Lake Superior Conference

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The Lake Superior Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership centered around the Twin Ports region at the mouth of the Saint Louis River in Lake Superior. It was founded in 1939 and its member schools belong to the Minnesota State High School League and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1939-1974

Lake Superior Conference
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Location of Original Big Six Conference Members:

The Lake Superior Conference was formed in 1939, and it was originally known as the Big Six Conference to reflect the number of its original member schools (Cloquet, Denfeld, Duluth Central, Morgan Park, Proctor and Two Harbors). [1] At the time of the Big Six Conference's formation, all of its members also belonged to the Head of the Lakes Conference, which included Duluth Cathedral and three high schools across the Saint Louis River in Wisconsin (Superior Cathedral, Superior Central and Superior East). After a short hiatus from 1946 [2] to 1948, [3] the Big Six resumed competition and changed its name as the conference grew; becoming the Big Seven in 1951 (Duluth East), [4] the Big Eight in 1954 (Grand Marais), [5] the Big Nine in 1958 (Silver Bay) [6] and finally, the Big Ten in 1962 (Hermantown). [7] The Big Ten Conference maintained its member roster until 1974, when Duluth Cathedral joined the conference, and the conference changed its name to the Lake Superior Conference due to there being more than ten member schools. [8]

1974-present

After the conference's name change, the Lake Superior Conference stayed at eleven schools until 1982, when Morgan Park closed its doors [9] and merged into Denfeld. [10] The school became known as Denfeld-Morgan Park for one school year before reverting to the original Denfeld name in 1983. The next year, the Lake Superior Conference accepted its first ever Wisconsin-based member in Superior High School. [11] Membership in the Lake Superior Conference remained stable for sixteen years until in 1999, four schools (Duluth Central, Duluth East, Silver Bay and Superior) left the conference; Silver Bay joined the Polar League and the other three schools became independents. [12] Prior to the exit of these four schools, the members of the conference voted to disband following the 1999-2000 season, citing disparities in enrollment and competition levels. [13] In 2000, the members of the Lake Superior Conference decided not to disband and two schools made their return: Duluth Central and Superior. [14] Their entry into the Lake Superior Conference offset the loss of Cook County to independent status. In 2006, Two Harbors left to join the Polar League and were replaced by Ashland, who had just left the WIAA's Lumberjack Conference. [15] In preparation for the closing of Duluth Central High School, the athletic programs at Central and Denfeld merged in 2010, initially competing under the Central banner before reverting to Denfield after the two schools merged in 2011. [16] Ashland left the Lake Superior Conference to compete as an independent for the 2020-21 school year prior to joining the WIAA's Heart O'North Conference. [17] They were replaced by Grand Rapids, who previously competed as an independent after leaving the Iron Range Conference in 2019. [18] They were followed by Hibbing in 2021, who left the Iron Range in 2020 and brought the Lake Superior Conference to its current tally of eight member schools. [19]

Football (1958-1977)

Football was sponsored for the first time with Silver Bay's entry into the Big Nine in 1958, and all nine schools participated with the conference's first season. Membership was split into two divisions: the four Duluth schools were placed in the City Division and the other five became the Seaway Division. [20] Hermantown joined the Seaway Division for football when it entered the conference for all other sports in 1962. [21] For the 1966 season, Cloquet was shifted over to join with the Duluth schools, and the City Division was renamed the Zenith Division. [22] Duluth Cathedral joined the football roster in 1974, competing in the Zenith Division for the final four seasons of football sponsorship. [23] The Lake Superior Conference discontinued sponsorship of football after the 1977 season as part of a larger realignment of football schools in the Iron Range. All six Zenith Division schools joined with Grand Rapids and Hibbing to form the Northern Lakes Conference, [24] four schools in the Seaway Division (Hermantown, Proctor, Silver Bay and Two Harbors) partnered with five former Iron Range Conference schools (Aurora-Hoyt Lakes, Eveleth, Greenway, International Falls and Virginia) in the new Sea-Range Conference, [25] and Grand Marais became members of the Arrowhead Conference. [26]

