{{Short description|High school athletic conference}} {{Infobox sports league | title = Merrimack Valley Conference | logo = Merrimack Valley Conference Logo.jpg | founded = 1946 | divisions = 2 | teams = 11 }} The '''Merrimack Valley Conference''' is a high school athletic conference in District 4 of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). The conference was founded {{circa|1946}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1946 |title=18 Schools Ready for 10th Annual Hoop Play Tomorrow |work=Fitchburg Sentinel |pages=8}}</ref> and was originally known as the Lowell Suburban Loop.

The conference consists of ten public high schools and one catholic school split into two sections. All schools are in towns or cities on or near the Merrimack River, hence the name. {{OSM Location map|float=Right|title=Merrimack Valley Conference|width=400|height=400|coord={{coord|42.67071874127834|-71.23296935899504}}||zoom=10 <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->|nolabels=1|mark-coord={{coord|42.65741271246261|-71.15386532011476}}|mark=red pog.svg|label=Andover|label-color=black|label-pos=bottom|mark-coord1={{coord|42.560415464736025|-71.2727412238221}}|mark1=red pog.svg|label1=Billerica Memorial|label-color1=black|label-pos1=bottom|mark-coord2={{coord|42.71587301781752|-71.15745421647107}}|mark2=red pog.svg|label2=Central Catholic|label-color2=black|label-pos2=left|mark-coord3={{coord|42.62180612858719|-71.37803434708036}}|mark3=red pog.svg|label3=Chelmsford|label-color3=black|label-pos3=bottom|mark-coord4={{coord|42.787519133927916|-71.10567228518671}}|label4=Haverhill|mark4=red pog.svg|label-color4=black|label-pos4=bottom|mark-coord5={{coord|42.64813181639196|-71.31053944285917}}|mark5=red pog.svg|label5=Lowell|label-color5=black|label-pos5=bottom|mark-coord6={{coord|42.70086831632683|-71.1154472619091}}|mark6=red pog.svg|label6=North Andover|label-color6=black|label-pos6=right|mark-coord7={{coord|42.674661127182446|-71.33543996561329}}|mark7=blue pog.svg|label7=Dracut|label-pos7=top|label-color7=black|mark-coord8={{coord|42.69103881391835|-71.14273005189483}}|mark8=blue pog.svg|label8=Lawrence|label-color8=black|label-pos8=left|mark-coord9={{coord|42.733157638031|-71.17115953624273}}|mark9=blue pog.svg|label9=Methuen|label-color9=black|label-pos9=top|mark-coord10={{coord|42.60225910095103|-71.24181396931944}}|mark10=blue pog.svg|label10=Tewksbury Memorial|label-color10=black||caption=Locations of the Merrimack Valley Conference schools. Merrimack Valley I schools in red, Merrimack Valley II schools in blue}}

== History == The first Merrimack Valley Conference was a different league created by way of a "Football Jamboree" which included schools Keith Academy, Manchester Central (N.H.), St. Clement's, Nashua High School (N.H.), Lowell High School, St. John's of Concord (N.H.), Lawrence High School, and Cathedral High School of Manchester (N.H.)<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 8, 1947 |title=Lowell, Kieth, Lawrence win Jamboree Tilts |work=The Boston Globe |pages=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 8, 1947 |title=Complete Plans for Schoolboy Grid 'Jamboree' |work=The Springfield Daily News |pages=21}}</ref>. By 1950, the league had ceased to exist.

As for the Lowell Suburban Loop, the league consisted of at least eight teams for the first twenty years of its existence, including Ayer, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Methuen, North Andover, Tewksbury, and Wilmington. Andover joined when the league renamed themselves to the Merrimack Valley Conference in 1965<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 18, 1965 |title=Lowell Suburban Loop now Merrimack League |work=The Boston Globe |pages=26}}</ref>. Ayer was the first to leave in 1956,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Weisberg |first=Sam |date=March 19, 1972 |title=Burlington leaves the M.V.C. |work=Lowell Sunday Sun |pages=26}}</ref> and the league remained stable for almost 15 years following this.

