Duneland Athletic Conference

The Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) is a high school athletic conference in Indiana serving eight members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Member schools are located in the counties of Lake, LaPorte, and Porter along Indiana's Lake Michigan shore. Each school is classified based on enrollment as 6A or 5A for football and 4A for basketball, the classes for the largest schools in Indiana. The Duneland Conference is also known for its gymnastics programs which have won a combined total of 35 state championship and state runner-up titles.

Duneland Athletic Conference
DAC
Established1970
Members8
Region3 Counties: Lake, LaPorte, and Porter, Indiana
Locations

Members

Current members
School Location Mascot Colors County Enrollment
16-17		 IHSAA Class IHSAA Class
Football		 Year Joined Previous Conference
Chesterton Chesterton Trojans           64
Porter		 2,030 4A 6A 1970 Calumet
Crown Point Crown Point Bulldogs           45
Lake		 2,664 4A 6A 1993 Lake Suburban
Lake Central Saint John Indians           45
Lake		 3,196 4A 6A 2003 Independents
LaPorte LaPorte Slicers           46
LaPorte		 2,009 4A 5A 1976 Northern Indiana
Merrillville Merrillville Pirates           45
Lake		 2,228 4A 6A 1975 Lake Suburban
Michigan City Michigan City Wolves                46
LaPorte		 1,701 4A 5A 1995 none (new school)
Portage Portage Indians           64
Porter		 2,486 4A 6A 1970 Calumet
Valparaiso Valparaiso Vikings           64
Porter		 2,065 4A 6A 1970 Independents

Former Members
School Location Mascot Colors County Year Joined Previous Conference Year Left Conference Joined
Hobart Hobart Brickies           45
Lake		 1970 Independents 2003 Lake
Michigan City Rogers Michigan City Raiders           46
LaPorte		 1972 none (new school) 1995 none (consolidated
into Michigan City)

Membership Timeline
Lake Central High SchoolCrown Point High SchoolMerrillville High SchoolMichigan City High SchoolValparaiso High SchoolPortage High SchoolChesterton High School
Boys State Titles Runner-Up Girls State Titles Runner-Up
Baseball 5 1 Basketball 2 7
Basketball 0 3 Cross Country 6 7
Cross Country 10 10 Golf 2 1
Football 7 6 Gymnastics 12 9
Golf 0 0 Soccer 0 1
Soccer 4 3 Softball 5 2
Swimming & Diving 4 0 Swimming & Diving 0 4
Tennis 1 1 Tennis 0 0
Track & Field 0 0 Track & Field 0 1
Wrestling 1 1 Volleyball 0 0
Total 30 26 Total 27 32
Conference
Total		 57 58 115

History
  • 1970: Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, and Hobart High School began competition as the Duneland Athletic Conference. Chesterton & Portage had been members of the Calumet Conference; Hobart & Valparaiso had been independents.
  • 1972: Michigan City Rogers joins the DAC.
  • 1975: Merrillville joins the conference, leaving the Lake Suburban Conference.
  • 1976: LaPorte joins following its departure from the Northern Indiana Conference.
  • 1993: Crown Point joins the DAC following the disbandment of the Lake Suburban Conference.
  • 1995: Michigan City Rogers is merged with Michigan City Elston, who was a member of the Northern Indiana Conference, to form Michigan City High School.
  • 2003: Hobart, the only non-5A football school, leaves to join the Lake Athletic Conference. Lake Central joins in place of Hobart following being independent since the disbandment of the Lake Suburban Conference in 1993. Hobart is currently with the Northwest Crossroads Conference after the 2007 disbandment of the Lake Athletic Conference.
  • 2013: Football has a new class, 6A, meaning that the teams to move from 5A to 6A are Portage, Lake Central, Chesterton, Crown Point, Valparaiso, & Merrillville. The only teams to remain in the 5A class were LaPorte and Michigan City.
  • 2015: LaPorte moves up to Class 6A in football based on enrollment figures.
  • 2017: LaPorte drops back down to Class 5A in football based on enrollment figures and Fort Wayne Snider having to move up to Class 6A based on the Indiana High School Athletic Association's tournament success factor. [1] [2]

2003 Expansion

In 2002, five schools - East Chicago Central High School, Elkhart Central High School, Lake Central High School, Mishawaka High School, & Penn High School - submitted proposals to join the DAC when expansion talks began following Hobart's announcement it would leave to join the Lake Athletic Conference.[3] Lake Central, Mishawaka and Penn were invited to join the DAC.[4] Mishawaka, shortly followed by Penn, opted to not join the conference.[5][6] These two schools cited wanting Elkhart Central and East Chicago Central to have been invited to join as well.[6] This coupled with the extensive travel times to Lake County schools and the time zone difference led to their decision to remain in the Northern Indiana Conference.[6]

