Suburban Conference (Wisconsin)

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The Suburban Conference is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin, operating from 1925 to 1985 with its membership concentrated in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Its member schools were aligned with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1925-1942

Suburban Conference (Wisconsin)
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Location of Original Suburban Conference Members

The Suburban Conference, originally known as the Milwaukee Suburban Interscholastic Athletic Association, was formed in 1925 by seven high schools located in the streetcar suburbs of Milwaukee: Cudahy, Milwaukee County Agricultural, Shorewood, South Milwaukee, Waukesha, Wauwatosa and West Allis. [1] It was the second athletic conference to form in the Milwaukee area, preceded only by the Milwaukee City Conference in 1893. [2] Milwaukee County School of Agriculture left the conference when it closed in 1928, [3] and its place was taken by the newly opened high school in West Milwaukee in 1929. [4] Whitefish Bay joined the conference in 1933, [5] [6] and their entry into the Suburban Conference brought the membership group to the maximum number of eight schools per the conference's original constitution. [1]

1942-1980

Suburban Conference (Wisconsin)
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Location of Suburban Conference Members (1974-1980)

The growth of the Suburban Conference coincided with population growth in the Milwaukee area. West Allis added a second high school in 1939 when Nathan Hale High School added senior high school grades, [7] and they joined the conference in 1942. [8] [9] West Allis High School changed their name to West Allis Central in the process. Nathan Hale's entry brought the number of member schools in the conference to nine, breaking the 1925 constitutional limit on the number of members. [1] An odd number of schools also created scheduling issues that led the conference to explore adding a tenth member in the early 1950s. [10] After making unsuccessful overtures to Oconomowoc High School to leave the Little Ten Conference, the Suburban Conference extended an invite to the recently opened Greendale High School, and they joined in 1952. [11] Port Washington and Watertown were also reported as candidates for expansion but instead formed half of the new Braveland Conference (along with Cedarburg and Menomonee Falls of the disbanded 4-C Conference) in 1953. [12] [13] Wauwatosa West High School joined the conference soon after it opened in 1961, with Wauwatosa High School becoming Wauwatosa East. [14] They replaced Greendale, who left to join the Braveland Conference [15] for two years before becoming a charter member of the Parkland Conference. [16] A conference realignment plan that merged the Suburban and Braveland Conferences was also discussed that year but never implemented. [17] 1974 brought an eleventh member to the conference in the form of the newly opened [18] [19] Waukesha North High School, [20] and Waukesha High School changed its name to Waukesha South.

1980-1985

Suburban Conference (Wisconsin)
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Location of Final Suburban Conference Members

After years of discussion between the high school athletic conferences in southeastern Wisconsin, the WIAA stepped in with a sweeping realignment plan in 1980. Five new schools joined the Suburban: four of the smaller schools from the Milwaukee City Conference (Juneau, Riverside, Rufus King [21] and West Division) and Racine Horlick from the former South Shore Conference. [22] Most sports competed as a single division of sixteen schools with the exception of football, which was partitioned into large-school and small-school divisions: [23]

Football-Only Alignment
Large SchoolsSmall Schools
CudahyMilwaukee Juneau
Nathan HaleMilwaukee Riverside
Racine HorlickMilwaukee Rufus King
South MilwaukeeMilwaukee West Division
Waukesha NorthShorewood
Waukesha SouthWest Milwaukee
Wauwatosa East
Wauwatosa West
West Allis Central
Whitefish Bay

Wauwatosa West and Whitefish Bay were moved over to the small-school division for football in 1982, bringing each division to eight schools. [24] In 1983, Racine Case joined from the Parkland Conference and Racine Park joined from the Milwaukee Area Conference, reuniting the three high schools of the Racine Unified School District. [25] For the last two years of the Suburban Conference's existence, it was aligned into two divisions for most sports based on enrollment size: the Gold Division contained larger schools and the Blue Division contained the smaller ones: [26]

Gold DivisionBlue Division
Milwaukee JuneauCudahy
Milwaukee Rufus KingMilwaukee Riverside
Racine CaseMilwaukee West Division
Racine HorlickNathan Hale
Racine ParkShorewood
Waukesha NorthSouth Milwaukee
Waukesha SouthWest Allis Central
Wauwatosa EastWest Milwaukee
Wauwatosa WestWhitefish Bay

Racine Case and Racine Park joined the large-schools division for football, and they would remain there for the final two seasons of conference play. [27]

