959, 2006, 2015, 2017, 2025 |
| Chetek | 6 | 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 2001 |
| Cameron | 2 | 2020, 2024 |
| Ashland | 0 | |
| Chetek-Weyerhaeuser | 0 | |
| Clayton | 0 | |
| New Auburn | 0 | |
| Shell Lake | 0 | |
| St. Croix Falls | 0 | |
| Turtle Lake | 0 | |
| Unity | 0 |
Girls Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Hayward | 19 | 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2025 |
| Bloomer | 16 | 1975, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| Ladysmith | 11 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022 |
| Barron | 7 | 1975, 1982, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008 |
| Northwestern | 2 | 1999, 2020 |
| St. Croix Falls | 2 | 2023, 2024 |
| Cameron | 1 | 2025 |
| Chetek | 1 | 1990 |
| Rice Lake | 1 | 1989 |
| Ashland | 0 | |
| Chetek-Weyerhaeuser | 0 | |
| Cumberland | 0 | |
| Spooner | 0 | |
| Unity | 0 |
Football
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomer | 28 | 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1944, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 |
| Rice Lake | 22 | 1930, 1932, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 |
| Northwestern | 16 | 1987, 1988, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Ladysmith | 11 | 1929, 1932, 1940, 1948, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964, 2001, 2003, 2006 |
| Spooner | 9 | 1931, 1935, 1941, 1945, 1970, 1973, 1991, 1992, 1996 |
| Cumberland | 6 | 1945, 1958, 1978, 1998, 2012, 2020 |
| Hayward | 5 | 1974, 1987, 2008, 2015, 2016 |
| Barron | 4 | 1965, 1971, 1989, 1990 |
| Cameron | 1 | 2023 |
| Chetek | 1 | 2007 |
| Chetek-Weyerhaeuser | 1 | 2016 |
| St. Croix Falls | 1 | 2024 |
| Ashland | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Organize New High School Conference". Waukesha County Freeman. 10 February 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Colfax and New Auburn High School and City Teams Battle Tonight". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. 21 January 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Christenson, Dave (6 December 1929). "Sport Chatter". Wausau Daily Herald. p. 14. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Chetek Cagers Defeat New Auburn Five 20-10". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. 22 December 1934. p. 5. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Hayward High Opens Season This Evening". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 13 November 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Heart O'North Admits Chetek as 8th Member". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 22 March 1957. p. 16. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Northwestern joins fight for Heart o' North titles". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 29 August 1974. pp. 9C. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Bloomer playing up to Parr again". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 16 February 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b Steinbach, Glenn (18 May 1988). "Sideline Chatter (WIAA realigns 41 schools)". The Dunn County News. p. 13. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Miller, Pete (27 August 1986). "Big Rivers: Hudson, Rice Lake added". La Crosse Tribune. pp. F-23. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b Hoyer, Phil (12 June 1994). "Gunderson retires after 30 years". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. p. 17. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Scoreboard (see Football, Prep, Northwest Football League)". Eau Claire Leader Telegram. 8 September 1994. pp. 2D. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Holmes, Kirk (11 December 1995). "Nobody's mourning early demise of NFL". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. D. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Boards OK merger". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 16 July 2009. pp. A1. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ "A Look at the Heart O'North Conference". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. 25 August 2010. p. 36. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Cameron Basketball History". MaxPreps. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Blackhawks sit at 15-9 following win over Macks". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 29 September 2021. pp. B4. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ a b "St. Croix Falls Basketball History". MaxPreps. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Ashland moves to HON". Duluth News Tribune. 10 March 2020. pp. B3. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Marsten, Gregg (7 November 2024). "WIAA approves several High School Sports changes". Burnett County Sentinel. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Heart O'North Conference Champions (see Football, Boys Basketball and Girls Basketball)" (PDF). Heart O'North Conference. Retrieved 15 July 2025.