Badger Conference Explained

The Badger Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in south central Wisconsin. Established in 1952, the Badger Conference is a member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

Formation and Early Years (1952-1977)

The Badger Conference was formed in 1952,[1] and most of its members came from two conferences that disbanded the year prior: Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Monroe, Stoughton and Wisconsin High from the Southern Ten Conference, and Evansville, Jefferson, Lake Mills and Milton from the Rock Valley League. Middleton, formerly of the Madison Suburban Conference, rounded out the original membership roster at ten schools. Three years after joining the conference, three schools left for the Madison Suburban Conference: Evansville, Lake Mills and Milton.[2] They were replaced by the recently opened Monona Grove High School, who joined the conference in 1956.[3] Sun Prairie moved over from the Madison Suburban Conference in 1963,[4] and University of Wisconsin High was closed the next year, with its students being moved to Madison Central High School.[5] The Badger Conference's membership roster would stay consistent until major realignment in the late 1970s.

Realignment (1977-2001)

In 1977, the Badger Conference underwent a significant realignment. Three schools left the conference: Edgerton and Jefferson for the Rock Valley Conference and Sun Prairie for the Big Eight Conference.[6] They were replaced that same year by Oregon from the Central Suburban Conference and Sauk Prairie from the South Central Conference.[7] Ten years later, DeForest and Waunakee joined from the Capitol Conference.[8] Middleton left to join the Big Eight in 1994, and their place was taken by Verona from the Capitol Conference.[9] [10] Fort Atkinson left for the Southern Lakes Conference in 1997,[11] and Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart in Madison joined in 1999 after competing independently as a WISAA member for most of their athletic history.[12] [13]

Expansion and Divisional Split (2001-present)

In 2001, the Badger Conference expanded from nine to fourteen schools, adding three schools formerly in the South Central Conference (Baraboo, Portage and Reedsburg) and two who joined from the Capitol Conference (McFarland and Mount Horeb).[14] In order to accommodate this, the conference split its members into North and South Divisions:[15]

North DivisionSouth Division
BarabooEdgewood
DeForestMcFarland
Mount HorebMonona Grove
PortageMonroe
ReedsburgOregon
Sauk PrairieStoughton
WaunakeeVerona
In 2008, McFarland and Verona left the Badger Conference to join the Rock Valley and Big Eight Conferences, respectively.[16] Their place in the South Division was taken by Fort Atkinson and Milton, who rejoined the Badger Conference from the Southern Lakes Conference.[17] Beaver Dam and Watertown joined from the dissolved Wisconsin Little Ten Conference in 2017[18] and were placed in separate divisions (Beaver Dam in the North, Watertown in the South). In 2021, the Badger Conference realigned its divisions by East and West for most sports:[19]
East DivisionWest Division
Beaver DamBaraboo
DeForestEdgewood
Fort AtkinsonMonroe
MiltonMount Horeb
Monona GroveOregon
StoughtonPortage
WatertownReedsburg
WaunakeeSauk Prairie
This alignment only remained in place for two years, as it was replaced by Large School and Small School divisions in 2023. During this same year, McFarland and Monroe swapped conference affiliations: McFarland rejoined the Badger Conference and Monroe went to the Rock Valley Conference.[20]

List of Member Schools

Current Members

SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoined
Large School Division
Beaver DamBeaver Dam, WIPublic1124Golden Beavers2017
DeForestDeForest, WIPublic1093Norskies1987
Fort AtkinsonFort Atkinson, WIPublic964Blackhawks1952, 2008
MiltonMilton, WIPublic1059Red Hawks2008
Monona GroveMonona, WIPublic1127Silver Eagles1956
OregonOregon, WIPublic1248Panthers1977
WatertownWatertown, WIPublic1170Goslings2017
WaunakeeWaunakee, WIPublic1309Warriors1987
Small School Division
BarabooBaraboo, WIPublic919Thunderbirds2001
EdgewoodMadison, WIPrivate, Catholic (Dominican)569Crusaders1999
McFarlandMcFarland, WIPublic774Spartans2001, 2023
Mount HorebMount Horeb, WIPublic792Vikings2001
PortagePortage, WIPublic705Warriors2001
ReedsburgReedsburg, WIPublic897Beavers2001
Sauk PrairiePrairie du Sac, WIPublic858Eagles1977
StoughtonStoughton, WIPublic868Vikings1952

Notes

Football-Only Members

SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameColorsJoinedPrimary Conference
Lakeside LutheranLake Mills, WIPrivate (WELS)506Warriors2024Capitol
Sun Prairie EastSun Prairie, WIPublic1,329Cardinals2022Big Eight
Sun Prairie WestSun Prairie, WIPublic1,347Wolves2022Big Eight

