Big Eight Conference (Wisconsin): Difference between revisions
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The [[Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association]]'s '''Big Eight Conference''' is a high school athletic conference in south |
The [[Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association]]'s '''Big Eight Conference''' is a high school athletic conference in south central [[Wisconsin]]. The management of the conference is vested in the principals of the member schools, who determine the rules governing eligibility of athletes and schedules. |
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== History == |
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=== Formation and Early Years (1925-1964) === |
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The Big Eight Conference was originally formed in 1925 as the Big Six Conference and its original members were [[Beloit Memorial High School|Beloit Memorial]], [[Joseph A. Craig High School|Janesville]], [[Mary D. Bradford High School|Kenosha]], [[Madison Central High School (Wisconsin)|Madison Central]], [[Madison East High School|Madison East]] and [[Washington Park High School|Racine]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 October 1925 |title="Big Six" Gridders Kick Off Saturday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/518284973/?match=1&terms=conference%20standings%20%22big%20six%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=15}}</ref>. It consisted of the largest high schools in southern Wisconsin that were located outside of the [[Milwaukee metropolitan area|greater Milwaukee area]] and was alternatively known by its official name (the '''Southern Wisconsin Conference''') during its early years<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sinclair |first=Frank |date=12 November 1926 |title=Local High Elevens Await Strong Foes, Central Has Even Chance For Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/517880041/?match=1&terms=conference%20standings%20%22big%20six%22%20%22southern%20wisconsin%20conference%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=15}}</ref>. The conference added a seventh high school in 1929, a year after Racine High School split into [[William Horlick High School]] on the north side and [[Washington Park High School]] on the south side of the city<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 July 1925 |title=Board Acts on H.S. Bond Vote |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/334049688/?match=1&terms=%22high%20schools%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Racine Journal Times |pages=1}}</ref>. Park took Racine's place in the conference when it was split in 1928, and Horlick joined the conference a year later<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 January 1929 |title=Horlick High Joins "Big Six", 1929 Grid Schedule is Announced |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/517928817/?match=1&terms=%22big%20seven%22%20conference%20standings |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=9}}</ref>. However, it wouldn't be known as the "Big Seven" for long as [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] added a [[Madison West High School|third high school]] on the west side of the city<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noll |first=Henry |date=24 January 1925 |title=Council Favors New High School for West Side |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/397404051/?match=1&terms=%22new%20high%20school%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=1}}</ref>, and they immediately became members upon opening<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 December 1929 |title=Admit Madison West to Prep School Circuit, Big Seven To Become Big Eight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/520499524/?match=1&terms=%22big%20eight%22%20conference%20standings |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=21}}</ref>. The original Big Eight lineup lasted over thirty years before growing pains created a rift that changed its membership in the modern era. |
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=== Growing Pains and Split (1964-1970) === |
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As the metropolitan areas of the Big Eight grew, so too did the need for more space for high school students to relieve overcrowding. Madison opened a [[La Follette High School|fourth high school]] on the city's far east side in 1963 named after Wisconsin politician Robert M. LaFollette<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bednarek |first=David |date=10 September 1963 |title=28,000 Give Schools Bustling Start Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/400580719/?match=1&terms=%22la%20follette%20high%20school%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=15}}</ref>. They joined the Big Eight in 1964 along with the new [[George Nelson Tremper High School]] on the south side of [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 1964 |title=Music's in the air, Second high school opens on a clear note |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/596839130/?match=1&terms=%22tremper%20high%20school%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Kenosha News |pages=6}}</ref>. The existing high school in Kenosha was also renamed after local educator [[Mary D. Bradford]]. More changes were on the horizon, and by 1967 three more recently high schools joined the conference. Jerome I. Case High School opened on [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine's]] west side in 1966, and two others joined the following year: [[Vel Phillips Memorial High School|James Madison Memorial High School]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brautigam |first=Richard |date=22 June 1965 |title=Board, By Secret Vote, Names New High School "Madison" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/519673063/?match=1&terms=%22madison%20memorial%20high%20school%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=1}}</ref> (renamed after Wisconsin politician [[Vel Phillips]] in 2021<ref>{{Cite news |last=Girard |first=Scott |date=3 