North Dakota High School Activities Association


The North Dakota High School Activities Association is the governing body for the U.S. state of North Dakota's high-school athletics and fine arts. The current executive director of the NDHSAA is Matthew Fetsch and the headquarters are located in Valley City, North Dakota.

History

In the fall of 1907 Superintendent G.W. Hanna of Valley City and invited representatives of a few other schools to a meeting in Valley City, North Dakota to discuss standardizing high school athletics in the state. A second meeting, called by Principal H.L. Rockwood of Valley City for the adoption of a constitution was held in Grand Forks on January 1 and 2, 1908 and would lead to the creation of the North Dakota High School League. 29 schools attended this meeting, but only four schools became charter members. Casselton and Hankinson joined later that school year. There was a steady growth in membership with 80 schools belonging by 1921 and 103 out of 162 classified high schools by 1925. Superintendent G.W. Hanna served as president for a first year and a half, and was succeeded by Superintendent A.G. Crane of Jamestown after the 1908–09 school year.

Basketball

From 1914 to 1932 all North Dakota High School Activities Association member high schools played basketball under a single classification. three small schools during this period won state titles: Tower City in 1915, Michigan in 1917, and Petersburg in 1919. In 1922, a number of schools from small towns organized the Consolidated League for the purpose of competing for a state championship with schools of similar enrollments. This league continued to operate through 1950. In 1933, the schools still competing under the sponsorship of the NDHSAA were divided up into Class A and Class B and, in 1948, the Class C division was created by the NDHSAA. The Consolidated League joined the Class C in 1950 and that combined organization remained in operation through 1963. From 1963 to 2023, all high school basketball teams compete in either Class B or Class A. Beginning in the 2023–24 season, a three class system was established with teams either competing in Class AA, Class A, or Class B.

Sports offered

Football

Football Division in North Dakota is determined by the Male Enrollment of each School, divisions are realigned annually to reflect enrollment.

AAA

150+ and Above Male Enrollment
West Fargo, North DakotaPublic7002021, 2024Mustangs
West Fargo, North DakotaPublic6941998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2017, 2023Packers
Fargo, North DakotaPublic2014Eagles
Fargo, North DakotaPublic1995, 2000, 2023Spartans
Fargo, North DakotaPrivate2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2022Deacons
Horace High SchoolHorace, North DakotaPublic2024Hawks
Williston, North DakotaPublicCoyotes
Bismarck, North DakotaPublic2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018Demons
Bismarck, North DakotaPublic2015,2016,2019, 2020Patriots
Bismarck, North DakotaPublicSabers
Mandan, North DakotaPublicBraves
Minot, North DakotaPublic2023Magicians

AA

150+ and Above Male Enrollment
Grand Forks, North DakotaPublicKnights
Grand Forks, North DakotaPublicRough Riders
Fargo, North DakotaPublicBruins
Casselton, North DakotaPublicSquirrels
Bismarck, North DakotaPrivateSaints
Wahpeton, North DakotaPublicHuskies
Kindred, North DakotaPublicVikings
Jamestown, North DakotaPublicBluejays
Watford City, North DakotaPublicWolves
Devils Lake, North DakotaPublicFirebirds
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Boys' Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • 9 Man Football
  • Golf
  • Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Swimming & Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Wrestling
Girls' Sports
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • A Golf
  • B Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming & Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

    Activities

  • Journalism
  • Music
  • * All-State Band
  • * All-State Chorus
  • * All-State Jazz Band
  • * All-State Orchestra
  • Region Music
  • Speech
  • * Debate & Individual Events
  • * One-Act Play & Technical Theatre
  • * Oral Interpretation
  • * Student Council
  • * Student Congress
  • Visual Arts

    Member Schools

The NDHSAA is currently made up of 171 member high schools.

Notable alumni