3-C Conference
The 3-C Conference is a former high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in central Wisconsin. Founded in 1928 and ending operations in 1962, all members were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
1928–1933
The 3-C Conference, originally known as the Tri-County Basketball Conference for its first sponsored sport, was formed in 1928 by seven small high schools in central Wisconsin: Abbotsford, Colby, Dorchester, Granton, Greenwood, Neillsville, and Unity. An eighth school was part of this initial group, but wouldn't join in athletic competition until a few years later. The conference's name originated with the three counties that member schools were located in. Rib Lake and Spencer joined the 3-C Conference in 1929, and Medford became its tenth member in 1930 after leaving the Wisconsin Valley Conference a few years earlier. Spencer would leave the next year with Loyal entering competition, and in 1932, Neillsville departed for membership in the Little Eight Conference.1933–1955
In 1933, Westboro entered the 3-C Conference, and the conference split into geographically aligned sections:| Northern Section | Southern Section |
| Abbotsford | Colby |
| Dorchester | Granton |
| Medford | Greenwood |
| Rib Lake | Loyal |
| Westboro | Unity |
Spencer reentered the 3-C Conference in 1934 and were assigned to the conference's Southern Section. In 1935, Loyal left the conference and were replaced by Prentice High School in Price County, entering the league's Northern Section. Despite the addition of a fourth county to the membership stable, the 3-C Conference kept its name. Loyal rejoined the 3-C Conference's Southern Section in 1938, bringing membership back up to twelve schools. Prentice's membership lasted until the middle of World War II, and the conference went back down to eleven schools until Phillips joined the loop's Northern Section in 1949. Football was first sponsored by the conference for the 1948 season, with five members participating. Unity High School was consolidated into Colby in 1954, leaving the conference with eleven members.
1955–1962
In 1955, Medford and Phillips left the 3-C Conference to become exclusive members of the Lumberjack Conference after having dual affiliation the past two years. Membership decreased to eight schools in 1961 when Abbotsford and Dorchester merged, and divisional play was discontinued as well. The 3-C Conference played its last game in 1962, with four members joining the Cloverbelt Conference, two members becoming members of the Marawood Conference, and two entered the Flambeau League.Conference membership history
Final members
Previous members
Football-only members
Membership timeline
Full members
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bar:10 color:blue from:1933 till:1955 text:
bar:11 color:tan1 from:1931 till:1933 text:Loyal
bar:11 color:skyblue from:1933 till:1935 text:
bar:11 color:skyblue from:1938 till:1961 text:
bar:11 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:12 color:blue from:1933 till:1961 text:Westboro
bar:12 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:
bar:13 color:blue from:1935 till:1943 text:Prentice
bar:14 color:blue from:1949 till:1955 text:Phillips
bar:15 color:tan1 from:1961 till:1962 text:Dor-Abby
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Football members
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bar:6 color:lavender from:1950 till:1962 text:Auburndale
bar:7 color:lavender from:1950 till:1955 text:Withee
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