The future of Iowa’s oldest high school athletic conference appears to be on its shakiest ground ever.
During a meeting last Wednesday (01.17), the Howard-Winneshiek School Board gave approval for Superintendent Chris Einck to request admission into the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC), a league to which he has strong ties.
Einck served previously as superintendent, high school principal and athletic director at South Winneshiek. Prior to that, he was high school principal and athletic director at Clayton Ridge.
If Howard-Winn/Cresco-Crestwood is accepted, the UIC would have 10 member schools. An NEIC defection by the Cadets would also that league with just four members: Charles City, Decorah, Waukon and New Hampton, with the UIC also possibly targeting Waukon and New Hampton to join their league.
Waverly-Shell Rock, voted out of the NEIC after they were deemed to be too big compared to other member schools, is slated to depart the NEIC after June 30th. The Go-Hawks will go through the 2024-25 school year as an independent and have applied to join the WAMAC conference starting with the 2025-26 school year.
The Charles City School Board is expected to take up the state of the NEIC during their meeting Monday (01.22) night. On the agenda for 5:30 pm is possible action on having Charles City apply to join the North Central Conference, which currently includes Algona, Clear Lake, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, and Webster City.
The possible departures would likely dissolve the NEIC, which was established in 1933.
