CLINTONVILLE, WI – The Clintonville School District will continue competing in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) after the Board of Education took no action on a proposal to move several athletic programs to the Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC). The proposal, discussed during the board’s September 22 meeting, would have impacted all sports except football, which follows a separate scheduling cycle.
Superintendent Troy Kuhn said the idea of switching conferences was raised by some parents and coaches, but the majority of the district’s varsity coaches preferred to remain in the NEC. He noted two main reasons for considering the move — reduced travel distances and similar socioeconomic backgrounds between Clintonville and schools in the Central Wisconsin Conference. “It really shrinks down how far we’re traveling on our away games,” Kuhn said, adding that Clintonville families often juggle academics, athletics, and work commitments differently than some of the larger NEC schools.
Kuhn also emphasized that many Clintonville students hold jobs outside of school, which can limit participation in offseason weight training and camps compared to peers in neighboring districts. He said the board’s discussion was meant to consider the long-term balance between student needs, competition levels, and travel demands.
With no motion made to advance the proposal, Clintonville’s athletic programs will remain in the Northeastern Conference, continuing to compete against teams such as Denmark, Freedom, Little Chute, and Luxemburg-Casco. District officials say they’ll revisit the conversation in the future if travel costs or scheduling challenges increase.
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