From the WIAA — The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control voted to approve a Conference Realignment Task Force recommendation for a previously remanded non-football plan for three leagues in the Milwaukee area at its April meeting today. Beginning in 2027-28, Hamilton will be a member of the eight-school Classic 8 Conference with Arrowhead, Catholic Memorial, Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Muskego, Oconomowoc and Waukesha West. Franklin will move into the Greater Metro Conference with Brookfield Central, Brookfield East, Divine Savior Holy Angels (girls), Marquette (boys), Oak Creek, Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West. The Southeast Conference will be reduced to a six-team league with Kenosha Bradford, Kenosha Indian Trail, Kenosha Tremper, Racine Case, Racine Horlick and Racine Park. Carmen Southgate (as it will be referred to in 2026-27) and the Milwaukee Academy of Science will not be affiliated with a conference and will compete as independents. A complete listing of approved non-football conference configurations for 2027-28 is available on the Conference Realignment Requests and Proposals page of the WIAA Website at: https://www.wiaawi.org/Schools/Conferences/Conference-Realignment/Requests-and-Proposals. Other Board action included approval of the regular monthly financial statements and general fund payments for February and March, 2026, and approval of the March 10 Board meeting minutes. Topics of discussion included staff reports on the Annual Meeting scheduled on Friday, April 24 at the Sentry Theater in Stevens Point, the 2026 Scholar-Athlete Award Ceremony on May 3 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, a recap of the recent NFHS Legal Meeting, reviews of the winter Tournament Series, and an update on the Board of Control and Advisory Council election results that will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Kiernan Kawleski of Jefferson, a senior member of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), conducted a virtual presentation on the group’s activities and a recap of the Leadership Summit. Other staff reports included the progress of selecting members for the SALT in 2026-27; an update of the administrative assistant vacancy, the continued development and promotion of the WIAA Foundation; and a review of the licensing, recruitment and retention of sports officials. The Board received liaison reports from Dan Rossmiller of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Paul Manriquez of the Department of Public Instruction and Kyle LeMieux of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association. The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a private, voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 514 senior high schools and 30 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. The WIAA sponsors 30 State championship events for boys and girls. |
