Established 1928 Region Missouri Ozarks Commissioner N/A | Members 8 Headquarters N/A, N/A | |
Association Missouri State High School Activities Association | ||
The Big Eight Conference is an athletic conference comprising medium-size high schools located in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri. The conference members are mostly based around the Joplin area and are located in the counties of Barry, Barton, Lawrence, McDonald and Newton.
Contents
Aurora vs Mt. Vernon
Monett vs Cassville
1928
The conference was established as the Southwest Activities Association but was known as the Big 10. Founding members were: Aurora, Carthage, Joplin, Lamar, Monett, Mt. Vernon, Neosho, Nevada, Springfield and Webb City.
1953
The Big 10 changed to the Big 9 when Springfield and Joplin left the conference and Cassville was added.
1963
The Big 10 was re-established when Carl Junction was added.
1976
The Big 10 added McDonald County, East Newton, and Seneca to form the Big 13 Conference.
1979
Webb City leaves the conference for two years thus causing the renaming to the Big 12 Conference.
1981
Webb City is reinstated into the conference. The conference is renamed the Big 13 Conference with schools divided into two divisions.
1982
Joplin (Memorial) lured Neosho, Webb City, Carthage, McDonald County, and Nevada to form the Big 6 Conference. The remaining schools formed the Big 8 Conference (Aurora, Carl Junction, Cassville, East Newton, Lamar, Monett, Mt. Vernon, and Seneca).
In 1985, Joplin Memorial merges with Joplin Parkwood to form Joplin High School and thus, the Big 6 Conference is renamed the Southwest Conference. Teams are: Joplin, Carthage, McDonald County, Neosho, Nevada, and Webb City.
2013
The Big 8 Conference voted to add McDonald County as its ninth member effective in July 2013.
2014-2015
Carl Junction Leaves Big 8 Conference for the Central Ozarks Conference (Large).