November 2021 |title="Vel Phillips Memorial High School", Committee choses Phillips for renaming of James Madison Memorial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/778190701/?match=1&terms=%22vel%20phillips%20memorial%20high%20school%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=O16}}</ref>) on Madison's far west side and [[George S. Parker High School]] on [[Janesville, Wisconsin|Janesville's]] west side<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 1966 |title=Big 8 (to 13) Plans Ahead for Football, Basketball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11774153/?match=1&terms=%22racine%20case%22%20%22big%20eight%22%20standings |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Janesville Weekly Gazette |pages=12}}</ref>. Janesville's current high school was also named after local politician Joseph A. Craig in the process<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 May 1965 |title=2 Senior Highs Are Named For Geo. Parker, J.A. Craig |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/12582982/?match=1&terms=%22parker%20high%20school%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Janesville Weekly Gazette |pages=1}}</ref>. |
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By this time, the Big Eight had ballooned to thirteen members (twelve after Madison Central High School closed in 1969), and along with that growth came greater problems with scheduling and travel. In 1967, the five Madison high schools announced their exit from the Big Eight Conference and gave the three high schools in [[Rock County, Wisconsin|Rock County]] the option of joining them in a new conference, which they accepted<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 August 1967 |title=Big Eight is disbanding |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/596866223/?match=1&terms=%22big%20eight%20conference%22%20%22racine%20case%22%20%22janesville%20parker%22%20%22madison%20memorial%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Kenosha News |pages=11}}</ref>. The five high schools in Racine and Kenosha formed the [[South Shore Conference (Wisconsin)|South Shore Conference]] after their forced removal from the Big Eight<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 1969 |title=Tremper, Bradford in new conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/597456731/?match=1&terms=%22south%20shore%20conference%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Kenosha News |pages=15}}</ref>, which had a tumultuous ten-year history before it was finally disbanded in 1980<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 March 1979 |title=Kenosha pays costs of plan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/597436406/?match=1&terms=%22south%20shore%20conference%22%20realignment |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Kenosha News Courier |pages=9}}</ref>. |
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=== Present Day (1970-present) === |
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With the Madison-area schools having successfully split from those in southeastern Wisconsin, the new-look Big Eight Conference began play in 1970 with seven schools (Beloit Memorial, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Madison East, Madison La Follette, Madison Memorial and Madison West)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lindstrom |first=Don |date=3 September 1970 |title=Memorial Sticks to the Air |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/396356570/?match=1&terms=%22big%20eight%20conference%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=28}}</ref>. Membership increased back to eight with the addition of [[Sun Prairie East High School|Sun Prairie High School]] from the [[Badger Conference]] in 1977<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 1977 |title=Sun Prairie rips Watertown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/409175957/?match=1&terms=%22wiaa%20realignment%22%20%22big%20eight%22 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=14}}</ref>, and in later years the Big Eight added two other large metropolitan Madison high schools: [[Middleton High School (Middleton, Wisconsin)|Middleton]] in 1994<ref>{{Cite news |last=Semrau |first=Dennis |date=29 September 1992 |title=WIAA committee rejects tournament seeding |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/521269331/?match=1&terms=%22big%20eight%22%20%22middleton%22%20joining%20realignment |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=14}}</ref> and [[Verona Area High School|Verona]] in 2008<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2006 |title=WIAA approves another realignment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037558534/?match=1&terms=%22big%20eight%22%20%22verona%22%20joining%20realignment |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin Dells Events |pages=10}}</ref> (both formerly of the Badger Conference). Membership stayed at ten schools until 2022, when Sun Prairie High School completed its split into two schools<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rickert |first=Chris |date=3 April 2019 |title=Major school projects get approved |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/550700664/?match=1&terms=%22sun%20prairie%22%20%22second%20high%20school%22 |url-status= |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=A11}}</ref>. Sun Prairie High School became Sun Prairie East and [[Sun Prairie West High School]] was completed on the west side of the district. The following year, Beloit Memorial left the Big Eight after nearly a century of membership to join the [[Southern Lakes Conference]]. |
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==List of Member Schools== |
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=== Current Members === |
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==Former |
=== Former Members === |
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!School |
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=== Associate Members === |
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==Associated schools== |