In the spring of 1971, North Andover opted to drop out of the conference to join the Cape Ann League. Austin Prep. and Central Catholic pushed for membership the same year and were rejected.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weisberg |first=Sam |date=May 2, 1971 |title=Bellissimo to be feted |work=Lowell Sunday Sun |pages=34}}</ref> They got their chance the following year when Andover and Burlington applied for Middlesex League membership. Only Burlington was taken, and Austin Prep. and Central Catholic filled Burlington's and North Andover's spots.<ref name=":0" /> Lawrence, Lowell, and Haverhill, which were trying to find a new home as the Essex County League started to fall apart, began flirting with joining the MVC in 1973 by joining for golf and tennis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Rick |date=May 14, 1973 |title=Rumors create new leagues |work=The Lowell Sun |pages=18}}</ref> Lawrence was the first to obtain full membership in 1974; the league was still hesitant to add Lowell and Haverhill<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singelais |first=Neil |date=February 4, 1974 |title=Winchester to lose a gem in Athletic Director Knowlton |work=The Boston Globe |pages=24}}</ref>

With a new decade in 1980 came a new setup for the league; a fourteen team super conference, with football having two divisions split between east and west. The east featured Andover, Austin Prep., Central Catholic, Lawrence, and Mathuen; along with newcomers Greater Lawrence Tech. and after a long wait, Haverhill. The west included Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, and Wilmington; and the other league newcomers Lowell and Greater Lowell Tech.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Angelo |first=Tom |date=September 9, 1980 |title=East: Haverhill the Choice; Three Others in Race |work=The Boston Globe |pages=46}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Ken |date=September 9, 1980 |title=West: Talented line gives Chelmsford the edge |work=The Boston Globe |pages=46}}</ref>

After a weak two seasons, Austin Prep. and Greater Lowell left the conference in 1982; the former to the Catholic Conference and the latter became an independent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Jerry |date=September 7, 1982 |title=There's a whole new look... and no favorite |work=The Boston Globe |pages=33}}</ref> Greater Lawrence tried to jump ships to the Commonwealth Athletic Conference in 1985 and was denied entry, leaving them independent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jaworski |first=Mark |date=September 8, 1985 |title=Trio of favorites in Merrimack Valley |work=The Boston Globe |pages=75}}</ref>

The league remained stable from here for the better part of ten years, until Lawrence left to be independent in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 3, 1994 |title=Final 1993 Standings |work=The Boston Globe |pages=66}}</ref> The following year, Wilmington left to the lower division Cape Ann League.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ball |first=Craig |date=September 6, 1995 |title=Cape Ann League Preview |work=The Boston Globe |pages=41}}</ref> Lawrence rejoined the league in 2009, the year the Merrimack Valley split into two divisions, large and small. The large schools were Andover, Billerica, Central Catholic, Chelmsford & Lowell; the small schools were Dracut, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, and Tewksbury.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 5, 2009 |title=Standings |work=The Boston Globe |pages=C10}}</ref> After 41 years in the Cape Ann League, North Andover returned to the Merrimack Valley in 2012, taking the league back to eleven members, which remains as of early 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oza |first=Jay |date=2011-06-23 |title=NAHS Athletics Joins Merrimack Valley Conference |url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/northandover/nahs-athletics-joins-merrimack-valley-conference |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=North Andover, MA Patch |language=en}}</ref>

== Member Schools == Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-06/miaa-league-directory.pdf</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !School !Location !Mascot !Colors !Joined League !Year Founded !Enrollment<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Data (2025-26) - Massachusetts (00000000) |url=https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=00000000&orgtypecode=0& |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=profiles.doe.mass.edu}}</ref> |- ! colspan="7" |Merrimack Valley I |- |Andover High School |Andover, Massachusetts |Golden Warriors |Navy Blue & Gold {{Color box|darkblue}} {{Color box|gold}} |1965 |1854 |1,578 |- |Billerica Memorial High School |Billerica, Massachusetts |Indians |Forest Green & White {{Color box|forestgreen}} {{Color box|white}} |1955 |1955 |1,737 |- |Central Catholic High School |Lawrence, Massachusetts |Raiders |Red & Navy Blue {{Color box|red}} {{Color box|darkblue}} |1972 |1935 |1,200 |- |Chelmsford High School |Chelmsford, Massachusetts |Lions |Maroon & White {{Color box|maroon}} {{Color box|white}} |1946 |1917 |1,442 |- |Haverhill High School |Haverhill, Massachusetts |Hillies |Brown & Gold {{Color box|brown}} {{Color box|goldenrod}} |1980 |1841 |1,850 |- |Lowell High School |Lowell, Massachusetts |Red Raiders |Red & Gray {{Color box|darkred}} {{Color box|Gray}} |1980 |1831 |3,374 |- |North Andover High School |North Andover, Massachusetts |Scarlet Knights |Scarlet, Black & White {{Color box|crimson}} {{Color box|black}} {{Color box|white}} |1946-1971, 2012-present |1954 |1,288 |- ! colspan="7" |Merrimack Valley II |- |Dracut High School |Dracut, Massachusetts |Middies |Navy Blue, Colombia Blue, & White {{Color box|darkblue}} {{Color box|skyblue}} {{Color box|white}} |1946 |1934 |763 |- |Lawrence High School |Lawrence, Massachusetts |Lancers |Navy Blue & White {{Color box|darkblue}} {{Color box|white}} |1974-1994, 2009-present |1901 |3,280 |- |Methuen High School |Methuen, Massachusetts |Rangers |Blue & White {{Color box|blue}} {{Color box|white}} |1946 |1874 |1,751 |- |Tewksbury Memorial High School |Tewksbury, Massachusetts |Redmen |Scarlet, White, & Royal Blue {{Color box|crimson}} {{Color box|white}} {{Color box|royalblue}} |1946 |1905 |730 |}

