Over the next several weeks, we’ll be previewing every conference in the state as part of our preseason preparations.
Check out all of our Football Conference Previews for every league in the state, here.
2025 Recap: The Midwest Classic-Classic Division is made up mostly of teams that participated in the Midwest Classic-Small last year, along with Kingdom Prep Lutheran moving over from the Midwest Classic-Large and University School moving in from the Metro Classic.
Note: The Midwest Classic-Classic is a six-team league that will play two crossover games against the Midwest Classic-Midwest Division. Catholic Central and Kenosha Christian Life form a new co-op this year.
2025 Midwest Classic-Small Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Midwest Classic-Large Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Metro Classic Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2026 PREVIEW:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Kenosha St. Joseph
2) Brookfield Academy
3) Living Word Lutheran
4) University School
5) Catholic Central/Kenosha Christian Life
6) Kingdom Prep Lutheran
Players to Watch:
Ryde Ehley, QB, Living Word Lutheran: Ehley is a returning First Team All-Conference selection for Living Word Lutheran, throwing for 1,804 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
Chip Fox, TE/LB, Living Word Lutheran: Fox is the top returning tackler for the Timberwolves, earning Second Team All-Conference at linebacker, and the top returning receiver for LWL as well.
Chris Kenesie, RB/DB, Kenosha St. Joseph: Kenesie is one of the state’s top playmakers, rushing for 1,224 yards and 19 touchdowns with 24 catches for 374 yards and five scores. Also a standout defensive back, he has given a commitment to Western Illinois.
Willy McGregor, QB, University School: McGregor was the team’s leading passer last year with 932 yards and nine touchdowns, and also paced the Wildcats in rushing with 628 yards and six scores on the ground.
Noah Thompson, WR, Brookfield Academy: Thompson was an Honorable Mention All-Conference pick last year after leading the Blue Knights with 23 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns.
2026 Team Previews
1) Kenosha St. Joseph had a season for the history books, going undefeated to capture the Division 7 state championship. Head coach Matt Rizzo had a veteran group that was led by his son and WFCA Small School Offensive Player of the Year Zach Rizzo at quarterback. He is one of the many players that will need to be replaced this year. “We will be young,” said the elder Rizzo. “We graduated a ton of depth, including All-Conference and All-State players.” One of the key holdovers will be junior Christopher Kenesie, who was First Team All-State as a running back and Honorable Mention as a defensive back. He’s one of just three starters back on offense and defense, however.
2) Brookfield Academy finished second in the Midwest Classic-Small last year, with the only league defeat coming against Kenosha St. Joseph. The Blue Knights struggled a little more outside the conference, going 1-4 in non-league contests, including a 42-12 loss to Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the Level 1 playoffs. Dave Archibald stepped down in the off-season, with former Waukesha North coach Vince Sciano taking over. “We have a solid core of seniors that have played varsity football for a couple of years together, with young guys that had to play last year due to injuries,” said Sciano. “The Blue Knights bring back five starters on offense, including leading receiver Noah Thompson, but will need to replace 1500-yard rusher Beau Libbey. Six starters return on the defensive side of the ball.
3) Living Word Lutheran won just one game on the field last year, a 41-0 shutout of Catholic Central. The other two victories came via forfeit, as they couldn’t quite get over the hump against the rest of the schedule, despite a number of very competitive games. The Timberwolves were able to put up some solid offensive numbers behind First Team All-Conference quarterback Ryde Ehley, who enters his fourth year as the starter. Head coach Tim Zbytniewski feels there will be a solid offensive line to clear the way up front, with five starters back on offense in total. Four starters return on defense, which will need to improve significantly after allowing more than 40 points per game last season.
4) University School went 2-7 overall last year, and will make the move from the Metro Classic Conference to the Midwest Classic-Classic Division in 2026. The Wildcats split with their new opponents last year, falling to Brookfield Academy in the season opener before downing Kingdom Prep Lutheran in a Week 2 non-conference affair. “We have a great group of players who have truly started to gel over the past few months,” said veteran coach Brian Sommers. “We graduated a large class and experience and lack of depth could be a challenge early on in the season.” There are just 12 letterwinners back this year, with four starters returning in the spread offensive system, and three starters back on defense. Willy McGregor is back at quarterback after leading the team in passing and rushing a year ago, accumulating more than 1500 yards of offense and 15 touchdowns.
5) Catholic Central/Kenosha Christian Life form a new co-op this year, after Catholic Central went 3-7 a year ago, though just 1-5 in actual games, as they forfeited twice and received two forfeits themselves, while Kenosha Christian Life forfeited all of its games. Christian Life is just two years removed from a playoff appearance, while Catholic Central last made it in 2022. It remains to be seen just how this new arrangement works out, but the hope is they are able to field a competitive group that can begin to create some stability.
6) Kingdom Prep Lutheran continued to work on building it’s still-young program. The Wolfpack did not win a game on the field, as the only victory on the official record came via forfeit. They make the move from the Midwest Classic-Large to the Midwest Classic-Classic Division this year. Defensive back Caleb Allen is the only returning player to earn All-Conference recognition, finishing as an Honorable Mention choice at defensive back.
Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].