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!School |
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|Boys' Volleyball |
|Boys' Volleyball |
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==History== |
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In summer 2018, a plan to move Janesville Craig and Janesville Parker out of the Big Eight to the [[Badger Conference|Badger South Conference]] for football only emerged.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Masson |first1=Jon |title=WFCA football-only realignment proposal alters Big Eight, Badger South and Capitol in 2020 |url=https://madison.com/wsj/sports/high-school/football/wfca-football-only-realignment-proposal-alters-big-eight-badger-south/article_12411147-f82f-599c-9094-3df071102e12.html |website=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |accessdate=18 June 2019}}</ref> |
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In the spring of 2020, the conference voted to accept [[Sun Prairie West High School]] as a member once the school opens in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Kabelowsky |first1=Art |title=Big 8 Conference votes unanimously to admit new Sun Prairie West in 2022 |url=https://madison.com/wsj/sports/high-school/prep-sports-big-eight-conference-votes-unanimously-to-admit-new-sun-prairie-west-in-2022/article_50032e66-b01e-5394-a027-7f9c7c4d8140.html |website=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |accessdate=23 May 2020}}</ref> In 2022, [[Beloit Memorial High School]] announced they would be joining the [[List of high school athletic conferences in Wisconsin|Southern Lakes Conference]] in 2023 with the exception of [[American football|Football]], which will move to the SLC in fall 2022.[https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/beloit-memorials-move-to-southern-lakes-conference-approved/article_b1c4e5d8-a014-11ec-bde6-17aa1f314b9c.html] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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Revision as of 19:11, 18 November 2024
Big Eight Conference Member School Locations in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association's Big Eight Conference is a high school athletic conference in south central Wisconsin. The management of the conference is vested in the principals of the member schools, who determine the rules governing eligibility of athletes and schedules.
History
Formation and Early Years (1925-1964)
The Big Eight Conference was originally formed in 1925 as the Big Six Conference and its original members were Beloit Memorial, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison Central, Madison East and Racine[1]. It consisted of the largest high schools in southern Wisconsin that were located outside of the greater Milwaukee area and was alternatively known by its official name (the Southern Wisconsin Conference) during its early years[2]. The conference added a seventh high school in 1929, a year after Racine High School split into William Horlick High School on the north side and Washington Park High School on the south side of the city[3]. Park took Racine's place in the conference when it was split in 1928, and Horlick joined the conference a year later[4]. However, it wouldn't be known as the "Big Seven" for long as Madison added a third high school on the west side of the city[5], and they immediately became members upon opening[6]. The original Big Eight lineup lasted over thirty years before growing pains created a rift that changed its membership in the modern era.
Growing Pains and Split (1964-1970)
As the metropolitan areas of the Big Eight grew, so too did the need for more space for high school students to relieve overcrowding. Madison opened a fourth high school on the city's far east side in 1963 named after Wisconsin politician Robert M. LaFollette[7]. They joined the Big Eight in 1964 along with the new George Nelson Tremper High School on the south side of Kenosha[8]. The existing high school in Kenosha was also renamed after local educator Mary D. Bradford. More changes were on the horizon, and by 1967 three more recently high schools joined the conference. Jerome I. Case High School opened on Racine's west side in 1966, and two others joined the following year: James Madison Memorial High School[9] (renamed after Wisconsin politician Vel Phillips in 2021[10]) on Madison's far west side and George S. Parker High School on Janesville's west side[11]. Janesville's current high school was also named after local politician Joseph A. Craig in the process[12].
By this time, the Big Eight had ballooned to thirteen members (twelve after Madison Central High School closed in 1969), and along with that growth came greater problems with scheduling and travel. In 1967, the five Madison high schools announced their exit from the Big Eight Conference and gave the three high schools in Rock County the option of joining them in a new conference, which they accepted[13]. The five high schools in Racine and Kenosha formed the South Shore Conference after their forced removal from the Big Eight[14], which had a tumultuous ten-year history before it was finally disbanded in 1980[15].
Present Day (1970-present)
With the Madison-area schools having successfully split from those in southeastern Wisconsin, the new-look Big Eight Conference began play in 1970 with seven schools (Beloit Memorial, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Madison East, Madison La Follette, Madison Memorial and Madison West)[16]. Membership increased back to eight with the addition of Sun Prairie High School from the Badger Conference in 1977[17], and in later years the Big Eight added two other large metropolitan Madison high schools: Middleton in 1994[18] and Verona in 2008[19] (both formerly of the Badger Conference). Membership stayed at ten schools until 2022, when Sun Prairie High School completed its split into two schools[20]. Sun Prairie High School became Sun Prairie East and Sun Prairie West High School was completed on the west side of the district. The following year, Beloit Memorial left the Big Eight after nearly a century of membership to join the Southern Lakes Conference.
