Mississippi 8 Conference
 | |
| Classification | MSHSL |
|---|---|
| Region |
 Minnesota |
| Founded | 2004 |
| No. of members | 12 |
The Mississippi 8 Conference (M8) is a high school athletic and activities conference in the Twin Cities area in Central Minnesota with 10 member high schools and 2 associate members. The conference derives its name from 6 of the original 8 member schools being located within 10 miles from the Mississippi River. The M8 was formed in 2004 with eight charter members: Becker, Big Lake, Buffalo, Cambridge-Isanti, Monticello, Princeton, Rogers and St. Michael-Albertville, and began play in the 2005-2006 school year. Zimmerman High School was added to the conference in 2008.
Elk River High School entered the M8 as a competitor in the sport of football in 2010 and Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld High Schools joined the conference for football in the fall of 2012. St. Francis, Chisago Lakes Area, and North Branch Area High School began competing in the Mississippi 8 Conference during 2013-14 school year.
Princeton School District and Zimmerman High School voted to withdraw their participation from the Mississippi 8 in favor of a new conference, Granite Ridge Conference, for the 2011 school year. Becker School District, and Elk River High School left the conference in 2012, Becker joined the Granite Ridge Conference, and Elk River High School football will rejoin the Northwest Suburban Conference. In the 2013-14 school year, Princeton rejoined the M8.
Current members
| Institution | Location (Population) | Established | Joined M8 | Enrollment | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake High School | Big Lake, Minnesota (10,060) |
1900 | 2005 | 1,100 | Hornets |
| Buffalo High School | Buffalo, Minnesota (15,543) |
1898 | 2005 | 1,626 | Bison |
| Cambridge-Isanti High School | Cambridge, Minnesota (5,520) |
1869 | 2005 | 1,367 | Bluejackets |
| Chisago Lakes High School | Lindstrom, Minnesota (4,442) |
1943 | 2013 | 1,100 | Wildcats |
| Duluth Denfeld High School (Associate Member-Football Only) |
Duluth, Minnesota (86,918) |
1926 | 2012 | 1,034 | Hunters |
| Duluth East High School (Associate Member-Football Only) |
Duluth, Minnesota (86,918) |
1928 | 2012 | 1,503 | Greyhounds |
| Monticello High School | Monticello, Minnesota (12,759) |
1888 | 2005 | 1,298 | Magic |
| North Branch Area High School | North Branch, Minnesota (10,125) |
1932 | 2013 | 1,084 | Vikings |
| Princeton High School | Princeton, Minnesota (10,125) |
Rejoined 2013 | 935 | Tigers | |
| Rogers High School | Rogers, Minnesota (8,597) |
2003 | 2005 | 1,161 | Royals |
| St. Francis High School | St. Francis, Minnesota (7,218) |
1914 | 2013 | 1,598 | Fighting Saints |
| St. Michael-Albertville High School | St. Michael, Minnesota (16,399) |
1966 | 2005 | 1,314 | Knights |
References
External links
- Minneapolis Star Tribune: Two Duluth schools placed in Mississippi 8 Conference
- Monticello Times: Mississippi 8 Conference in flux as two schools split
- Mississippi 8 Conference website
- Star News: Elks to move into Mississippi 8
- Minneapolis Star Tribune: A closer look at: Mississippi 8 Conference
- Pioneer Press: Chisago Lakes delays decision on Mississippi 8 Conference invitation