Midwest Classic Conference (Wisconsin)
The Midwest Classic Conference is a high school athletic conference made up primarily of private high schools in southeastern Wisconsin. Founded in 1983, all of its member schools belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
1983-1997
The Midwest Classic Conference was formed in 1983 out of the merger between two previously established conferences in the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association. Seven schools came from the Midwest Prep Conference while the other nine came from the Classic Conference. This was done in part to cut transportation costs and create for opportunities for girls in interscholastic athletics. Football was one of the initial sports sponsored, and all former Midwest Prep Conference members participated along with St. Lawrence Seminary and Winnebago Lutheran Academy. The latter two schools previously competed as associate members for football in other conferences due to the Classic Conference's lack of sponsorship of the sport. For the first few seasons of the conference, they were organized into two eight-member divisions:| Northern Division | Southern Division |
| Central Wisconsin Christian | Martin Luther |
| Kettle Moraine Lutheran | Notre Dame |
| Northwestern Prep | Racine Lutheran |
| Sheboygan Christian | Shoreland Lutheran |
| Sheboygan Lutheran | St. John's Military Academy |
| St. Lawrence Seminary | St. Mary's |
| Wayland Academy | The Prairie School |
| Winnebago Lutheran | University School |
The first change to conference membership came in 1988, when Notre Dame High School in Milwaukee closed its doors after the end of the school year. They were replaced in 1989 by Heritage Christian School and St. Joan Antida, and they took Notre Dame's place in the Southern Division. In 1993, Messmer joined the Midwest Classic Conference's Southern Division after working their way back from near oblivion a decade earlier. University School moved to the Northern Division to accommodate this move. Wayland Academy left the Midwest Classic to join the Indian Trails Conference as a full member in 1994, and in 1995, Northwestern Prep was merged with Martin Luther Prep in Prairie du Chien by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Their successor school, Luther Prep, took Northwestern Prep's place in the conference's Northern Division. The Midwest Classic Conference also suspended football sponsorship that year, with all members joining the new Wisconsin Independent Football Association. The conference subdivided into three divisions in 1996 when Brookfield Academy joined and Wayland Academy returned as a full member:
| Central Division | Northern Division | Southern Division |
| Luther Prep | Brookfield Academy | Catholic Central |
| Kettle Moraine Lutheran | Central Wisconsin Christian | Heritage Christian |
| Martin Luther | Sheboygan Christian | Shoreland Lutheran |
| Messmer | Sheboygan Lutheran | St. John's Northwestern |
| Racine Lutheran | St. Lawrence Seminary | The Prairie School |
| Winnebago Lutheran | Wayland Academy | University School |
1997-2005
In 1997, WISAA approved a merger with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association that would be finalized in time for the 2000-01 school year. This led to some changes in conference membership, as schools could more easily join with established WIAA conferences within their geographic footprint and enrollment size. Martin Luther was the first school to leave the conference post-merger, and they joined the Parkland Conference in 1997. The next year, two more Midwest Classic schools followed Martin Luther into the Parkland: Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Luther Prep. To replace the four schools lost to realignment, three schools joined the Midwest Classic in 1998: Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh, NEW Lutheran in Green Bay and St. Mary Catholic in Neenah. Football sponsorship was also reinstated with the collapse of WIFA after the 1998 season. The three Fox Valley schools would only stay for a single season, as all left the conference along with five others in the region in 1999. This exodus left an eleven-member conference spread out over two divisions with a more concentrated catchment in southeastern Wisconsin:| Northern Division | Southern Division |
| Brookfield Academy | Catholic Central |
| Heritage Christian | Racine Lutheran |
| Messmer | Shoreland Lutheran |
| University School | St. Joan Antida |
| Wayland Academy | St. John's Northwestern |
| The Prairie School |