== Former Members == {| class="wikitable" |+ !School !Location !Mascot !Colors !Joined !Left !Current Conference |- |Austin Preparatory School |Reading, Massachusetts |Cougars |Green, White, & Black {{Color box|green}} {{Color box|white}} {{Color box|black}} |1972 |1982 |New England Preparatory School Athletic Council |- |Ayer Shirley Regional High School |Ayer, Massachusetts |Panther |Maroon & White {{Color box|maroon}} {{Color box|white}} |1946 |1956 |Midland Wachusett League |- |Burlington High School |Burlington, Massachusetts |Red Devils |Red, White, & Blue {{Color box|red}} {{Color box|white}} {{Color box|blue}} |1946 |1972 |Middlesex League |- |Greater Lawrence Technical School |Andover, Massachusetts |Reggies |Black & Orange {{Color box|black}} {{Color box|orange}} |1980 |1985 |Commonwealth Athletic Conference |- |Greater Lowell Technical High School |Tyngsborough, Massachusetts |Gryphons |Blue & Gold {{Color box|blue}} {{Color box|gold}} |1980 |1982 |Commonwealth Athletic Conference |- |Wilmington High School |Wilmington, Massachusetts |Wildcats |Navy Blue, Colombia Blue, & White {{Color box|darkblue}} {{Color box|skyblue}} {{Color box|white}} |1946 |1995 |Middlesex League |}

== State championships == This is a list of MIAA State championships won by schools while a part of the Merrimack Valley Conference

=== Football === {{hatnote|Note: From 1972 to 2012, football state championships were separated by region, so there was multiple champions from each division. From 1972 to 1977 and from 1997 to 2008, it was split between Eastern Mass and Central/Western Mass with two champions in each division. From 1978 to 1996 and from 2009 to 2012 Central and Western Mass split, so there was three champions in each division. In 2013 everything was combined, so only one state champion per division was allowed.}}

Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-football.pdf</ref>

* '''Andover''' - 1974, 1975 D2 ''Eastern'' * '''Tewksbury''' - 1985 D2 ''Eastern''; 1996 D2B ''Eastern'' * '''Chelmsford''' - 1987 D2 ''Eastern''; 1991, 1994 D2A ''Eastern''; 2007 D1A ''Eastern'' * '''Dracut''' - 1988 D2 Eastern; 2008 D1A ''Eastern'' * '''Methuen''' - 1992 D2A ''Eastern'' * '''Billerica''' - 1993, 1999 D2A ''Eastern'' * '''Central Catholic''' - 1997 D2B ''Eastern''; 1998 D2C ''Eastern''; 2013 D1

=== Cross Country === Source: <ref name=":02">https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-track-cross-country.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Chelmsford''' - 1988 D1

=== Fall Volleyball === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-volleyball.pdf</ref>

* '''Chelmsford''' - 1985, 1986 D1

=== Soccer === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-soccer.pdf</ref>

==== Girls ====

* '''Central Catholic''' - 2010 D1

=== Fall Swim & Dive === Source: <ref name=":1">https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-swimming.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Methuen''' - 2021-2024 D1 * '''Billerica''' - 2021-2023 D2

==== Girls ====

* '''Andover''' - 1999-2007, 2009-2012, 2014-2019 D1 * '''Chelmsford''' - 2008, 2013 D1 * '''Central Catholic''' - 2004 D2

=== Basketball === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-basketball.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Chelmsford''' - 1951 Class C * '''North Andover''' - 1958 Class C * '''Central Catholic''' - 1999, 2008, 2010 D1

==== Girls ====

* '''Methuen''' - 1986, 1999 D1 * '''Haverhill''' - 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994-1996 D1 * '''Andover''' - 2003, 2010-2012, 2020 (Co-champs with Franklin High School), 2023 D1 * '''Central Catholic''' - 2009, 2013 D1

