Vermilion Valley Conference
| Conference | IHSA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| No. of teams | 13 |
| Region | East-central Illinois (Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion counties) |
| Official website | Vermilion Valley Conference |
| Locations | |
 The Vermilion Valley Conference within Illinois | |
The Vermilion Valley Conference is a high school conference in east-central Illinois, in the United States. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference comprises 13 small public high schools and one small private school, with enrollments between 100 and 400 students in Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion counties.
History[edit]
The original Vermilion Valley Conference was founded in 1933 with schools from Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, and Kankakee counties in east-central Illinois. The five charter members included: Chatsworth, Cullom, Forrest Township, Herscher, and Saunemin.[1][2] This version of the Vermilion Valley disbanded in 1989.
The Vermilion Valley Conference was resurrected in 2003 with a new group of high schools. The charter members of the "new" Vermilion Valley included: Armstrong, Bismarck Henning, Chrisman, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Hoopeston Area, Oakwood, Rossville-Alvin, Salt Fork, Schlarman and Westville High Schools. In 2005, Rossville-Alvin High School closed and with the students attending Bismarck Henning, however, Milford joined the league the following year. [3][4]
In 2020, the conference expanded its football presence by adding several schools from other conferences into a "football only", two division league. Schools from the Tri-County Conference; including Dwight and Seneca, as well as Clifton Central, Iroquois West and Watseka from the Sangamon Valley Conference united under the Vermilion Valley moniker.[5] The two divisions included a North Division of Seneca, Momence, Dwight, Clifton Central, Watseka and Iroquois West and a South Division of Hoopeston Area, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Westville, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Salt Fork and Oakwood.[6] This unusual mix of three conferences only lasted two years with the development of the Chicago Prairie Football League. [7][8]
In 2021, the Sangamon Valley Conference disbanded,[9] therefore, Cissna Park, Iroquois West, and Watseka Community High Schools joined as full members of the Vermilion Valley, taking the total number of teams up to 13.[10]
Currently, the league consists of the following teams: Armstrong, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Catlin-Salt Fork, Chrisman, Cissna Park, Danville-Schlarman, Fithian-Oakwood, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Gilman-Iroquois West, Hoopeston Area, Milford, Watseka and Westville[11]
Member schools[edit]
| School | Location | County | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Enrollment[12] | IHSA Classes 1/2/3/4[12] | IHSA Football Class[12] | IHSA Football Type[13] |
Coop/Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Township[14] | Armstrong, IL | Vermilion | Trojans | Purple, Gold |
2003 | 136 | A/1A/1A | 3A | 11-Man | Yes Hoopeston |
| Bismarck Henning Rossville-Alvin[15] | Bismarck, IL | Vermilion | Blue Devils | Blue, Silver, White |
2003 | 338 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-Man | None |
| Salt Fork[16] | Catlin, IL | Vermilion | Storm | Black, Silver, White |
2003 | 254 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 11-Man | None |
| Chrisman[17] | Chrisman, IL | Edgar | Cardinals | Red, Black |
2003 | 100 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-Man | Yes Georgetown-Ridge Farm |
| Cissna Park[18] | Cissna Park, IL | Iroquois | Timberwolves | Navy Blue, Silver, Columbia Blue |
2021 | 99 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 8-Man | Yes Milford |
| Schlarman[19] | Danville, IL | Vermilion | Hilltoppers | Blue, Gold |
2003 | 145 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 8-Man | None |
| Oakwood[20] | Fithian, IL | Vermilion | Comets | Purple, White |
2003 | 305 | A/1A/1A | 1A/2A | 11-man | None |
