Southern Lakes Conference

The Southern Lakes Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership based in southeastern Wisconsin. Founded in 1953, the conference and its member schools are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
[edit]1953-1997
[edit]The Southern Lakes Conference traces its origin to the break-up of the Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois (SWANI) Conference in 1952.[1] The five Wisconsin-based schools in that conference (Burlington, Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and Whitewater) entered into negotiations with three schools from the Southeastern Wisconsin Conference (East Troy, Mukwonago and Wilmot Union) to form a new eight-member league,[2] which was eventually named the Southern Lakes Conference and began play in 1953.[3][4] In 1958, Lake Geneva and Genoa City High Schools merged to form Badger High School,[5] which took Lake Geneva's place in the conference. Big Foot High School in Walworth joined the Southern Lakes Conference in 1961,[6] increasing membership to nine schools. A tenth school (Salem Central, now Westosha Central) joined in 1969,[7] and the next year, membership increased to twelve with the addition of Union Grove and Waterford. All three of the new members previously played in the Southeastern Badger Conference, which was dissolved in 1970. To better facilitate scheduling and competition, the Southern Lakes Conference was split into Eastern and Western Divisions:[8]
Eastern Division | Western Division |
---|---|
Burlington | Badger |
Mukwonago | Big Foot |
Salem Central | Delavan-Darien |
Union Grove | East Troy |
Waterford | Elkhorn |
Wilmot | Whitewater |
In 1980, Mukwonago left to join the Parkland Conference[9] as part of a major realignment of southeastern Wisconsin high schools. Big Foot followed them out of the conference two years later, and they were replaced by Jefferson[10] and Milton, with Badger moving to the Eastern Division to keep divisions at six members each, an alignment that would remain in place until 1997:[11]
Eastern Division | Western Division |
---|---|
Badger | Delavan-Darien |
Burlington | East Troy |
Salem Central | Elkhorn |
Union Grove | Jefferson |
Waterford | Milton |
Wilmot | Whitewater |
1997-present
[edit]In 1997, all of the schools in the Eastern Division left the Southern Lakes Conference: Burlington joined the Southeast Conference,[12] and the remaining schools formed the Lakeshore Conference[13] along with St. Catherine's High School in Racine and St. Joseph High School in Kenosha. Fort Atkinson joined the Southern Lakes that same year to bring conference membership to seven schools in a single division. In 2008, the five public schools in the Lakeshore Conference (Badger, Union Grove, Waterford, Westosha Central and Wilmot) rejoined the Southern Lakes Conference. They replaced five schools that exited the conference: three joined the Rock Valley Conference[14] (East Troy, Jefferson and Whitewater) and two joined the Badger Conference[15] (Fort Atkinson and Milton). Burlington rejoined the Southern Lakes from the Southeast Conference the next year,[16] and Beloit Memorial became the latest addition to the Southern Lakes when they joined in 2023 from the Big Eight Conference.[17] They replaced Delavan-Darien, who left for the Rock Valley Conference that same year.
Football-only alignment
[edit]In February 2019, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, the WIAA released a sweeping football-only realignment for Wisconsin to commence with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle.[18] The Southern Lakes Conference began the 2020-2021 cycle with the same eight-member group as its full membership roster for football.[19] The 2022-2023 realignment cycle brought changes to the Southern Lakes that would predate its non-football realignment by a year. Delavan-Darien moved over to the Rock Valley Conference, and Beloit Memorial joined from the Big Eight Conference.[20] This alignment will be maintained through the 2024-2025 cycle,[21] In 2026, Westosha Central will shift to the Southeast Conference, which the Southern Lakes Conference will enter into a scheduling partnership with. As part of this partnership, there will be one crossover game per season per team that counts in the overall conference standings.[22]
List of member schools
[edit]Current members
[edit]School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Badger | Lake Geneva, WI | Public | 1,320 | Badgers | 1958,[5] 2008[14][15] | |
Beloit Memorial | Beloit, WI | Public | 1,578 | Purple Knights | 2023[17] | |
Burlington | Burlington, WI | Public | 1,001 | Demons | 1953,[2] 2009[16] | |
Elkhorn | Elkhorn, WI | Public | 1,142 | Elks | 1953[2] | |
Union Grove | Union Grove, WI | Public | 1,049 | Broncos | 1970,[8] 2008[14][15] | |
Waterford | Waterford, WI | Public | 958 | Wolverines | 1970,[8] 2008[14][15] | |
Westosha Central[a] | Paddock Lake, WI | Public | 1,220 | Falcons | 1969,[7] 2008[14][15] | |
Wilmot Union | Wilmot, WI | Public | 951 | Panthers | 1953,[2] 2008[14][15] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Known as Salem Central High School prior to 1985.
