SWANI Conference
The Southern Wisconsin-Northern Illinois Conference, more commonly referred to as the SWANI Conference, is a former high school athletic conference with members in Wisconsin and Illinois. It was in existence from 1946 to 1952 and its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Illinois High School Association.
History
[edit]The SWANI Conference was formed in 1946 by a group of eight similarly-sized high schools: five in Wisconsin (Burlington, Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and Whitewater) and three in Illinois (Harvard, Marengo and McHenry). The five Wisconsin high schools formerly comprised the Southern Five Conference, two high schools in Illinois (Harvard and Marengo) formerly competed in the North Six Conference, and McHenry competed independent of conference affiliation.[1] This cross-border loop lasted for six seasons before it was dissolved in 1952. The five Wisconsin high schools competed together for a single season before joining with East Troy, Mukwonago and Wilmot (all formerly of the Southeastern Wisconsin Conference) to form the new Southern Lakes Conference,[2] while the three Illinois high schools joined the IHSA-affiliated SHARK Conference.[3]
Conference Membership History
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | Burlington, WI | Public | 1,001 | Demons | 1946[1] | 1952[2] | Southern Lakes | Southern Lakes | |
| Delavan | Delavan, WI | Public | 628 | Comets | 1946[1] | 1952[2] | Southern Lakes | Rock Valley | |
| Elkhorn | Elkhorn, WI | Public | 1,142 | Elks | 1946[1] | 1952[2] | Southern Lakes | Southern Lakes | |
| Harvard | Harvard, IL | Public | 773[4] | Hornets | 1946[1] | 1952[3] | SHARK (IHSA) | Kishwaukee River (IHSA) | |
| Lake Geneva | Lake Geneva, WI | Public | N/A | Resorters | 1946[1] | 1952[2] | Southern Lakes | Closed in 1958 (consolidated into Badger) | |
| Marengo | Marengo, IL | Public | 656[4] | Indians | 1946[1] | 1952[3] | SHARK (IHSA) | Kishwaukee River (IHSA) | |
| McHenry | McHenry, IL | Public | 2165[4] | Warriors | 1946[1] | 1952[3] | SHARK (IHSA) | Fox Valley (IHSA) | |
| Whitewater | Whitewater, WI | Public | 606 | Quakers | 1946[1] | 1952[2] | Southern Lakes | Rock Valley |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Three County High Schools Join New Loop". Woodstock Daily Sentinel. 6 April 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "New Southern Lakes Conference Ready to Start Games Next Fall". Lake Geneva Regional News. 2 April 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Elkhorn, Marengo Cagers Monopolized SWANI Loop". Janesville Weekly Gazette. 11 March 1952. p. 12. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "Two-Year Enrollments and Classifications". Illinois HIgh School Association. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.