WIAA task force conducts initial conference realignment review

The WIAA’s Conference Realignment Task Force assembled and reviewed submitted applications at the first meeting of the 2025-26 conference realignment process for all sports except football earlier this month.

Twenty-four schools requested a change from their current conference affiliation or independent status, including Altoona for wrestling only, Appleton West, Brookfield East, Catholic Central for boys’ volleyball only, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Franklin, Germantown, Grafton, Hamilton, Kenosha Tremper, Lakeside Lutheran, Marquette, Menomonee Falls, Middleton for boys' lacrosse only, Milwaukee Academy of Science, Oak Creek, Parkview for girls' golf only, St. Ambrose, Shawano, Sun Prairie West for boys’ volleyball only, The Lincoln Academy, Viroqua, Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West.

The Conference Realignment Task Force voted to advance eight plans to its meeting on Jan. 15, 2026 for final consideration when all schools impacted by the proposed realignment will have the opportunity to express support of opposition to the plan.

Five of the proposals advanced are sport specific — including one that impact the Great Northern Conference. Shawano/Bonduel is seeking entry into the conference in boys’ hockey. The Hawks currently compete without conference affiliation. According to documents provided in Shawano’s application, the Great Northern Conference opposed the move in a 7-0 vote of conference athletic director during a meeting on Oct. 29. 

In other proposals advanced, Altoona would move to the Middle Border Conference from the Cloverbelt in wrestling only; the Sun Prairie Co-op would split into two stand-alone programs in the Big Eight Conference for boys’ volleyball only; Parkview would go from independent status to joining the Rock Valley Conference in girls’ golf; and Middleton would depart its current co-op in the Badger Conference to form a stand-alone boys’ lacrosse team in the Big Eight Conference.

The task force also advanced three schools’ realignment solutions for all sports, excluding football. Proposals would move Appleton West from the Fox Valley Association to the Bay Conference, and St. Ambrose and The Lincoln Academy from independent status to the South Division of the Trailways Conference.

There were 12 applications that were modified by the Task Force to combine into a single plan that will advance to the Task Force review at its Jan. 15 meeting. Those initial requests were submitted by Brookfield East, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Franklin, Germantown, Grafton, Hamilton, Kenosha Tremper, Marquette, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West. The original plans and the Task Force modified plan can be accessed on the conference realignment Requests and Proposals page of the WIAA website.

In addition, the task force will consider a pair of solutions submitted by Lakeside Lutheran and Milwaukee Academy of Science with the options to approve one or deny both proposals. Schools impacted by either of the two proposals will be afforded the opportunity to provide feedback prior to the task force’s decision at its Jan. 15 meeting.

The realignment solutions submitted by Viroqua to move from the Coulee Conference to the Southwest Conference and by Catholic Central to be aligned with the Southern Lakes Conference for boys volleyball only were not approved. Both schools may appeal the decision at the Task Force meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. The details of the plans denied by the Task Force can be accessed on the conference realignment Requests and Proposals page of the WIAA website.

The WIAA Board of Control will give final consideration of realignment plans advanced by the task force at its meeting on March 10, 2026.