{{Short description|Wisconsin high school football conference (2011-2023)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}The '''Valley Football Association''' is a former high school football conference with its membership based northeastern and central Wisconsin. Active from the 2011 through 2023 football seasons, the conference and its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
== History == {{OSM Location map | title = | coord = {{coord|44.3000|-89.2000}} | float = right | zoom = 7 <!--(1=wisconsin, 18=a street)--> | width = 250 | height = 250 | mark-size1=10 | mark-title1=Appleton East | mark-coord1 = {{coord|44.2472|-88.3730}} | mark-description1=Location: | shape-color1=#041e42 | shape1=circle | mark-title2=Appleton North | mark-coord2 = {{coord|44.3138|-88.3730}} | mark-description2=Location: | shape-color2=#b3a369 | shape2=circle | mark-title3=Appleton West | mark-coord3 = {{coord|44.2687|-88.4266}} | mark-description3=Location: | shape-color3=#ff8200 | shape3=circle | mark-title4=D.C. Everest | mark-coord4 = {{coord|44.8975|-89.5940}} | mark-description4=Location: | shape-color4=#115740 | shape4=circle | mark-title5=Fond du Lac | mark-coord5 = {{coord|43.7952|-88.4161}} | mark-description5=Location: | shape-color5=#000000 | shape5=circle | mark-title6=Kaukauna | mark-coord6 = {{coord|44.2577|-88.2562}} | mark-description6=Location: | shape-color6=#e35205 | shape6=circle | mark-title7=Kimberly | mark-coord7 = {{coord|44.2616|-88.3194}} | mark-description7=Location: | shape-color7=#ba0c2f | shape7=circle | mark-title8=Marshfield | mark-coord8 = {{coord|44.6714|-90.1546}} | mark-description8=Location: | shape-color8=#e35205 | shape8=circle | mark-title9=Menasha | mark-coord9 = {{coord|44.2117|-88.4461}} | mark-description9=Location: | shape-color9=#002d6c | shape9=circle | mark-title10=Neenah | mark-coord10 = {{coord|44.1956|-88.5156}} | mark-description10=Location: | shape-color10=#d50032 | shape10=circle | mark-title11=Oshkosh North | mark-coord11 = {{coord|44.0462|-88.5491}} | mark-description11=Location: | shape-color11=#173f35 | shape11=circle | mark-title12=Oshkosh West | mark-coord12 = {{coord|44.0237|-88.5729}} | mark-description12=Location: | shape-color12=#0032a0 | shape12=circle | mark-title13=Stevens Point | mark-coord13 = {{coord|44.5402|-89.5797}} | mark-description13=Location: | shape-color13=#000000 | shape13=circle | mark-title14=Wausau East | mark-coord14 = {{coord|44.9809|-89.5979}} | mark-description14=Location: | shape-color14=#d50032 | shape14=circle | mark-title15=Wausau West | mark-coord15 = {{coord|44.9748|-89.6507}} | mark-description15=Location: | shape-color15=#ffc72c | shape15=circle | mark-title16=Wisconsin Rapids | mark-coord16 = {{coord|44.3758|-89.8036}} | mark-description16=Location: | shape-color16=#ba0c2f | shape16=circle | caption=Location of Original Valley Football Association Members | wrap=wrap}} The Valley Football Association was born from a merger of the football-playing members of two conferences for large high schools in eastern and central Wisconsin: the Fox Valley Association and the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The WVC was set to have only six football participants for the 2011 season, which created problems with scheduling nonconference opponents to fill game dates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Arguello |first=Ricardo |date=4 August 2011 |title=Starting from scratch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/360857791/?match=1&terms=%22valley%20football%20association%22 |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Appleton Post-Crescent |pages=B-1}}</ref> Competition commenced with the 2011 football season, and the sixteen member schools were broken out into two divisions:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Tim |date=14 August 2011 |title=Season of change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/244034353/?match=1&terms=%22valley%20football%20association%22 |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune |pages=B-1}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" !VFA North Division !VFA South Division |- |Appleton East |Fond du Lac |- |Appleton North |Marshfield |- |Appleton West |Menasha |- |D.C. Everest |Neenah |- |Kaukauna |Oshkosh North |- |Kimberly |Oshkosh West |- |Wausau East |Stevens Point |- |Wausau West |Wisconsin Rapids |} In 2014, Hortonville replaced original member Menasha, who departed the VFA for the Bay Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usatodayhss.com/postcrescent/article/menasha-hortonville-to-switch-conferences--2013309130363/ |title=Menasha, Hortonville to switch conferences |website=usatodayhss.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714143549/http://www.usatodayhss.com/postcrescent/article/menasha-hortonville-to-switch-conferences--2013309130363 |archive-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> Three years later, Wausau East left the VFA to compete as an independent school for football, prompting the realignment of the conference into three five-team divisions:<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2016/10/10/east-football-set-leave-vfa/91870644/|title=East football set to leave VFA|work=Daily Herald Media|access-date=2017-07-31|language=en}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" !VFA North Division !VFA South Division !VFA West Division |- |Appleton East |Fond du Lac |D.C. Everest |- |Appleton North |Hortonville |Marshfield |- |Appleton West |Neenah |Stevens Point |- |Kaukauna |Oshkosh North |Wausau West |- |Kimberly |Oshkosh West |Wisconsin Rapids |} Only five VFA members competed in the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those teams, alongside returning member Wausau East, competed in a single division. The members that went on hiatus played in spring 2021 in the temporary Fox Valley Classic Conference with members of the original Fox River Classic Conference and the Wisconsin Valley Conference. Of those teams, only Appleton West and Stevens Point returned to the VFA, while the remaining teams returned to the Fox Valley Association for football.