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North Central Conference

Conference	IHSAA / IGHSAU
Founded	1925
Sports fielded	18
No. of teams	8 (12 teams starting '26-'27 academic year)
Region	North Central Iowa
Official website	www.northcentralconf.org

The North Central Conference (NCC) is an athletic conference comprising eight high schools located in North Central Iowa. The member schools are classified as 3A (the second largest classification in Iowa), 2A, and 1A (the smallest classification). The conference was established in 1925.

Historically, the North Central Conference has maintained its status as an eight-team league. The participating schools include Algona, Clarion, Clear Lake, Eagle Grove, Hampton, Humboldt, Iowa Falls, and Webster City.

During the 1993–94 academic year, the conference welcomed two prominent Catholic institutions: Bishop Garrigan from Algona and St. Edmond from Fort Dodge.

Consolidation Era

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1983

• Clarion and Goldfield began a whole grade-sharing agreement.
• Clarion rebrands into Clarion-Goldfield.

1988

• Hampton and Dumont began a whole grade-sharing agreement.
• Hampton rebrands into Hampton-Dumont.

2004

• Iowa Falls and Alden began a whole grade-sharing agreement.
• Iowa Falls rebrands into Iowa Falls-Alden.

2005

• Clarion-Goldfield and Dows began a whole grade-sharing agreement.

2011

• Humboldt and Twin Rivers began a whole grade-sharing agreement.

2012

• Algona and Titonka began a whole grade-sharing agreement.

2014

• Clarion-Goldfield rebrands into Clarion–Goldfield–Dows.
• Titonka consolidated into Algona.

2015

• Webster City and Northeast Hamilton began a whole grade-sharing agreement.
• Lu Verne and Algona began a whole grade-sharing agreement.

2018

• Hampton–Dumont and CAL (in Latimer) began a whole grade-sharing agreement.
• Hampton-Dumont rebrands into Hampton-Dumont/CAL

Instability Era

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Conference members raise concern regarding school sizes; competition level

The longstanding affiliations of member schools with the conference have recently been challenged by the significant differences in school sizes, prompting concern among conference members.

Bishop Garrigan accepted NIC invite

In October 2012, Bishop Garrigan Catholic explored the option of joining the North Iowa Conference. By December 2012, the NIC approved Bishop Garrigan's application, and the transition was finalized in 2014.

Eagle Grove CSD board voted to exit NCC; enter NIC

On December 10, 2012, the Eagle Grove Community School board voted to pursue membership in the North Iowa Conference, a decision that received approval from the NIC. Clarion–Goldfield–Dows had also engaged in discussions regarding NIC membership, although no formal steps were taken by CGD. Other institutions within the NCC, including Iowa Falls-Alden, Hampton–Dumont, and St. Edmond, at one point expressed interest in potentially departing from the NCC but ultimately remained together, saving the NCC.

NCC leadership stabilize conference after member departures

In February 2013, the superintendents of the NCC voted unanimously, with results of 9–0 and 8–0, to implement divisional play. This structure was going to feature a large school division and a small school division, categorized by enrollment numbers. In sports such as basketball, baseball, and softball, teams will compete against schools within their division twice, as well as against schools in the opposite division twice. This initiative aims to maintain cohesion among the remaining eight NCC teams while also attracting nearby schools to join the league. The large school division comprises Webster City, Algona, Humboldt, and Iowa Falls-Alden, while the small school division includes Clear Lake, Hampton–Dumont, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, and St. Edmond. Ultimately, however, divisional play was abandoned.

Future Outlook

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Charles City CSD applied for NCC membership; initially denied; eventually gained admission

In 2024, Charles City Community School sought to join the North Central Conference following the disbandment of their previous conference. The vote among conference members resulted in a 6-2 decision favoring Charles City’s entry, but just one opposing vote triggered a mediation process before the school received final approval. According to NCC bylaws, a single dissenting vote can lead to denial of entry.

The primary concerns from the dissenting schools, St. Edmond and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, revolved around the size of the school and travel distances. After the initial vote against accepting Charles City, the school entered mediation with the NCC. If state mediation had been necessary, it could have delayed conference affiliation for several years. Fortunately, an agreement was reached, allowing for unrestricted movement of teams in and out of the conference. Consequently, current members believed it was best to welcome Charles City into the NCC.

The NCC executive board created a transition plan to incorporate Charles City as a non-voting member, facilitating a gradual integration. This approach is expected to enhance the conference’s collective activities and athletic programs while providing better opportunities for student-athletes. It was confirmed that the Charles City Community School would operate as a non-voting member of the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 2025–26 and 2026-27 academic years, with plans to achieve full membership in the 2027-28 academic year.

During the initial two years, they will compete in all NCC sports except volleyball and girls' and boys' basketball, baseball, and softball. This marks the first new addition to the North Central Conference since 1993.

Eagle Grove and Forest City CSD accept NCC invitation at regular board meeting; Garner-Hayfield-Ventura CSD declined invite

On Monday, November 11, 2024, the school boards of Eagle Grove, Forest City, and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura voted on invitations to join the North Central Conference. The Eagle Grove board approved rejoining the NCC with a unanimous 5-0 vote, contingent upon the affirmative votes from Forest City and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura. The Forest City board voted 7-0 in favor of joining the NCC, while the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura board voted 3-2 against joining the NCC.

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura CSD board reconsidered NCC invitation; accept

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School announced that it would reconsider its decision regarding joining the NCC. They had a deadline of December 1, 2024, to cast a new vote.

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, during a special meeting, the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura school board revisited the invitation to join the North Central Conference. In a 4-1 decision, the board approved the NCC invitation. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, along with Eagle Grove and Forest City, will become members of the NCC starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Current Member Schools

Former Members

Future Members

Future Division - 2026-2027 academic year

Membership Timeline

External links

• Official site

References

1. "IHSAA: Classifications".
2. "Forest City school board accepts North Central Conference invite for district". Globe Gazette. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
3. "IHSAA: Classifications".
4. "North Central Conference". Iowa High School Sports. Retrieved 2020-08-07.

• High school sports in Iowa