Western Iowa Conference invites 10 teams

Two Hawkeye 10 schools and two Pride of Iowa schools have been invited to join the Western Iowa conference.

Shenandoah and Red Oak were both invited to join the conference, the Mustangs breaking the news Wednesday in a press release.

“(Shenandoah) is pleased to announce that it has received an official invitation to join the Western Iowa Conference.” the release states. “The invitation marks an important opportunity for the district, as it considers the future direction of its extracurricular programs and student opportunities.”

Red Oak also sent a press release. “We are grateful to the Western Iowa Conference for extending this invitation and for recognizing the strength and potential of our school district,” superintendent Ron Lorenz said. “We look forward to engaging in thoughtful conversations about this opportunity and what it could mean for our students.”

In the Pride of Iowa, invites were sent to Nodaway Valley, who is whole-grade sharing with Orient-Macksburg next year, and Southwest Valley.

Nodaway Valley was also extended an invitation to join the West Central Activities Conference.

Currently, the Western Iowa Conference is comprised of nine schools; however, two of their schools have invitations for a different conference.

The existing schools are AHSTW, Audubon, IKM-Manning, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Riverside, Treynor, Tri-Center and Underwood.

Audubon and IKM-Manning have been invited to the Rolling Valley Conference and have yet to take action on the invitation.

In the press release, Shenandoah states the district will have until Aug. 1 to make their decision.

The other schools invited to join WIC include: Earlham, MVAOCOU, Panorama, West Central Valley and Westwood.

The Hawkeye 10 is currently 11 schools: Creston, Clarinda, Kuemper Catholic, Lewis Central, Harlan, Red Oak, Glenwood, Shenandoah, Denison-Schleswig, St. Albert and Atlantic.

The Pride of Iowa is comprised of Bedford, Central Decatur, East Union, Lenox, Martensdale-St. Marys, Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley, Southwest Valley, Southeast Warren and Wayne.