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Southern Lakes Conference

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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

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1953-1997

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Map
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Maps: terms of use
13km
8.1miles
Wilmot Union
Whitewater
Mukwonago
Lake Geneva
Elkhorn
East Troy
Delavan
Burlington
Location of Original Southern Lakes Conference Members

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
Map
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30km
19miles
Wilmot Union
Whitewater
Waterford
Union Grove
Salem Central
Milton
Jefferson
Elkhorn
East Troy
Delavan-Darien
Burlington
Badger
Location of Southern Lakes Conference Members (1982-1997)

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

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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

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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

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Current members

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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

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  1. ^ Known as Salem Central High School prior to 1985.

Former members

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Known as Delavan High School prior to 1957.

Membership timeline

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Full members

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 Eastern Division  Western Division

Football members (since 2020)

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Membership map

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Southern Lakes Conference
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
13km
8.1miles
8
8 Wilmot Union
8 Wilmot Union
7
7 Westosha Central
7 Westosha Central
6
6 Waterford
6 Waterford
5
5 Union Grove
5 Union Grove
4
4 Elkhorn
4 Elkhorn
3
3 Burlington
3 Burlington
2
2 Beloit Memorial
2 Beloit Memorial
1
1 Badger
1 Badger
Location of Southern Lakes Conference full members:

List of state champions

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Fall sports

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Boys Cross Country
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
Football
School Year Division
Whitewater 1980 Division 2
Milton 1986 Division 3
Milton 1989 Division 3
Jefferson 1991 Division 3
Badger 2023 Division 2
Girls Golf
School Year Division
Westosha Central 2021 Division 1
Westosha Central 2022 Division 1
Boys Soccer
School Year Division
Union Grove 2023 Division 2
Girls Volleyball
School Year Division
Westosha Central 1989 Class A
Westosha Central 1992 Division 2

Winter sports

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Boys Basketball
School Year Division
Elkhorn 1978 Class B
Elkhorn 1979 Class B
Wilmot Union 1984 Class B
Wilmot Union 1991 Division 2
Girls Basketball
School Year Division
Waterford 1985 Class B
Elkhorn 1997 Division 2
Gymnastics
School Year Division
Waterford 1991 Division 2
Union Grove/

Williams Bay/ Wilmot

2021 Division 1
Elkhorn 2024 Division 2
Boys Wrestling
School Year Division
East Troy 1986 Class B
East Troy 1987 Class B
East Troy 1988 Class B

Spring sports

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Baseball
School Year Division
Wilmot Union 1970 Single Division
Whitewater 1995 Division 2
Whitewater 1999 Division 2
Boys Golf
School Year Division
Badger 1994 Division 1
Softball
School Year Division
Burlington 1984 Class A
Union Grove 2011 Division 2
Westosha Central 2013 Division 1
Westosha Central 2015 Division 1
Boys Track & Field
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

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Boys Basketball

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "Meet to Form New Conference". Racine Journal Times. January 11, 1952. p. 17. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Southern Lakes Conference Sports Review 1953-1990". Southern Lakes Conference. 1990. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Raubacher, George (March 26, 1953). "Southern Lakes League Set to Operate in 1953-54". Janesville Weekly Gazette. p. 10. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Log 1958". 1958 Lake Geneva High School Yearbook, Dedication. 1958. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Whitewater Helps Elkhorn Take Charge in Southern Lakes". Janesville Weekly Gazette. December 6, 1961. p. 18. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "S. Lakes Turns Down 2 Schools". Waukesha Daily Freeman. January 17, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Prep Cage Standings - Southern Lakes Conference". Waukesha Daily Freeman. December 16, 1970. p. 13. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Arrow Eighty-One". 1981 Mukwonago High School Yearbook, page 131 (see Boys Basketball caption). 1981. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  10. ^ "The J, Volume 64". 1983 Jefferson High School Yearbook, page 58 ("Slow outset moves to stronger ending"). 1983. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "The J, Volume 63". 1982 Jefferson High School Yearbook, page 48 ("Sports"). 1982. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Stewart, Mark (May 8, 1997). "New conferences have some familiar faces". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 3. ProQuest 260542551. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b Wedeward, Dave (July 30, 2009). "Elkhorn's Lee has big shoes to fill". The Janesville Gazette. ProQuest 241675178. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 9, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  19. ^ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 6, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 11, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  21. ^ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  22. ^ "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 10, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
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