Black Hawk League

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The Black Hawk League is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Formed in 1930 and in operation until 1997, its membership consisted primarily of small high schools in the southwest corner of Wisconsin. All members (with the exception of two) were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

Founding and Early Years (1930-1959)

The Black Hawk League was founded in 1930 by six small high schools in southwestern Wisconsin: Belmont, Benton, Hazel Green (now Southwestern), New Diggings, Shullsburg and South Wayne. [1] It was named after the portion of southwestern Wisconsin (then Michigan Territory) where the Black Hawk War had been fought a century earlier. Membership grew to eight schools after World War II with the addition of Gratiot High School in 1946 [2] and Scales Mound High School in 1947. [3] In 1953, New Diggings High School was closed when their district was consolidated into Hazel Green, [4] and Scales Mound left two years later to join the U.S. Grant Conference, an IHSA-sponsored conference in Illinois. [5]

Consolidation-Driven Realignment (1959-1979)

The consolidation of rural school districts and folding of smaller athletic conferences in southwestern Wisconsin continued to affect Black Hawk League membership into the 1960s and 1970s. Cassville and Potosi joined from the West Grant League in 1959, [6] and Bloomington joined the next year when the conference disbanded after all other members were lost to consolidation. [7] South Wayne left to join the State Line League in 1962 [8] and were replaced by Highland, who joined from the I-W League in 1963, [9] one year before that conference's demise. The Black Hawk League lost Gratiot when it consolidated with South Wayne to form Black Hawk High School in 1967, [10] and they took South Wayne's place in the State Line League. West Grant moved over from the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League in 1969 to take their place. [11] The Black Hawk League added a tenth member (and its only private school) in 1979 when Martin Luther Prep moved their campus from New Ulm, Minnesota to the former Campion High School campus in Prairie du Chien. [12]

Final Years and State Line League Merger (1979-1997)

Southwestern High School's exit for the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League brought conference membership in the Black Hawk League to nine in 1983. [13] 1995 saw an even more drastic change to membership, with a net loss of two schools in the process. Martin Luther Prep merged with Northwestern Prep in Watertown to form Luther Prep, closing the Prairie du Chien campus in the process. [14] In addition, Bloomington and West Grant were consolidated into River Ridge High School, [15] [16] repurposing the West Grant High School campus for their new home. Two years later, the seven members of the Black Hawk League merged with the nine members of the State Line League to form the new Six Rivers Conference. [17]

Conference Membership History

SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Belmont Belmont, WI Public121Braves  1930 [1] 1997 [17] Six Rivers
Benton Benton, WI Public65Zephyrs  1930 [1] 1997 [17] Six Rivers
New Diggings New Diggings, WI PublicN/AMidgets  1930 [1] 1953 [4] Closed (consolidated into Hazel Green)
Shullsburg Shullsburg, WI Public104Miners  1930 [1] 1997 [17] Six Rivers
South Wayne South Wayne, WI PublicN/AVandals  1930 [1] 1962 [8] State Line Closed (consolidated into Black Hawk) [10]
Southwestern Hazel Green, WI Public162Wildcats  1930 [1] 1983 [13] Southern Eight SWAL
Gratiot Gratiot, WI PublicN/AHilltoppers  1946 [2] 1967 [10] Closed (consolidated into Black Hawk) [10]
Scales Mound Scales Mound, IL Public80 [18] Hornets  1947 [3] 1955 [5] U.S. Grant (IHSA) Northwest Upsate Illini (IHSA)
Cassville Cassville, WI Public57Comets  1959 [6] 1997 [17] Six Rivers
Potosi Potosi, WI Public107Chieftains  1959 [6] 1997 [17] Six Rivers
Bloomington Bloomington, WI PublicN/ABlue Jays  1960 [7] 1995 [15] [16] Closed (consolidated into River Ridge) [15] [16]
Highland Highland, WI Public105Cardinals  1963 [9] 1997 [17] Six Rivers
West Grant Patch Grove, WI PublicN/AFalcons  1969 [11] 1995 [15] [16] Closed (consolidated into River Ridge) [15] [16]
Martin Luther Prep Prairie du Chien, WI Private (Lutheran, WELS)N/ARams  1979 [12] 1995 [14] Merged with Northwestern Prep (Luther Prep)
River Ridge Patch Grove, WI Public175Timberwolves   1995 [15] [16] 1997 [17] Six Rivers

Membership Timeline

Black Hawk League

List of State Champions

Fall Sports

Football
SchoolYearDivision
Martin Luther Prep1979 [19] WISAA Class B
Martin Luther Prep1982 [20] WISAA Class B
Martin Luther Prep1987 [21] WISAA Class B

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Bloomington1972Class B
Shullsburg1991Division 4
Cassville1994Division 4
Cassville1995Division 4

Spring Sports

Baseball
SchoolYearDivision
Potosi1993Division 3
Softball
SchoolYearDivision
Martin Luther Prep1989 [22] WISAA Class B
Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Bloomington1975Class C

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Black Hawk League for Preps Organized". Wisconsin State Journal. November 14, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Southern State Prep Basketball Standings". Wisconsin State Journal. December 22, 1946. p. 28. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Dommershausen, Joe (November 24, 1947). "Preps to Open Play in Six More Loops". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "New Diggings Case Settled". Platteville Journal and Grant County News. December 11, 1952. p. 15. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Hanover Wins". Freeport Journal-Standard. February 15, 1956. p. 10. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Blackhawk Prep League Admits Cassville, Potosi". Wisconsin State Journal. August 29, 1958. p. 34. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Patterson, John (February 18, 1960). "Blackhawk League Accepts Bluejays". The Bloomington Record. p. 1. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "South Wayne to Enter State Line Prep Loop". Wisconsin State Journal. September 24, 1961. p. 30. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Prep Cage Standings". Wisconsin State Journal. December 22, 1963. p. 24. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Wedeward, Dave (September 14, 1967). "High Notes". Janesville Weekly Gazette. p. 19. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "West Grant to be in Blackhawk League". The Boscobel Dial. October 10, 1968. p. 9. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Associated Press (December 12, 1978). "WISAA adds three, increases size to 64". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 19. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Iowa-Grant, Cuba City put heat on Platteville". Wisconsin State Journal. August 28, 1983. pp. 54 (Football '83 insert). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Kabelowsky, Steve (August 25, 1994). "Martin Luther Prep hopes final season is one to remember". La Crosse Tribune. pp. 33 (Football '94 insert). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Variety of issues approved, defeated". Wisconsin State Journal. November 9, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Defending champ Cassville will be tested". Wisconsin State Journal. August 27, 1995. pp. 67 (Football '95 insert). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hernandez, Rob (May 20, 1997). "Leagues realign: For now, merger brings no changes". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Two-Year Cycle Enrollments and Classifications". Illinois High School Association. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Lutheran's crusade falls short". Racine Journal Times. November 4, 1979. pp. 1C. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Martin Luther wins WISAA Class B title". Wisconsin State Journal. November 7, 1982. p. 28. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  21. ↑ Associated Press (November 8, 1987). "Prairie du Chien wins in WISAA football". Oshkosh Northwestern. p. 32. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ AP, State Journal staff (May 21, 1989). "Martin Luther Prep takes softball title". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 9E. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
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