Apollo Conference

The Apollo Conference is a high school athletic conference represented by 7 schools in the central portion of Illinois. It is a member of the Illinois High School Association.

Apollo Conference
Established1970
AssociationIHSA
Members7
Class 4A
RegionCentral Illinois (Champaign, Christian, Coles, Effingham, Logan, and Macon counties)
State titles10

The conference offers championships for girls in basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. In boys' sports, the Apollo offers championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.

History

The conference was formed in 1970 by charter members Charleston, Newton, Paris and Robinson who left from the Eastern Illinois Conference. In 1972 Decatur Lakeview and Mt. Zion joined the conference after departing the Cenois Conference.[1] Effingham and Taylorville joined in 1981, leaving the Mid-State Conference.[2] Lakeview closed in 1982, bringing the conference back to seven members. In 1993 Taylorville left to join the newly formed Central State 8 Conference. Olney and Salem joined from the North Egypt Conference, which was dissolved in 2003.[3]

Significant changes have occurred for the Apollo Conference. Founding members Newton and Robinson, as well as Olney, left for the Little Illini Conference in the 2012-13 school year. Mattoon joined the league in that same school year, departing from the Big 12 Conference.[4] Teutopolis was invited to join the conference, but declined the invitation.[5][6][7][8] The Taylorville Tornadoes rejoined the conference in 2014,[9] while another Apollo founding school, Paris has left for the Little Illini Conference.[10] In 2015, Corn Belt Conference member Mahomet-Seymour was accepted into the conference starting with the 2017-2018 school year.[11] Later in the same year, Central State Eight conference member Lincoln was accepted to join in 2017-2018. [12] Shortly after, Salem elected to join the Cahokia Conference in 2017-18. [13]

Geographical concerns and school enrollment has played a part in the switching between Apollo and Little Illini Conferences. Charleston is the only founding member of the conference to stay in the Apollo, while Newton, Paris and Robinson have moved into the LIC

Current members
Charleston
Mattoon
Effingham
Lincoln
Mahomet
Mt. Zion
Taylorville
Apollo Conference Members (clickable map)


School Location
(Population)		 Nickname Colors Affiliation Enrollment

2017-18

 Year Joined Previous Conference School Website
Charleston High School Charleston, Illinois
(21,838)		 Trojans and Lady Trojans Scarlet and Gold

   

 Public 806 1970 Eastern Illinois Conference http://www.charleston.k12.il.us/chs/
Effingham High School Effingham, Illinois
(12,328)		 Flaming Hearts Red, White and Forest Green

     

 Public 716 1981 Mid-State Conference http://www.effingham.k12.il.us
Lincoln High School Lincoln, Illinois
(14,504)		 Railsplitters Red and Green

   

 Public 843 2017 Central State Eight Conference http://www.lchsrailers.org
Mahomet-Seymour High School Mahomet, Illinois
(7,258)		 Bulldogs Orange and Navy

   

 Public 957 2017 Corn Belt Conference https://www.ms.k12.il.us/o/high-school
Mattoon High School Mattoon, Illinois
(18,555)		 Green Wave Green and Gold

   

 Public 1,072 2012 Big Twelve Conference http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us
Mt. Zion High School Mount Zion, Illinois
(5,833)		 Braves and Lady Braves Red and White

   

 Public 783 1972 Cenois Conference http://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/pages/mtzion
Taylorville High School Taylorville, Illinois
(11,246)		 Tornadoes and Lady Tornadoes Purple and Gold

   

 Public 777 1981, 2014 Central State Eight Conference http://www.tcusd3.org

Former members
School Nickname Colors Location Enrollment Year Departed Conference Joined
Newton Community High School Eagles     Newton, IL 461 2012 Little Illini Conference
Olney (Richland County) High School Tigers     Olney, IL 733 2012 Little Illini Conference
Paris High School Tigers     Paris, IL 618 2014 Little Illini Conference
Robinson High School Maroons     Robinson, IL 457 2012 Little Illini Conference
Salem Community High School Wildcats     Salem, IL 697 2017 Cahokia Conference

See also

References
  1. http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id278.html
  2. http://www.piasabirds.com/SCC/midstatehistory.html
  3. http://www.ihsfw.com/Conferences/Z-OldConferences/NorthEgypt.html
  4. http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us/vnews/display.v/ART/4c0f8673b20b9
  5. http://www.herald-review.com/sports/article_4c3cdf5e-63d1-11df-a665-001cc4c03286.html
  6. http://effinghamdailynews.com/local/x657351532/Residents-discuss-pros-and-cons-of-conference-change%5B%5D
  7. http://herald-review.com/sports/article_fa2dcd60-8e3f-11df-9e41-001cc4c03286.html
  8. http://thexradio.com/premier/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6681:teutopolis-board-declines-invitation-to-join-apollo&catid=5:news&Itemid=1%5B%5D
  9. http://www.sj-r.com/sports/x984844934/Taylorville-High-approved-to-join-Apollo-Conference
  10. http://jg-tc.com/sports/paris-leaving-apollo-conference-for-little-illini/article_dce47b4e-c0a3-11e1-a5ce-001a4bcf887a.html
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-06-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. http://www.sj-r.com/article/20151221/SPORTS/151229921
  13. http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/sports/update-salem-leaving-apollo-conference-heading-to-cahokia/article_a54fa686-ba37-11e5-8ae6-dbbd425a667b.html
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