North Iowa Cedar League

The North Iowa Cedar League (NICL) is a high school athletic conference made up of 15 high schools in north central and northeast Iowa. Most of the schools compete as 2A schools, (the second-smallest classification). The conference's most recent expansions included: Columbus Catholic (2013), Sumner-Fredericksburg (2014), and Oelwein (2021). With the addition of Oelwein in the 2021 academic year, the conference will split into three divisions: East, Central, and West.

North Iowa Cedar League
ConferenceIHSAA / IGHSAU
Founded1936
Sports fielded
  • 21
No. of teams15
RegionNorth Central, Northeast Iowa
Official websitewww.northiowacedarleague.org
North Iowa Cedar League is located in Iowa
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League
North Iowa Cedar League school locations

History

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The formation of the North Iowa Cedar League dates back to 1936, when the Iowa Cedar Conference (consisting of Belle Plaine, Brooklyn, Eldora, Grundy Center, Montezuma, Reinbeck, Tama, Teachers' High, Traer, & Toledo) split into the North Iowa Cedar League and South Iowa Cedar League. Founding members of the newly formed NICL include Ackley, Eldora, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Teachers' High (NU High), and Traer.

In 1992, the Big Marsh Conference disbanded, with most of its schools joining the NICL, creating a 16 team conference. With the new members, the NICL split into two divisions, east and west. The east division included Aplington–Parkersburg, Denver, Dike–New Hartford, Gladbrook–Reinbeck, Hudson, North Tama, NU High, and Union. The west division included Ackley–Geneva, BCLUW, East Marshall, Eldora–New Providence, GMG, Grundy Center, Hubbard–Radcliffe, and Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock. In 1998, Wapsie Valley High School and Jesup High School joined the conference, bringing the membership up to 18.

In 2000, Ackley–Geneva and Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock merged districts to become AGWSR. The next membership change came in 2002 when Green Mountain–Garwin (GMG) departed for the Iowa Star Conference. The next year, North Tama left for the Iowa Star Conference. In 2007, Eldora–New Providence and Hubbard–Radcliffe joined districts to become South Hardin High School. For the 2008 year, West Marshall was added to the conference, making it a 15-team league. In 2011, South Tama joined after leaving the Little Hawkeye Conference and started in the West Division. It became the 16th member of the conference. Northern University High School (Cedar Falls) played its final season in 2011–12, due to the University of Northern Iowa closing Malcolm Price Lab, which houses Northern University High.[1] Waterloo Columbus joined in 2013 to replace the recently defunct NU High.

With the departure of South Tama, Sumner-Fredericksburg joined in 2014 which brought the total number of schools to 16 once again. In 2020, West Marshall left the conference for the Heart of Iowa Conference. Oelwein joined soon after to replace West Marshall and a new three-division structure ensued. Starting in the 2021–22 school year, the east division will comprise Jesup, Oelwein, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Union, and Wapsie Valley, the central division will include Aplington–Parkersburg, Columbus Catholic, Denver, Dike–New Hartford, and Hudson, and the west will remain the same with AGWSR, BCLUW, East Marshall, Gladbrook–Reinbeck, Grundy Center, and South Hardin.

In 2022, BCLUW left for the Iowa Star Conference, bringing total membership to 15.[2][3]

Members

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Eastern Pod

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Institution Location Mascot Colors Affiliation Enrollment[4] Class Admitted
Jesup Jesup J-Hawks     Public 210 2A 1998
Oelwein Oelwein Huskies     Public 256 2A 2021
Sumner-Fredericksburg Sumner Cougars       Public 186 2A 2014
Union La Porte City Knights       Public 232 2A 1988
Wapsie Valley Fairbank Warriors     Public 148 1A 1998

Central Pod

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Institution Location Mascot Colors Affiliation Enrollment[5] Class Admitted
Aplington–Parkersburg Parkersburg Falcons       Public 198 2A 1992
Columbus Catholic Waterloo Sailors     Private 168 2A 2013
Denver Denver Cyclones     Public 208 2A 1988
Dike–New Hartford Dike Wolverines     Public 217 2A 1992
Hudson Hudson Pirates     Public 185 2A 1977

Western Pod

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Institution Location Mascot Colors Affiliation Enrollment[6] Class Admitted
AGWSR Ackley Cougars     Public 148 1A 1999
East Marshall Le Grand Mustangs     Public 181 2A 1992
Gladbrook–Reinbeck Reinbeck Rebels     Public 111 1A 1929
Grundy Center Grundy Center Spartans     Public 192 2A 1929
South Hardin Eldora Tigers     Public 186 2A 1936

Membership timeline

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[7]

Oelwein Community School DistrictNortheast Iowa ConferenceSumner-Fredericksburg Community School DistrictUpper Iowa ConferenceIowa Star ConferenceColumbus Catholic High School (Waterloo, Iowa)WaMaC ConferenceWaMaC ConferenceSouth Tama Community School DistrictLittle Hawkeye ConferenceWaMaC ConferenceHeart of Iowa ConferenceWest Marshall Community School DistrictHeart of Iowa ConferenceWapsie Valley Community School DistrictUpper Iowa ConferenceIowa Star ConferenceGMG Community School DistrictEast Marshall Community School DistrictAplington–Parkersburg Community School DistrictDenver Community School DistrictIowa Star ConferenceBCLUW Community School DistrictHudson High School (Iowa)Dike–New Hartford Community School DistrictBig Eight Conference (Iowa)Union High School (Iowa)Jesup Community School DistrictTri-Rivers ConferenceJesup Community School DistrictIowa Star ConferenceNorth Tama Community School DistrictGladbrook–Reinbeck Community School DistrictNorthern University High SchoolGrundy Center Community School DistrictHubbard–Radcliffe Community School DistrictEldora–New Providence Community School DistrictHubbard–Radcliffe Community School DistrictAGWSR Community School District
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References

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  1. ^ "UNI plans for life after Price Lab". 24 February 2012.
  2. ^ "A new NICL for now". 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02kpe813FJZnsvodQe6i2DgXpz5w8SQTfy7xMMryYTEhSdvNBYC5W4Vx9J9ac5tij2l&id=137650329600987&refid=17&__tn__=%2AW-R [user-generated source]
  4. ^ "IHSAA: Classifications".
  5. ^ "IHSAA: Classifications".
  6. ^ "IHSAA: Classifications".
  7. ^ "North Iowa Cedar League". Retrieved 2020-08-24.