Tri-Valley Conference (Michigan) Explained

The Tri-Valley Conference is a school sports league within the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), located in the Saginaw, Bay, and Midland areas of Michigan, United States.[1]

Member schools

Current members

SchoolLocationCountyEnrollmentClassJoinedPrevious conference
West Division (TVC 10)
Hemlock HuskiesSaginaw306 C 1979 Mid-Michigan Conference - B
Gratiot302 C 2006 Central State Activities Association
Saginaw175 D 1989 Central Michigan League
Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central Panthers Saginaw TownshipSaginaw204 C 2018 Independent
Saginaw276 C 2006 Great Thumb Conference
St. Louis SharksGratiot301 C 2006 Central State Activities Association
Midland Bullock Creek LancersHomer TownshipMidland494B1979Mid-Michigan Conference - B
Standish-Sterling PanthersDeep River TownshipArenac457B2016Independent
Millington CardinalsMillingtonTuscola369C1991Thumb B League
Carrollton CavaliersCarrollton TownshipSaginaw489B1979Northern B Conference
East Division (TVC 8)
Saginaw583 B1979 Five County 5 League
BridgeportSaginaw529 B 1994 Independent
Essexville Garber DukesEssexvilleBay540 B 1979 Northern B Conference
Frankenmuth EaglesFrankenmuthSaginaw539 B 1979 Thumb B League
Alma PanthersAlmaGratiot581B2006Mid-Michigan Conference - B
Bay City John Glenn BobcatsBangor TownshipBay801B2020Saginaw Valley League
Freeland FalconsFreelandSaginaw644B1989Central Michigan League
Saginaw Swan Valley VikingsThomas TownshipSaginaw542B1979Mid-Michigan Conference - B
Starting in 2024, Standish-Sterling, Bullock Creek, St. Louis all left to join the Jack Pine Conference. Birch Run left to join the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference and Millington left to join the Big Thumb Conference.

St. Charles left following the 2020 year. Bay City John Glenn joined to replace them.

*Shepherd & Pinconning have announced they will be departing following the 2018-2019 school year. Both schools will join the Jack Pine Conference of northern lower Michigan. After this the TVC went through a re-alignment. The Central and East merged. Midland Bullock Creek, Carrollton, Standish-Sterling, and Millington all moved to the west, and Bay City John Glenn joined the east.

Former members

TeamLocationJoinedPrevious conferenceDepartedSuccessive conference
St. Charles BulldogsSt. Charles1989Central Michigan League2020Mid-State Athletic Conference
Breckenridge HuskiesBreckenridge2006Central State Activities Association2016Mid-State Athletic Conference
Chesaning IndiansChesaning2006Mid-Michigan Conference B2018Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Caro TigersCaro1991Thumb B League2018Greater Thumb Conference
Merrill VandalsMerrill1989Central Michigan League2016Mid-State Athletic Conference
North Branch BroncosNorth Branch1991Thumb B League2018Blue Water Area Conference
Otisville LakeVille FalconsForest Township2013Genesee Area Conference2016Genesee Area Conference
Ovid-Elsie MaraudersDuplain Township2006Central State Activities Association2018Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Pinconning SpartansPinconning2016Independent2020Jack Pine Conference
Shepherd BluejaysShepherd2006Central State Activities Association2020Jack Pine Conference
Vassar VulcansVassar1991Thumb B League2008Greater Thumb Conference

Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyyImageSize = width:750 height:auto barincrement:20Period = from:1979 till:2024TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalPlotArea = right:30 left:0 bottom:50 top:5

Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7) id:line value:black id:bg value:white

PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:m

bar:1 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Birch Run (1979-) bar:2 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Carrollton (1979-) bar:3 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Essexville Garber (1979-) bar:4 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Frankenmuth (1979-) bar:5 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Hemlock (1979-) bar:6 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Midland Bullock Creek (1979-) bar:7 color:red from:1979 till:2024 text: Saginaw Swan Valley (1979-) bar:8 color:red from:1979 till:1989 text: Millington (1979-89; 1991-) bar:8 color:red from:1991 till:2024 bar:9 color:red from:1989 till:2024 text: Freeland (1989-) bar:10 color:red from:1989 till:2016 text: Merrill (1989-2016) bar:11 color:red from:1989 till:2024 text: Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (1989-) bar:12 color:red from:1989 till:2024 text: St. Charles (1989-) bar:13 color:red from:1991 till:2018 text: Caro (1991-2018) bar:14 color:red from:1991 till:2018 text: North Branch (1991-2018) bar:15 color:red from:1991 till:2008 text: Vassar (1991-2008) bar:16 color:red from:1994 till:2024 text: Bridgeport (1994-) bar:17 color:red from:2006 till:2024 text: Alma (2006-) bar:18 color:red from:2006 till:2024 text: Chesaning (2006-2018) bar:19 color:red from:2006 till:2024 text: Ithaca (2006-) bar:20 color:red from:2006 till:2018 text: Ovid-Elsie (2006-2018) bar:21 color:red from:2006 till:2024 text: Saginaw Valley Lutheran (2006-) bar:22 color:red from:2006 till:2024 text: St. Louis (2006-) bar:23 color:red from:2006 till:2019 text: Shepherd (2006-2019) bar:24 color:red from:2006 till:2016 text: Breckenridge (2006-2016) bar:25 color:red from:2013 till:2016 text: Otisville LakeVille (2013-2016) bar:26 color:red from:2016 till:2019 text: Pinconning (2016-2019) bar:27 color:red from:2016 till:2024 text: Standish-Sterling (2016-) bar:28 color:red from:2018 till:2024 text: Saginaw Nouvel (2018-) bar:29 color:red from:2020 till:2024 text: Bay City Glenn (2020-)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1979

TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(175,30) # tabs:(0-center) text:"Tri-Valley Conference membership history"

Athletics History

Basketball

West! colspan="2"
CoachSeason End
20-21FrankenmuthJoe JacobsStandish-SterlingDenny WendelFrankenmuth: (QF loss to Portland)Standish-Sterling: (Reg Semi loss to Ludington)
21-22Frankenmuth 22-3 (14-0)Joe Jacobs (2)Saginaw Nouvel 20-4 (17-1)Thomas KramerMuth: (QF loss to Ludington)Nouvel: (Reg Final loss to Fowler)
EastCoachWest - Tier ICoachWest - Tier IICoachSeason End
22-23Frankenmuth 25-3 (14-0)Joe Jacobs (3)Hemlock 26-3 (8-0)Scott NeumeyerValley Lutheran 20-4 (7-1)Matthew PrincingFM: (Finals loss to Lansing Catholic)HEM: (D3 State Champs)

VL: (Dist. Semi loss to Hemlock)

20-21: Saginaw Nouvel reached #1 in the AP Poll before losing in the quarterfinal.
Conference Champions (Boys Basketball)!!East!Coach!Central!Coach!West!Coach!Season End
11-12Bridgeport 20-2 (12-0)Jason KowalskiHemlock 19-5 (11-3)Matt BauerMLS 20-5 (13-1)David LeckerBP (Dist final loss to Carrollton)HEM (Reg semi loss to Muskegon Heights)MLS (QF loss to Southfield Christian)
12-13Frankenmuth 15-6 (10-2)Bridgeport Andrew DonovanJason KowalskiHemlock 19-4 (11-3)Shepherd 15-8 (11-3)Matt BauerRyan HuberIthaca 18-4 (13-1)James ThompsonFM (Dist QF loss to Caro)BP (Dist final loss to Swan Valley)HEM (Dist final loss to VL)S (Dist final loss to Alma)IHS (Dist final loss to Beaverton)
13-14Millington 23-2 (14-0)Shane LevanHemlock 19-5 (14-0)Matt BauerSaginaw Valley Lutheran 18-3 (14-0)Randy RogersMHS (Reg final loss to Goodrich)HEM (Reg semi loss to Montrose)VL (Dist QF loss to Hemlock)
14-15Frankenmuth 18-5 (12-2)Andrew DonovanAlma 18-5 (12-2)JT ClevelandIthaca 21-3 (13-1)MLS 22-3 (13-1)James ThompsonDavid LeckerFM (Reg semi loss to Goodrich)A (Reg semi loss to Wyoming Godwin Heights)IHS (Reg semi loss to MLS)MLS (Reg final loss to Millington)
15-16Frankenmuth 20-3 (12-2)Birch Run 19-3 (12-2)Andrew DonovanClark PlitchtaAlma 19-4 (13-0)JT ClevelandIthaca 23-3 (14-0)James ThompsonFM (Dist. finals loss to Flint Northwestern) BR (Dist. finals loss to Freeland)A (Reg. finals loss to Garber)IHS (QF loss to Flint Beecher)
16-17Bridgeport 19-3 (13-1)Frankenmuth 21-3 (13-1)Eugene SealsAndrew DonovanFreeland 20-3 (13-1)Kevin BourcierIthaca 20-3 (13-1)James ThompsonBP (Dist. Finals Loss to Muth)FM (Reg. Finals Loss to Lake Fenton)F (Reg. Semi. Loss to Lake Fenton)I (Dist. Finals Loss to Alma)
17-18Bridgeport 24-2 (12-0)Kevin MarshallAlma 18-6 (11-3)Swan Valley (11-3)JT ClevelandLuke HendrickOvid-Elsie 18-5 (13-1)Josh LatzBP (QF Loss to New Haven)A (Reg. Semi. Loss to Standish-Sterling)SV (Dist. Final Loss to Freeland)OE (Reg. Semi. Loss to Bridgeport)
18-19Bridgeport 22-1 (10-0)Kevin Marshall (2)Alma 19-4 (7-3)Freeland 12-9 (7-3)Swan Valley 12-9 (7-3)JT Cleveland (2)Kevin Bourcier (2)Luke Hendrick (2)Valley Lutheran 18-4 (13-1)Joel ErdmannBP (Reg. Semi. Loss to Alma)A (QF Loss to Ludington)F (Dist. Final Loss to Garber)SV (Dist. Semi. Loss to Freeland)VL (Dist. Semi Loss to Reese)
EastCoachWestCoachSeason End
19-20Bridgeport (13-1)Kevin Marshall (3)Carrollton (17-1)Hemlock (17-1)Zak ZuzulaMatt BauerCovid cancelled postseason
20-21Frankenmuth 14-2 (11-1)Andrew Donovan (2)Hemlock 17-1 (9-0)Matt Bauer (2)Muth (Dist. Semi. Loss to Bridgeport)Hemlock (Dist. Finals Loss to Reese)
21-22Freeland 25-1 (14-0)John FattalCarrollton 17-4 (17-1)Standish-Sterling Central 22-2 (17-1)Zak Zuzula (2)Matt KoinFreeland (State Semi. loss to Williamston)Carrollton (Dist. Semi. loss to Garber)SSC (Reg. Semi loss to Cadillac)
EastCoachWest - Tier ICoachWest - Tier IICoachSeason End
22-23Bridgeport 20-5 (13-1)Kevin Marshall (4)Standish-Sterling 22-1 (8-0)Matt Koin (2)Nouvel 21-5 (8-0)Michael KesslerBridgeport (Reg. Semi loss to Hamady)Standish (Reg. Semi loss to Cadillac)