=== Winter Swim & Dive === Source: <ref name=":1" />

==== Boys ====

* '''Chelmsford''' - 2002-2004 D1

=== Gymnastics === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-gymnastics.pdf</ref>

* '''Dracut''' - 1989, 1990 * '''Andover''' - 2000 * '''Chelmsford''' - 2006

=== Ice Hockey === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-ice-hockey_0.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Billerica'''- 1975-1977, 2025 D2 * '''Chelmsford''' - 1995 D1 * '''Tewksbury''' - 1995, 2011, 2022 D2 * '''Catholic Memorial''' - 2009 D1A

==== Girls ====

* '''Methuen & Tewksbury''' - (Co-champs) 2019

=== Indoor Track & Field === Source: <ref name=":02" />

==== Boys ====

* '''Andover''' - 1970, 1984 Class B * '''Wilmington''' 1975 Class C * '''Methuen''' - 1978, 1979, 1983 Class B * '''Chelmsford''' - 1984, 1985, 1990 Class A * '''Central Catholic''' - 1995 Class B; 2004, 2005 D2 * '''Tewksbury''' - 2005 D3 * '''Lowell''' - 2013, 2018-2020, 2025 D1; 2020, 2022 All-State * '''North Andover''' - 2022-2024 D2

==== Girls ====

* '''Billerica''' - 1979 Class A; 2023, 2024, 2025 D3 * '''Tewksbury''' - 1990 Class B * '''Central Catholic''' - 2005-2007 D2; 2024 D1

=== Alpine Ski === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-ski.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Haverhill''' - 1982 * '''Andover''' - 2011

==== Girls ====

* '''North Andover''' - 2015

=== Wrestling === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-wrestling.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Clemsford''' - 1969, 1970 All-State; 1976, 1977, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2016, 2018 D1 * '''Lowell''' - 1981, 1989, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 D1 * '''Billerica''' - 1983, 1993 D1 * '''Tewksbury''' - 1989, D2; 2025 D3 * '''Methuen''' 1997, 2012 D1 * '''Central Catholic''' - 1998 D1; 2002, 2003, 2019 D2 * '''Dracut''' - 2004 D2 * '''Lawrence''' - 2011 D1 * '''North Andover''' - 2013, 2014 D2 * '''Haverhill''' - 2024 All-State

==== Girls ====

* '''Lowell''' - 2024 D1 & All State

=== Baseball === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-baseball.pdf</ref>

* '''Andover''' - 1991, 1992 D1 * '''Chelmsford''' - 2025 D1

=== Softball === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-softball.pdf</ref>

* '''Wilmington''' - 1993, 1994 D2 * '''Dracut''' - 1997, 1998 D2 * '''Chelmsford''' - 1999 D1 * '''Lowell''' - 2005 D1

=== Outdoor Track & Field === Source: <ref name=":02" />

==== Boys ====

* '''Andover''' - 1966, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1979 ''(Co-Champs with Ayer-Shirley)'', 1984, 2009, 2010, 2015 All-State * '''Methuen''' - 1985 All-State * '''Haverhill''' - 1998 D1 * '''Lowell''' - 2018, 2019 All-State; 2025 D1 * '''North Andover''' - 2022, 2023 D2

==== Girls ====

* '''Billerica''' 1980 All-State; 2023 D3 * '''Chelmsford''' - 1990 All-State * '''Methuen''' - 1995 All-State * '''Andover''' - 2005 All-State, 2023 D1; 2025 D3 * '''North Andover''' - 2025 D2

=== Tennis === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-tennis.pdf</ref>

==== Girls ====

* '''Andover''' - 2007, 2014, 2015 D1

=== Lacrosse === Source: <ref>https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-lacrosse.pdf</ref>

==== Boys ====

* '''Billerica''' - 2001 D1; 2025 D2

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

=== School websites ===

* [https://www.aps1.net/o/ahs/ Andover High School] * [https://billericak12.com/bmhs/ Billerica Memorial High School] * [https://www.centralcatholic.net/ Central Catholic High School] * [https://chs.chelmsfordschools.org/ Chelmsford High School] * [https://www.dracutps.org/o/dhs Dracut High School] * [https://hhs.haverhill-ps.org/ Haverhill High School] * [https://www.lawrencehs.org/ Lawrence High School] * [https://lhs.lowell.k12.ma.us/ Lowell High School] * [https://mhs.methuen.k12.ma.us/ Methuen High School] * [https://nahs.northandoverpublicschools.com/ North Andover High School] * [https://www.tewksbury.k12.ma.us/high/ Tewksbury Memorial High School]

{{Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association}}

Category:Merrimack Valley Conference Category:High school sports in Massachusetts Category:Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association leagues