The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) is a college athletic conference of 10 small schools around Illinois and Wisconsin in the Midwest. It competes in NCAA Division III, which emphasizes amateurism, academic excellence, and competitive athletics. The schools have a long and proud history of competition and a commitment to providing outstanding opportunities for student-athletes. The CCIW is one of the most well-regarded conferences in Division III, and its members have earned multiple national titles and NCAA tournament appearances.

History and Significance

The CCIW was originally formed in 1933 as an offshoot of the College Conference of Illinois. It was rebranded in 2006, when the Wisconsin schools Millikin University, North Central College, and Wheaton College joined. Since then, the CCIW has become an important part of college sports in the Midwest and has developed into one of the top conferences in Division III. It is a reputable member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and a leader in providing quality collegiate student-athletes with excellent athletic and academic opportunities.

Member Institutions

The CCIW’s 10 member institutions are:

• Augustana College (Illinois)
• Carthage College (Wisconsin)
• Elmhurst College (Illinois)
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Millikin University (Illinois)
• North Central College (Illinois)
• North Park University (Illinois)
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Wheaton College (Illinois)
• Northland College (Wisconsin)

Sports and Achievements

The CCIW schools compete in 10 sports: football, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and cross-country. In recent years, the conference’s teams have achieved some impressive accomplishments. Elmhurst College won the Division III women’s soccer championship in 2019 and Wheaton College won it in 2018. Illinois Wesleyan won the Division III men’s basketball title in 2016, and IIT won the Division III baseball championship in 2014. Additionally, North Central College has won several Division III national titles in both men’s and women’s soccer.

Rivalries

The CCIW has seen many fierce rivalries develop over the years. One of the longest-standing is the rivalry between North Central College and Wheaton College. The historic rivalry has been contested in almost every sport, and the two teams routinely compete against each other for conference titles. Another prominent rivalry is between Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin University. The “Wesleyan-Millikin Battle” is one of the most intense rivalries in the conference, and it has deep roots that stretch back to the 1930s.

Conference Operations

The CCIW operates under a set of core principles: academic excellence, competitive integrity, sportsmanship, and respect for the rules and regulations of the NCAA. The conference is organized into two divisions: North and South. Each team in the conference plays all of the other teams in its division twice per season and two teams from the other division once. This structure ensures that each team has a chance to measure itself against the top teams in the conference.

The CCIW also sponsors postseason championship events in each sport. The top teams in each division qualify for the postseason tournament and then compete for the championship, which earns the winning team an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. The tournament also showcases some of the best student-athletes the conference has to offer, and the winning team is ultimately rewarded with an NCAA tournament berth.

Role and Impact

The CCIW is an important part of the college sports landscape, and its schools have had an incredible impact on the local, regional, and national sports scene. The conference has consistently produced highly-competitive teams that have gone on to have great success in the NCAA tournament. The success of each school reflects positively on the conference as a whole and helps to bring attention to the Midwest region. The CCIW has also provided a number of opportunities for student-athletes, with top-level coaching, professional development, and access to top-notch college facilities.

Future Prospects

The CCIW has been steadily growing in recent years, and its future prospects look bright. The conference has added two new members in the last five years, North Park University and Northland College, and added new sports, such as golf and tennis. The CCIW has also forged relationships with the NCAA and other conferences, which will help the conference continue to grow. Moreover, the conference’s commitment to academics, sportsmanship, and fair competition has allowed it to consistently produce quality student-athletes and successful teams.

The CCIW is poised to remain a leader in Division III and continue to serve its member schools and student-athletes for years to come. With its strong focus on academic excellence and competitive athletics, the CCIW is sure to be a force to be reckoned with in college sports and beyond.