Mexico Bulldogs to Join Midland Empire Conference

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The Mexico Bulldogs high school sports teams will be joining the Midland Empire Conference after a unanimous 6-0 vote by the Mexico school board. The move will reunite Mexico with current conference rivals Kirksville, Marshall, and Moberly, as well as Chillicothe, to form an eastern division within the MEC.

Why it matters

The move to the Midland Empire Conference will allow Mexico to remain competitive against familiar opponents, despite some concerns over increased travel time to face western division schools. The unanimous approval by the school board signals strong support for the conference change.

The details

Mexico's school board voted 6-0 on Tuesday, March 18th to accept a pending invitation to join the Midland Empire Conference starting next school year. The move will see Mexico's Bulldogs join current NCMC rivals Kirksville, Marshall, and Moberly, as well as Chillicothe, in forming an eastern division within the MEC. Superintendent Dr. Troy Lentz expressed excitement about the opportunity to stay with familiar conference foes while also reuniting with Chillicothe.

• The Mexico school board voted 6-0 on March 18, 2026 to accept the MEC invitation.
• The MEC Board of Controls is expected to formally consider invitations to the four NCMC schools on April 9, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Midland Empire Conference's Board of Controls is expected to meet on April 9, 2026 to consider formal invitations to the four NCMC schools seeking membership.