Metro Conference (Wisconsin)

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The Metro Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, formed in 1974 and dissolving in 1997. It consisted entirely of private high schools in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, and most were Catholic high schools within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Contents

History

Metro Conference (Wisconsin)
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19miles
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Location of Original Metro Conference Members

The Metro Conference was formed in 1974 as the successor to the Milwaukee Catholic Conference [1] and had twelve original members. It was formed in the wake of the successful application by Milwaukee Lutheran High School to join the Milwaukee Catholic Conference in the early 1970s. [2] All of its member schools competed under the banner of the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association, an organization for private high school athletic programs in the state of Wisconsin. [3]

The conference maintained a very consistent membership roster during its existence, only losing three members: St. John's Cathedral in 1976 (due to closing), Messmer in 1984 [4] [5] (due to nearly closing and exit from archdiocese) and St. Joan Antida in 1989 (joined the Midwest Classic Conference). The Metro Conference was very successful at state-level competitions within WISAA, with its most high-profile successes coming in basketball. During its twenty-three-year history, Metro Conference member schools won twenty boys and eighteen girls WISAA basketball championships. [6]

After the 1994 football season, the Metro Conference lost both St. Catherine's and St. Joseph to the new Wisconsin Independent Football Association, leaving the conference with six football members. [7] The Metro Conference was disbanded in 1997 in anticipation for the coming merger between WISAA and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, the state's high school athletics organization for public schools. [8] All of its member schools went to established WIAA conferences after the 1996-97 school year. [9]

Conference membership history

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Catholic Memorial Waukesha, WI Private (Catholic)576Crusaders  19741997 Classic Eight
Divine Savior Holy Angels Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic)1,344

(Girls only)

Dashers   19741997 Greater Metro
Dominican Whitefish Bay, WI Private (Catholic, Sinsinawa Dominicans)324Knights   19741997 Parkland Metro Classic
Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic, Jesuit)1,794

(Boys only)

Hilltoppers  19741997 Greater Metro
Messmer Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic)499Bishops  19741984Independent Midwest Classic
Milwaukee Lutheran Milwaukee, WI Private (Lutheran, LCMS)908Red Knights  19741997 North Shore Woodland
Pius XI Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic)699Popes  19741997 Classic Eight Woodland
St. Catherine's Racine, WI Private (Catholic, Dominican)472Angels   19741997 Lakeshore Metro Classic
St. Joan Antida Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic)376

(Girls only)

Jaguars  19741989 Midwest Classic Lake City
St. John's Cathedral Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic)N/AEagles  19741976Closed in 1976
St. Joseph Kenosha, WI Private (Catholic)229Lancers  19741997 Lakeshore Metro Classic
Thomas More Milwaukee, WI Private (Catholic)547Cavaliers  19741997 Woodland Metro Classic

Membership timeline

Full members

Metro Conference (Wisconsin)

Football members

Metro Conference (Wisconsin)

