{{Short description|Wisconsin high school athletic conference (1939-1970)}} The '''Flambeau League''' is a former high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in northwestern Wisconsin. Founded in 1939 and disbanded in 1970, the conference and its member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
== History == === 1939-1950 === {{OSM Location map | title = | coord = {{coord|46.0000|-90.7000}} | float = right | zoom = 8 <!--(1=wisconsin, 18=a street)--> | width = 250 | height = 250 | mark-size1=10 | mark-title1=Butternut | mark-coord1={{coord|46.0167|-90.4955}} | mark-description1=Location: | shape-color1=#ff8200 | shape1=circle | mark-title2=Draper-Loretta | mark-coord2={{coord|45.8851|-90.8428}} | mark-description2=Location: | shape-color2=#0032a0 | shape2=circle | mark-title3=Fifield | mark-coord3={{coord|45.8772|-90.4209}} | mark-description3=Location: | shape-color3=#ffc72c | shape3=circle | mark-title4=Glidden | mark-coord4={{coord|46.1338|-90.5773}} | mark-description4=Location: | shape-color4=#000000 | shape4=circle | mark-title5=Winter | mark-coord5={{coord|45.8192|-91.0116}} | mark-description5=Location: | shape-color5=#d50032 | shape5=circle | caption = Location of Original Flambeau League Members | auto-caption= | wrap=wrap}} The Flambeau League was formed in 1939 by five small high schools in northwestern Wisconsin: Butternut, Draper-Loretta, Fifield, Glidden and Winter. Original members were located in four counties (Ashland, Lincoln, Price and Sawyer) and the conference was named after the Flambeau River, which ran through the conference's geographic area. During that same time period, there was a conference running concurrently called the Flambeau-Soo League, which contained current Flambeau League and former Soo Line Athletic League schools. There were five dual members for most of this alignment's history with the exception of the 1945-46 season, when Fifield was solely a member of the Flambeau-Soo League.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=17 December 1945 |title=Glidden Atop Two Leagues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1241174409/?match=1&terms=%22flambeau-soo%22 |access-date=13 April 2026 |work=Superior Evening Telegram |pages=9}}</ref> This dual-conference arrangement lasted until 1946, when the Flambeau-Soo was disbanded. Former Flambeau-Soo League members Prentice were immediately welcomed into the Flambeau League for the 1945-46 school year, along with the re-entry of Fifield.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=9 October 1946 |title=Flambeau League Elects Officers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1241484525/?match=1&terms=%22flambeau%20league%22 |access-date=13 April 2026 |work=Superior Evening Telegram |pages=17}}</ref>
=== 1950-1962 === {{OSM Location map|title=|coord={{coord|45.8000|-90.5000}}|float=right|zoom=8 <!--(1=wisconsin, 18=a street)-->|width=250|height=250|mark-size1=10|mark-title1=Butternut|mark-coord1={{coord|46.0167|-90.4955}}|mark-description1=Location:|shape-color1=#ff8200|shape1=circle|mark-title2=Fifield|mark-coord2={{coord|45.8772|-90.4209}}|mark-description2=Location:|shape-color2=#ffc72c|shape2=circle|mark-title3=Glidden|mark-coord3={{coord|46.1338|-90.5773}}|mark-description3=Location:|shape-color3=#000000|shape3=circle|mark-title4=Hawkins|mark-coord4={{coord|45.5150|-90.7200}}|mark-description4=Location:|shape-color4=#e35205|shape4=circle|mark-title5=Ingram-Glen Flora|mark-coord5={{coord|45.4957|-90.8940}}|mark-description5=Location:|shape-color5=#005eb8|shape5=circle|mark-title6=Prentice|mark-coord6={{coord|45.5444|-90.2902}}|mark-description6=Location:|shape-color6=#ba0c2f|shape6=circle|mark-title7=Tripoli|mark-coord7={{coord|45.5554|-89.9936}}|mark-description7=Location:|shape-color7=#330072|shape7=circle|mark-title8=Winter|mark-coord8={{coord|45.8192|-91.0116}}|mark-description8=Location:|shape-color8=#d50032|shape8=circle|caption=Location of Flambeau League Members (1955-1961)|auto-caption=|wrap=wrap}}
The entry of Tripoli into the fold brought the Flambeau League to seven members for the 1950-51 season.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=8 September 1950 |title=Flambeau League Holds Meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1241431046/?match=1&terms=%22flambeau%20league%22%20tripoli |access-date=13 April 2026 |work=Superior Evening Telegram |pages=19}}</ref> Two years later, the Flambeau League lost Draper-Loretta when it was consolidated into fellow conference member Winter.