We've spent plenty of time here at MaxPreps looking at some of the coolest mascot names around the country, some of the best stadiums in the country and even some of the best haircuts in prep football.
Now it's time to take a look at something that has been overlooked: The coolest league/conference names.
Some states like the simplicity of placing teams in numbered districts because it's a uniform procedure that treats every group of schools the same. Like Texas, for example, which puts teams into leagues like "Class 5A, Region II, District 16."
But then there are the states that have leagues with their own names. Schools are free to call their mini associations pretty much whatever they want, and some have come up with outstanding names that deserve recognition.
Because picking the Top 10 is definitely a subjective task, we have included an extensive list of honorable mention league names to go along with what we think are the Top 10 coolest high school league names. Take a look through the slideshow and learn a little bit about each of our Top 10, then peruse the Honorable Mention candidates.
Did we miss one? Leave a comment and let us know.
MaxPreps Top 10 coolest league names
1. Nuclear Conference - IdahoThis one is the winner in our minds. You could call the Nuclear League powerful, explosive, lethal, fascinating ... the list goes on. And the locals call it "The Nuke" sometimes — even more awesome!
Rather than having us do the talking, let's have the local media tell the story.
North Fremont Huskies
Photo courtesy of sd215.net
"It is called the Nuclear Conference because of the Idaho National Laboratory in the desert. The laboratory is home to the first nuclear reactor to provide electricity and it built the prototype reactor for the world's first nuclear powered submarine. A later reactor was the first to power a city, Arco, which is the home to the Butte County Pirates, a longtime member of the Nuke that just this year dropped down a classification and out of the league.
The league is best known for its boys basketball programs. It won four straight titles, tying a state record, between 2007-10 and has won seven straight district tournament titles. Since the start of the 2006-07 season, it owns a 78-2 record against its conference opponents.
It is a 2A league in Idaho's six-classification system with 1A Division II being the smallest and 5A the largest. The schools are all small with enrollment ranging from 178-266. And most of the towns are agricultural communities that take a two-week break in the fall for the potato harvest. I should add the Nuke has won six of the past eight state titles in girls basketball also."
- Mike Lycklama, sports writer at the Idaho Falls Post Register (@michaellycklama)Schools: Firth,
Salmon,
North Fremont (Ashton),
Ririe,
West Jefferson (Terreton).
View Firth High School in a larger map