This alignment lasted for four years before Martin Luther rejoined the conference in 2003, and the Midwest Classic competed as a single-division conference for the first time in its history. They would keep this alignment for two years before adding three schools in 2005: Christian Life in Kenosha, Lake Country Lutheran in Hartland and Living Word Lutheran in Jackson. The conference subdivided into Classic and Midwest Divisions with this expansion:
| Classic Division | Midwest Division |
| Catholic Central | Brookfield Academy |
| Heritage Christian | Christian Life |
| Martin Luther | Lake Country Lutheran |
| Messmer | Living Word Lutheran |
| Shoreland Lutheran | Racine Lutheran |
| The Prairie School | St. Joan Antida |
| University School | St. John's Northwestern |
| Wayland Academy |
2005-2012
Dominican joined the Midwest Classic Conference in 2006 after the Parkland Conference ceased operations. They joined the Classic Division to bring membership to sixteen schools in two eight-member divisions. Heritage Christian changed divisions the following year before more schools were added to the conference before the 2008-09 school year. St. Catherine's in Racine and St. Joseph in Kenosha joined after the demise of the Lakeshore Conference, and HOPE Christian in Milwaukee joined after competing as an independent in their formative years. The conference changed their alignment again to accommodate these additions, and with a few minor adjustments this alignment lasted for two years:| Central Division | North Division | South Division |
| Catholic Central | Heritage Christian | Brookfield Academy |
| Dominican | Lake Country Lutheran | Christian Life |
| Messmer | Living Word Lutheran | HOPE Christian |
| Shoreland Lutheran | St. Joan Antida | Martin Luther |
| St. Catherine's | St. John's Northwestern | Racine Lutheran |
| St. Joseph | University School | The Prairie School |
| Wayland Academy |
The Midwest Classic Conference returned to a two-division alignment in 2010, eliminating the Central Division and dispersing its schools to the North and South Divisions:
| North Division | South Division |
| Brookfield Academy | Catholic Central |
| Christian Life | Dominican |
| Heritage Christian | Martin Luther |
| HOPE Christian | Messmer |
| Lake Country Lutheran | Racine Lutheran |
| Living Word Lutheran | Shoreland Lutheran |
| St. Joan Antida | St. Catherine's |
| St. John's Northwestern | St. Joseph |
| University School | The Prairie School |
| Wayland Academy |
For the 2011-2012 school year, Dominican and Messmer of the South Division swapped divisional affiliations with Christian Life and Heritage Christian of the North Division.
2012-present
In 2012, eight schools left the Midwest Classic Conference: Catholic Central, Dominican, Martin Luther, Racine Lutheran, Shoreland Lutheran, St. Catherine's, St. Joseph and The Prairie School. These eight schools, along with Thomas More of the Woodland Conference, formed the Metro Classic Conference, named so because several of its members were part of the old Metro Conference in WISAA before its breakup. The eleven remaining schools began competition as a single division, an alignment they currently maintain. Wayland Academy left the Midwest Classic for membership in the Trailways Conference in 2014, and were replaced by the conference's first public school member: St. Francis High School. St. Joan Antida also left the Midwest Classic in 2014 to compete as an independent before joining the new Lake City Conference in 2022. That same year, HOPE Christian left the conference when it eliminated high school grades from its curriculum. These schools were replaced in 2023 by one newcomer and two returning members. Kingdom Prep Lutheran in Wauwatosa made its Midwest Classic debut, and Catholic Central and Luther Prep rejoined from the Metro Classic Conference and Capitol Conference, respectively.Football (since 2020)
In February 2019, the WIAA and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association released a major football-only realignment for Wisconsin's high schools, starting with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle. The Midwest Classic Conference received a significant overhaul, retaining only four members and losing three to the Metro Classic Conference's football group along with St. John's Northwestern to the Trailways Conference. The exiting schools were replaced by four schools affiliated with the Metro Classic Conference. St. Francis rejoined the Midwest Classic for the 2022-2023 realignment cycle due to the closing of HOPE Christian Academy the year before. For the 2024-2025 competition cycle, the Midwest Classic Conference expanded to twelve schools over two divisions grouped by enrollment size. Four new members were added to the conference: Cudahy, Kingdom Prep Lutheran, Milwaukee Academy of Science and Pius XI. All of the new schools were placed in the Large Schools division along with returning members Racine Lutheran and St. Francis, with the other six members comprising the Small Schools division. After the 2024 season, Dominican discontinued their stand-alone football program, choosing instead to join the Shorewood/Messmer football cooperative with varsity play beginning in the 2026-2027 season. They will be joining the conference's Large Schools division with Racine Lutheran shifting to the Small Schools division.Membership timeline
