Black Hawk League

Last updated

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 joined from the Iowa-Wisconsin River 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

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summit League</span> American college athletic conference

The Summit League, or The Summit, is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic conference with its membership mostly located in the Midwestern United States, from Minnesota in the east, to the Dakotas, Nebraska and Colorado to the West, and Missouri and Oklahoma to the South. Founded as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities in 1982, it rebranded as the Mid-Continent Conference in 1989, then again as the Summit League on June 1, 2007. The league headquarters are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquinas High School (Wisconsin)</span> High school in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States

Aquinas High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school is part of La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools and is operated by the Diocese of La Crosse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Valley Conference</span> Wisconsin high school athletic conference

The Wisconsin Valley Conference is a high school athletic conference composed of the largest public schools in north central Wisconsin. Founded in 1921, it is one of Wisconsin's oldest athletic conferences, and all members belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Interscholastic Activities Association</span> High school athletics governing body

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is the governing body of athletics and activities for secondary education schools in the state of Washington. As of October 2024, the private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization consists of nearly 800 member high schools and middle/junior high schools, both public and private.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Catherine's High School (Racine, Wisconsin)</span> Private, coeducational school in Racine, Wisconsin, United States

St. Catherine's High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Racine, Wisconsin. It is a member of Siena Catholic Schools of Racine and the Catholic Schools of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

The Badger Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in south central Wisconsin. Established in 1952, the Badger Conference is a member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Valley Conference (Wisconsin)</span> Wisconsin high school athletic conference

The Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) is a high school athletic conference in southwest Wisconsin. All MVC schools are members of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and are located in the La Crosse-Onalaska-Sparta combined statistical area.

James David Haluska was an American football quarterback who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Selected in the 30th and final round of the 1954 NFL draft, he played in five games in the 1956 season, where he completed one of four passes for a total of eight yards.

The Madison Suburban Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, founded in 1926 and ending competition in 1969. Its members were located in south central Wisconsin, predominantly around the Madison area.

The Metro Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, formed in 1974 and dissolving in 1997. It comprised mostly Catholic high schools within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

The South Central Conference is a high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Originally founded in 1926, it disbanded in 1941 only to reconstitute eleven years later.

The Dual County Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, inaugurated in 1926 as the Columbia County Little Six Conference and ending competition in 2001. All conference members were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Tri-County League is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, operational from 1926 to 1963 with its membership concentrated in south central Wisconsin. All members belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Southwest Wisconsin Activities League is a high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in southwestern Wisconsin. Founded in 1926, all league members are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Southern Eight Conference is a former high school athletic conference in southwestern Wisconsin, operating from 1971 to 1987. All member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The State Line League is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Formed in 1927 and ending competition in 1997, its membership consisted of small schools located in the southernmost counties of the state along the Wisconsin-Illinois border. All member schools were associated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Six Rivers Conference is a high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, formed in 1997 and consisting of small schools in the southwestern part of the state. All member schools belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Southeastern Wisconsin Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, operating from 1928 to 1963. All but one of its member schools belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Southern Regional Conference is a former high school athletic conference in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, operational from 1937 to 1958. Member schools were associated with either the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association or Illinois High School Association.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Black Hawk League for Preps Organized". Wisconsin State Journal. 14 November 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Southern State Prep Basketball Standings". Wisconsin State Journal. 22 December 1946. p. 28. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 Dommershausen, Joe (24 November 1947). "Preps to Open Play in Six More Loops". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  4. 1 2 "New Diggings Case Settled". Platteville Journal and Grant County News. 11 December 1952. p. 15. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Hanover Wins". Freeport Journal-Standard. 15 February 1956. p. 10. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Blackhawk Prep League Admits Cassville, Potosi". Wisconsin State Journal. 29 August 1958. p. 34. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. 1 2 Patterson, John (18 February 1960). "Blackhawk League Accepts Bluejays". The Bloomington Record. p. 1. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  8. 1 2 "South Wayne to Enter State Line Prep Loop". Wisconsin State Journal. 24 September 1961. p. 30. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Prep Cage Standings". Wisconsin State Journal. 22 December 1963. p. 24. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Wedeward, Dave (14 September 1967). "High Notes". Janesville Weekly Gazette. p. 19. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  11. 1 2 "West Grant to be in Blackhawk League". The Boscobel Dial. 10 October 1968. p. 9. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 Associated Press (12 December 1978). "WISAA adds three, increases size to 64". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 19. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Iowa-Grant, Cuba City put heat on Platteville". Wisconsin State Journal. 28 August 1983. pp. 54 (Football '83 insert). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 Kabelowsky, Steve (25 August 1994). "Martin Luther Prep hopes final season is one to remember". La Crosse Tribune. pp. 33 (Football '94 insert). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Variety of issues approved, defeated". Wisconsin State Journal. 9 November 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Defending champ Cassville will be tested". Wisconsin State Journal. 27 August 1995. pp. 67 (Football '95 insert). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hernandez, Rob (20 May 1997). "Leagues realign: For now, merger brings no changes". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Two-Year Cycle Enrollments and Classifications". Illinois High School Association. 9 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "Lutheran's crusade falls short". Racine Journal Times. 4 November 1979. pp. 1C. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  20. ↑ "Martin Luther wins WISAA Class B title". Wisconsin State Journal. 7 November 1982. p. 28. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. ↑ Associated Press (8 November 1987). "Prairie du Chien wins in WISAA football". Oshkosh Northwestern. p. 32. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  22. ↑ AP, State Journal staff (21 May 1989). "Martin Luther Prep takes softball title". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 9E. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.