The Heartland Athletic Conference (HAC) voted unanimously on Tuesday to expand to a 13-team conference beginning with the 2026-2027 fall season.
Lincoln Northwest High School and Lincoln Standing Bear High School applied for and accepted the invitation to join the HAC as full-time members.
“The current members of the Heartland Athletic Conference are excited to unanimously admit Lincoln Northwest and Lincoln Standing Bear as they will be a great fit to our outstanding athletic and academic traditions. We look forward to the positive impact that Lincoln Northwest and Lincoln Standing Bear will make in an already competitive conference,” said HAC President and Norfolk High School Athletic Director John Erwin.
The conference’s current members are Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Kearney, and Norfolk high schools, along with all six high schools in Lincoln Public Schools: Lincoln High, East, North Star, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest.
The last time the conference expanded was in 2020 with the addition of Columbus High School.
Lincoln Standing Bear High School Activities Director Jeremy Schroeder said students and staff are excited to join the HAC.
“Lincoln Standing Bear High School is excited and honored to help represent Lincoln Public Schools as one of the newest members of The Heartland Athletic Conference,” he said. “The HAC has a rich history in high school athletics in the state of Nebraska, and we are honored to be a part of that moving forward.”
Lincoln Northwest AD Christina Nevitt also lauded the move.
“Lincoln Northwest is excited to join the Heartland Athletic Conference as we move to Class A next year,” she said. “This will allow our coaches and student-participants to develop even stronger relationships with members of the other LPS high schools.”