Former Members

InstitutionLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
EdgertonEdgerton, WIPublic537Crimson Tide19521977Rock Valley
EvansvilleEvansville, WIPublic507Blue Devils19521955Madison SuburbanRock Valley
JeffersonJefferson, WIPublic604Eagles19521977Rock Valley
Lake MillsLake Mills, WIPublic491L-Cats19521955Madison SuburbanCapitol
MiddletonMiddleton, WIPublic2,357Cardinals19521994Big Eight
MonroeMonroe, WIPublic742Cheesemakers19522023Rock Valley
Wisconsin HighMadison, WIUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonN/ABadger Preps19521964Closed in 1964
Sun PrairieSun Prairie, WIPublic1,329Cardinals19631977Big Eight
VeronaVerona, WIPublic1,801Wildcats19942008Big Eight

Notes

List of State Champions

Fall Sports

Boys Cross Country!School!Year!Division
Monona Grove1959Medium Schools
Monroe1973Medium Schools
Monroe1974Class A
Monroe1979Class A
Oregon1988Class A
Middleton1992Division 1
McFarland2002Division 2
Edgewood2013Division 2
Girls Cross Country!School!Year!Division
Mount Horeb/Barneveld2008Division 2
Football!School!Year!Division
Monona Grove1977Division 2
Middleton1983Division 2
Monona Grove1984Division 3
Monroe1986Division 2
Middleton1987Division 2
Monroe1990Division 2
Monroe1991Division 2
Monroe1992Division 2
Monroe1994Division 3
Waunakee1999Division 3
Waunakee2002Division 3
Reedsburg2009Division 3
Waunakee2009Division 2
Waunakee2010Division 2
Waunakee2011Division 2
Monona Grove2013Division 3
Waunakee2017Division 2
DeForest2019Division 3
Waunakee2021Division 2
Monroe2022Division 3
Girls Golf!School!Year!Division
Edgewood2001Single Division
Edgewood2002Single Division
Edgewood2003Division 2
Edgewood2004Division 2
Edgewood2005Division 2
Edgewood2006Division 2
Edgewood2007Division 2
Edgewood2008Division 2
Edgewood2009Division 2
Edgewood2011Division 2
Edgewood2012Division 2
Edgewood2013Division 2
Edgewood2014Division 2
Edgewood2018Division 2
Edgewood2019Division 2
Boys Soccer!School!Year!Division
Sauk Prairie1996Division 2
Oregon1998Division 2
Mount Horeb2011Division 2
Oregon2013Division 2
Mount Horeb2015Division 3
Mount Horeb2017Division 3
Oregon2018Division 2
Oregon2021Division 2
Oregon2022Division 2
Girls Swimming & Diving!School!Year!Division
Verona1998Division 2
Sauk Prairie2002Division 2
DeForest2006Division 2
DeForest2007Division 2
DeForest2008Division 2
Milton2010Division 2
Milton2011Division 2
Edgewood2015Division 2
Edgewood2016Division 2
Edgewood2017Division 2
Edgewood2018Division 2
Edgewood2019Division 2
Edgewood2020-21Alternate Season
Edgewood2021Division 2
Edgewood2022Division 2
Girls Tennis!School!Year!Division
Edgewood2013Division 2
Edgewood2015Division 2
Edgewood2016Division 2
Boys Volleyball!School!Year!Division
Wisconsin High1954Single Division
Wisconsin High1962Single Division
Wisconsin High1963Single Division
Monona Grove1965Single Division

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball!School!Year!Division
Monroe1965Single Division
Edgewood2002Division 2
Monroe2007Division 2
Mount Horeb2015Division 2
Girls Basketball!School!Year!Division
Monroe1989Class A
Waunakee1993Division 2
Monroe2006Division 2
Monroe2008Division 2
Edgewood2017Division 3
Beaver Dam2018Division 2
Beaver Dam2019Division 2
Edgewood2024Division 3
Girls Gymnastics!School!Year!Division
Mount Horeb2015Division 2
Mount Horeb2020Division 2
Edgewood/Verona2023Division 1
Boys Swimming & Diving!School!Year!Division
Verona2000Division 2
McFarland2007Division 2
McFarland2008Division 2
Monona Grove2013Division 2
Edgewood2014Division 2
Monona Grove2015Division 2
Monona Grove2016Division 2
Monona Grove2017Division 2
Monona Grove2018Division 2
Edgewood2019Division 2
Edgewood2020Division 2
Edgewood2022Division 2
Boys Wrestling!School!Year!Division
Stoughton1968Single Division
Stoughton1972Single Division
Monroe1973Single Division
Stoughton1975Single Division
Stoughton1976Single Division
Stoughton1977Single Division
Stoughton1987Class A
Stoughton1988Class A
Stoughton2018Division 1
Stoughton2019Division 1
Stoughton2020Division 1

