The Heart of Iowa Conference is joining the recent trend of conference realignment in Iowa high school sports as the conference extended an official invitation to Boone in March.
Boone has competed in the Raccoon River Conference since 2010, and prior to that had competed in the Little Hawkeye Conference for the majority of 1990s and 2000s. The Toreadors would be the largest school in the Heart of Iowa Conference if they joined, with 23-24 BEDS enrollment of 545, just over 100 students more than Perry.
In an interview with Jim Turbes of sister station KWBG, Boone superintendent Julie Trepa confirmed the formal invitation back in March.
“We received a letter saying ‘We, at the Heart of Iowa, would love to have Boone join our conference,'” Trepa said. “If it were to occur, it would happen for the ’25-26 school year and they requested we respond to them by next fall.”
Trepa said the decision would not be made quickly, and factors such as enrollment, middle and high school competitive opportunities, fine arts and free and reduced lunch.
The Heart of Iowa Conference was down to 7 teams following the departures of North Polk and Gilbert after the 2020-21 school year. The conference added Perry for the 2021-22 school year, and will add a 9th team in the Grand View Christian Thunder for the 2024-25 school year, following a decision made by a mediator between the Heart of Iowa Conference and the West Central Activities Conference.