List of state championships

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
St. Thomas More1974WISAAClass A
St. Catherine's1975WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1976WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1978WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1980WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1981WISAAClass A
Marquette University1984WISAAClass A
St. Catherine's1985WISAAClass A
Marquette University1986WISAAClass A
Marquette University1987WISAAClass A
Marquette University1988WISAAClass A
Marquette University1989WISAAClass A
Marquette University1990WISAAClass A
Marquette University1991WISAAClass A
Marquette University1992WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1993WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1994WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1995WISAADivision 1
St. Catherine's1996WISAADivision 1
Girls Cross Country
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Catholic Memorial1980WISAA
Catholic Memorial1981WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1982WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1983WISAAClass A
Dominican1984WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1985WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1988WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1989WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1991WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1992WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1993WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1994WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1995WISAADivision 1
Football
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Marquette University1975WISAA
St. Thomas More1976WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1977WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1979WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1981WISAAClass A
Marquette University1982WISAAClass A
Marquette University1985WISAAClass A
Marquette University1987WISAAClass A
Marquette University1988WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1989WISAADivision 1
Dominican1990WISAADivision 2
Catholic Memorial1993WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1994WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1996WISAADivision 1
Golf
SchoolYearOrganization
St. Catherine's1974WISAA
Pius XI1976WISAA
Marquette University1982WISAA
Marquette University1983WISAA
Marquette University1992WISAA
Catholic Memorial1993WISAA
Catholic Memorial1994WISAA
Boys Soccer
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Marquette University1979WISAA
Pius XI1980WISAA
Marquette University1981WISAA
Marquette University1982WISAA
Catholic Memorial1983WISAA
Marquette University1984WISAA
Marquette University1985WISAA
Marquette University1986WISAA
Pius XI1988WISAA
Marquette University1989WISAA
Marquette University1990WISAA
Catholic Memorial1991WISAA
Marquette University1992WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1993WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1994WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1995WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1996WISAADivision 1
Girls Tennis
SchoolYearOrganization
Dominican1978WISAA
Dominican1979WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1992WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1993WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1994WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1996WISAA
Volleyball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Dominican1974WISAA
Milwaukee Lutheran1975WISAA
Dominican1976WISAA
Milwaukee Lutheran1977WISAA
St. Catherine's1978WISAA
Dominican1979WISAA
Pius XI1981WISAAClass A
Pius XI1982WISAAClass A
Pius XI1983WISAAClass A
Pius XI1984WISAAClass A
Divine Savior Holy Angels1985WISAAClass A
Pius XI1986WISAAClass A
Pius XI1987WISAAClass A
Pius XI1988WISAAClass A
Pius XI1989WISAAClass A
Pius XI1990WISAAClass A
Pius XI1991WISAAClass A
Pius XI1992WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1993WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1994WISAADivision 1

Winter sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Pius XI1975WISAAClass A
Pius XI1976WISAAClass A
St. Catherine's1977WISAAClass A
Dominican1978WISAAClass A
Dominican1979WISAAClass A
Marquette University1980WISAAClass A
Marquette University1981WISAAClass A
Marquette University1983WISAAClass A
Marquette University1984WISAAClass A
St. Catherine's1985WISAAClass A
Marquette University1986WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1987WISAAClass A
St. Thomas More1988WISAAClass A
Marquette University1989WISAAClass A
Dominican1991WISAAClass A
St. Catherine's1992WISAADivision 1
St. Catherine's1993WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1994WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1996WISAADivision 1
Dominican1997WISAADivision 1
Girls Basketball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
St. Catherine's1976WISAA
Milwaukee Lutheran1977WISAA
St. Catherine's1979WISAAClass A
Pius XI1980WISAAClass A
Pius XI1982WISAAClass A
Pius XI1983WISAAClass A
Pius XI1984WISAAClass A
Pius XI1985WISAAClass A
Pius XI1986WISAAClass A
Pius XI1987WISAAClass A
Pius XI1988WISAAClass A
Pius XI1989WISAAClass A
Pius XI1990WISAAClass A
Pius XI1991WISAAClass A
Pius XI1992WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1993WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1995WISAADivision 1
Divine Savior Holy Angels1996WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1997WISAADivision 1
Wrestling
SchoolYearOrganization
St. Thomas More1975WISAA
St. Joseph1978WISAA
Pius XI1979WISAA
Marquette University1980WISAA
Marquette University1981WISAA
Marquette University1982WISAA
Catholic Memorial1991WISAA
Catholic Memorial1992WISAA
Catholic Memorial1995WISAA
Catholic Memorial1996WISAA