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2019 |title=WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal |url=https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/News%20Releases/2018-19/fbconferences_final.pdf?ver=mRVRndsxHmyl_0u8wi5J1A%3d%3d |access-date=13 June 2025 |website=Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association}}</ref> The Valley Football Association name was in use until the 2023 football season,<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player |url=https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Conference%20Realignment/2020-21/Proposed%20FB%20Only%20Conf%20Align%2011-Player2_11_21.pdf |access-date=13 June 2025 |website=Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.}}</ref> when the conference reverted back to the Wisconsin Valley Conference nomenclature for the 2024-2025 competition cycle.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berg |first=Brandon |date=12 July 2024 |title=Big Rivers football will be missing big schools |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1178294248/?match=1&terms=%22wisconsin%20valley%20conference%22%20football |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=Superior Telegram |pages=B1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2023 |title=2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football |url=https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Conference%20Realignment/2024-25Football/11-PlayerFB2024-Final2.pdf |access-date=13 June 2025 |website=Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association}}</ref>
==Conference membership history== {| class="wikitable sortable" !School !Location !Affiliation !Mascot !Colors !Seasons !Primary Conference |- |'''Appleton East''' |Appleton, WI |Public |Patriots |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|white}} {{color box|002d6c}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Appleton North''' |Appleton, WI |Public |Lightning |{{color box|002d6c}} {{color box|b3a369}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Appleton West''' |Appleton, WI |Public |Terrors |{{color box|005eb8}} {{color box|ff8200}} {{color box|white}} |2011–2019, 2021–2023 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''D.C. Everest''' |Weston, WI |Public |Evergreens |{{Color box|173f35}} {{Color box|white}} |2011–2023 |Wisconsin Valley |- |'''Fond du Lac''' |Fond du Lac, WI |Public |Cardinals |{{color box|9d2235}} {{color box|black}} {{color box|white}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Kaukauna''' |Kaukauna, WI |Public |Galloping Ghosts |{{color box|e35205}} {{color box|black}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Kimberly''' |Kimberly, WI |Public |Papermakers |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|white}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Marshfield''' |Marshfield, WI |Public |Tigers |{{color box|e35205}} {{color box|black}} |2011–2023 |Wisconsin Valley |- |'''Menasha''' |Menasha, WI |Public |Blue Jays |{{color box|002d6c}} {{color box|a2aaad}} |2011–2013 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Neenah''' |Neenah, WI |Public |Rockets |{{color box|d50032}} {{color box|white}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Oshkosh North''' |Oshkosh, WI |Public |Spartans |{{color box|115740}} {{color box|b3a369}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Oshkosh West''' |Oshkosh, WI |Public |Wildcats |{{color box|0032a0}} {{color box|white}} |2011–2019 |Fox Valley Association |- |'''Stevens Point''' |Stevens Point, WI |Public |Panthers |{{Color box|d50032}} {{Color box|black}} |2011–2019, 2021–2023 |Wisconsin Valley |- |'''Wausau East''' |Wausau, WI |Public |Lumberjacks |{{Color box|d50032}} {{Color box|white}} |2011–2016, 2020–2023 |Wisconsin Valley |- |'''Wausau West''' |Wausau, WI |Public |Warriors |{{Color box|041e42}} {{Color box|ffc72c}} |2011–2023 |Wisconsin Valley |- |'''Wisconsin Rapids''' |Wisconsin Rapids, WI |Public |Red Raiders |{{Color box|ba0c2f}} {{Color box|white}} |2011–2023 |Wisconsin Valley |- |'''Hortonville''' |Hortonville, WI |Public |Polar Bears |{{color box|ba0c2f}} {{color box|white}} |2014–2023 |Fox Valley Association |}