Conference Champions

Football
TitlesSchoolYears
17Hobart1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986*, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993*, 1996*, 1997
13Valparaiso1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1993*, 1995*, 2001, 2002, 2008*, 2010, 2015*, 2017, 2019
8Merrillville1977, 1986*, 1991, 1992, 2004, 2009, 2011*, 2013
7Portage1971*, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996*, 1998*, 1999
5Chesterton1971*, 2000, 2008*, 2012, 2015*
3Crown Point2005, 2006, 2007
3LaPorte1986*, 2003*, 2016
2Lake Central2011*, 2014
0Michigan City
0Rogers

Boys Basketball
TitlesSchoolYears
19Merrillville1975*, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983*, 1987*, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999*, 2000, 2001, 2005*, 2006*, 2010*, 2011, 2013, 2016
19Valparaiso1971, 1975*, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1990*, 1993*, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2005*, 2006*, 2007, 2009, 2010*, 2015, 2017*
5LaPorte1988*, 1990*, 1991, 1993*, 2003
4Rogers1974, 1979, 1984, 1987*
2Chesterton1983*, 2008
2Crown Point1999*, 2017*
2Lake Central2012, 2014
2Portage1973, 1988*
1Hobart1972
1Michigan City1998

Girls Basketball
TitlesSchoolYears
5Merrillville2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013
4Michigan City2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
4Lake Central2015, 2016, 2017, 2018*
3Valparaiso2002, 2003*, 2005
3Crown Point2001, 2003*, 2019
2LaPorte2014, 2018*
0Chesterton
0Hobart
0Portage
0Rogers
  • Champions before the 2000-01 season are unverified.

State Champions

Chesterton Trojans (12)
  • 1989 Wrestling
  • 1993 Gymnastics
  • 2000 Gymnastics
  • 2002 Gymnastics
  • 2008 Boys Swimming
  • 2009 Boys Swimming
  • 2013 Boys Swimming
  • 2014 Boys Swimming
  • 2018 Gymnastics
  • 2018 Boys Soccer
  • 2019 Gymnastics
  • 2020 Gymnastics

Crown Point Bulldogs (7)
  • 1971 Boys Tennis
  • 1984 Girls Basketball
  • 1985 Girls Basketball
  • 2009 Wrestling
  • 2011 Boys Soccer (2A)
  • 2013 Boys Soccer (2A)
  • 2017 Softball (4A)

LaPorte Slicers (12)
  • 1960 Boys Golf
  • 1967 Baseball
  • 1968 Boys Tennis
  • 1971 Baseball
  • 1976 Baseball
  • 1976 Boys Golf
  • 1978 Girls Golf
  • 1982 Baseball
  • 1987 Baseball (Easton National Champions)
  • 1990 Baseball
  • 1992 Baseball
  • 2000 Baseball (4A)

Lake Central Indians (7)
  • 1987 Boys Swimming
  • 1992 Softball
  • 1994 Girls Basketball
  • 2002 Softball (3A)
  • 2004 Softball (4A)
  • 2010 Boys Soccer
  • 2012 Baseball (4A)

Merrillville Pirates (5)
  • 1976 Football (3A)
  • 1986 Gymnastics
  • 1992 Gymnastics
  • 1993 Softball
  • 1997 Softball

Michigan City Wolves (2)
  • 1995 Volleyball
  • 2010 Boys Bowling

Portage Indians (9)
  • 1974 Boys Cross Country
  • 1975 Gymnastics
  • 1977 Football (3A)
  • 1984 Boys Cross Country
  • 1992 Boys Cross Country
  • 1999 Boys Cross Country
  • 2000 Softball (3A)
  • 2013 Gymnastics
  • 2013 Softball (4A)

Valparaiso Vikings (25)
  • 1966 Boys Cross Country
  • 1975 Football (3A)
  • 1981 Gymnastics
  • 1983 Boys Cross Country
  • 1985 Boys Cross Country
  • 1986 Boys Cross Country
  • 1991 Gymnastics
  • 1994 Gymnastics
  • 1997 Boys Cross Country
  • 1997 Gymnastics
  • 1998 Gymnastics
  • 1999 Girls Cross Country
  • 2000 Girls Cross Country
  • 2000 Boys Cross Country
  • 2002 Girls Cross Country
  • 2003 Girls Cross Country
  • 2004 Girls Cross Country
  • 2004 Boys Soccer
  • 2008 Gymnastics
  • 2009 Gymnastics
  • 2010 Gymnastics
  • 2011 Gymnastics
  • 2014 Gymnastics
  • 2015 Gymnastics
  • 2017 Gymnastics

