Hawkeye 10 Conference Explained

Hawkeye 10 Conference
Founded:February 15, 1930
Conference:IHSAA / IGHSAU
Teams:11
Region:Southwest Iowa
Formerly:Little 6, Hawkeye 6-7-8
Website:www.hawkeyeten.org

The Hawkeye 10 Conference is a high school athletic conference in Iowa made up of larger-mid-size schools in Southwest Iowa. Most members participate at the 3A level in all sports, which is the second highest level of competition in Iowa.

List of member schools

SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsYear JoinedBEDS Enrollment (2024–2025)[1] Football Class 2021-22
AtlanticAtlanticPublicTrojans 19303673A
ClarindaClarindaPublicCardinals19302442A
CrestonCrestonPublicPanthers19303743A
Denison-SchleswigDenisonPublicMonarchs19935964A
GlenwoodGlenwoodPublicRams19514534A
HarlanHarlanPublicCyclones19713673A
Kuemper CatholicCarrollPrivateKnights19932251A
Lewis CentralCouncil BluffsPublicTitans19707474A
Red OakRed OakPublicTigers19302412A
ShenandoahShenandoahPublicMustangs & Fillies19302222A
St. Albert CatholicCouncil BluffsPrivateFalcons & Saintes2013125A

Former member schools

SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsYear JoinedYear LeftConference Left For
CorningCorningPublicRed Raiders19461970Tall Corn
VilliscaVilliscaPublicBlue Jays1930 (founding member)1962Tall Corn (founding member)

In 2013, Corning and Villisca entered a joint operation agreement and are known as the Southwest Valley Timberwolves, competing in the Pride of Iowa Conference.

[3] *Classifications for football are set for two-year cycles with enrollment numbers from grades 9-11 from the school year before the cycle begins. For all other sports, enrollment numbers from grades 10-12 are used to determine classes for the current school year.

Conference History

In 1930, Creston approached Little Ten Conference members Atlantic, Clarinda, Red Oak, Shenandoah, and Villisca about breaking away from the conference to create their own league. The conference at the time consisted of those schools plus Bedford, Corning, Glenwood, and Sidney. During a meeting in Villisca on February 15, 1930, the schools decided to make it official. Soon after, The Little Six named was changed to the Hawkeye Six.

The 1930 track meet at Red Oak was the first official event, with Shenandoah claiming the first title in league history. Creston and Red Oak would tie for the football conference championship in the fall of '30.

In 1946 the conference went through their first phase of expansion when Corning was admitted, making the conference the Hawkeye Seven. Glenwood would follow in 1951, making it the Hawkeye Eight.

In 1962, Villisca withdrew from the conference to found the Tall Corn Conference, and Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln applied for membership, but was denied. Harlan would be invited at this time, but turned down an invitation to stay in the Midwest Conference.

In the fall of 1963, Lewis Central applied for membership, but was denied. The same happened in 1966 when St. Albert's Catholic and Maryville, Missouri both applied for membership and were denied.

Moving forward to 1968, Corning announced they would be leaving the conference in 1970 for the Tall Corn Conference as well. Lewis Central was soon admitted in 1970, and Harlan the following year.

The conference was known as the Hawkeye Eight until 1993 when Kuemper Catholic and Denison, recently partnered with Schelswig, joined. Beginning in the fall of 2013, St. Albert's Catholic finally became a member school as well, giving the conference 11 schools.

In 2017, the Missouri River Conference sent letters inviting both Lewis Central and Glenwood to join. Both schools declined.[4]

While the conference no longer sponsors football due to Iowa's district system, Harlan Community is one of the most storied football programs in the nation, having won 14 class 3A state titles since Iowa began the football playoff system in 1972. Harlan claimed titles in 1972, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2021, and 2022. Harlan holds the longest regular-season game winning streak (excludes post-season games) in Iowa high school football history, winning 66 straight games from 1985-1992. In addition, legendary coach Curt Bladt is the second winningest coach in state history, posting an unheard of 407-60 record in his career. Coach Bladt trails the all-time leader Dick Tighe by just 25 games despite the fact that Tighe coached for 63 years and Bladt has only coached for 40. Bladt has earned the honor of National High School Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Association, twice, and is also immortalized in a book titled Let the Chips Fall Where They May. Thanks to state titles held in Men's Basketball, Wrestling, and Baseball in recent years Harlan was also one of the finalist for ESPN's top High School Sport town in recent years.

