The Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) has extended official invitations to three current Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) members to join an expanded UIC.
A letter from UIC President Nick Trenkamp, on behalf of the league’s current superintendents, was sent to New Hampton, Cresco-Crestwood and Waukon asking them to merge into a new league starting with the 2023-24 school year.
Jay Jurrens is the shared Superintendent between New Hampon, currently in the NEIC, and Turkey Valley, which is in the UIC. He says the move would make scheduling athletic competition easier.
Jurrens adds that if just one of the NEIC schools invited join the UIC does so, the NEIC would likely no longer exist. If all three invitees followed suit, the NEIC would only have Charles City, Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock left.
The league letter says, “The ultimate goal of this expansion is to strengthen the Upper lowa Conference to offer the best possible extra-curricular activities and competition for all Northeast lowa students.
The UIC has also extended invitations to Oelwein, Osage, Riceville, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Tripoli, Edgewood-Colesburg and Starmont.
