(NWIC) and Upstate Illini merged under the Upstate Illini banner. Based on these new additions, three divisions were formed West - Dakota, East Dubuque, Galena, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville, River Ridge, Stockton and Warren. East - Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Pecatonica, Rockford Lutheran and South Beloit. South - Forreston, Freeport Aquin, Lanark (Eastland), Milledgeville, Mt. Carroll, Pearl City and Polo. In 1999 Savanna was added to the South Division and Rockford Christian Life to the East Division making the total number of teams 24 for football, 26 overall, the largest conference in Illinois outside of the Chicago Public League. The year 2000 was the last year under the Upstate Illini name because six schools (Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Pecatonica and South Beloit) left in 2001 to form the Four Rivers Conference. Rockford Lutheran and Rockford Christian Life also departed the conference in 2001, seeking competition more suited to their locations and size by joining the Private School League. The remaining schools realigned under the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference banner. All-Time Membership The Upstate Illini Conference had various divisions throughout its history, the list of schools encompasses all of the schools which were once a part of the conference. ♦ Elizabeth and Hanover consolidated creating the River Ridge CUSD in 1985. ♥ Shannon and Lanark consolidated creating the Eastland CUSD in 1986. ♣ Chadwick and Milledgeville consolidated creating the Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD in 1989. ° Leaf River ceased operations and was merged into Forreston High School in 1990 ³ Mt. Morris ceased operations and was merged into Oregon High School in 1995 ♠ Ashton and Franklin Center consolidated creating Ashton-Franklin Center High School in 2004 • Mount Carroll, Savanna and Thomson consolidated, creating the West Carroll School District in 2006. * River Ridge High School relocated to Hanover, IL in 2004. Membership timeline References External links High school sports in Illinois Illinois high school sports conferences