The Stockbridge Board of Education voted during its December meeting to move the district’s athletic programs to the Cascades Conference beginning with the 2027–28 school year.

Stockbridge has competed in the Big 8 Conference for the past two seasons, but long travel distances have been a consistent concern since joining the league in 2024. Springport, the closest Big 8 opponent, is approximately 31 miles away, while Bronson sits nearly 90 miles from Stockbridge. Union City and Reading are each roughly 64 miles from campus.

The Big 8 will expand to 10 schools for the 2026–27 school year with the additions of Homer and East Jackson, a move that has created openings in the Cascades Conference.

The Cascades Conference is currently divided into East and West divisions. The East Division includes Grass Lake, Manchester, Michigan Center, Napoleon and Stockbridge’s longtime rival Leslie, a group where Stockbridge is expected to be placed. Travel in the East would be significantly reduced, with Manchester (25 miles) and Napoleon (23 miles) representing the longest trips.

The West Division consists of Addison, Columbia Central, Hanover-Horton, Jonesville and Vandercook Lake. Hillsdale has received an invitation to join the conference, though no decision has been finalized.

Stockbridge received a formal invitation from the Cascades Conference, which the school board accepted by a 4–2 vote. The Panthers must complete their three-year agreement with the Big 8 before making the move, officially joining the Cascades in the fall of 2027.

From an enrollment standpoint, Stockbridge will shift from being one of the larger schools in the Big 8 to one of the smaller programs in the Cascades, where enrollments range from approximately 488 students at Michigan Center to 178 at Vandercook Lake.

While the move significantly reduces travel, it is also expected to bring an increase in competitive level. The Cascades Conference is widely regarded as one of the state’s strongest small-school leagues, featuring multiple state-ranked programs and recent state champions, including Manchester in girls’ basketball and Grass Lake in girls’ basketball and softball.

The change marks the sixth different conference affiliation for Stockbridge since the disbandment of the Ingham County League in 2000, in addition to one season competing as an independent during the 2023–24 school year.