(Des Moines, IA) -- Eleven of Iowa's largest high schools are going to compete in a new athletic conference, called the Iowa Alliance Conference. It'll include all the Des Moines high schools, as well as Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Ottumwa, and Waterloo East. Competition in the new conference begins in the 2022-2023 school year.
“This change is about providing our students with more opportunities to participate, compete and succeed,” noted Dr. Thomas Ahart, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “I am excited for what this will mean for our high schools and all members of the new conference.”
There will be two divisions:
- North – Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, and Waterloo East
- South – Des Moines East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, Ottumwa, and Roosevelt
Currently 10 of the 11 schools compete in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Waterloo East is joining the IAC from the Mississippi Valley Conference.
- The schools involved have released their considerations including:
More competitive equity between the member high schools;
- Greater similarities among the member high schools;
- Increased competition and success for greater student participation and engagement;
- Increased competition and success in order to hire, support and retain coaches;
- Greater flexibility in decision-making and scheduling within a smaller conference;
- Maintain historic rivalries between central Iowa high schools.
“The Iowa Alliance Conference meets the needs and interests of not only our DMPS high schools but all members, and lays the groundwork for all students, coaches and teams to have more opportunities to succeed,” added Jason Allen, the school district’s director of activities.
Next year’s schedules for the Iowa Alliance Conference will be posted at a later date. The new conference will first compete in Cross Country, Boys Golf, Girls Swimming and Volleyball starting next August.