Epilogue

The Suburban Conference was realigned out of existence in 1985, with most of its members joining three newly formed conferences in southeastern Wisconsin (the Big Nine, North Shore and Suburban Park conferences). [28] [29] The two Waukesha high schools joined an overhauled Braveland Conference, the four Milwaukee high schools rejoined the City Conference, and West Milwaukee joined the Parkland Conference (where it would remain until it closed in 1992). [30]

Conference membership history

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Cudahy Cudahy, WI Public677Packers  1925 [1] 1985 [28] Suburban Park Woodland
Milwaukee County School of Agriculture Wauwatosa, WI PublicN/AAggies  1925 [1] 1928 [3] Closed 1928
Shorewood Shorewood, WI Public662Greyhounds  1925 [1] 1985 [28] North Shore Woodland
South Milwaukee South Milwaukee, WI Public1,002Rockets  1925 [1] 1985 [28] Suburban Park Woodland
Waukesha South [a] Waukesha, WI Public1,179Blackshirts  1925 [1] 1985 [28] Braveland Woodland (2025)
Wauwatosa East [b] Wauwatosa, WI Public1,047Red Raiders  1925 [1] 1985 [28] North Shore Greater Metro
West Allis Central [c] West Allis, WI Public1,126Bulldogs  1925 [1] 1985 [28] Suburban Park Woodland
West Milwaukee West Milwaukee, WI PublicN/AMustangs  1929 [4] 1985 [28] Parkland Closed 1992
Whitefish Bay Whitefish Bay, WI Public944Blue Dukes  1933 [6] 1985 [28] North Shore
Nathan Hale West Allis, WI Public1,373Huskies  1942 [8] 1985 [28] Suburban Park Greater Metro
Greendale Greendale, WI Public931Panthers  1952 [11] 1961 [15] Braveland Woodland
Wauwatosa West Wauwatosa, WI Public1,028Trojans  1961 [14] 1985 [28] North Shore Greater Metro
Waukesha North Waukesha, WI Public1,018Northstars  1974 [20] 1985 [28] Braveland Woodland (2025)
Milwaukee Juneau Milwaukee, WI Public233Pioneers   1980 [21] 1985 [28] Milwaukee City
Milwaukee Riverside Milwaukee, WI Public1,235Tigers  1980 [21] 1985 [28] Milwaukee City
Milwaukee Rufus King Milwaukee, WI Public1,284Generals  1980 [21] 1985 [28] Milwaukee City
Milwaukee West Division [d] Milwaukee, WI Public1,023Redmen  1980 [21] 1985 [28] Milwaukee City
Racine Horlick Racine, WI Public1,360Rebels  1980 [22] 1985 [28] Big Nine Southeast
Racine Case Racine, WI Public1,892Eagles  1983 [25] 1985 [28] Big Nine Southeast
Racine Park Racine, WI Public1,059Panthers  1983 [25] 1985 [28] Big Nine Southeast

Notes

  1. Known as Waukesha High School prior to 1974
  2. Known as Wauwatosa High School prior to 1961
  3. Known as West Allis High School prior to 1941
  4. Currently known as Milwaukee High School of the Arts

Membership timeline

Suburban Conference (Wisconsin)

 Blue Division Gold Division

List of state champions

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
West Allis1934Single Division
South Milwaukee1937Single Division
South Milwaukee1938Single Division
South Milwaukee1939Single Division
South Milwaukee1940Single Division
South Milwaukee1941Single Division
Wauwatosa1946Single Division
South Milwaukee1949Small Schools
South Milwaukee1950Small Schools
South Milwaukee1951Small Schools
South Milwaukee1952Small Schools
Wauwatosa1953Large Schools
Wauwatosa1954Large Schools
Whitefish Bay1955Small Schools
Waukesha1956Large Schools
Whitefish Bay1957Medium Schools
West Allis Central1958Large Schools
Whitefish Bay1961Medium Schools
Whitefish Bay1962Medium Schools
South Milwaukee1965Medium Schools
Nathan Hale1968Large Schools
Girls Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
West Allis Central1977Single Division
Boys Soccer
SchoolYearDivision
Whitefish Bay1982Single Division
Whitefish Bay1983Single Division
Girls Tennis
SchoolYearDivision
Whitefish Bay1971Single Division
Wauwatosa West1972Single Division
Wauwatosa West1973Single Division
Whitefish Bay1974Single Division
Whitefish Bay1979Single Division
Boys Volleyball
SchoolYearDivision
Waukesha1951Single Division
Waukesha1952Single Division
Waukesha1953Single Division
Waukesha1955Single Division
Waukesha1957Single Division
Waukesha1958Single Division
Waukesha1959Single Division
Waukesha1960Single Division
Waukesha1961Single Division
Wauwatosa West1964Single Division
Whitefish Bay1966Single Division
Whitefish Bay1973Single Division
South Milwaukee1974Single Division
Nathan Hale1975Single Division
Nathan Hale1976Single Division
Nathan Hale1979Single Division
Waukesha South1981Single Division
Girls Volleyball
SchoolYearDivision
Wauwatosa East1974Class A
Wauwatosa East1975Class A
Nathan Hale1976Class A
Nathan Hale1979Class A
Wauwatosa East1980Class A
West Milwaukee1980Class B
Wauwatosa East1985Class A

