
The Metro Classic Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in southeastern Wisconsin. Formed in 2012 and consisting entirely of private schools, all members belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
[edit]The Metro Classic Conference was founded in 2012, the result of a split between member schools in the larger Midwest Classic Conference. Eight schools left the conference that year: Catholic Central in Burlington, Dominican in Whitefish Bay, Martin Luther in Greendale, Racine Lutheran, Shoreland Lutheran in Somers, St. Catherine's in Racine, St. Joseph in Kenosha and The Prairie School in Wind Point. St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, who had just left the Woodland Conference, rounded out the loop's original membership roster at nine schools.[1] The conference was named after the old Metro Conference, a WISAA-sponsored conference that existed from 1974 to 1997 and counted four former members (Dominican, St. Catherine's, St. Joseph and St. Thomas More) in the new conference. Aside from Burlington Catholic Central's exit from the conference to return to the Midwest Classic,[2] the Metro Classic Conference has held the same membership throughout its existence.
Football
[edit]The Metro Classic Conference has sponsored football since its founding, with all members participating except for The Prairie School, which has never offered football as an interscholastic sport. Major changes came to the conference's football alignment after the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and the WIAA unveiled a realignment plan for Wisconsin high school football to begin with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle.[3] Half of the conference's eight-member football lineup was retained, (Martin Luther, Shoreland Lutheran, St. Catherine's and St. Thomas More) with the other half (Catholic Central, Dominican, Racine Lutheran and St. Joseph) moving over to the Midwest Classic Conference. The four exiting schools were replaced by three schools from the Midwest Classic (Lake Country Lutheran, St. Francis and University School) and Brown Deer of the Woodland Conference.[4] St. Francis left the Metro Classic's football roster to return to the Midwest Classic Conference for the 2022-2023 competition cycle and were replaced with former Capitol Conference members Luther Prep of Watertown.[5] This alignment is set to remain intact through at least the 2027 football season.[6][7]
List of member schools
[edit]Current members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican | Whitefish Bay, WI | Private (Catholic, Sinsinawa Dominicans) | 324 | Knights | 2012[1] | |
| Martin Luther | Greendale, WI | Private (LCMS) | 649 | Spartans | 2012[1] | |
| Racine Lutheran | Racine, WI | Private (LCMS) | 303 | Crusaders | 2012[1] | |
| Shoreland Lutheran | Somers, WI | Private (WELS) | 384 | Pacers | 2012[1] | |
| St. Catherine's | Racine, WI | Private (Catholic, Racine Dominicans) | 472 | Angels | 2012[1] | |
| St. Joseph | Kenosha, WI | Private (Catholic) | 229 | Lancers | 2012[1] | |
| St. Thomas More | Milwaukee, WI | Private (Catholic) | 547 | Cavaliers | 2012[1] | |
| The Prairie School | Wind Point, WI | Private (Nonsectarian) | 226 | Hawks | 2012[1] |
Current associate members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Primary Conference | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Deer | Brown Deer, WI | Public | 579 | Falcons | Woodland | Football | |
| Lake Country Lutheran | Hartland, WI | Private (LCMS) | 335 | Lightning | Midwest Classic | Football | |
| Luther Prep | Watertown, WI | Private (WELS) | 406 | Phoenix | Midwest Classic | Football | |
| University School | River Hills, WI | Private (Nonsectarian) | 407 | Wildcats | Midwest Classic | Football |
Former members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Central | Burlington, WI | Private (Catholic) | 128 | Hilltoppers | 2012[1] | 2023[2] | Midwest Classic | ||
Former football-only members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Seasons | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis | St. Francis, WI | Public | 522 | Mariners | 2020-2021 | Midwest Classic |
Membership timeline
[edit]Full members
[edit]
Football members
[edit]
Membership map
[edit]Sanctioned sports
[edit]Baseball
|
Boys Basketball
|
Girls Basketball
|
Boys Cross Country
|
Girls Cross Country
|
Football
|
Boys Golf
|
Boys Soccer
|
Girls Soccer
|
Softball
|
Boys Tennis
|
Girls Tennis
|
Boys Track & Field
|
Girls Track & Field
|
Girls Volleyball
|
Boys Wrestling
|
Girls Wrestling
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican | X | X | X | X[a] | X[a] | X | X | X | X | X[a] | X | X[a] | X | X | |||
| Martin Luther | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Racine Lutheran | X[b] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Shoreland Lutheran | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| St. Catherine's | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[c] | X | X | X | X[c] | X[c] | X | X | X | X[c] | X[c] |
| St. Joseph | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[d] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| St. Thomas More | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| The Prairie School | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d Co-operative with Eastbrook Academy
- ^ Co-operative with The Prairie School
- ^ a b c d e Co-operative with Racine Lutheran
- ^ Co-operative with Christian Life
List of state champions
[edit]Fall sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| St. Catherine's | 2018 | Division 4 |
| St. Catherine's | 2024 | Division 4 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| The Prairie School | 2015 | Division 2 |
| The Prairie School | 2016 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| The Prairie School | 2014 | Division 4 |
| St. Catherine's | 2016 | Division 4 |
| The Prairie School | 2017 | Division 4 |
| The Prairie School | 2020 | Division 3 |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 2023 | Division 4 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Central | 2012 | Division 4 |
| Catholic Central | 2018 | Division 4 |
| Catholic Central | 2020 | Division 4 |
Winter sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican | 2013 | Division 4 |
| Dominican | 2014 | Division 4 |
| Dominican | 2015 | Division 4 |
| Dominican | 2016 | Division 4 |
| Martin Luther | 2019 | Division 3 |
| St. Catherine's | 2021 | Division 3 |
| St. Thomas More | 2024 | Division 3 |
Spring sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | 2021 | Division 3 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| The Prairie School | 2016 | Division 4 |
| St. Joseph | 2018 | Division 4 |
| The Prairie School | 2019 | Division 4 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| The Prairie School | 2017 | Division 2 |
List of conference champions
[edit]Boys Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| St. Catherine's | 6 | 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025 |
| Dominican | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Martin Luther | 2 | 2017, 2019 |
| St. Thomas More | 2 | 2022, 2024 |
| The Prairie School | 2 | 2017, 2018 |
| Racine Lutheran | 1 | 2025 |
| Catholic Central | 0 | |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 0 | |
| St. Joseph | 0 |
Girls Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| The Prairie School | 6 | 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Martin Luther | 3 | 2017, 2018, 2021 |
| Racine Lutheran | 3 | 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| St. Joseph | 2 | 2015, 2016 |
| Dominican | 1 | 2023 |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 1 | 2019 |
| St. Catherine's | 1 | 2013 |
| Catholic Central | 0 | |
| St. Thomas More | 0 |
Football
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| St. Catherine's | 8 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024 |
| Lake Country Lutheran | 2 | 2021, 2023 |
| Martin Luther | 2 | 2020, 2022 |
| Catholic Central | 1 | 2015 |
| Luther Prep | 1 | 2023 |
| Racine Lutheran | 1 | 2019 |
| Brown Deer | 0 | |
| Dominican | 0 | |
| Shoreland Lutheran | 0 | |
| St. Francis | 0 | |
| St. Joseph | 0 | |
| St. Thomas More | 0 | |
| University School | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "New eras kick off all around". Kenosha News. August 14, 2012. pp. B1. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ a b Jackel, Peter (November 25, 2023). "Taking on a new challenge". Racine Journal Times. pp. B1. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 9, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 6, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 11-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 11, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 14, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 10, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
