Great Northern Conference

The Great Northern Conference is a high school athletic conference based in north central Wisconsin. Founded in 2008, the conference and its member schools belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

The Great Northern Conference was formed in 2008 by seven medium-sized high schools in north central Wisconsin. Four of its original members (Lakeland Union, Medford, Northland Pines and Tomahawk) were previously members of the Lumberjack Conference, which had disbanded the year prior.^[1] Two schools joined from the Wisconsin Valley Conference (Antigo and Merrill)^[2] and Mosinee moved over from the Cloverbelt Conference.^[1] For Antigo and Merrill, this move grouped them with schools more in line with their enrollment size instead of being two of the smallest schools in their former conference.^[2] Two years after the Great Northern Conference was formed, Merrill swapped affiliations with Wisconsin Valley Conference member Rhinelander.^[3]^[4] Membership has remained stable since then, and the Great Northern Conference will grow to eight members in 2025 when Merrill rejoins from the Wisconsin Valley Conference.^[5]

List of member schools

Current members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Joined
Antigo	Antigo, WI	Public	687	Red Robins	2008^[2]
Lakeland Union	Minocqua, WI	Public	717	Thunderbirds	2008^[1]
Medford	Medford, WI	Public	738	Raiders	2008^[1]
Mosinee	Mosinee, WI	Public	621	Indians	2008^[1]
Northland Pines	Eagle River, WI	Public	451	Eagles	2008^[1]
Rhinelander	Rhinelander, WI	Public	747	Hodags	2010^[3]^[4]
Tomahawk	Tomahawk, WI	Public	371	Hatchets	2008^[1]

Associate members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Sports	Primary Conference
Ashland	Ashland, WI	Public	635	Oredockers	Gymnastics, Boys Tennis	Heart O'North
Colby	Colby, WI	Public	309	Hornets	Girls Swimming & Diving	Cloverbelt
Columbus Catholic	Marshfield, WI	Private (Catholic)	146	Dons	Girls Tennis	Marawood
Ladysmith	Ladysmith, WI	Public	246	Lumberjacks	Girls Swimming & Diving	Heart O'North
Marshfield	Marshfield, WI	Public	1,250	Tigers	Gymnastics	Wisconsin Valley
Merrill	Merrill, WI	Public	801	Bluejays	Football	Wisconsin Valley
Newman Catholic	Wausau, WI	Private (Catholic)	128	Cardinals	Girls Tennis	Marawood
Pacelli	Stevens Point, WI	Private (Catholic)	169	Cardinals	Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis	Central Wisconsin
Phillips	Phillips, WI	Public	217	Loggers	Girls Tennis	Marawood
Shawano	Shawano, WI	Public	797	Hawks	Boys Swimming & Diving	Bay
Stevens Point	Stevens Point, WI	Public	2,105	Panthers	Gymnastics	Wisconsin Valley
Waupaca	Waupaca, WI	Public	589	Comets	Boys Ice Hockey	North Eastern
Wausau East	Wausau, WI	Public	948	Lumberjacks	Football	Wisconsin Valley
Wisconsin Rapids	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	Public	1,467	Red Raiders	Gymnastics	Wisconsin Valley

Associate cooperative members

Colby coops with Abbotsford, and Ladysmith, Bruce and Flambeau co-op for Girls Swimming.
Mosinee, Wausau West, DC Everest, and Wausau East form the Central Wisconsin Storm in Girls Hockey.
Rhinelander, Antigo Northland Pines co-op for Girls Hockey.
Beginning in 2015 Wittenberg-Birnamwood will compete in the Bay Conference for Girls Swimming.

Future members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Colors	Joined	Former Conference
Merrill	Merrill, WI	Public	801	Bluejays		2025^[5]	Wisconsin Valley

Former members

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Colors	Joined	Left	Conference Joined	Current Conference
Merrill	Merrill, WI	Public	801	Bluejays		2008^[2]	2010^[3]^[4]	Wisconsin Valley

Membership timeline

Membership map

Great Northern Conference

30km
19miles

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Location of Great Northern Conference full members:

1

Antigo

2

Lakeland Union

3

Medford

4

Mosinee

5

Northland Pines

6

Rhinelander

7

Tomahawk

List of state champions

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
School	Year	Division
Tomahawk	2008	Division 2
Lakeland Union	2016	Division 2

