East Central Conference (IHSAA)

The East Central Conference was an athletic conference from 1947 to 1969 based in Eastern Indiana, considered as one of the regional superconferences in the state. The conference began with 12 schools, though had turnover within its first year, mainly having to do with gym issues. Pendleton and Greenfield, larger schools, refused to play in Cambridge City's gym, deeming it too small to play in. The conference felt otherwise, and forced the two schools out of the conference. Williamsburg, on the other hand, had the opposite problem; its gym was found to be too small for conference play, and moved them out as well. To fill their spots, the conference recruited Milroy, Morristown, and Morton Memorial to join the fold.^[1] While the conference did grow to 13 schools, by 1956 it had started to splinter. Three schools left to found the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference in 1956, while in 1962 four schools left to help found the Tri-Eastern Conference. The formation of the TEC in 1962 almost caused the ECC to fold, as it was left with five members. However, the Hancock County Conference's six schools were merged into the fold, giving the conference new life. Consolidation was eventually the ECC's undoing, as the loop was left with five schools by 1969. These five, as well as the school Spiceland consolidated into (Tri), started the Big Blue River Conference. That conference can be considered a direct successor to the ECC, meaning the conference (under its multiple names) existed for 42 years, until the BBRC folded in 1989.

Membership

1. Liberty played in both the ECC and WVC from 1947 until it left for the Tri-Eastern Conference in 1962.

Conference Champions

References