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Rupnow |first=Chuck |date=12 October 1986 |title=School consolidations may affect alumni most |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/360925983/?match=1&terms=winter%20draper%20consolidation |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |pages=6}}</ref> Hawkins moved over from the similarly named Flambeauland Conference to replace them,<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=Hawkeye 1952-53 |publisher=Hawkins High School |year=1953 |pages=19-20}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=21 November 1952 |title=Holcombe Off To Slow Start, Drops 2nd Game in Week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/417156168/?match=1&terms=flambeauland%20abbreviated |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Chippewa Herald-Telegram |pages=9}}</ref> maintaining the size of the membership roster at seven. Three years later, the Flambeauland Conference disbanded,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=12 December 1955 |title=Holcombe Chieftains Play Host to Hawkins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/416632779/?match=1&terms=flambeauland |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Chippewa Herald-Telegram |pages=8}}</ref> and former members Ingram-Glen Flora joined as the Flambeau League's eighth member in 1955.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=3 December 1955 |title=Basketball (see Flambeauland - erroneously named but shows Flambeau League opponent) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/300588383/?match=1&terms=%22flambeauland%22%20standings%20%22glen%20flora%22 |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |pages=8}}</ref> Their time in the league would be short-lived, as they were merged with Tony in 1961 to form the new Flambeau High School, with the new school inheriting Tony's Lakeland Conference membership.<ref name="1961 Flambeau">{{Cite news |date=11 October 1961 |title=Turtle, Shell Lake Seek Lakeland Lead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/300588056/?match=1&terms=%22eastern%20lakeland%22%20%22western%20lakeland%22 |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |pages=10}}</ref> The next year, Fifield was consolidated into nearby Park Falls,<ref name=":5" /> and two schools displaced by the cessation of the 3-C Conference (Rib Lake and Westboro) entered the Flambeau League as replacements, increasing membership back to eight schools.<ref name="Ending">{{Cite news |date=15 November 1962 |title=Cloverbelt, Marawood Open Conference Seasons Friday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/267316218/?match=1&terms=%22rib%20lake%22%20westboro%20flambeau |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Marshfield News-Herald |pages=17}}</ref>
=== 1962-1970 === {{OSM Location map|title=|coord={{coord|45.7500|-90.4000}}|float=right|zoom=8 <!--(1=wisconsin, 18=a street)-->|width=250|height=250|mark-size1=10|mark-title1=Butternut|mark-coord1={{coord|46.0167|-90.4955}}|mark-description1=Location:|shape-color1=#ff8200|shape1=circle|mark-title2=Glidden|mark-coord2={{coord|46.1338|-90.5773}}|mark-description2=Location:|shape-color2=#000000|shape2=circle|mark-title3=Prentice|mark-coord3={{coord|45.5444|-90.2902}}|mark-description3=Location:|shape-color3=#ba0c2f|shape3=circle|mark-title4=Rib Lake|mark-coord4={{coord|45.3243|-90.2052}}|mark-description4=Location:|shape-color4=#6f2c3f|shape4=circle|caption=Location of Final Flambeau League Members|auto-caption=|wrap=wrap}}
In the late 1960s, the Flambeau League continued to lose members to both rural school district consolidation and membership in other conferences. Hawkins and Westboro left the conference in 1967, with Hawkins' consolidation into Ladysmith and the folding of Westboro into Rib Lake.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=7 September 1967 |title=Consolidation Cuts WIAA to 425 Schools |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243887020/?match=1&terms=hawkins%20high%20school%20ladysmith%20closing |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=14}}</ref> In 1968, Winter left to join the Lakeland Conference, decreasing the roster to five member schools.<ref name="1968 Winter">{{Cite news |date=6 December 1968 |title=Lakeland Loop Western Race Opens Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11994821/?match=1&terms=%22lakeland%20conference%22%20winter |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |pages=16}}</ref> The conference lost another member in 1969 due to Tripoli's consolidation into Prentice's district.