The Lincoln Trail Conference (LTC) officially accepted Bureau Valley into the league Thursday. The invitation begins with the 2024-25 school year.
Bureau Valley will depart from the Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) at the end of the 2023-24 school year. The Storm joined the TRAC in 1999. Bureau Valley joins Amboy, Fulton, St. Bede, and Morrison as schools that have left the TRAC in the past six years.
Bureau Valley was set to have the third-smallest IHSA classification enrollment (319.5) in the TRAC in 2024-25. The only member schools with lower enrollments were Newman Central Catholic (210) and Orion (307.5). There will be only one school larger than Bureau Valley in the LTC in 2024-25, Knoxville (328.5).
West Central High School principal and head football coach Jason Kirby says Bureau Valley is a good addition to the LTC.
Mercer County is leaving the LTC for the TRAC in 2024-25. Golden Eagle athletic director Dustin Murray reacts to Bureau Valley’s move.
In 2024-25 the TRAC will have 12 member schools: Erie-Prophetstown, Hall, Kewanee, Mendota, Mercer County, Monmouth-Roseville, Newman, Orion, Princeton, Sherrard, Riverdale, and Rockridge.
The LTC will also have 12 members in 2024-25: Abingdon-Avon, Annawan, Bureau Valley, Galva, Knoxville, Princeville, Ridgewood, ROWVA-Williamsfield, Stark County, United, West Central, and Wethersfield.