Greater Spokane League

Last updated
Greater Spokane League
Conference Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)
Founded1925
No. of teams17
Region Eastern Washington, US

The Greater Spokane League (GSL) is an athletic conference for high schools in Eastern Washington, centered on the Spokane area and extending south to Pullman and Clarkston. The league took on its current name in 1976, but has existed in various forms since 1925 and was previously known as the Spokane City League. [1] The GSL consists of 17 schools, four of which compete at the 4A level, seven at 3A and six at 2A. [2]

Contents

History

The Greater Spokane League has its origins in the Spokane City League, founded in 1925 and initially composed of Lewis and Clark High School, North Central High School, Gonzaga Prep and Hillyard. Hillyard left the league in 1931 and was replaced a year later by Rogers High School. Shadle Park High School joined in 1959, along with Central Valley and West Valley, though the latter two left the league after just two years. Ferris joined in 1965. [1]

In 1976, the Spokane City League became the Greater Spokane League, with the existing members joined by Central Valley, Mead and University. Mt. Spokane joined in 1998 and East Valley followed suit one year later. In 2002, Cheney, Clarkston and West Valley joined. The three were in the 3A classification while the rest of the schools were classified as 4A. Classification changes continued in the following years. Cheney, Clarkston and West Valley would drop to 2A in 2004 and leave the league. [1]

In 2020, a statewide reclassification turned the GSL from a two-tier league into one with teams in 4A, 3A and 2A. [3] Ridgeline High School opened in 2021 as part of the Central Valley School District and joined the GSL that same year. [4] Deer Park joined the league in 2024. [5]

Boys

Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, wrestling. [6]

Girls

Basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball (fast pitch and slow pitch), swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, wrestling. [6]

Member schools

School data in the table below is current for the 2023-24 season according to the GSL and NCES websites. [7] [8]

SchoolLocationMascotColorsEnrollmentClassAffiliationJoined
Central Valley High School Spokane Valley BearsBlue & White1,3363APublic1959
Cheney High School Cheney BlackhawksRed & Black1,4883APublic2020
Clarkston High School Clarkston BantamsRed, Black & White6942APublic2020
Deer Park High School Deer Park StagsBlue & Gold6492APublic2024
East Valley High School Spokane Valley KnightsGreen, Black & White9572APublic1999
Ferris High School Spokane SaxonsScarlet & Silver1,6744APublic1965
Gonzaga Prep Spokane BullpupsNavy & White7784APrivate1925
Lewis and Clark High School Spokane TigersOrange & Black1,6724APublic1925
Mead High School Fairwood PanthersNavy & Gold1,8054APublic1976
Mt. Spokane High School Mead WildcatsNavy, Cardinal & White1,4573APublic1998
North Central High School Spokane WolfpackRed & Black1,6243APublic1925
Pullman High School Pullman GreyhoundsBlue & Gray8552APublic2025
Ridgeline High School Liberty Lake FalconsGreen & White1,5383APublic2021
Rogers High School Spokane PiratesPurple, Gold, Black & White1,5112APublic1932
Shadle Park High School Spokane HighlandersGreen & Gold1,4233APublic1959
University High School Spokane Valley TitansCrimson & Gold1,3953APublic1976
West Valley High School Spokane Valley EaglesOrange & Black8212APublic1961

References

  1. 1 2 3 "League History". greaterspokaneleague.org. Greater Spokane League. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  2. "Classifications". wiaa.com. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  3. Osso, Keith (27 January 2020). "WIAA reclassification creates new three-tiered GSL". KXLY.com. KXLY TV. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  4. Allen, Jim (13 August 2021). "'A huge win for our kids': Inside Spokane Valley's new Ridgeline High School opening this fall". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  5. Rader, Chris (3 September 2024). "Deer Park High School Joins Greater Spokane League as a 2A School". Deer Park Tribune. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Sport". greaterspokaneleague.org. Greater Spokane League. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. "Greater Spokane League". greaterspokaneleague.org. Greater Spokane League. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  8. "Search for Public Schools". nces.ed.gov. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 20 August 2025.