Apollo Conference

Apollo Conference
Data
Established 1970
Members 6
Class 4A
State Titles 10
State Illinois
Counties 5 (Effingham, Marion, Coles, Christian, and Macon)

The Apollo Conference is a high school athletic conference represented by 6 schools in the east-central portion of Illinois. It is a member of the Illinois High School Association.

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.

Current members

School Nickname Colors Location Enrollment

2015-2016

Charleston High School Trojans           Charleston, IL 791
Effingham High School Hearts           Effingham, IL 784
Mattoon High School Green Wave           Mattoon, IL 1021
Mt. Zion High School Braves           Mount Zion, IL 712
Salem Community High School Wildcats           Salem, IL 729
Taylorville High School Tornadoes           Taylorville, IL 809

Future members

School Nickname Colors Location Enrollment

2015-2016

 Notes
Lincoln Community High School Railsplitters           Lincoln, IL 860 Joining in 2017-18
Mahomet-Seymour High School Bulldogs           Mahomet, IL 955 Joining in 2017-18

The conference was formed in 1970 by charter members Charleston, Newton, Paris and Robinson. 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] Salem will leave the conference after the 2016-17 season to join the Cahokia Conference. [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.

References

External links

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