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Classic Conference

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The Classic Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Consisting entirely of private schools during its ten year existence from 1973 to 1983, all member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association.

History

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Founding and Growth (1973-1978)

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The Classic Conference was founded in 1973 by seven private high schools in southeastern Wisconsin: Central Wisconsin Christian in Waupun, de Sales Prep in St. Francis, Notre Dame in Milwaukee, Sheboygan Christian, St. Bonaventure in Sturtevant, St. John’s Military Academy in Delafield and University Lake School in Hartland.[1] Notre Dame and St. Bonaventure were previously part of the Milwaukee Catholic Conference, and the other five schools were independents at the time of the Classic Conference’s formation.[2] SJMA would only spend one season in the conference before joining the Midwest Prep Conference in 1974, and they were replaced by Maranatha Baptist Academy in Watertown.[3] Shoreland Lutheran in Somers joined in 1975,[4] and Brookfield Academy became members of the Classic Conference in 1976.[5] They swapped affiliations with Maranatha Baptist Academy, who left to join the Indian Trails Conference.[6] Kettle Moraine Lutheran in Jackson joined as full members in 1977 after becoming members in girls’ sports the year prior.[7] The Prairie School in Wind Point also joined the conference, bringing membership in the Classic Conference to ten schools.[8] This was KML’s first conference affiliation after opening a few years earlier, while The Prairie School came over from the Indian Trails Conference.

Final Years and Merger (1978-1983)

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De Sales Preparatory Seminary closed its doors in 1979, and were immediately replaced by another Catholic seminary, St. Lawrence in Mount Calvary. Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac also joined the conference that year, bringing the roster to eleven members.[9] Both schools were previously members of the Bay-Lakes Conference, which had disbanded the season before. In 1981, University Lake School left the Classic Conference[10] to compete as an independent for one season prior to the formation of the Southern Wisconsin and Illinois Small Schools (SWISS) Conference in 1982.[11] Sheboygan Lutheran joined the Classic Conference to take ULS’s place.[12] The eleven schools would compete until 1983, when a merger agreement was reached with the Midwest Prep Conference.[13] All but two schools in the conference joined the new Midwest Classic Conference for the 1983-84 school year, with Brookfield Academy competing as an independent before entering the SWISS Conference in 1984 and St. Bonaventure High School closing its doors after over eighty years of operation.[14]

Conference Membership History

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School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Central Wisconsin Christian Waupun, WI Private (Reformed) 119 Crusaders     1973[1] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Trailways
de Sales Preparatory Seminary St. Francis, WI Private (Catholic) N/A Saints     1973[1] 1979[9] Closed in 1979
Notre Dame Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic) N/A Redwings     1973[1] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Closed in 1988
Sheboygan Christian Sheboygan, WI Private (Christian) 131 Eagles     1973[1] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Big East
St. Bonaventure Sturtevant, WI Private (Catholic) N/A Cardinals     1973[1] 1983[13] Closed in 1983
St. John's Military Academy Delafield, WI Private (Military) 236 Lancers     1973[1] 1974[3] Midwest Prep Midwest Classic
University Lake School Hartland, WI Private (Nonsectarian) 73 Lakers     1973[1] 1981[10] Independent Lake City
Maranatha Baptist Academy Watertown, WI Private (Baptist) 65[15] Crusaders     1974[3] 1976[6] Indian Trails
Shoreland Lutheran Somers, WI Private (WELS) 384 Pacers     1975[4] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Metro Classic
Brookfield Academy Brookfield, WI Private (Nonsectarian) 334 Blue Knights     1976[5] 1983[13] Independent Midwest Classic
Kettle Moraine Lutheran Jackson, WI Private (WELS) 553 Chargers     1977[7] 1983[13] Midwest Classic East Central
The Prairie School Wind Point, WI Private (Nonsectarian) 226 Hawks     1977[8] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Metro Classic
St. Lawrence Seminary Mount Calvary, WI Private (Catholic, Capuchin) 256 (Boys only) Hilltoppers     1979[9] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Independent
Winnebago Lutheran Fond du Lac, WI Private (WELS) 319 Vikings     1979[9] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Wisconsin Flyway
Sheboygan Lutheran Sheboygan, WI Private (LCMS) 206 Crusaders     1981[12] 1983[13] Midwest Classic Big East

List of State Champions

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Fall Sports

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Boys Cross Country
School Year Division
Central Wisconsin Christian 1978[16] Class C
Boys Soccer
School Year Division
Notre Dame 1977[17] Single Division
University Lake School 1978[18] Single Division
Girls Tennis
School Year Division
The Prairie School 1980[19] Single Division

Winter Sports

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Boys Basketball
School Year Division
Notre Dame 1976[20] Class B
Notre Dame 1978[21] Class B
Notre Dame 1979[22] Class B
Central Wisconsin Christian 1980[23] Class B
Sheboygan Christian 1981[24] Class B
The Prairie School 1982[25] Class B

Spring Sports

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Girls Track & Field
School Year Division
Winnebago Lutheran 1980[26] Class C

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "ULS, St. John's Join New League". Waukesha Daily Freeman. 12 October 1973. p. 16. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Seven Schools Form Classic Conference". Wisconsin State Journal. 13 October 1972. p. 26. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Maranatha Joins Classic Conference". Waukesha County Freeman. 18 March 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Maranatha Joins Classic Loop". Sheboygan Press. 19 March 1974. p. 15. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b "BA Switches Conferences". Waukesha County Freeman. 5 November 1975. p. 17. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Changes to Classic Conference". Racine Journal Times. 7 November 1975. p. 16. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  7. ^ a b Kohl, Tom (15 November 1977). "Bart Bruins wears 3 hats well". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. 38. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Prairie Hawks get a classic change". Racine Journal Times. 19 February 1977. p. 9. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d "Vikes, Hilltops to join Classic". Fond du Lac Reporter. 1 August 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  10. ^ a b Casper, Jim (26 November 1981). "New lineup at Shoreland". Kenosha News. p. 25. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  11. ^ "ULS Joins New League". Oconomowoc Enterprise. 28 January 1982. p. 14. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Lutheran High Joins Classic Conference". Sheboygan Press. 18 September 1980. p. 29. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Classic, Midwest loops merge". Sheboygan Press. 18 November 1982. p. 33. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  14. ^ "St. Bonaventure may have buyer". Racine Journal Times. 15 February 1984. pp. 4A. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Maranatha Baptist Academy". Private School Review. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Waupun Christian wins Class C". Beaver Dam Daily Citizen. 30 October 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Squires Beaten in Finals". Green Bay Press Gazette. 7 November 1977. pp. B-5. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  18. ^ "ULS wins state soccer championship". Oconomowoc Enterprise. 9 November 1978. p. 9. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Prairie girls win WISAA tennis title". Racine Journal Times. 12 October 1980. pp. 3C. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Marquette Upset, Pius WISAA Champ". Beaver Dam Daily Citizen. 8 March 1976. p. 9. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  21. ^ "Notre Dame recaptures WISAA "B" cage crown". Wausau Daily Herald. 6 March 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  22. ^ "Notre Dame captures WISAA B championship". Appleton Post-Crescent. 5 March 1979. p. 26. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  23. ^ UPI (10 March 1980). "Prairie runs out of gas". Kenosha News. p. 20. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  24. ^ "They drove coach bananas, but came up winners". Sheboygan Press. 9 March 1981. p. 9. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  25. ^ Uschan, Michael (7 March 1982). "Lepp key to state title". Kenosha News. pp. D1. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  26. ^ "Aquinas boys WISAA track champions". La Crosse Tribune. 25 May 1980. p. 23. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
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