Full members
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1983 till:2030
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bar:1 color:blue from:1983 till:1999 text:Central Wisconsin Christian
bar:2 color:blue from:1983 till:1996 text:Kettle Moraine Lutheran
bar:2 color:powderblue from:1996 till:1998 text:
bar:3 color:skyblue from:1983 till:1996 text:Martin Luther
bar:3 color:powderblue from:1996 till:1997 text:
bar:3 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:3 color:red from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:3 color:skyblue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:4 color:blue from:1983 till:1995 text:Northwestern Prep
bar:5 color:skyblue from:1983 till:1988 text:Notre Dame
bar:6 color:skyblue from:1983 till:1996 text:Racine Lutheran
bar:6 color:powderblue from:1996 till:1999 text:
bar:6 color:skyblue from:1999 till:2003 text:
bar:6 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:6 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:6 color:skyblue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:7 color:blue from:1983 till:1999 text:Sheboygan Christian
bar:8 color:blue from:1983 till:1999 text:Sheboygan Lutheran
bar:9 color:skyblue from:1983 till:2003 text:Shoreland Lutheran
bar:9 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:9 color:red from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:9 color:powderblue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:10 color:skyblue from:1983 till:1995 text:St. John's Military
bar:10 color:skyblue from:1995 till:2003 text:St. John's Northwestern
bar:10 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:10 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:10 color:blue from:2008 till:2009 text:
bar:10 color:powderblue from:2009 till:2010 text:
bar:10 color:blue from:2010 till:2012 text:
bar:10 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:11 color:blue from:1983 till:1999 text:St. Lawrence Seminary
bar:12 color:skyblue from:1983 till:2003 text:St. Mary's, Burlington Catholic Central
bar:12 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:12 color:red from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:12 color:powderblue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:12 color:tan1 from:2023 till:2030 text:
bar:13 color:skyblue from:1983 till:2003 text:The Prairie School
bar:13 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:13 color:red from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:13 color:skyblue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:14 color:skyblue from:1983 till:1993 text:University School of Milwaukee
bar:14 color:blue from:1993 till:1996 text:
bar:14 color:skyblue from:1996 till:1998 text:
bar:14 color:powderblue from:1998 till:1999 text:
bar:14 color:blue from:1999 till:2003 text:
bar:14 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:14 color:red from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:14 color:blue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:14 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:15 color:blue from:1983 till:1994 text:Wayland Academy
bar:15 color:blue from:1996 till:2003 text:
bar:15 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:15 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:15 color:blue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:15 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2014 text:
bar:16 color:blue from:1983 till:1996 text:Winnebago Lutheran
bar:16 color:powderblue from:1996 till:1999 text:
bar:17 color:skyblue from:1989 till:1999 text:Heritage Christian
bar:17 color:blue from:1999 till:2003 text:
bar:17 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:17 color:red from:2005 till:2007 text:
bar:17 color:coral from:2007 till:2008 text:
bar:17 color:blue from:2008 till:2011 text:
bar:17 color:skyblue from:2011 till:2012 text:
bar:17 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:18 color:skyblue from:1989 till:2003 text:St. Joan Antida
bar:18 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:18 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:18 color:blue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:18 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2014 text:
bar:19 color:skyblue from:1993 till:1996 text:Messmer