List of conference members

Current members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoined
Cloquet Cloquet, MN Public662Lumberjacks  1939 [1]
Denfeld Duluth, MN Public729Hunters  1939, [1] 2011 [16]
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MN Public953Thunderhawks  2020 [18]
Hermantown Hermantown, MN Public618Hawks  1962 [7]
Hibbing Hibbing, MN Public564Bluejackets  2021 [19]
Marshall School Duluth, MN Private (Nonsectarian)232Hilltoppers  1974 [8]
Proctor Proctor, MN Public472Rails  1939 [1]
Superior Superior, WI Public1,308 [27] Spartans  1983, [11] 2000 [14]

Former members

SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Duluth Central Duluth, MN PublicN/ATrojans  1939, [1] 2000 [14] 1999, [12] 2011 [16] IndependentClosed (merged into Denfeld)
Morgan Park Duluth, MN PublicN/AWildcats  1939 [1] 1982 [9] [10] Closed (merged into Denfeld)
Two Harbors Two Harbors, MN Public290Agates  1939 [1] 2006 [15] Polar League
Duluth East Duluth, MN Public1,358Greyhounds  1951 [4] 1999 [12] Independent
Cook County Grand Marais, MN Public137Vikings  1954 [5] 2000 [14] Independent Polar League
Silver Bay Silver Bay, MN Public91Mariners  1958 [6] 1999 [12] Polar League
Ashland Ashland, WI Public635 [27] Oredockers  2006 [15] 2020 [17] [18] Independent Heart O'North

Membership timeline

Full members

Lake Superior Conference

Football members

Lake Superior Conference

 City/Zenith Division Seaway Division

Membership map

Lake Superior Conference
Lake Superior Conference
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Location of Lake Superior Conference full members:

List of state champions

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Duluth Central1943MSHSL
Duluth Central1945MSHSL
Duluth Central1949MSHSL
Duluth Central1951MSHSL
Duluth Central1956MSHSL
Duluth Central1957MSHSL
Esko/Cloquet1984MSHSLClass AA
Esko/Cloquet1985MSHSLClass AA
Girls Cross Country
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Hermantown1984MSHSLClass A
Hermantown1985MSHSLClass A
Duluth East1992MSHSLClass AA
Duluth East1993MSHSLClass AA
Duluth East1994MSHSLClass AA
Duluth East1995MSHSLClass AA
Duluth East1996MSHSLClass AA
Duluth East1997MSHSLClass AA
Duluth East1998MSHSLClass AA
Boys Soccer
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Marshall School2007MSHSLClass A
Ashland2013 [28] WIAADivision 3
Girls Volleyball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Hermantown1976MSHSLClass A