Former members
[edit]School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delavan-Darien[a] | Delavan, WI | Public | 628 | Comets | 1953[2] | 2023[17] | Rock Valley | ||
East Troy | East Troy, WI | Public | 504 | Trojans | 1953[2] | 2008[14] | Rock Valley | ||
Lake Geneva | Lake Geneva, WI | Public | N/A | Resorters | 1953[2] | 1958[5] | Merged with Genoa City High School | ||
Mukwonago | Mukwonago, WI | Public | 1,619 | Indians | 1953[2] | 1980[9] | Parkland | Classic Eight | |
Whitewater | Whitewater, WI | Public | 606 | Whippets | 1953[2] | 2008[14] | Rock Valley | Capitol (2025) | |
Big Foot | Walworth, WI | Public | 449 | Chiefs | 1961[6] | 1982[11] | Rock Valley | ||
Jefferson | Jefferson, WI | Public | 604 | Eagles | 1982[11] | 2008[14] | Rock Valley | ||
Milton | Milton, WI | Public | 1,059 | Redhawks | 1982[11] | 2008[15] | Badger | ||
Fort Atkinson | Fort Atkinson, WI | Public | 964 | Blackhawks | 1997[12] | 2008[15] | Badger |
Former football-only members
[edit]School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Seasons | Conference Joined | Primary Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beloit Memorial | Beloit, WI | Public | 1,578 | Purple Knights | 2022[20] | Southern Lakes | Big Eight |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Known as Delavan High School prior to 1957.
Membership timeline
[edit]Full members
[edit]
Eastern Division Western Division
Football members (since 2020)
[edit]
Membership map
[edit]List of state champions
[edit]Fall sports
[edit]School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Mukwonago | 1964 | Small Schools |
Burlington | 1965 | Small Schools |
Mukwonago | 1966 | Small Schools |
Whitewater | 1987 | Class B |
Whitewater | 1993 | Division 2 |
Whitewater | 1994 | Division 2 |
Whitewater | 1995 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Whitewater | 1980 | Division 2 |
Milton | 1986 | Division 3 |
Milton | 1989 | Division 3 |
Jefferson | 1991 | Division 3 |
Badger | 2023 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Westosha Central | 2021 | Division 1 |
Westosha Central | 2022 | Division 1 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Union Grove | 2023 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Westosha Central | 1989 | Class A |
Westosha Central | 1992 | Division 2 |
Winter sports
[edit]School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Elkhorn | 1978 | Class B |
Elkhorn | 1979 | Class B |
Wilmot Union | 1984 | Class B |
Wilmot Union | 1991 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Waterford | 1985 | Class B |
Elkhorn | 1997 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Waterford | 1991 | Division 2 |
Union Grove/
Williams Bay/ Wilmot |
2021 | Division 1 |
Elkhorn | 2024 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
East Troy | 1986 | Class B |
East Troy | 1987 | Class B |
East Troy | 1988 | Class B |
Spring sports
[edit]School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Wilmot Union | 1970 | Single Division |
Whitewater | 1995 | Division 2 |
Whitewater | 1999 | Division 2 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Badger | 1994 | Division 1 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Burlington | 1984 | Class A |
Union Grove | 2011 | Division 2 |
Westosha Central | 2013 | Division 1 |
Westosha Central | 2015 | Division 1 |
School | Year | Division |
---|---|---|
Elkhorn | 1958 | Class B |
Mukwonago | 1962 | Class B |
Whitewater | 1970 | Class B |
Whitewater | 1971 | Class B |
Whitewater | 1973 | Class B |
Whitewater | 1978 | Class B |
List of conference champions
[edit]Boys Basketball
[edit]School | Quantity | Years |
---|---|---|
Burlington | 20 | 1956, 1957, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2024 |
Whitewater | 15 | 1961, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
Elkhorn | 14 | 1958, 1959, 1962, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2020 |
Westosha Central | 12 | 1982, 1985, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Badger | 10 | 1966, 1968, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1993, 2015 |
East Troy | 10 | 1960, 1963, 1967, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008 |
Delavan-Darien | 7 | 1974, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2000, 2004 |
Waterford | 6 | 1981, 1986, 1995, 1996, 2010, 2025 |
Wilmot Union | 6 | 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 |
Mukwonago | 3 | 1965, 1975, 1978 |
Union Grove | 3 | 1983, 2014, 2018 |
Fort Atkinson | 2 | 2001, 2002 |
Milton | 2 | 1983, 2006 |
Lake Geneva | 2 | 1954, 1955 |
Jefferson | 1 | 1998 |
Beloit Memorial | 0 | |
Big Foot | 0 |
Girls Basketball
[edit]School | Quantity | Years |
---|---|---|
Union Grove | 12 | 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
