Maple Valley Conference
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The Maple Valley Conference is a high school sports league in western Iowa. Most of its members are classified as 1A, the smallest grouping of schools in Iowa. However, a few of the schools compete in the next lowest class, 2A. The conference was formed in 1931 and existed for 77 years before merging with the Boyer Valley Conference in 2008. After operating as a 17-19 team league for five years, the Western Valley Activities Conference decided to dispand when all of the Boyer Valley Conference schools left to join other leagues. With only the former Maple Valley schools remaining, the remaining members decided to resume competition as the Maple Valley Conference again for the 2013-14 school year.
Schools
| School | Location | Mascot | Colors | 9-11 Enrollment (2012-2013)[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsley-Pierson | Kingsley | Panthers | 108 | |
| Lawton-Bronson | Lawton | Eagles | 141 | |
| MV/A-O | Mapleton | Rams | 175 | |
| O-A/BC-IG | Ida Grove | Falcons | 215 | |
| Ridge View | Holstein | Raptors | 197 | |
| River Valley | Correctionville | Wolverines | 79 | |
| Siouxland Community Christian | Sioux City | Eagles | 28 | |
| Westwood | Sloan | Rebels | 110 | |
| West Monona | Onawa | Spartans | 146 | |
| Whiting | Whiting | Warriors | 44 | |
| Woodbury Central | Moville | Wildcats | 142 |
History
The Maple Valley Conference traces its history to 1931 when the conference was founded with Onawa, Mapleton, Moville, Correctionville, Holstein, and Odebolt high schools. Kingsley joined the conference in 1944 and over time, the conference grew to 12 members so that by 2008 the conference included Odebolt-Arthur, Battle Creek-Ida Grove, Galva-Holstein, Woodbury Central, Kingsley-Pierson, Remsen-Union, Lawton-Broson, Westwood, River Valley, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, West Monona, and Whiting. Due to declining enrollment at many schools in western Iowa, the league decided to explore options for expansion in 2008. The Boyer Valley Conference, which had recently gone through a series of mergers, reached out to the conference regarding a merger. Following a 10-1 favorable vote from the Maple Valley schools, the Western Valley Activities Conference was officially formed.
When the league resumes play in 2013, there will be 11 members: OA-BCIG of Ida Grove (the combination of Odebolt-Arthur and BC-IG), Ridge View in Holstein (a new school formed by the merger of Galva-Holstein and non-league member Schaller-Crestland), Woodbury Central, Kingsley-Pierson, Lawton-Bronson, Westwood, River Valley, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, West Monona, Whiting and former independent Siouxland Community Christian. Remsen-Union now competes in the War Eagle Conference
Successes
Dating back to the 1920s, OA-BCIG (then Ida Grove), has been one of the strongest women's basketball programs in the state. The school's lineage includes 20 trips to the state tournament, four state championships (including the 2011 state title[2]) and two runner-up finishes. Additionally, Odebolt-Arthur won four championships in cross country in the 1960s and 1970s, Battle Creek won two state softball titles, and Ida Grove holds two state titles in track & field. Ridge View also boasts a strong tradition in women's basketball, with 14 state appearances. Kingsley-Pierson boasts state titles in boy's golf (1987), boy's track & field (1978), and softball (1966 and 1967). Woodbury Central won the state title in football in 1980,[3] the state track title in 1963, and the softball title in 2002.[4] Lawton-Bronson claim the 1A track title in 1991 and the 1925 state basketball title. West Monona won the 2005 men's golf title.[5]