Winter sports

Boys Alpine Skiing
SchoolYearOrganization
Duluth Central1943MSHSL
Duluth Central1944MSHSL
Cloquet1945MSHSL
Duluth Central1946MSHSL
Duluth Central1947MSHSL
Cloquet1948MSHSL
Duluth Central1949MSHSL
Cloquet1950MSHSL
Cloquet1951MSHSL
Cloquet1952MSHSL
Duluth East1953MSHSL
Duluth East1954MSHSL
Duluth East1956MSHSL
Cloquet1957MSHSL
Grand Marais1958MSHSL
Grand Marais1959MSHSL
Duluth East1960MSHSL
Duluth East1961MSHSL
Grand Marais1962MSHSL
Grand Marais1963MSHSL
Grand Marais1964MSHSL
Grand Marais1965MSHSL
Grand Marais1966MSHSL
Cloquet1968MSHSL
Grand Marais1969MSHSL
Grand Marais1970MSHSL
Duluth East1985MSHSL
Duluth East1990MSHSL
Duluth East1991MSHSL
Duluth East1994MSHSL
Duluth East1995MSHSL
Girls Alpine Skiing
SchoolYearOrganization
Cloquet1977MSHSL
Duluth East1983MSHSL
Duluth East1994MSHSL
Duluth East1995MSHSL
Hermantown2012MSHSL
Boys Basketball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Denfeld1947MSHSL
Duluth Central1950MSHSL
Duluth Central1961MSHSL
Duluth Central1971MSHSLClass AA
Duluth Central1979MSHSLClass AA
Boys Hockey
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Duluth East1960MSHSL
Superior1990 [28] WIAA
Superior1992 [28] WIAA
Superior1994 [28] WIAA
Duluth East1995MSHSLClass AA
Superior1995 [28] WIAA
Superior1996 [28] WIAA
Duluth East1998MSHSLClass AA
Superior2003 [28] WIAA
Superior2005 [28] WIAA
Hermantown2007MSHSLClass A
Superior2015 [28] WIAA
Hermantown2016MSHSLClass A
Hermantown2017MSHSLClass A
Hermantown2022MSHSLClass A
Girls Hockey
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Superior2005 [28] WIAA
Proctor/Hermantown2021MSHSLClass A
Boys Nordic Skiing
SchoolYearOrganization
Duluth Central1940MSHSL
Duluth Central1941MSHSL
Duluth Central1942MSHSL
Duluth Central1943MSHSL
Duluth Central1944MSHSL
Duluth Central1945MSHSL
Duluth Central1946MSHSL
Duluth Central1947MSHSL
Cloquet1948MSHSL
Duluth Central1949MSHSL
Duluth Central1950MSHSL
Cloquet1951MSHSL
Cloquet1952MSHSL
Duluth Central1953MSHSL
Duluth Central1954MSHSL
Cloquet1956MSHSL
Denfeld1957MSHSL
Duluth Central1958MSHSL
Cloquet1959MSHSL
Cloquet1960MSHSL
Duluth Central1961MSHSL
Duluth Central1962MSHSL
Cloquet1963MSHSL
Cloquet1966MSHSL
Duluth East1998MSHSL
Duluth East1999MSHSL
Girls Nordic Skiing
SchoolYearDivision
Cloquet1976MSHSL
Cloquet1977MSHSL
Cloquet1978MSHSL
Duluth East1996MSHSL
Duluth East1998MSHSL
Duluth East1999MSHSL

Spring sports

Baseball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Denfeld1950MSHSL
Marshall School2019MSHSLClass AA
Boys Golf
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Duluth Central1946MSHSL
Duluth Central1947MSHSL
Duluth Central1948MSHSL
Duluth East1960MSHSL
Duluth East1968MSHSL
Marshall School2004MSHSLClass A
Cloquet2021MSHSLClass AA
Softball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Hermantown1991MSHSLClass A
Hermantown2002MSHSLClass AA
Hermantown2009MSHSLClass AA
Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Denfeld1949MSHSL
Silver Bay1977MSHSLClass A
Hermantown2005MSHSLClass A

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Duluth Central221949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1961, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998
Superior171990, 1991, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024
Duluth East161956, 1957, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996
Cloquet151958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1976, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1999, 2000, 2014, 2021
Denfeld131944, 1946, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2018, 2024, 2025
Two Harbors111940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1970, 1976, 1990, 1991, 1994
Hermantown61965, 1990, 1992, 2019, 2023, 2024
(Grand Marais) Cook County31993, 1999, 2000
Marshall School21995, 2005
Morgan Park21943, 1953
Silver Bay21970, 1974
Proctor11964
Ashland0
Duluth Cathedral0
Grand Rapids0
Hibbing0

Girls Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Hermantown121991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
Cloquet71978, 1979, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2025
Denfeld61977, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994
Duluth Central61981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1997
Duluth East61977, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1995, 1996
Superior61985, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Proctor42002, 2003, 2019, 2020
Ashland32009, 2010, 2015
Marshall School31998, 2021, 2024
Two Harbors31993, 1995, 2001
Grand Rapids22022, 2023
Silver Bay11980
(Grand Marais) Cook County0
Duluth Cathedral0
Hibbing0
Morgan Park0

