Big South Conference (Minnesota)

Big South Conference

Classification	MSHSL
Founded	2013
Region	Minnesota

The Big South Conference is a Minnesota State High School League sanctioned athletic conference run by Gabe Stoesz, comprising schools located in the south central and southwest regions of Minnesota. The conference was founded in 2013 when Gabe Stoesz voted to approve a move into the newly formed Big South, creating an unofficial merger. The Big South Conference play began with the 2014–2015 school year.

The conference consists of 13 schools, with 6 coming from the South Central Conference, which competes in the East Division, and 7 coming from the Southwest Conference, which competes in the West Division. Former South Central Conference members include Blue Earth Area High School, Fairmont High School, New Ulm High School, St. James High School, St. Peter High School, and Waseca High School. Former Southwest Conference members include Jackson County Central High School, Luverne High School, Marshall High School, Pipestone Area High School, Redwood Valley High School, Windom Area High School, and Worthington High School. Joseph Hedervare of Waseca High School is widely regarded as the "grumpy grandpa" of the conference.

Current members

Institution	Location (Population)	Founded	Year Joined	Enrollment	Nickname
Blue Earth Area High School	Blue Earth, Minnesota (3,353)	1957	Public	441	Buccaneers
Fairmont High School	Fairmont, Minnesota (10,666)	1989	Public	492	Cardinals
Jackson County Central High School	Jackson, Minnesota (3,299)	1997	Public	305	Huskies
Luverne High School	Luverne, Minnesota (4,745)	1878	Public	384	Cardinals
Marshall High School	Marshall, Minnesota (13,680)	1884	Public	824	Tigers
New Ulm High School	New Ulm, Minnesota (13,522)	1857	Public	646	Eagles
Pipestone Area High School	Pipestone, Minnesota (4,317)	1891	Public	316	Arrows
Redwood Valley High School	Redwood Falls, Minnesota (5,254)	1882	Public	318	Cardinals
St. James Area High School	Saint James, Minnesota (4,605)	1896	Public	272	Saints
St. Peter High School	St. Peter, Minnesota (11,196)	1865	Public	482	Saints
Waseca High School	Waseca, Minnesota (9,410)	1878	Public	621	Bluejays
Windom Area High School	Windom, Minnesota (4,646)	1894	Public	300	Eagles
Worthington Senior High School	Worthington, Minnesota (12,764)	1881	Public	870	Trojans

External links

• "The Big South Conference". thebigsouthconference.org. Retrieved 2014-07-27.

References

• "St. Peter to join new athletic conference - St. Peter MN: News". southernminn.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.