State Champions

YearSchoolSportClass
1939CrestonBasketballSingle Class
1953Red OakTrackA
1956GlenwoodFootballA
1956ClarindaTrackA
1962ClarindaCross CountryA
1963ClarindaCross CountryA
1963AtlanticGolfA
1965Red OakCross CountryAA
1966Red OakCross CountryAA
1967CrestonGirls GolfA
1967Red OakCross CountryAA
1967GlenwoodIndoor TrackA
1972HarlanFootball3A
1973Lewis CentralCross CountryAA
1973Red OakTrackA
1974ShenandoahCross CountryB
1975ShenandoahCross CountryA
1978Denison-SchleswigBasketball2A
1982HarlanFootball 3A
1983HarlanFootball 3A
1983AtlanticGirls Track2A
1984HarlanFootball 3A
1985AtlanticGolf3A
1987Denison-SchleswigTennis1A
1988ShenandoahCross Country2A
1989ShenandoahCross Country2A
1989GlenwoodTrack3A
1989GlenwoodWrestling2A
1990AtlanticGirls BasketballSingle Class
1990GlenwoodTrack3A
1991ShenandoahCross Country2A
1993HarlanFootball 3A
1994Denison-SchleswigBaseball3A
1994ClarindaWrestling2A
1995HarlanFootball 3A
1995Kuemper CatholicGolf3A
1996HarlanBaseball3A
1997CrestonBasketball3A
1997HarlanFootball 3A
1998Kuemper CatholicGirls Basketball3A
1998HarlanFootball 3A
1998AtlanticGirls Track2A
1999ClarindaGirls Golf 2A
1999AtlanticGirls Track2A
2000Lewis CentralWrestling3A
2000AtlanticGirls Track2A
2001Lewis CentralWrestling3A
2001AtlanticGirls Track2A
2002AtlanticFootball 3A
2003HarlanFootball 3A
2003Red OakTennis1A
2003HarlanTrack3A
2003AtlanticGirls Track2A
2004HarlanBasketball3A
2004HarlanFootball 3A
2004AtlanticGirls Track3A
2004Lewis CentralWrestling3A
2005Kuemper CatholicGirls Golf3A
2005HarlanFootball 3A
2006HarlanBasketball3A
2006Kuemper CatholicGirls Golf3A
2007Red OakGirls Bowling1A
2007CrestonWrestling2A
2009HarlanFootball 3A
2009Kuemper CatholicGolf2A
2010GlenwoodBaseball3A
2010Kuemper CatholicGolf2A
2010Kuemper CatholicGirls Golf2A
2011Kuemper CatholicGolf2A
2011GlenwoodTrack3A
2013CrestonGolf3A
2013Kuemper CatholicGirls Golf3A
2013HarlanVolleyball4A
2013Kuemper CatholicFootball2A
2014HarlanGirls Basketball4A
2014AtlanticGirls Golf3A
2014HarlanVolleyball4A
2015HarlanGirls Basketball4A
2016CrestonWrestling2A
2018Kuemper Catholic Boys Golf 2A
2018GlenwoodBasketball3A
2018St. Albert CatholicTrack1A
2018Kuemper CatholicVolleyball3A
2019GlenwoodGirls Track3A
2019Lewis CentralBoys Soccer2A
2021St. Albert CatholicBaseball1A
2021HarlanFootball3A
2022HarlanFootball3A
2022CrestonBoys Track3A
2022Denison-SchleswigBoys Bowling2A
2024CrestonWrestling Dual Team2A

State Team Championships Since Joining Hawkeye 10

SchoolTitles
Harlan22
Atlantic12
Kuemper Catholic12
Creston8
Glenwood8
Red Oak7
Clarinda6
Shenandoah5
Lewis Central5
Denison-Schleswig4
St. Albert Catholic2

Wrestling

There is a strong history of wrestling in the conference with four separate schools having won state team championships since Glenwood won the conference's first in 1989. Creston and Lewis Central lead the way, having won three state titles each.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IHSAA: Classifications .
  2. Web site: Heartland Christian School - Council Bluffs, Iowa - Athletics .
  3. http://www.iahsaa.org
  4. Web site: Le Mars, 2 others asked to join MRAC Basketball siouxcityjournal.com.