List of Member Schools
Current Members
| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville Craig | Janesville, WI | Public | 1,684 | Cougars | 1967 | |
| Janesville Parker | Janesville, WI | Public | 1,429 | Vikings | 1967 | |
| Madison East | Madison, WI | Public | 1,662 | Purgolders | 1925 | |
| Madison La Follette | Madison, WI | Public | 1,577 | Lancers | 1964 | |
| Madison Memorial | Madison, WI | Public | 2,122 | Spartans | 1967 | |
| Madison West | Madison, WI | Public | 2,226 | Regents | 1930 | |
| Middleton | Middleton, WI | Public | 2,357 | Cardinals | 1994 | |
| Sun Prairie East | Sun Prairie, WI | Public | 1,329 | Cardinals | 1963 | |
| Sun Prairie West | Sun Prairie, WI | Public | 1,347 | Wolves | 2022 | |
| Verona | Verona, WI | Public | 1,801 | Wildcats | 2008 |
Former Members
| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beloit Memorial | Beloit, WI | Public | 1,578 | Purple Knights | 1925 | 2023 | Southern Lakes | ||
| Janesville | Janesville, WI | Public | N/A | Bluebirds | 1925 | 1967 | Split into Craig and Parker High Schools | ||
| Kenosha Bradford | Kenosha, WI | Public | 1,765 | Red Devils | 1925 | 1970 | South Shore | Southeast | |
| Kenosha Tremper | Kenosha, WI | Public | 1,835 | Trojans | 1964 | 1970 | South Shore | Southeast | |
| Madison Central | Madison, WI | Public | N/A | Tigers | 1925 | 1969 | Closed in 1969 | ||
| Racine | Racine, WI | Public | N/A | Black and Gold | 1925 | 1928 | Split into Horlick and Park High Schools | ||
| Racine Case | Racine, WI | Public | 1,892 | Eagles | 1966 | 1970 | South Shore | Southeast | |
| Racine Horlick | Racine, WI | Public | 1,360 | Rebels | 1929 | 1970 | South Shore | Southeast | |
| Racine Park | Racine, WI | Public | 1,059 | Panthers | 1928 | 1970 | South Shore | Southeast | |
Associate Members
| School | Sport |
|---|---|
| Fort Atkinson/Cambridge | Boys' Volleyball |
| Edgewood Catholic | Boys' Volleyball |
References
- ^ ""Big Six" Gridders Kick Off Saturday". The Capital Times. 9 October 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Sinclair, Frank (12 November 1926). "Local High Elevens Await Strong Foes, Central Has Even Chance For Title". The Capital Times. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Board Acts on H.S. Bond Vote". Racine Journal Times. 17 July 1925. p. 1. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Horlick High Joins "Big Six", 1929 Grid Schedule is Announced". The Capital Times. 14 January 1929. p. 9. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Noll, Henry (24 January 1925). "Council Favors New High School for West Side". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Admit Madison West to Prep School Circuit, Big Seven To Become Big Eight". The Capital Times. 26 December 1929. p. 21. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Bednarek, David (10 September 1963). "28,000 Give Schools Bustling Start Here". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Music's in the air, Second high school opens on a clear note". Kenosha News. 9 September 1964. p. 6. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Brautigam, Richard (22 June 1965). "Board, By Secret Vote, Names New High School "Madison"". The Capital Times. p. 1. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Girard, Scott (3 November 2021). ""Vel Phillips Memorial High School", Committee choses Phillips for renaming of James Madison Memorial". The Capital Times. pp. O16. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Big 8 (to 13) Plans Ahead for Football, Basketball". Janesville Weekly Gazette. 10 May 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "2 Senior Highs Are Named For Geo. Parker, J.A. Craig". Janesville Weekly Gazette. 12 May 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Big Eight is disbanding". Kenosha News. 12 August 1967. p. 11. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Tremper, Bradford in new conference". Kenosha News. 10 July 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Kenosha pays costs of plan". Kenosha News Courier. 27 March 1979. p. 9. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Lindstrom, Don (3 September 1970). "Memorial Sticks to the Air". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 28. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Sun Prairie rips Watertown". Wisconsin State Journal. 10 September 1977. p. 14. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Semrau, Dennis (29 September 1992). "WIAA committee rejects tournament seeding". The Capital Times. p. 14. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "WIAA approves another realignment". Wisconsin Dells Events. 8 November 2006. p. 10. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Rickert, Chris (3 April 2019). "Major school projects get approved". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. A11. Retrieved 18 November 2024.