| Georgetown-Ridge Farm[21] | Georgetown, IL | Vermilion | Buffaloes | Purple, Gold, White |
2003 | 277 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-Man | Yes Chrisman |
| Hoopeston Area[22] | Hoopeston, IL | Vermilion | Cornjerkers | Blue, White |
2003 | 320 | A/1A/1A | 3A | 11-Man | Yes Armstrong |
| Iroquois West[23] | Gilman, IL | Iroquois | Raiders | Blue, Red, White |
2021 | 310 | A/1A/1A | 1A/2A | 11-man | None |
| Milford[24] | Milford, IL | Iroquois | Bearcats Lady Bearcats |
Blue, White |
2006 | 174 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 8-Man | Yes Cissna Park |
| Watseka[25] | Watseka, IL | Iroquois | Warriors | Maroon, White |
2021 | 300 | A/1A/1A | 1A/2A | 11-man | None |
| Westville[26] | Westville, IL | Vermilion | Tigers Lady Tigers |
Orange, Black |
2003 | 370 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-man | None |
Previous Members[edit]
| School | Location | Mascot | Colors | Year Joined |
Year Exited |
School In Use |
Consolidated Closed |
Current District/Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatsworth[27] | Chatsworth, IL | Bluebirds | Blue, Orange |
1933[1] | 1985 | No | Consolidated | Prairie Central |
| Cullom Community[28] | Cullom, IL | Ramblers | Blue, White |
1933[1] | 1968 | Yes | Consolidated | Tri-Point |
| Forrest Township[29] | Forrest, IL | Eskimos | Red, Black, White |
1933[1] | 1949 | No | Consolidated Forrest-Strawn-Wing |
Prairie Central |
| Herscher | Herscher, IL | Tigers | Gold, Black |
1933[1] | 1956 | Yes | Left the Conference | Illinois Central Eight Conference |
| Saunemin[30] | Saunemin, IL | Eagles | Purple, White |
1933[1] | 1987 | No | Closed | Pontiac Township |
| Kempton[31] | Kempton, IL | Red Devils | Red, White |
1939[32] | 1946 | No | Consolidated Kempton-Cabery |
Tri-Point |
| Piper City[33] | Piper City, IL | Blue Streaks | Blue, White |
1939[32] | 1974 | Yes | Consolidated Ford Central |
Tri-Point |
| Ford Central[34] | Piper City, IL | Cougars | Columbia Blue, Gold |
1939[32] | 1983 | Yes | Consolidated | Tri-Point |
| Reddick[35] | Piper City, IL | Bulldogs | Orange, Black, White |
1939[32] | 1944 | No | Left the Conference | Herscher |
| Onarga[36] | Onarga, IL | Indians | Maroon, White |
1941[37] | 1983 | Yes | Consolidated | Iroquois West |
| Kempton-Cabery[38] | Kempton, IL | Komanches | Red, Black, White |
1946[39] | 1968 | Yes | Consolidated | Tri-Point |
| Forrest-Strawn-Wing[40] | Forrest, IL | Eskimos | Red, Black, White |
1949[41] | 1985 | No | Consolidated | Prairie Central |
| Roberts-Thawville[42] | Roberts, IL | Leprechauns | Green, White |
1953[43] | 1974 | No | Consolidated Ford Central |
Tri-Point |
| Melvin-Sibley[44][45] | Melvin, IL | Rams | Orange, Black |
1956[46] | 1988 | No | Consolidated | Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley |
| Onarga Military[47] | Onarga, IL | YellowJackets Spartans |
Purple, Gold |
1956[46] | 1970 | No | Closed | Iroquois West |
| Reddick R.U.C.E.[35] | Piper City, IL | Bulldogs | Orange, Black, White |
1962[48][49] | 1988 | No | Consolidated | Herscher |
| Gilman[50] | Gilman, IL | Owls | Red, Blue |
1962[49] | 1983 | Yes | Consolidated | Iroquois West |
| Tri-Point | Cullom, IL | Chargers | Scarlet, White, Royal |
1968[51] | 1988 | Yes | Conference Disbanded |
River Valley Conference |
| Cornell[52] | Cornell, IL | Cardinals | Maroon, White |
1972[53][54][55] | 1987 | No | Consolidated | Flanagan-Cornell |
| Milford | Milford, IL | Bearcats Lady Bearcats |
Blue, White |
1972[55] | 1982 | Yes | Left the Conference | Vermilion Valley Conference |
| Gardner-South Wilmington | Gardner, IL | Panthers Lady Panthers |
Orange, Black |
1986 | 1988 | Yes | Conference Disbanded |
River Valley Conference |
| Mazon-Verona-Kinsman[56] | Mazon, IL | Red Devils | Red, White |
1986 | 1988 | Yes | Consolidated | Seneca |
Sources:IHSA Conferences,[57] and IHSA Member Schools Directory[58]
Membership timeline[edit]
Vermilion Valley (Original) Vermilion Valley (Current)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "Form new prep conference including C.I. schools". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 10. Jan 15, 1933.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ The Great Conferences