bar:19 color:powderblue from:1996 till:1999 text:
bar:19 color:blue from:1999 till:2003 text:
bar:19 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:19 color:red from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:19 color:powderblue from:2008 till:2010 text:
bar:19 color:skyblue from:2010 till:2011 text:
bar:19 color:blue from:2011 till:2012 text:
bar:19 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:20 color:blue from:1995 till:1998 text:Luther Prep
bar:20 color:powderblue from:1996 till:1998 text:
bar:20 color:tan1 from:2023 till:2030 text:
bar:21 color:blue from:1996 till:1998 text:Brookfield Academy
bar:21 color:skyblue from:1998 till:1999 text:
bar:21 color:blue from:1999 till:2003 text:
bar:21 color:tan1 from:2003 till:2005 text:
bar:21 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:
bar:21 color:skyblue from:2008 till:2009 text:
bar:21 color:blue from:2009 till:2012 text:
bar:21 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:22 color:powderblue from:1998 till:1999 text:Lourdes Academy
bar:23 color:blue from:1998 till:1999 text:NEW Lutheran
bar:24 color:powderblue from:1998 till:1999 text:St. Mary Catholic
bar:25 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:Christian Life
bar:25 color:skyblue from:2008 till:2010 text:
bar:25 color:blue from:2010 till:2011 text:
bar:25 color:skyblue from:2011 till:2012 text:
bar:25 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:26 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:Lake Country Lutheran
bar:26 color:blue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:26 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:27 color:coral from:2005 till:2008 text:Living Word Lutheran
bar:27 color:blue from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:27 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2030 text:
bar:28 color:red from:2006 till:2008 text:Dominican
bar:28 color:powderblue from:2008 till:2010 text:
bar:28 color:skyblue from:2010 till:2011 text:
bar:28 color:blue from:2011 till:2012 text:
bar:29 color:skyblue from:2008 till:2012 text:HOPE Christian
bar:29 color:tan1 from:2012 till:2022 text:
bar:30 color:powderblue from:2008 till:2012 text:St. Catherine's
bar:31 color:powderblue from:2008 till:2009 text:St. Joseph
bar:31 color:skyblue from:2009 till:2012 text:
bar:32 color:tan1 from:2014 till:2030 text:St. Francis
bar:33 color:tan1 from:2023 till:2030 text:Kingdom Prep Lutheran
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Football members
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Period = from:1983 till:2030
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bar:1 color:lavender from:1983 till:1995 text:Martin Luther
bar:1 color:lavender from:1999 till:2008 text:
bar:1 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:2 color:lavender from:1983 till:1995 text:Northwestern Prep
bar:3 color:lavender from:1983 till:1986 text:Racine Lutheran
bar:3 color:lavender from:1990 till:1995 text:
bar:3 color:lavender from:1999 till:2008 text:
bar:3 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:3 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:
bar:3 color:yellow from:2024 till:2030 text:
bar:4 color:lavender from:1983 till:1995 text:St. John's Military Academy, St. John's Northwestern
bar:4 color:lavender from:1999 till:2008 text:
bar:4 color:green from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:4 color:lavender from:2012 till:2020 text:
bar:5 color:lavender from:1983 till:1991 text:St. Lawrence Seminary
bar:6 color:lavender from:1983 till:1995 text:St. Mary's, Burlington Catholic Central
bar:6 color:lavender from:1999 till:2008 text:
bar:6 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:6 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:
bar:6 color:dullyellow from:2024 till:2030 text:
bar:7 color:lavender from:1983 till:1995 text:University School of Milwaukee
bar:7 color:lavender from:1999 till:2008 text:
bar:7 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2011 text:
bar:7 color:green from:2011 till:2012 text:
bar:7 color:lavender from:2012 till:2020 text:
bar:8 color:lavender from:1983 till:1994 text:Wayland Academy
bar:8 color:lavender from:1999 till:2004 text:
bar:8 color:green from:2009 till:2012 text:
bar:9 color:lavender from:1983 till:1995 text:Winnebago Lutheran
bar:10 color:lavender from:1994 till:1995 text:Holy Name Seminary
bar:11 color:lavender from:1999 till:2008 text:Shoreland Lutheran
bar:11 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:12 color:lavender from:2003 till:2006 text:Lourdes Academy
bar:13 color:lavender from:2004 till:2008 text:Lake Country Lutheran
bar:13 color:green from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:13 color:lavender from:2012 till:2020 text:
bar:14 color:lavender from:2005 till:2008 text:Heritage Christian
bar:14 color:green from:2008 till:2010 text:
bar:15 color:lavender from:2005 till:2008 text:Living Word Lutheran
bar:15 color:green from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:15 color:lavender from:2012 till:2024 text:
bar:15 color:dullyellow from:2024 till:2030 text:
bar:16 color:lavender from:2006 till:2008 text:Dominican
bar:16 color:green from:2008 till:2012 text:
bar:16 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:
bar:16 color:dullyellow from:2024 till:2025 text:
bar:17 color:green from:2008 till:2012 text:Brookfield Academy
bar:17 color:lavender from:2012 till:2024 text:
bar:17 color:dullyellow from:2024 till:2030 text:
bar:18 color:green from:2008 till:2012 text:HOPE Christian
bar:18 color:lavender from:2012 till:2022 text:
bar:19 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2011 text:Shorewood/Messmer
bar:19 color:green from:2011 till:2012 text:
bar:19 color:lavender from:2012 till:2014 text:
bar:20 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2012 text:St. Catherine's
bar:21 color:yellowgreen from:2008 till:2012 text:St. Joseph
bar:21 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:
bar:21 color:dullyellow from:2024 till:2030 text:
bar:22 color:lavender from:2013 till:2017 text:Christian Life
bar:22 color:lavender from:2020 till:2024 text:
bar:23 color:lavender from:2014 till:2020 text:St. Francis
bar:23 color:lavender from:2022 till:2024 text:
bar:23 color:yellow from:2024 till:2030 text:
bar:24 color:yellow from:2024 till:2030 text:Cudahy
bar:25 color:yellow from:2024 till:2030 text:Kingdom Prep Lutheran
bar:26 color:yellow from:2024 till:2030 text:Milwaukee Academy of Science
bar:27 color:yellow from:2024 till:2030 text:Pius XI
bar:28 color:dullyellow from:2026 till:2030 text:Shorewood/Messmer/Dominican
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1983
List of state champions
Fall sports
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| University School | 2024 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| The Prairie School | 2010 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| University School | 1983 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1984 | WISAA | |
| The Prairie School | 1985 | WISAA | |
| The Prairie School | 1986 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1988 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1989 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1990 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1991 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1995 | WISAA | |
| University School | 1997 | WISAA | |
| The Prairie School | 2000 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| The Prairie School | 2001 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2004 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2005 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2006 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2007 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2011 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2012 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2014 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2017 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2018 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2022 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2023 | WIAA | Division 2 |
| University School | 2024 | WIAA | Division 2 |
Winter sports
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 1985 | WISAA | Class B |
| Winnebago Lutheran | 1988 | WISAA | Class B |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 1989 | WISAA | Class B |
| Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 1990 | WISAA | Class B |
| Winnebago Lutheran | 1991 | WISAA | Class B |
| Heritage Christian | 2012 | WIAA | Division 5 |
Spring sports
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| Wayland Academy | 1999 | WISAA | |
| The Prairie School | 2005 | WIAA | Division 3 |
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| St. Mary’s | 1987 | WISAA | Class B |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 1988 | WISAA | Class B |
| Catholic Central | 1991 | WISAA | Class B |
| Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 1998 | WISAA | Class B |
| Catholic Central | 2000 | WISAA | Class B |
| Catholic Central | 2004 | WIAA | Division 4 |
| School | Year | Organization | Division |
| St. John's Military Academy | 1984 | WISAA | Class C |
| Central Wisconsin Christian | 1985 | WISAA | Class C |
| University School | 1991 | WISAA | Class B |
| Northwestern Prep | 1995 | WISAA | Class B |
| Brookfield Academy | 2010 | WIAA | Division 3 |