The Wisconsin Valley Conference is a high school athletic conference composed of the largest public schools in north-central Wisconsin centered on the Wausau, Wisconsin metro area. The Wisconsin Valley is one of Wisconsin's oldest athletic conferences. The conference sponsors a variety of high school sports for girls and boys. In 2008, Antigo and Merrill, which had been charter members for 87 years, moved to the Great Northern Conference. This was the first change of the Wisconsin Valley Conference since 1980 when member Shawano moved to the Bay Conference. In the summer of 2010 Merrill returned to the Wisconsin Valley Conference and Rhinelander moved to the Great Northern Conference. In 2010 The WVC Schools petitioned to the WIAA for scheduling assistance in Football. Therefore, a footbal