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Monon Athletic Conference

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monon Athletic Conference
Founded2024
First season2025–2026
No. of teams8
RegionIHSAA
Locations
Location of teams in Monon Athletic Conference

The Monon Athletic Conference (MAC) is a planned, eight-member IHSAA-sanctioned conference to begin competition in the 2025–2026.

The conference comprises class 2A and 3A schools from Boone, Clinton, Hendricks, Montgomery, and Putnam counties.

The Monon Athletic Conference set its foundation in 2023 after charter members Crawfordsville, Frankfort, North Montgomery, Southmont, and Western Boone formally separated from the Sagamore Conference (SAC) after the 2024–2025 academic year citing enrollment differences and growth levels between remaining SAC members Danville, Lebanon, and Tri-West.[1][2][3][4] For stability, the conference considered a number of other schools for expansion to bring the league to eight members. North Putnam joined the league from the Western Indiana Conference (WIC) on May 19, 2023.[5][6] Cascade, which was originally leaving the Indiana Crossroads Conference to re-join the WIC shifted course and joined the MAC on September 26, 2023 thus withdrawing their acceptance back into the WIC.[7] Greencastle followed suit thereafter from the WIC formally following their September 2023 board meeting citing competitive balance and travel distance and costs as the primary reason for moving conferences.[8][9] These moves collectively take the Sagamore Conference to three members and the Western Indiana Conference to nine members.

The name "Monon Athletic Conference" was introduced on February 22, 2024 following discussions by all league members as all eight members fall on or close to the path of the former Monon Railroad which connected Louisville and Indianapolis to Chicago.[10][11]

Membership

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Charter Members

[edit]

All members will begin play in the 2025–2026 academic year.

School Location Mascot Colors Enrollment IHSAA

Class

County Year

Joined

Previous

Conference

Cascade Clayton Cadets       546 3A 32

Hendricks

2025 Indiana Crossroads
Crawfordsville Crawfordsville Athenians     710 3A 54

Montgomery

2025 Sagamore
Frankfort Frankfort Hot Dogs     901 3A 12

Clinton

2025 Sagamore
Greencastle Greencastle Tiger Cubs     495 2A 67

Putnam

2025 Western Indiana
North Montgomery Crawfordsville Chargers     513 3A 54

Montgomery

2025 Sagamore
North Putnam Roachdale Cougars     432 2A 67

Putnam

2025 Western Indiana
Southmont New Market Mounties     453 2A 54

Montgomery

2025 Sagamore
Western Boone Thorntown Stars     513 3A 06

Boone

2025 Sagamore
[edit]

== References ==

  1. ^ "County schools to separate from Sagamore Conference". Journal Review. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  2. ^ "Western Boone to leave Sagamore Conference, will form new six-team league". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  3. ^ will.willems@reporter.net, Will Willems (2023-05-10). "Western Boone, four others, separate from Sagamore Conference". Reporter.net. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  4. ^ Sportswriter, Clay Maxfield (2023-05-12). "FHS to leave Sagamore Athletic Conference". The Times. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  5. ^ Scott, Trent; Editor, Sports (2023-05-19). "UPDATED: North Putnam votes to join new athletic conference, leave Western Indiana Conference". Greencastle Banner Graphic. Retrieved 2024-02-22. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ "North Putnam To Join New Conference, Leaves Western Indiana Conference". Stateline Sports Network. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  7. ^ "Greencastle, Leaves WIC, To Join New Athletic Conference". Stateline Sports Network. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  8. ^ Jernagan, Jared; Editor; Scott, Trent; Editor, Sports (2023-10-02). "UPDATED: GHS set to join new athletic conference". Greencastle Banner Graphic. Retrieved 2024-02-22. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ LinkedUpRadio, Envisionwise Website Service /. "Size, number of schools, travel distance all factors in Greencastle decision to join new athletic conference". Putnam County Post. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  10. ^ "Monon Athletic Conference unveils name, logo". bannergraphic.com. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 Feb 2024.
  11. ^ will.willems@reporter.net, Will Willems (2024-02-22). "Western Boone's new conference gets name, logo". Reporter.net. Retrieved 2024-02-23.