Girls Cross Country
School	Year	Division
Medford	2018	Division 2

Girls Swimming & Diving
School	Year	Division
Rhinelander	2020	Division 2
Rhinelander	2023	Division 2

Winter sports

Boys Hockey
School	Year	Division
Tomahawk	2025	Division 2

Girls Hockey
School	Year
Central Wisconsin Storm	2022
Central Wisconsin Storm	2024

Boys Swimming & Diving
School	Year	Division
Rhinelander	2023	Division 2

Spring sports

Baseball
School	Year	Division
Antigo	2019	Division 2

Boys Golf
School	Year	Division
Lakeland Union	2024	Division 2

Softball
School	Year	Division
Mosinee	2014	Division 2

List of conference champions

Football

2008 Lakeland & Antigo
2009 Merrill
2010 Antigo
2011 Mosinee
2012 Medford & Mosinee
2013 Medford
2014 Merrill
2015 Antigo & Medford
2016 Antigo, Medford & Merrill
2017 Antigo
2018 Ashland
2019 Medford

Volleyball

2008 Merrill
2009 Merrill
2010 Mosinee & Tomahawk
2011 Tomahawk
2012 Rhinelander
2013 Tomahawk
2014 Tomahawk
2015 Medford
2016 Medford
2017 Mosinee
2018 Mosinee
2019 Mosinee

Girls Swimming & Diving

2008 Colby/Abbotsford
2009 Ladysmith/Bruce/Flambeau
2010 Ladysmith/Bruce/Flambeau
2011 Medford
2012 Lakeland
2013 Ladysmith/Bruce/Flambeau
2014 Tomahawk
2015 Tomahawk
2016 Tomahawk
2017 Tomahawk
2018 Tomahawk
2019 Rhinelander

Boys Soccer

2008 Northland Pines
2009 Northland Pines
2010 Rhinelander
2011 Northland Pines
2012 Rhinelander
2013 Northland Pines
2014 Lakeland & Rhinelander
2015 Rhinelander
2016 Rhinelander
2017 Rhinelander
2018 Northland Pines
2019 Northland Pines

Boys Cross Country

2008 Tomahawk
2009 Lakeland
2010 Lakeland
2011 Lakeland
2012 Lakeland
2013 Lakeland
2014 Lakeland
2015 Lakeland
2016 Lakeland
2017 Lakeland
2018 Medford
2019 Tomahawk

Girls Cross Country

2008 Tomahawk
2009 Tomahawk
2010 Tomahawk
2011 Tomahawk
2012 Tomahawk
2013 Lakeland
2014 Tomahawk
2015 Lakeland
2016 Lakeland
2017 Medford
2018 Medford
2019 Medford

Girls Tennis

2009 Columbus Catholic & Lakeland
2010 Rhinelander
2011 Rhinelander & Columbus Catholic
2012 Rhinelander
2013 Rhinelander
2014 Rhinelander
2015 Rhinelander
2016 Rhinelander
2017 Antigo
2018 Rhinelander
2019 Rhinelander

Girls Basketball

2008-2009 Antigo & Merrill
2009-2010 Medford
2010-2011 Lakeland
2011-2012 Medford
2012-2013 Northland Pines & Medford
2013-2014 Mosinee
2014-2015 Lakeland
2015-2016 Mosinee
2016-2017 Lakeland
2017-2018 Lakeland
2018-2019 Rhinelander
2019-2020 Rhinelander

Boys Basketball

2008-2009 Antigo
2009-2010 Antigo
2010-2011 Antigo
2011-2012 Antigo
2012-2013 Rhinelander
2013-2014 Rhinelander
2014-2015 Rhinelander
2015-2016 Mosinee & Rhinelander
2016-2017 Medford
2017-2018 Rhinelander
2019-2019 Mosinee
2019-2020 Medford

Boys Wrestling

2008-2009 Mosinee
2009-2010 Merrill
2010-2011 Medford
2011-2012 Tomahawk
2012-2013 Tomahawk
2013-2014 Rhinelander
2014-2015 Rhinelander
2015-2016 Rhinelander & Tomahawk
2016-2017 Medford
2017-2018 Rhinelander
2018-2019 Medford
2019-2020 Medford