Spring sports

Baseball
SchoolYearOrganization
St. Catherine's1975WISAA
St. Catherine's1976WISAA
St. Joseph1977WISAA
St. Thomas More1981WISAA
Marquette University1982WISAA
Catholic Memorial1983WISAA
St. Joseph1988WISAA
St. Catherine's1989WISAA
Catholic Memorial1990WISAA
Marquette University1992WISAA
Marquette University1993WISAA
Pius XI1994WISAA
Marquette University1995WISAA
St. Thomas More1996WISAA
Marquette University1997WISAA
Girls Soccer
SchoolYearOrganization
Pius XI1987WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1988WISAA
Pius XI1989WISAA
Pius XI1990WISAA
Pius XI1991WISAA
Pius XI1992WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1993WISAA
Pius XI1994WISAA
Pius XI1995WISAA
Catholic Memorial1996WISAA
Pius XI1997WISAA
Softball
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
St. Catherine's1977WISAA
Milwaukee Lutheran1978WISAA
St. Joseph1979WISAA
Pius XI1980WISAA
Divine Savior Holy Angels1981WISAA
Dominican1982WISAA
Catholic Memorial1983WISAA
Pius XI1986WISAAClass A
Pius XI1989WISAAClass A
Pius XI1990WISAAClass A
Pius XI1991WISAAClass A
Pius XI1992WISAADivision 1
St. Catherine's1993WISAADivision 1
St. Catherine's1994WISAADivision 1
Pius XI1995WISAADivision 1
Boys Tennis
SchoolYearOrganization
Marquette University1981WISAA
Marquette University1982WISAA
Marquette University1983WISAA
Marquette University1984WISAA
Marquette University1985WISAA
Marquette University1986WISAA
Marquette University1988WISAA
Marquette University1989WISAA
Marquette University1990WISAA
Marquette University1991WISAA
Marquette University1992WISAA
Marquette University1993WISAA
Marquette University1994WISAA
Marquette University1995WISAA
Marquette University1996WISAA
Marquette University1997WISAA
Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Pius XI1975WISAAClass A
Marquette University1976WISAAClass A
Marquette University1977WISAAClass A
Pius XI1978WISAAClass A
Pius XI1979WISAAClass A
Marquette University1982WISAAClass A
Marquette University1983WISAAClass A
Marquette University1984WISAAClass A
Marquette University1985WISAAClass A
Marquette University1986WISAAClass A
Marquette University1988WISAAClass A
Marquette University1989WISAAClass A
Marquette University1990WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1991WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1992WISAADivision 1
Marquette University1995WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1996WISAADivision 1
Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearOrganizationDivision
Pius XI1979WISAAClass A
Pius XI1980WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1981WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1982WISAAClass A
Pius XI1983WISAAClass A
Pius XI1984WISAAClass A
Pius XI1985WISAAClass A
Pius XI1986WISAAClass A
Pius XI1987WISAAClass A
Pius XI1988WISAAClass A
Pius XI1989WISAAClass A
Pius XI1990WISAAClass A
Catholic Memorial1991WISAAClass A
Pius XI1992WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1993WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1994WISAADivision 1
Catholic Memorial1995WISAADivision 1
St. Joseph1995WISAADivision 2
Catholic Memorial1996WISAADivision 1

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Marquette University101975, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
Dominican51978, 1979, 1980, 1991, 1997
Thomas More41977, 1982, 1987, 1988
Pius XI31995, 1996, 1997
Catholic Memorial21987, 1993
St. Catherine's21977, 1992
Messmer11982
Milwaukee Lutheran11985
St. Joseph11984
St. John's Cathedral0

Girls Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Pius XI181980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
St. Catherine's31976, 1977, 1979
Milwaukee Lutheran11978
Catholic Memorial0
Dominican0
DSHA0
Messmer0
St. Joan Antida0
St. John's Cathedral0
St. Joseph0
Thomas More0

Football

SchoolQuantityYears
Marquette University91985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996
Catholic Memorial61982, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1993, 1996
Thomas More51974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981
St. Catherine's31975, 1977, 1978
Pius XI11992
Dominican0
Messmer0
Milwaukee Lutheran0
St. John's Cathedral0
St. Joseph0

References

  1. "New School, Name for Catholic League". Waukesha Daily Freeman. December 19, 1973. p. 11. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. Anderson, John (December 19, 1973). "Catholic Conference Changes Name, Adds Milwaukee Lutheran". Racine Journal Times. p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  3. Pickett, Jim (March 3, 1968). "On the Fence with Jim Pickett (Catholic, Private School Merger)". The La Crosse Tribune. p. 19. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  4. Associated Press (February 11, 1984). "School will close". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  5. Associated Press (August 10, 1984). "School bought by parents". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 4. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  6. Associated Press (March 6, 1997). "Metro in position to finish on top". Stevens Point Journal. p. 17. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  7. Mancosky, George (October 19, 1994). "Zephyrs join new grid league". Appleton Post-Crescent. p. 20. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  8. Anderson, Eric (April 24, 1997). "WIAA easily approves merger with WISAA". Racine Journal Times. pp. 1D. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  9. Associated Press (March 6, 1997). "Last hurrah at hand for Metro Conference". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. p. 10. Retrieved November 13, 2024.