Nouvel (Reg. Final loss to Beecher)

19-20: Carrollton went as high as #4 in the AP Poll.

20-21: Covid shortened season.

20-21: Bridgeport went 10-2 in the conference and coach Kevin Marshall took the Bearcats to the state semis where they lost to Battle Creek Pennfield. Carrollton lost their lone conference game with Hemlock and went to the regional finals before losing to BP, 54-53.

21-22: Freeland went to the Breslin center and lost in the state semis.

Football History

East!Coach! colspan="2"
WestCoachSeason End
2004Birch Run 8-2 (6-1), Garber 8-3 (6-1)Chris Gilliam, Dave SchwartzBullock Creek 13-1 (7-0)Darren KalinaBR: (5-Pdis loss to Cass City), GAR: (5-Dist loss to Nouvel), BC: (5-Finals loss to Jackson Lumen Christi)
2005Birch Run 12-1 (7-0)Chris GilliamBullock Creek 10-1 (7-0)Darren KalinaBR: (5-Semi loss to Jackson Lumen Christi), BC: (5-Reg loss to Menonminee)
YearEastCoachCentralCoachWestCoachSeason End
2006Birch Run 9-2 (6-1), North Branch 9-2 (6-1)Chris Gilliam, Eric HenselSwan Valley 12-1 (7-0)Rich BellIthaca 10-1 (7-0)Terry HessbrookBR: (5-Dist. loss to Lake Fenton), NB: (4-Dist. loss to Flint Powers), SV: (5-Semi loss to Menominee), ITH: (6-Dist. loss to St. Charles)
2007Frankenmuth 8-2 (7-0)Tim Van WormerAlma 11-1 (7-0)Jeff IntersollSt. Charles 10-1 (7-0)Brady LakeFM: (5-Pdis loss to Chesaning), A: (4-Reg loss to Marine City), STC: (6-Dist. loss to Nouvel)
2008Millington 8-2 (6-1)Tim FurnoFreeland 10-2 (7-0)Kevin TownsendCarrollton 8-2 (7-0)Greg WasmerMIL: (5-Pdis loss to Garber), FL: (5-Reg loss to Ovid-Elsie), CAR: (6-Dist. loss to Nouvel)
2009Garber 7-3 (6-0)Dave SchwartzOvid-Elsie 11-1 (7-0)Jerry GoosenCarrollton 8-2 (6-1), Ithaca 11-2 (6-1), St. Charles 10-2 (6-1)Greg Wasmer, Terry Hessbrook, Brady LakeGAR: (4-PDist. loss to Central Montcalm), OE: (5-Reg loss to Millington), CAR: (5-PDist. loss to Millington), IHS: (6-Semi loss to Montague), STC: (6-Reg loss to Ithaca)
2010Millington 11-2 (6-0)Roger BearssFreeland 7-3 (6-1)Kevin TownsendIthaca 14-0 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFL: (5-Pdist. loss to Swan Valley), MIL: (5-Semi loss to Olivet), ITH: (D6 State Champions)
2011Millington 10-1 (6-0)Roger BearssFreeland 8-3 (6-1), Ovid-Elsie 6-4 (6-1)Kevin Townsend, Travis LongIthaca 14-0 (7-0)Terry HessbrookMIL: (5-Dist. loss to Flint Powers), FL: (5-Dist. loss to Hemlock), OE: (5-Dist. loss to Portland, ITH: (D6 State Champions)
2012Frankenmuth 10-1 (6-0)Tim Van WormerHemlock 9-2 (7-0)Bruce BendixIthaca 14-0 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFM: (5-Dist. loss to Flint Powers), HEM: (6-Dist. loss to Ithaca), ITH: (D6 State Champions)
2013Frankenmuth 9-2 (7-0)Phil MartinSwan Valley 11-1 (7-0)Ken BourbinaIthaca 14-0 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFM: (5-Dist. loss to Millington), SV: (4-Reg loss to Lansing Sexton), IHS: (D6 State Champion)