Winter sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Shorewood1942Single Division
Waukesha1944Single Division
Wauwatosa1948Single Division
South Milwaukee1952Single Division
South Milwaukee1976Class A
Girls Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Wauwatosa East1981Class A
Boys Swimming & Diving
SchoolYearDivision
West Allis1926Single Division
West Milwaukee1932Single Division
Shorewood1933Single Division
Shorewood1935Single Division
Shorewood1936Single Division
Shorewood1937Single Division
Shorewood1938Single Division
Shorewood1939Single Division
Wauwatosa1940Single Division
Shorewood1941Single Division
Shorewood1942Single Division
Shorewood1943Single Division
Wauwatosa1944Single Division
Wauwatosa1945Single Division
Wauwatosa1946Single Division
Wauwatosa1947Single Division
Waukesha1948Single Division
Wauwatosa1949Single Division
Wauwatosa1950Single Division
Wauwatosa1951Single Division
Whitefish Bay1953Single Division
Whitefish Bay1954Single Division
Wauwatosa1956Single Division
Whitefish Bay1957Single Division
Waukesha1958Single Division
Waukesha1959Single Division
Waukesha1960Single Division
Waukesha1962Single Division
Waukesha1964Single Division
Waukesha1965Single Division
Waukesha1966Single Division
Waukesha1967Single Division
Waukesha1968Single Division
Waukesha1969Single Division
Waukesha1970Single Division
Wauwatosa West1971Single Division
Waukesha1972Single Division
Waukesha1973Single Division
Waukesha1974Single Division
Boys Wrestling
SchoolYearDivision
West Milwaukee1948Single Division
Waukesha South1980Class A

Spring sports

Boys Golf
SchoolYearDivision
South Milwaukee1926Single Division
South Milwaukee1927Single Division
Wauwatosa1937Single Division
Nathan Hale1942Single Division
Wauwatosa1946Single Division
Wauwatosa1954Single Division
Whitefish Bay1979Single Division
Girls Soccer
SchoolYearDivision
Whitefish Bay1983Single Division
Whitefish Bay1984Single Division
Whitefish Bay1985Single Division
Boys Tennis
SchoolYearDivision
Shorewood1925Single Division
Shorewood1926Single Division
Shorewood1927Single Division
Shorewood1929Single Division
West Allis1930Single Division
Wauwatosa1947Single Division
Whitefish Bay1949Single Division
Wauwatosa1955Single Division
Wauwatosa1956Single Division
Whitefish Bay1975Single Division
Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
South Milwaukee1935Class B
Whitefish Bay1937Class B
Whitefish Bay1938Class B
Whitefish Bay1939Class B
Whitefish Bay1940Class B
Whitefish Bay1941Class B
Whitefish Bay1942Class B
Wauwatosa1943Class A
Whitefish Bay1943Class B
Whitefish Bay1944Class B
Whitefish Bay1945Class B
Whitefish Bay1946Class B
Whitefish Bay1947Class B
Whitefish Bay1948Class B
Whitefish Bay1949Class B
Whitefish Bay1950Class B
Whitefish Bay1951Class B
Whitefish Bay1952Class B
West Milwaukee1955Class B
Greendale1956Class B
Waukesha1959Class A
Whitefish Bay1962Class A
Whitefish Bay1970Class A
Wauwatosa East1972Class A
Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Racine Horlick1984Class A

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Waukesha/South141929, 1934, 1935, 1943, 1945, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
Shorewood111927, 1928, 1932, 1933, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1968
Wauwatosa/East101937, 1938, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1981, 1982
South Milwaukee91936, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1969, 1975, 1976
Whitefish Bay81941, 1945, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1982
Cudahy61926, 1931, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1985
West Allis/Central41928, 1930, 1942, 1979
West Milwaukee41951, 1957, 1962, 1978
Milwaukee Rufus King21983, 1984
Nathan Hale21966, 1977
Racine Horlick11985
Greendale0
Milwaukee Juneau0
Milwaukee Riverside0
Milwaukee West Division0
Racine Case0
Racine Park0
Waukesha North0
Wauwatosa Aggies0
Wauwatosa West0