Football

City/Zenith Division

SchoolQuantityYears
Denfeld71958, 1959, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1974, 1977
Cloquet51967, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976
Duluth Central41961, 1962, 1965, 1968
Morgan Park31963, 1969, 1970
Duluth East11960
Duluth Cathedral0

Seaway Division

SchoolQuantityYears
Two Harbors91958, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977
Hermantown41964, 1965, 1970, 1972
Cloquet31959, 1960, 1962
Proctor21963, 1971
Silver Bay21973, 1974
Grand Marais11966

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sportolog". Duluth News-Tribune. 8 October 1939. p. 4. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  2. Peterson, Sid (3 November 1946). "The Locker Room". Duluth News-Tribune. pp. 4b. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  3. "Big 6 Cage Loop to be Set Tonight". Duluth News-Tribune. 12 May 1948. p. 14. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 Peterson, Sid (11 February 1951). "Trojans to Battle Denfeld Five First". Duluth News-Tribune. p. 41. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Region 7 Committee Bills Meeting Here This Morning". Duluth News-Tribune. 14 October 1954. p. 17. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Unbeaten Rails Inaugurate Silver Bay Field". Duluth News-Tribune. 21 September 1958. p. 28. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Hawks Okayed By Big 9, Conference To Be Known As Big 10". Duluth News-Tribune. 25 January 1962. p. 20. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Big Ten Conference now "Lake Superior"". Duluth News-Tribune. 19 June 1974. p. 27. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  9. 1 2 Glumac, Ann (9 June 1982). "Park graduation takes place as usual". Duluth News-Tribune. p. 6. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  10. 1 2 Miller, Al (10 March 1983). "Denfeld, Morgan Park merge in harmony". Duluth News-Tribune. p. 11. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  11. 1 2 Lacedaemon 1984 (see First Year in LSC). 1984. p. 98.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Large schools have talent". Duluth News-Tribune. 8 December 1999. pp. 3D. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  13. "LSC will disband after year 2000". Duluth News-Tribune. 6 November 1998. pp. 3E. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "LSC set to return for another year". Duluth News-Tribune. 13 April 2000. pp. 5C. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 Weegman, Rick (8 September 2006). "Ashland feels right at home in Minnesota-based conference". Duluth News-Tribune. pp. 5B. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 "Top 10 of 2010, The year in local sports". Duluth News-Tribune. 29 December 2010. p. 5. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Ashland moves to HON". Duluth News-Tribune. 10 March 2020. pp. B3. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 "Grand Rapids to replace Ashland in LSC". Duluth News-Tribune. 22 October 2019. pp. A11. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Among other athletes to watch..." Duluth News-Tribune. 9 June 2021. pp. B3. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  20. "Title Rules Drawn for Cage, Grid". Duluth News Tribune. 17 September 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  21. "Football...It's Coming!". Duluth News Tribune. 12 August 1962. p. 23. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  22. Helberg, Davis (27 February 1966). "Cloquet Joins City Loop". Duluth News Tribune. p. 26. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  23. Derong, Gary (27 August 1974). "Hunters out to reach the 'zenith' of season". Duluth Herald. p. 14. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  24. Goebel, Jim (1 September 1978). "Range-city rivalry changes form". Duluth News Tribune. pp. 1B. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  25. Bennett, Bruce (28 August 1978). "Rebuilding number one task for Two Harbors". Duluth News Tribune. pp. 2B. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  26. Gill, Mike (30 August 1978). "In Arrowhead, follow the long, winding road". Duluth News Tribune. pp. 1C. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  27. 1 2 Wilson, Travis (27 November 2023). "All school enrollment figures for 2023-24 sports year with one- and five-year enrollment comparisons". Wisconsin Sports Network. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "State Team Championships". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 7 May 2025.