== Membership timeline == <timeline> DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:2011 till:2024 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:green from:2011 till:2020 text:Appleton East (2011-2019) bar:2 color:green from:2011 till:2020 text:Appleton North (2011-2019) bar:3 color:green from:2011 till:2020 text:Appleton West (2011-2019) bar:3 color:lavender from:2021 till:2024 text:(2021-2023) bar:4 color:green from:2011 till:2017 text:D.C. Everest (2011-2023) bar:4 color:brightgreen from:2017 till:2020 text: bar:4 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text: bar:5 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2020 text:Fond du Lac (2011-2019) bar:6 color:green from:2011 till:2020 text:Kaukauna (2011-2019) bar:7 color:green from:2011 till:2020 text:Kimberly (2011-2019) bar:8 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2017 text:Marshfield (2011-2023) bar:8 color:brightgreen from:2017 till:2020 text: bar:8 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text: bar:9 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2014 text:Menasha (2011-2013) bar:10 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2020 text:Neenah (2011-2019) bar:11 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2020 text:Oshkosh North (2011-2019) bar:12 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2020 text:Oshkosh West (2011-2019) bar:13 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2017 text:Stevens Point (2011-2019) bar:13 color:brightgreen from:2017 till:2020 text: bar:13 color:lavender from:2021 till:2024 text:(2021-2023) bar:14 color:green from:2011 till:2017 text:Wausau East (2011-2016) bar:14 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:(2020-2023) bar:15 color:green from:2011 till:2017 text:Wausau West (2011-2023) bar:15 color:brightgreen from:2017 till:2020 text: bar:15 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text: bar:16 color:yellowgreen from:2011 till:2017 text:Wisconsin Rapids (2011-2023) bar:16 color:brightgreen from:2017 till:2020 text: bar:16 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text: bar:17 color:green from:2014 till:2020 text:Hortonville (2014-2023) bar:17 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2011
</timeline>{{Font color||{{RGB|0|178|0}}| North Division}} {{Font color||{{RGB|153|229|153}}| South Division}} {{Font color||{{RGB|0|255|0}}| West Division}}
== List of state champions == {| class="wikitable" |+[https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Football/State_Records/teamchamps.pdf Source] !School !Year !Division |- |Kimberly |2013 |Division 2 |- |Kimberly |2014 |Division 1 |- |Kimberly |2015 |Division 1 |- |Kimberly |2016 |Division 1 |- |Kimberly |2017 |Division 1 |}
==List of conference and division champions== {| class="wikitable" !School !Quantity !Years |- | style="background: #ba0c2f; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;" |'''Kimberly''' |8 |2011 (N), 2013 (N), 2014 (N), 2015 (N), 2016 (N), 2017 (N), 2018 (N), 2019 (N) |- | style="background: #e35205; color: black; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;" |'''Marshfield''' |5 |2012 (S), 2017 (W), 2018 (W), 2019 (W), 2022 |- | style="background: #9d2235; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;" |'''Fond du Lac''' |4 |2015 (S), 2017 (S), 2018 (S), 2019 (S) |- | style="background: black; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #d50032, inset -2px -2px 0 #d50032;" |'''Stevens Point''' |4 |2012 (S), 2016 (S), 2021, 2023 |- | style="background: #ba0c2f; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #ffffff, inset -2px -2px 0 #ffffff;" |'''Wisconsin Rapids''' |4 |2011 (S), 2017 (W), 2021, 2022 |- | style="background: #b3a369; color: #041e42; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #041e42, inset -2px -2px 0 #041e42;" |'''Appleton North''' |2 |2011 (N), 2012 (N) |- | style="background: #115740; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #b3a369, inset -2px -2px 0 #b3a369;" |'''Oshkosh North''' |2 |2013 (S), 2014 (S) |- | style="background: #173f35; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #ffc72c, inset -2px -2px 0 #ffc72c;" |'''D.C. Everest''' |1 |2020 |- | style="background: #041e42; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #ffc72c, inset -2px -2px 0 #ffc72c;" |'''Wausau West''' |1 |2021, 2022 |- | style="background: #002d6c; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #d50032, inset -2px -2px 0 #d50032;" |'''Appleton East''' |0 | |- | style="background: #005eb8; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #ff8200, inset -2px -2px 0 #ff8200;" |'''Appleton West''' |0 | |- | style="background: #ba0c2f; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #002d6c, inset -2px -2px 0 #002d6c;" |'''Hortonville''' |0 | |- | style="background: black; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #e35205, inset -2px -2px 0 #e35205;" |'''Kaukauna''' |0 | |- | style="background: #002d6c; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #a2aaad, inset -2px -2px 0 #a2aaad;" |'''Menasha''' |0 | |- | style="background: #d50032; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;" |'''Neenah''' |0 | |- | style="background: #0032a0; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #ffffff, inset -2px -2px 0 #ffffff;" |'''Oshkosh West''' |0 | |- | style="background: #d50032; color: white; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;" |'''Wausau East''' |0 | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://valleyfootballstats.org/ Valley Football Association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218091728/http://valleyfootballstats.org/ |date=December 18, 2014 }}
{{Valley Football Association navbox|state=collapsed}} {{Wisconsin high school athletic conferences|state=collapsed}}
Category:Sports organizations established in 2011 Category:Wisconsin high school sports conferences Category:2011 establishments in Wisconsin Category:2023 disestablishments in Wisconsin