Girls Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
South Milwaukee61973, 1974, 1975, 1983, 1984, 1985
Wauwatosa East31976, 1980, 1981
Whitefish Bay31976, 1978, 1979
Racine Horlick21982, 1985
Nathan Hale11977
Waukesha South11984
Wauwatosa West11975
Cudahy0
Milwaukee Rufus King0
Milwaukee Juneau0
Milwaukee Riverside0
Milwaukee West Division0
Racine Case0
Racine Park0
Shorewood0
Waukesha North0
West Allis Central0
West Milwaukee0

Football

SchoolQuantityYears
Waukesha/South181925, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1938, 1945, 1951, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
Whitefish Bay131944, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1984
Shorewood121927, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1967, 1981
South Milwaukee91934, 1946, 1961, 1964, 1969, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1980
Cudahy81947, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1971, 1979, 1981, 1982
Wauwatosa/East61935, 1937, 1939, 1971, 1975, 1984
Wauwatosa West41965, 1975, 1982, 1983
Waukesha North31975, 1978, 1983
West Allis/Central31929, 1977, 1984
Nathan Hale21952, 1974
West Milwaukee21933, 1980
Racine Horlick11984
Greendale0
Milwaukee Juneau0
Milwaukee Riverside0
Milwaukee Rufus King0
Milwaukee West Division0
Racine Case0
Racine Park0
Wauwatosa Aggies0


References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Koenig, G.H. (October 1, 1925). "Six Other Schools in New League". Waukesha Freeman. p. 2. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  2. "Milwaukee City Conference". MKE Rec - A department of MPS. 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Milwaukee County School of Agriculture and Domestic Economy Historic District". LandmarkHunter.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Cards Hope to Win Game on Sunday". Waukesha County Freeman. October 25, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  5. "Whitefish Bay High School: The Beginning". Whitefish Bay Track and Field History. March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Suburban League Principals Meet". Waukesha County Freeman. March 9, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  7. "History of Nathan Hale High School". Nathan Hale High School. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Pulaski "11" First Obstacle for Waukesha". Waukesha County Freeman. September 17, 1942. p. 9. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  9. Delmore, Bill (February 21, 1941). "A Lot About Nothing". Waukesha County Freeman. p. 7. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. "Cooney High May Enter Suburban Conference". Waukesha County Freeman. November 17, 1950. p. 11. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "'Shirts in Homecoming Tilt on Friday". Waukesha Daily Freeman. October 23, 1952. p. 12. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  12. "OHS One to Be Considered for Suburban League?". Oconomowoc Enterprise. November 23, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  13. "New League". The Capital Times. September 25, 1953. p. 13. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Suburban Conference May Split Up Into 3 Leagues". Waukesha County Freeman. January 15, 1960. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Greendale Enters Braveland League". Waukesha County Freeman. September 20, 1960. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  16. "5 County Teams in Meet". Waukesha County Freeman. May 10, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  17. Schmitt, Pete (September 20, 1960). "The Braveland Solves the Problem". Waukesha County Freeman. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  18. "School Namers Drop Creativity, Follow Tradition". Waukesha Daily Freeman. June 13, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  19. "North Grid Coach To Be Schiele?". Waukesha Daily Freeman. April 6, 1974. p. 10. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Prep Basketball Standings". Waukesha Daily Freeman. December 14, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Duckett is Suburban Commissioner". Waukesha County Freeman. May 25, 1979. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Associated Press (March 20, 1979). "Task force proposes alternative realignment". Stevens Point Journal. p. 21. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  23. "High school football standings (see Suburban Conference)". Waukesha County Freeman. November 1, 1980. p. 14. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  24. "Scoreboard (see High School Football, Suburban Conference standings)". Waukesha County Freeman. October 28, 1982. p. 18. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 Brezonick, Michael J. (March 16, 1983). "Bittersweet season for North". Waukesha County Freeman. p. 12. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  26. "Scoreboard (see Suburban Conference standings)". Waukesha County Freeman. January 5, 1985. p. 12. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  27. "Scoreboard (see High School Football, Suburban Conference standings)". Waukesha County Freeman. October 15, 1983. p. 14. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 United Press International (August 18, 1984). "WIAA Realigns Milwaukee Teams". Beaver Dam Daily Citizen. p. 9. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  29. Fensin, Lee (August 27, 1985). "Waukesha teams begin play in new conference". Waukesha County Freeman. p. 19. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  30. Tanzilo, Bobby (January 30, 2024). "Urban spelunking: Liberace's West Milwaukee alma mater". OnMilwaukee. Retrieved October 23, 2024.