Girls Hockey

2008-2009
2010-2009 Central Wisconsin Co-Op
2010-2011 Central Wisconsin Co-Op
2011-2012 Stevens Point/Rapids Co-Op
2012-2013 Marshfield & Northland Pines
2013-2014 Northland Pines
2014-2015 Waupaca
2015-2016 Northland Pines
2016-2017 Northland Pines
2017-2018 Lakeland/Tomahawk Co-op
2018-2019 Northland Pines

Boys Hockey

2008-2009 Lakeland
2009-2010 Waupaca
2010-2011 Waupaca
2011-2012 Northland Pines
2012-2013 Northland Pines
2013-2014 Antigo
2014-2015 Antigo
2015-2016 Antigo
2016-2017 Antigo
2017-2018 Northland Pines
2018-2019 Northland Pines

Gymnastics

2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011 Antigo
2011-2012 Stevens Point & Rhinelander
2012-2013 Stevens Point & Rhinelander
2013-2014 Stevens Point
2014-2015 Stevens Point & Chequamegon
2015-2016 Rhinelander & Stevens Point
2016-2017 Ashland, Mosinee, & Stevens Point
2017-2018 Stevens Point & Rhinelander
2018-2019 Medford, Marshfield & Stevens Point

Boys Swimming & Diving

2011-2012 Rhinelander
2012-2013 Lakeland
2013-2014 Lakeland
2014-2015 Shawano
2015-2016 Rhinelander
2016-2017 Lakeland
2017-2018 Lakeland
2018-2019 Rhindelander

Baseball

2009 Merrill
2010 Merrill
2011 Rhinelander
2012 Rhinelander
2013 Antigo
2014 Antigo
2015 Antigo & Mosinee
2016 Antigo
2017 Antigo
2018 Antigo
2019 Medford

Softball

2009 Mosinee & Merrill
2010 Mosinee & Medford
2011 Mosinee
2012 Mosinee & Rhinelander
2013 Mosinee
2014 Mosinee
2015 Mosinee
2016 Mosinee
2017 Mosinee
2018 Mosinee
2019 Mosinee

Girls Track & Field

2009 Tomahawk
2010 Mosinee
2011 Lakeland
2012 Lakeland
2013 Lakeland
2014 Tomahawk
2015 Lakeland
2016 Lakeland
2017 Lakeland
2018 Medford
2019 Medford

Boys Track & Field

2009 Merrill
2010 Lakeland
2011 Lakeland
2012 Lakeland
2013 Lakeland
2014 Lakeland
2015 Lakeland
2016 Lakeland
2017 Lakeland
2018 Lakeland
2019 Rhinelander

Girls Soccer

2009 Northland Pines
2010 Northland Pines
2011 Lakeland
2012 Rhinelander
2013 Rhinelander
2014 Rhinelander
2015 Rhinelander
2016 Rhinelander
2017 Rhinelander
2018 Ashland
2019 Ashland

Boys Golf

2009 Mosinee
2010 Antigo
2011 Rhinelander
2012 Antigo
2013 Antigo
2014 Lakeland
2015 Antigo
2016 Medford
2017 Medford
2018 Lakeland
2019 Lakeland

Boys Tennis

2010 Antigo
2011 Rhinelander
2012 Rhinelander
2013 Antigo
2014 Rhinelander
2015 Rhinelander
2016 Rhinelander
2017 Rhinelander
2018 Rhinelander
2019 Rhinelander

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Lueck, Collin (June 11, 2008). "Merrill High School ready for move to brand new conference". Merrill Foto News. p. 31. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Miller, Jake (December 12, 2006). "Changes will strip Valley of tradition". Marshfield News-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hernandez, Rob (June 26, 2009). "Five-division basketball plan among two going to fall area meetings". Baraboo News Republic. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Merrill moving back to WVC". Marshfield News-Herald. June 27, 2009. p. 9. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Board acts on conference plans; Merrill's move to GNC becomes official". Medford Star News. March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

External links

Great Northern Conference (official website)

[Ending-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Lueck, Collin (June 11, 2008). "Merrill High School ready for move to brand new conference". Merrill Foto News. p. 31. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:0-2] Miller, Jake (December 12, 2006). "Changes will strip Valley of tradition". Marshfield News-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:1-3] Hernandez, Rob (June 26, 2009). "Five-division basketball plan among two going to fall area meetings". Baraboo News Republic. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:2-4] "Merrill moving back to WVC". Marshfield News-Herald. June 27, 2009. p. 9. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[:3-5] "Board acts on conference plans; Merrill's move to GNC becomes official". Medford Star News. March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