- ^ Vermilion Valley Conference Bylaws
- ^ IHSA Archives Vermilion Valley Football Conference Standings 2004
- ^ Mitchell, Michelle (Aug 4, 2020). "Vermilion Valley, Sangamon Valley Conferences Forming Football Alliance". vermilioncountyfirst.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Beherns, Bret (Aug 3, 2020). "New Vermilion Valley Conference unveiled". WCIA. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Cody (Nov 2, 2022). "Dwight football joins new Chicago Prairie Football League". Daily-Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Pedelty, J.T.; Soucie, Steve; Ellerbrock, Charlie (Nov 2, 2022). "Seneca, Dwight among 8 teams forming Chicago Prairie Football League". Shaw Local News Network. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ LaChance, Brandon (June 1, 2021). "Dwight Trojans Find New Home in Tri-County Conference, Vermilion Valley Conference". The Paper. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Wierda,Marlee; Choate, Craig (May 23, 2020). "Paxton-Buckley-Loda among four schools leaving SVC". WCIA. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ IHSA Conferences
- ^ a b c "Numeric Enrollments | Enrollments & Classifications | Schools | IHSA".
- ^ "Football Conference Schedules, Standings & Results".
- ^ Armstrong High School
- ^ Bismarck Henning Rossville-Alvin High School
- ^ Salt Fork High School
- ^ Chrisman High School
- ^ Cissna Park High School
- ^ Danville Schlarman
- ^ Fithian Oakwood High School
- ^ Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
- ^ Hoopeston Area High School
- ^ Iroquois West High School
- ^ Milford High School
- ^ Watseka High School
- ^ Westville High School
- ^ Chatsworth High School
- ^ Cullom Community High School
- ^ Forrest Township High School
- ^ Saunemin High School
- ^ Kempton High School
- ^ a b c d "VV Conference Takes New Members". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 8. Oct 14, 1939.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Piper City High School
- ^ Ford Central High School
- ^ a b Reddick High School
- ^ Onarga High School
- ^ "Onarga New Vermilion Valley Loop Member". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 8. May 13, 1941.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Kempton-Cabery High School
- ^ "Voters Decide to Disband Cabery School". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 5. Apr 23, 1946.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School
- ^ "To Decide Unit Proposal at Strawn". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 21. Mar 24, 1949.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Roberts-Thawville High School
- ^ "Rob-Thaw Unit Joins Vermilion Valley League". The Paxton Record. page 5. Oct 8, 1953.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Melvin-Sibley High School
- ^ "Melvin-Sibley Unit Vote Set". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 5. Jan 21, 1949.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b "Melvin-Sibley Onarga Mil Join Vermilion Valley". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 7. Feb 20, 1955.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Onarga Military Academy
- ^ "Melvin-Sibley Seeks Title Repeat--Reddick a Threat". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 13. Nov 30, 1962.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b "Reddick, Gilman Added to VV Conference League". The Paxton Record. page 13. May 18, 1961.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Gilman High School
- ^ "Name Change Noted". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 7. Sep 22, 1968.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Cornell High School
- ^ "Cornell cagers to make Vermilion Valley debut". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 31. Nov 8, 1972.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "Cornell Cardinals". The Daily Leader. page 20. Nov 24, 1972.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b "Cornell, Milford added to Vermilion Valley loop". Bloomington Pantagraph. page 19. Nov 5, 1971.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Mazon-Verona-Kinsman High School
- ^ "IHSA.org Conferences". www.ihsa.org.
- ^ "Schools - IHSA". www.ihsa.org.