No New Version of NEIC, Decorah and WSR Assigned to WaMac Conference

The creation of a new conference, similar to the old Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC), is not “in play” for the Decorah School District.

The Vikings have been without conference affiliation since the NEIC dissolved at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. They applied to the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC), but were rejected due to their school size. 

They’ve been searching for a league since and, last month, the Conference Realignment Committee heard Decorah’s application and identification of conferences for possible placement. Decorah even proposed a new conference consisting of North Fayette Valley and Osage, plus former NEIC members Charles City, Waukon, Crestwood, and New Hampton. 

The Realignment Committee also heard from Waverly-Shell Rock, in search of a new league ever since they were voted out of the NEIC, departing at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. WSR applied to the WaMac and Mississippi Valley conferences, but were denied.

On Wednesday (04.29) in Ankeny, the Realignment Committee met again along with the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). All other teams that could be impacted by any decision were also allowed to have their say on the issue. That included Charles City, with Comets Activities Director Dana Sullivan in attendance.

She tells KCHA/KCZE that North Fayette Valley, along with New Hampton, Crestwood, and Waukon, now members of the UIC, were “very passionate” about not being involved in the conference proposed by Decorah, which the Realignment Committee voted down by a 9-4 vote. 

The Committee also voted 12-0 to place both Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock in the WaMac Conference.

Any of the school’s impacted by that decision will have 60 days to appeal with the Department of Education.