Jefferson | 11 | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2007 |
Waterford | 11 | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2015, 2019 |
Delavan-Darien | 8 | 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
Westosha Central | 6 | 1980, 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
Wilmot Union | 6 | 1993, 1994, 1995, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
Elkhorn | 5 | 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006 |
Milton | 5 | 1986, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999 |
Badger | 4 | 1989, 1992, 2012, 2020 |
Fort Atkinson | 3 | 1998, 2000, 2001 |
Whitewater | 3 | 1983, 1984, 2008 |
Burlington | 2 | 1988, 1991 |
Mukwonago | 2 | 1978, 1979 |
East Troy | 1 | 1981 |
Beloit Memorial | 0 | |
Big Foot | 0 |
Football
[edit]School | Quantity | Years |
---|---|---|
Burlington | 26 | 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2014 |
Whitewater | 16 | 1956, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1993, 1999 |
Badger | 12 | 1960, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Delavan-Darien | 11 | 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1999, 2004, 2010 |
Elkhorn | 11 | 1974, 1976, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2014 |
Milton | 11 | 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
Waterford | 10 | 1980, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 |
Wilmot Union | 9 | 1954, 1955, 1966, 1978, 1985, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019 |
East Troy | 5 | 1959, 1978, 1979, 1989, 1992 |
Big Foot | 3 | 1970, 1971, 1975 |
Mukwonago | 3 | 1954, 1957, 1972 |
Westosha Central | 3 | 1985, 1989, 1992 |
Fort Atkinson | 2 | 2000, 2003 |
Jefferson | 2 | 1991, 1997 |
Union Grove | 2 | 2008, 2021 |
Lake Geneva | 1 | 1953 |
Beloit Memorial | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Meet to Form New Conference". Racine Journal Times. January 11, 1952. p. 17. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Meet Monday to Plan Athletic League to Succeed SWANI". Lake Geneva Regional News. March 6, 1952. p. 9. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ "Southern Lakes Conference Sports Review 1953-1990". Southern Lakes Conference. 1990. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ Raubacher, George (March 26, 1953). "Southern Lakes League Set to Operate in 1953-54". Janesville Weekly Gazette. p. 10. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Log 1958". 1958 Lake Geneva High School Yearbook, Dedication. 1958. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "Whitewater Helps Elkhorn Take Charge in Southern Lakes". Janesville Weekly Gazette. December 6, 1961. p. 18. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "S. Lakes Turns Down 2 Schools". Waukesha Daily Freeman. January 17, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Prep Cage Standings - Southern Lakes Conference". Waukesha Daily Freeman. December 16, 1970. p. 13. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "Arrow Eighty-One". 1981 Mukwonago High School Yearbook, page 131 (see Boys Basketball caption). 1981. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ "The J, Volume 64". 1983 Jefferson High School Yearbook, page 58 ("Slow outset moves to stronger ending"). 1983. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "The J, Volume 63". 1982 Jefferson High School Yearbook, page 48 ("Sports"). 1982. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Stewart, Mark (May 8, 1997). "New conferences have some familiar faces". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 3. ProQuest 260542551. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ "LAKESHORE - Lancers hope to take next step, improving on good season looks like tough task". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 25, 1997. p. 4. ProQuest 260683990. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kaebisch, Mike (August 24, 2008). "On The Move: Four New Teams Change the Landscape of the Rock Valley Conference". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 47. ProQuest 391544699. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The New Look". Wisconsin State Journal. October 6, 2006. pp. D5. ProQuest 391459702. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Wedeward, Dave (July 30, 2009). "Elkhorn's Lee has big shoes to fill". The Janesville Gazette. ProQuest 241675178. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c Daily News staff (April 14, 2023). "Beloit Memorial's move to Southern Lakes Conference approved". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 9, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 6, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 11, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 10, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2025.