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v t e Wisconsin high school athletic conferences
Organizations	WIAA (1895-present) WISAA (1968-2000) WCIAA (1957-1968)
Current	Badger Bay Big East Big Eight Big Rivers Capitol Central Wisconsin Classic Eight Cloverbelt Coulee Dairyland Dunn-St. Croix East Central Eastern Wisconsin Fox River Classic Fox Valley Association Great Northern Greater Metro Heart O'North Indian Trails Lake City Lakeland Marawood Marinette & Oconto Metro Classic Middle Border Midwest Classic Milwaukee City Mississippi Valley North Eastern North Shore Northern Lakes Northern Lights Packerland Ridge & Valley Rock Valley Scenic Bluffs Six Rivers South Central Southeast Southern Lakes Southwest Wisconsin SWAL Trailways Wisconsin Flyway Wisconsin Valley Woodland
Former	3-C (1928-1962) 4-C (1934-1953) 7-C (1926-1962) 10-12 (1946-1948) Badger Lutheran (1961-1964) Bay-Lakes (1970-1979) Bi-County (1928-1959) Big Nine (1985-1993) Black Hawk League (1930-1997) Braveland (1953-1993) Central-C (1962-1970) Central Lakes (1952-1962) Central Lakeshore (1969-2015) Central State (1970-1984) Central Wisconsin Catholic (1956-2000) Classic (1973-1983) Dual County (1926-2001) East Central (1970-2001) East Central Flyway (2001-2007) Eastern Suburban (1969-2001) Eastern Valley (2007-2015) Eastern Wisconsin (1923-1970) Flambeau (1940-1970) Flambeauland (1946-1955) Flyway (1970-2001) Fox River Valley (1923-2007) Fox Valley Catholic (1929-1971) Fox Valley Christian (1971-1999) Fox Valley Tri-County (1924-1970) Gateway (1941-1952) Granite Valley (1945-1951) Granite Valley (1954-1960) I-W League (1960-1964) Iowa County (1927-1960) Juneau County (1926-1958) Kettle Moraine (1928-1969) Kickapoo Valley (1907-1971) Lakeshore (1997-2008) Little Eight (1926-1937) Little Five (1930-1935) Little Nine (1928-1970) Little Seven (1926-1934) Little Ten (1925-1970) Lumberjack (1953-2008) Madison Suburban (1926-1969) Marathon County (1928-1949) Menominee Valley (1945-1947) Metro (1974-1997) Michigan-Wisconsin (1937-1973) Mid-Eastern (1952-1970) Mid-Valley (1946-1950) Midwest Prep (1940-1983) Milwaukee Catholic (1930-1974) Mississippi Valley (1933-1965) Mississippi Valley Triangular (1936-1940) Monroe-Vernon (1928-1958) Nicolet (1938-1942) Northeastern Wisconsin (1927-1970) Northern Wisconsin (1955-1956) Northwest Border (1940-1955) Olympian (1970-2015) Parkland (1963-2006) Peninsula (1933-1970) Rock River Valley (1922-1952) Scenic Central (1958-1979) South Central (1926-1941) South Shore (1970-1980) Southeastern Badger (1963-1970) Southeastern Wisconsin (1928-1963) Southern Eight (1971-1987) Southern Five (1928-1946) Southern Regional (1937-1958) Southern Six (1928-1941) Southern Ten (1941-1952) State Line (1927-1997) Suburban (1925-1985) Suburban Park (1985-1993) SWANI (1946-1952) SWAPS (1957-1961) SWISS (1982-2006) Trempealeau Valley (1927-1959) Tri-County (1923-1963) Upper St. Croix Valley (1934-1994) Upper Wisconsin (1926-1937) Vacationland (1966-1970) Valley 8 (1999-2007) West Central (1941-1952) West Central (1959-1977) West Grant (1930-1960) Western Wisconsin (1931-1937) Wisconsin Little Ten (1970-2017) Wisconsin River (1928-1960) Wisconsin Seminary (1964-1970) Wolf River Valley (1932-1970) Wood County (1925-1942)
Future	Conference Yet To Be Named (2025-future) Glacier Trails (2025-future)