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=18 July 1969 |title=Apportion Tripoli School District |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/272706970/?match=1&terms=tripoli%20high%20school%20prentice%20closing |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=9}}</ref> The four remaining schools competed for one more season before disbanding the Flambeau League in 1970. Butternut and Glidden joined the Indianhead Conference,<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |date=24 December 1970 |title=Glidden Leads in Indianhead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/55165426/?match=1&terms=%22indianhead%22%20butternut%20glidden |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |pages=15}}</ref> Prentice became members of the Lakeland Conference<ref name="1970-02 Prentice">{{Cite news |date=29 October 1970 |title=Holcombe, New Auburn set Lakeland schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/416852844/?match=1&terms=%22lakeland%20conference%22%20holcombe%20prentice |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Chippewa Herald-Telegram |pages=15}}</ref> and Rib Lake was accepted into the Marawood Conference.<ref name="1970 Expansion">{{Cite news |date=22 October 1969 |title=Marawood Conference votes to enroll Nekoosa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243672345/?match=1&terms=%22vacationland%20conference%22%20ending |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=14}}</ref>{{clear}} == Conference membership history ==
=== Final members === {| class="wikitable sortable" !School !Location !Affiliation !Mascot !Colors !Joined !Left !Conference Joined !Current Conference |- |'''Butternut''' |Butternut, WI |Public |Midgets |{{color box|ff8200}} {{color box|black}} |1939 |1970<ref name=":9" /> |Indianhead |Northern Lights |- |'''Glidden''' |Glidden, WI |Public |Vikings/<br>Black Bears |{{color box|black}} {{color box|e35205}} |1939 |1970<ref name=":9" /> |Indianhead |Closed in 2009 (merged into Chequamegon) |- |'''Prentice''' |Prentice, WI |Public |Buccaneers |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|white}} {{color box|black}} |1946<ref name=":4" /> |1970<ref name="1970-02 Prentice" /> |Lakeland |Marawood |- |'''Rib Lake''' |Rib Lake, WI |Public |Redmen |{{color box|6f2c3f}} {{color box|ffc72c}} {{color box|white}} |1962<ref name="Ending" /> |1970<ref name="1970 Expansion" /> | colspan="2" |Marawood |}
=== Former members === {| class="wikitable sortable" !School !Location !Affiliation !Mascot !Colors !Joined !Left !Conference Joined !Current Conference |- |'''Draper-Loretta''' |Draper, WI |Public |Blue and Gold |{{color box|0032a0}} {{color box|ffc72c}} |1939 |1952<ref name=":5" /> | colspan="2" |Closed (consolidated into Winter) |- |'''Fifield''' |Fifield, WI |Public |Vikings |{{color box|ffc72c}} {{color box|0032a0}} |1939, 1946<ref name=":4" /> |1945,<ref name=":0" /> 1962<ref name=":5" /> | colspan="2" |Closed (consolidated into Park Falls) |- |'''Hawkins''' |Hawkins, WI |Public |Hawkeyes |{{color box|black}} {{color box|ff8200}} |1952<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> |1967<ref name=":7" /> | colspan="2" |Closed (consolidated into Ladysmith) |- |'''Ingram-Glen Flora''' |Glen Flora, WI |Public |Bluejays |{{color box|005eb8}} {{color box|ffc72c}} |1955<ref name=":6" /> |1961<ref name="1961 Flambeau" /> | colspan="2" |Closed (merged into Flambeau) |- |'''Tripoli''' |Tripoli, WI |Public |Tornadoes |{{color box|330072}} {{color box|ffc72c}} |1950<ref name=":10" /> |1969<ref name=":8" /> | colspan="2" |Closed (consolidated into Prentice) |- |'''Westboro''' |Westboro, WI |Public |Trojans |{{color box|115740}} {{color box|white}} |1962<ref name="Ending" /> |1967<ref name=":7" /> | colspan="2" |Closed (merged into Rib Lake) |- |'''Winter''' |Winter, WI |Public |Warriors |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|black}} |1939 |1968<ref name="1968 Winter" /> | colspan="2" |Lakeland |}
== Membership timeline == <timeline> DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:1939 till:1970 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:30 left:0 bottom:50 top:5
Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7) id:line value:black id:bg value:white
PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:m
bar:1 color:tan1 from:1939 till:1970 text:Butternut (1939-1970) bar:2 color:tan1 from:1939 till:1952 text:Draper-Loretta (1939-1952) bar:3 color:tan1 from:1939 till:1945 text:Fifield (1939-1945) bar:3 color:tan1 from:1946 till:1962 text:(1946-1962) bar:4 color:tan1 from:1939 till:1970 text:Glidden (1939-1970) bar:5 color:tan1 from:1939 till:1968 text:Winter (1940-1968) bar:6 color:tan1 from:1946 till:1970 text:Prentice (1946-1970) bar:7 color:tan1 from:1950 till:1969 text:Tripoli (1950-1969) bar:8 color:tan1 from:1952 till:1967 text:Hawkins (1952-1967) bar:9 color:tan1 from:1955 till:1961 text:Ingram-Glen Flora (1955-1961) bar:10 color:tan1 from:1962 till:1970 text:Rib Lake (1962-1970) bar:11 color:tan1 from:1962 till:1967 text:Westboro (1962-1967) ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1939
</timeline> == References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
{{Wisconsin high school athletic conferences}}
Category:Sports organizations established in 1940 Category:Wisconsin high school sports conferences Category:1939 establishments in Wisconsin Category:1970 establishments in Wisconsin