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SHARK Conference

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SHARK Conference
ConferenceIHSA
WIAA
Founded1946
Ceased1982
No. of teams17
RegionNorth-central Illinois and South-central Wisconsin (Boone, DeKalb, Lee, McHenry, Stephenson and Winnebago counties in Illinois and Rock in Wisconsin)
Locations
The SHARK Conference within Illinois and WisconsinThe SHARK Conference within Illinois and Wisconsin

The SHARK Conference was a high school conference in north central Illinois and south central Wisconsin. The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA). The conference included private and public high schools with enrollments between 75-2,000 students in Boone, DeKalb, Lee, McHenry, Stephenson and Winnebago counties in Illinois and Rock in Wisconsin.[1]

History

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The name SHARK is an acronym representing the first letter of its 5 charter members. (South Beloit, Harlem, Aquin, Rockton Hononegah and Kirkland-Hiawatha) The SHARK originated as a collection of schools in northern Illinois based primarily on proximity and not on enrollment. By 1953, Kirkland-Hiawatha left the conference and was replaced with Harvard and Marengo, taking the total number of teams to six. In 1955 Freeport Aquin left the conference, however Rockford St. Thomas High School took their place. The conference continued to morph as the 1950s came to a close with North Boone High School joining in 1957 and Richmond-Burton in 1958. Also in 1958, based on the completion of Boylan Catholic High School, St. Thomas dropped out of the conference as their students began transitioning toward a new high school, and Harlem left the league in order to join the Big 8 Conference with the intent of playing competition with similar enrollments.

As the 1960s began, Alden-Hebron High School joined, however, it quickly left in 1964 along with Richmond-Burton. The following season, Winnebago High School and two Beloit, Wisconsin schools joined the conference. The two schools from Wisconsin included; Beloit Catholic High School and Turner High School. Winnebago remained a member of the league until 1972 but left for the Mid Northern Conference. Amboy High School quickly replaced them in 1972, but left after the 1975 season, heading to the newly formed Three Rivers Conference. In 1978, Johnsburg High School joined the league and in 1981, the conference's final season, Woodstock Marian would be added. However, North Boone, Beloit Catholic, and South Beloit all left the conference before the start of the season, leaving the conference with only five teams in its final season.[2]

All-Time Membership

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The SHARK Conference had various teams throughout its history, this list of schools encompasses all of the schools which were once a part of the conference.

School Location County Mascot Colors Year Joined Year Left Total Years Still open Current Conference
Alden-Hebron
High School
Hebron, IL McHenry Giants      
Green, White, Black
1960 (football)

1959 (other sports)

1964 5 Yes 8-Man Football North Division (football)

Northeastern Athletic Conference (other sports)

Amboy
High School
Amboy, IL Lee Clippers      
Red, White, Black
1972 1975 3 Yes 8-Man Football North Division (football)

Northwest Upstate Illini Conference (other sports)

Aquin Catholic
High School
Freeport, IL Stephenson Bulldogs    
Navy Blue, Gold
1946 1955 9 No*
Beloit Catholic
High School
Beloit, WI Rock Crusaders    
Green, Gold
1964 1981 17 No**
Harlem
High School
Machesney Park, IL Winnebago Huskies    
Black, Orange
1946 1958 12 Yes Northern Illinois Conference (NIC-10)
Harvard
High School
Harvard, IL McHenry Hornets    
Black, Gold
1953 (football)

1952 (other sports)

1982 30 Yes Kishwaukee River Conference
Hononegah
High School
Rockton, IL Winnebago Indians    
Purple, Gold
1946 1982 36 Yes Northern Illinois Conference (NIC-10)
Johnsburg
High School
Johnsburg, IL McHenry Skyhawks    
Blue, Gold
1978 1982 4 Yes Kishwaukee River Conference
Kirkland-Hiawatha
High School
Kirkland, IL DeKalb Hawks    
Navy Blue, Gold
1946 1953 7 Yes 8-Man Football North Division (football)

Little Ten Conference (other sports)

Marengo
High School
Marengo, IL McHenry Indians    
Maroon, White
1953 (football)

1952 (other sports)

1982 30 Yes Kishwaukee River Conference
Marian Central Catholic
High School
Woodstock, IL McHenry Hurricanes      
Columbia Blue, White, Red
1981 1982 1 Yes Independent;

Joining the upcoming Chicagoland Christian Conference in 2023

North Boone
High School
Poplar Grove, IL Boone Vikings    
Green, White
1957 1981 24 Yes Big Northern Conference
Richmond-Burton
High School
Richmond, IL McHenry Rockets    
Maroon, Gold
1958 1964 6 Yes Kishwaukee River Conference
St. Thomas Catholic
High School[3]
Rockford, IL Winnebago Tommies    
Purple, White
1955 1958 3 No***
South Beloit
High School
South Beloit, IL Winnebago Sobos    
Scarlet Red, White
1946 1981 35 Yes 8-Man Football North Division (football)

Northeastern Athletic Conference (other sports)

Turner
High School
Beloit, WI Rock Trojans    
Blue, Gold
1965 (football)

1964 (other sports)

1969 5 Yes Rock Valley Conference
Winnebago
High School
Winnebago, IL Winnebago Indians    
Orange, Black
1964 1972 8 Yes Big Northern Conference

*Aquin Catholic High School would close in 2024.
**Beloit Catholic High School would close in 2000.
***St. Thomas Catholic High School would close in 1962.
Sources:IHSA Conferences,[4] IHSA Coop Teams,[5] and IHSA Member Schools Directory[6]

Membership timeline

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Full members Non-football members

References

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