Spring Sports

Baseball!School!Year!Division
Sun Prairie1974Single Division
Sauk Prairie1996Division 2
Edgewood2004Division 2
Portage2006Division 2
Edgewood2009Division 2
Portage2012Division 2
Waunakee2018Division 1
Milton2022Division 1
Edgewood2024Division 2
Boys Golf!School!Year!Division
Wisconsin High1955Single Division
Monona Grove1989Class B
Middleton1993Division 1
McFarland2004Division 2
Edgewood2009Division 2
Edgewood2010Division 2
Edgewood2017Division 2
Edgewood2018Division 2
Edgewood2019Division 2
Edgewood2021Division 2
Edgewood2022Division 2
Edgewood2023Division 2
Girls Soccer!School!Year!Division
Monona Grove2001Division 2
Monona Grove2002Division 2
Monona Grove2003Division 2
Edgewood2009Division 2
Edgewood2009Division 2
Oregon2015Division 2
Oregon2019Division 2
Oregon2022Division 2
Oregon2024Division 2
Softball!School!Year!Division
Middleton1989Class A
Monroe2003Division 2
Portage2005Division 2
Boys Tennis!School!Year!Division
Monroe1996Division 2
Sauk Prairie2001Division 2
Sauk Prairie2003Division 2
Edgewood2016Division 2
Edgewood2018Division 2
Boys Track & Field!School!Year!Division
Monroe1966Class B
Monona Grove1982Class A
Monona Grove1984Class B
Monona Grove1985Class B
Sauk Prairie1999Division 2
Verona1999Division 1
Monroe2014Division 2
Girls Track & Field!School!Year!Division
Sauk Prairie1996Division 2
Edgewood2002Division 2
DeForest2023Division 1

See also

External Links

Notes and References

  1. News: Associated Press . 23 March 1952 . New Badger Prep League Completed . 19 November 2024 . Eau Claire Leader-Telegram . 10.
  2. News: 11 February 1955 . Wisconsin High Wins Easily, 82-42 . 19 November 2024 . The Capital Times . 13.
  3. News: Hinrichs . Art . 2 March 1955 . Badger Loop Holds Spring Meet . 19 November 2024 . The Capital Times . 17.
  4. News: 11 May 1962 . Sun Prairie Is Invited to Join Badger Circuit . 19 November 2024 . Janesville Weekly Gazette . 14.
  5. News: McCormick . George . 6 November 1962 . Wisconsin High-Central Merger Advanced a Step . 19 November 2024 . The Capital Times . 13.
  6. News: Hillstrom . Eric . 17 August 1977 . Learning to live with realignment . 19 November 2024 . The Capital Times . 69.
  7. News: Lindstrom . Don . 13 August 1976 . Badger Conference teams wouldn't have made playoff . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 60.
  8. News: Lindstrom . Don . 1 August 1986 . A bigger Badger Conference kills 2 rivalries . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 18.
  9. News: Semrau . Dennis . 8 December 1993 . Sugar River Raiders still homeless . 19 November 2024 . The Capital Times . 21.
  10. News: Hernandez . Rob . 28 August 1994 . Newcomer Verona adjusts to its surroundings . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 46.
  11. News: Hernandez . Rob . 8 May 1996 . Realignment works its way through WIAA . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 21.
  12. News: 23 April 1998 . Notes . 19 November 2024 . The La Crosse Tribune . 21.
  13. News: Hernandez . Rob . 5 May 1998 . Middleton duo stick together . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 12.
  14. News: Semrau . Dennis . 7 December 1999 . WIAA realignment plan moves closer to reality . 19 November 2024 . The Capital Times . 15.
  15. News: 25 December 2001 . Prep Scoreboard (see Badger Conference) . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 22.
  16. News: Hernandez . Rob . 6 October 2006 . Hauser sticks to her plan . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . D1.
  17. News: Zizzo . Nick . 24 August 2008 . Moving Back In . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . 33.
  18. News: Kabelowsky . Art . 20 April 2016 . Beaver Dam and Watertown join Badger Conference . 19 November 2024 . Baraboo News Republic . 9.
  19. News: Masson . Jon . 9 September 2021 . Badger coaches unsure about new quad format . 19 November 2024 . Wisconsin State Journal . B6.
  20. News: 16 February 2023 . Conference (from A6) . 19 November 2024 . Portage Daily Register . A7.

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