2014Birch Run 7-3 (6-1) Frankenmuth 9-2 (6-1) Millington 9-2 (6-1)Chris Gilliam, Roger Bearss, Phil MartinSwan Valley 10-1 (7-0)Ken BourbinaIthaca 13-1 (7-0)Terry HessbrookBR: (5-PDist. loss to Flint Powers), MIL: (6-Dist. loss to Ithaca), FM: (5-Dist. loss to Flint Powers), SV: (4-Dist loss to Lansing Sexton), IHS: (6-Finals loss to Monroe St. Marys)
2015Frankenmuth 9-2 (7-0)Phil MartinFreeland 11-1 (7-0)Kevin TownsendIthaca 14-0 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFM: (5-Dist. Loss to Freeland), FL: (5-Reg Loss to GR Catholic Central), IHS (State Champion Division 6)
2016Frankenmuth 11-2 (7-0)Phil MartinFreeland 10-1 (7-0)Kevin TownsendIthaca 11-1 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFM: (5-Semi Loss to Menominee), FL: (5-Dist. Loss to Frankenmuth), IHS (5-Reg Loss to Frankenmuth)
2017Frankenmuth 12-1 (6-0)Phil MartinSwan Valley 12-2 (7-0)Kevin GavendaIthaca 13-1 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFM: (5-Semi Loss to GR West Catholic), SV: (5-Finals Loss to GR West Catholic), IHS (6-Finals Loss to Jackson Lumen Christi)
2018Frankenmuth 9-3 (5-0)Phil MartinSwan Valley 12-1 (7-0)Kevin GavendaIthaca 8-2 (7-0)Terry HessbrookFM: (5-Reg Loss to Portland) SV: (5-Semi Loss to Hudsonville Unity Christian), IHS (6-PDist. Loss to Millington)
YearEastCoachWest - ICoachWest - IICoachSeason End
2019Frankenmuth (9-2)Phil MartinIthaca (8-2)Terry HessbrookHemlock (8-3)Aaron ClarkMuth (5-Dist. Loss to Swan Valley), Ithaca (6-PDist. Loss to Meridian), Hemlock (6-Dist. Loss to Meridian)
2020Frankenmuth (11-1)Phil MartinHemlock (8-3)Aaron ClarkIthaca (9-1)Terry HessbrookMuth (5-Finals Loss to GRCC), Hem. (7-Dist. Loss to Cass City), Ithaca (7-Reg Loss to Cass City)
2021Frankenmuth (12-1)Phil MartinMillington (10-1)Lenny DantinneIthaca (6-4)Jordan HessbrookMuth (5-Semi Loss to GRCC), Ithaca (7-PDist. Loss to P-W), Mil. (6-Dist. Loss to Lansing Catholic)
2022Frankenmuth 13-1 (8-0)Phil MartinStandish-Sterling 8-2 (7-0)Marty MalcolmIthaca 10-2 (7-1)Jordan HessbrookMuth (5-Finals loss to Gladwin), SSC (6-Dist. loss to Millington) IHS (7-Reg loss to TC St. Francis)
2023Frankenmuth 11-1 (7-0)Phil MartinMillington 12-0 (4-0)Jason GermainIthaca 11-1 (4-0)Jordan HessbrookMuth (5-State semis)MIL (7-State semis)

IHS (8-Reg loss to Ubly)

Bold: state champion

*Ithaca has won 15 consecutive TVC West championships

^Frankenmuth has won 9 consecutive TVC East championships, and have also won 53 straight TVC matchups, last lost to Millington in '14.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About the MHSAA > Leagues & Conferences > League Membership. Michigan High School Athletic Association. mhsaa.com. 2015-03-23.