Ames votes 6-0 to accept Little Hawkeye Conference invitation

The Little Hawkeye Conference is expanding.

But of the seven schools invited to join the league back in late January, only two remain as options for the conference moving forward.

The Ames Board of Education voted 6-0 on Monday to accept the LHC offer, and the Little Cyclones are expected to join the Little Hawkeye starting in the 2026-27 school year.

That leaves only Des Moines Christian from the original list as still a possibility to be added to the league.

“After Grinnell decided to leave a couple of years ago, we did not want to be in a position where if another school or two left, that the conference sustainability could be in question,” Newton Activities Director Ryan Rump said back in January. “By adding more schools which are the right fit, we can ensure the Little Hawkeye Conference will remain intact for years to come.”

Van Meter, PCM and Knoxville turned down their offers almost immediately after being invited, while Nevada Activities Director Dustin Smith told the Newton News on Tuesday that “Nevada looks forward to continuing its affiliation in the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference for the foreseeable future.”

Urbandale, Ames and Des Moines Christian were the other three schools invited to join. Urbandale’s school board voted 4-3 against accepting the invitation at its meeting last month.

The Newton News has not yet gotten confirmation either way from Des Moines Christian.

Ames left the CIML recently to join the Iowa Alliance. Ottumwa, another member of the Iowa Alliance, could become an option for the LHC moving forward.

The addition of Ames brings the Little Hawkeye Conference to eight teams after Grinnell’s recent exit.

The hope for the league is to bring the total to 10 schools and move to small-school and large-school divisions.

If the other two schools are indeed Des Moines Christian and Ottumwa, the small-school division would consist of Newton, Pella, Oskaloosa, Pella Christian and Des Moines Christian.

The large-school division would be newcomers Ames and Ottumwa as well as Dallas Center-Grimes, Norwalk and Indianola.

Des Moines Christian, which is now playing in Class 3A for most of its athletics, is growing out of the smaller West Central Activities Conference, which includes mostly 1A and 2A programs.

Newton is part of the LHC for all sports except football. The Iowa High School Athletic Association determines football schedules and districts every two years.

The Little Hawkeye Conference said in its joint statement that the invitation reflects their collective commitment to fostering growth, strengthening community bonds and enhancing opportunities for their students across academic, athletic and fine arts programs.

“As we explore the possibility of expanding our conference, we recognize that each of the invited schools would bring unique strengths and shared values that would contribute to the continued success of the Little Hawkeye Conference,” the league said through a joint statement. “By joining our conference, these schools would be part of an exceptional network dedicated to collaboration, competition and the development of the whole student.

“We look forward to the continued conversations with these schools and to the exciting potential this expansion brings for all involved. Together, we can continue our tradition of excellence while creating new opportunities for growth and success for every student, athlete and community member.”