Former Member State Champions

Hobart Brickies (7)
  • 1957 Boys Cross Country
  • 1960 Boys Cross Country
  • 1987 Football (4A)
  • 1989 Football (4A)
  • 1991 Football (4A)
  • 1993 Football (4A)
  • 2004 Gymnastics

Michigan City Rogers Raiders (2)
  • 1981 Girls Golf
  • 1982 Girls Golf

State Runner-Up Titles

Current members

Chesterton Trojans (12)

  • 1981 Wrestling
  • 1985 Gymnastics
  • 1995 Gymnastics
  • 1995 Girls Cross Country
  • 1997 Girls Cross Country
  • 2001 Girls Soccer
  • 2003 Gymnastics
  • 2003 Girls Cross Country
  • 2006 Girls Softball
  • 2007 Boys Soccer
  • 2009 Boys Cross Country
  • 2016 Boys Soccer (2A)
  • 2017 Wrestling


Crown Point Bulldogs (9)

  • 1975 Boys Cross Country
  • 1976 Boys Cross Country
  • 1977 Boys Cross Country
  • 1983 Girls Basketball
  • 1978 Boys Swimming
  • 1997 Girls Basketball
  • 2014 Girls Swimming
  • 2016 Volleyball (4A)
  • 2017 Volleyball (4A)


LaPorte Slicers (10)

  • 1949 Boys Golf
  • 1962 Boys Golf
  • 1963 Boys Golf
  • 1967 Boys Golf
  • 1973 Baseball
  • 1973 Gymnastics
  • 1979 Boys Tennis
  • 1980 Girls Golf
  • 1989 Boys Tennis
  • 2007 Boys Cross Country
  • 2014 Football (5A)


Lake Central Indians (11)

  • 1990 Boys Swimming
  • 1998 Girls Basketball (4A)
  • 1999 Boys Swimming
  • 1993 Football (5A)
  • 2003 Softball (3A)
  • 2007 Girls Cross Country
  • 2008 Girls Cross Country
  • 2014 Boys Basketball (4A)
  • 2015 Softball (4A)
  • 2018 Softball (4A)
  • 2019 Boys Soccer (3A)


Merrillville Pirates (7)

  • 1979 Gymnastics
  • 1982 Gymnastics
  • 1988 Gymnastics
  • 1990 Gymnastics
  • 1995 Boys Basketball
  • 1996 Baseball
  • 2010 Girls Basketball


Michigan City Wolves (0)

  • 2016 Boys Track and Field


Portage Indians (12)

  • 1973 Boys Cross Country
  • 1981 Boys Cross Country
  • 1988 Boys Cross Country
  • 1988 Girls Cross Country
  • 1991 Boys Cross Country
  • 1993 Boys Cross Country
  • 1994 Football (5A)
  • 1995 Boys Cross Country
  • 1998 Softball (3A)
  • 1998 Boys Cross Country
  • 1998 Wrestling
  • 2001 Wrestling


Valparaiso Vikings (24)

  • 1982 Girls Basketball
  • 1985 Football (5A)
  • 1989 Girls Swimming
  • 1990 Girls Swimming
  • 1992 Gymnastics
  • 1994 Girls Swimming
  • 1995 Girls Swimming
  • 1994 Boys Basketball
  • 1996 Girls Basketball
  • 1996 Gymnastics
  • 1999 Gymnastics
  • 2000 Girls Basketball (4A)
  • 2001 Girls Cross Country
  • 2001 Football (5A)
  • 2004 Gymnastics
  • 2005 Boys Cross Country
  • 2005 Girls Cross Country
  • 2006 Girls Track & Field
  • 2006 Girls Cross Country
  • 2013 Gymnastics
  • 2016 Gymnastics
  • 2018 Gymnastics
  • 2019 Football (5A)
  • 2020 Gymnastics

Former members

Hobart Brickies (8)

  • 1955 Boys Cross Country
  • 1979 Football (3A)
  • 1980 Football (4A)
  • 1982 Football (4A)
  • 1984 Football (4A)
  • 1985 Football (4A)
  • 1990 Football (4A)
  • 1996 Football (4A)


Michigan City Rogers Raiders (1)

  • 1986 Softball

See also

References
  1. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-ihsaa-classification-st-0330-20170329-story.html
  2. http://www.ihsaa.org/Portals/0/ihsaa/documents/Tournament%20Success%20Factor/Tournament%20Success%20Factor%20Provisions.pdf
  3. DAC hears from prospective members
    Five schools make case to join conference / nwi.com
  4. LC, Penn, Mishawaka draw DAC invite / nwi.com
  5. Mishawaka says no to DAC; Penn next? / nwi.com
  6. Eight is enough
    Penn votes to decline invitation to DAC / nwi.com
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