Excelsior Springs to join Midland Empire Conference in 2026

Excelsior Springs High School is making a move that will shake up the Midland Empire Conference (MEC). After a decisive 5-1 vote by the Excelsior Springs School Board, the Tigers will officially leave the Suburban Conference and join the MEC for athletics and activities, beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

All parties didn’t support the move, bringing another competitive program into a conference that already features programs in northwest Missouri, including local high schools such as Benton, Lafayette and Bishop LeBlond.

The driving force behind the switch of conferences for the Tigers was competitive balance. In the Suburban Conference, Excelsior Springs often found itself up against larger schools in postseason play, creating an uphill battle.

The MEC, on the other hand, consists primarily of Class 3 and Class 4 schools, which is a better fit for the Tigers, whose enrollment sits at 561 students. For example on enrollment, MEC opponents like Benton have 497 students, Lafayette (492), and Chillicothe (426).

The move offers more than just postseason advantages. Additionally, the MEC’s single round-robin scheduling format allows more flexibility, giving teams the chance to schedule more non-conference games against regional rivals.

It won’t be all smooth sailing, as the district estimates show Excelsior Springs will travel an average of 200 more miles per season for conference games, with the longest trip being 106 miles to Maryville.

For teams like Bishop LeBlond, Lafayette, and Benton, Excelsior Springs’ addition brings another layer of competition to an already talented conference. The Tigers have shown flashes of excellence across multiple sports in recent years, and a fresh set of conference matchups could spark new rivalries and storylines.