
The North Shore Conference is a high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. It was founded in 1985, and membership is concentrated in the northern suburbs of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. All member schools are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History
[edit]1985-1992
[edit]The North Shore Conference was one of three conferences formed (along with the Big Nine and Suburban Park) during the realignment of high school athletic conferences in southeastern Wisconsin for the 1985-86 school year. Six members came from the Braveland Conference (Cedarburg, Germantown, Grafton, Homestead, Nicolet and Port Washington) and four came from the disbanded Suburban Conference (Shorewood, Wauwatosa East, Wauwatosa West and Whitefish Bay).[1] Other names considered for the conference were the Heritage Conference, Lakeshore Ten and North Suburban Conference.[2]
1992-2017
[edit]Shorewood left the North Shore Conference in 1992 to take West Milwaukee's place in the Parkland Conference after the school closed its doors.[3] In 1993, Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West left to become charter members of the new Woodland Conference, with Menomonee Falls moving over from the defunct Braveland Conference as a replacement.[4] They would only last four years in the North Shore Conference and were replaced by Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1997.[5] Milwaukee Lutheran was in the process of joining the WIAA as part of the merger with the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association, and was the first (and to date, only) private high school in the conference.
2017-present
[edit]Membership would stay consistent for the next twenty years before further realignment occurred. In 2017, Germantown left to join the Greater Metro Conference and Milwaukee Lutheran became a member of the Woodland Conference. They were replaced by four schools who were displaced after the dissolution of the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference: Hartford Union, Slinger, West Bend East and West Bend West.[6] The North Shore Conference will become a seven-member loop in 2025 with the loss of Port Washington, West Bend East and West Bend West to the Glacier Trails Conference.[7]
Football-only alignment
[edit]In February 2019, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, the WIAA released a sweeping football-only realignment for Wisconsin to commence with the 2020 football season and run on a two-year cycle.[8] The North Shore Conference's original football group consisted of full conference members Cedarburg, Hartford Union Homestead, Nicolet, Slinger, West Bend East, West Bend West and Whitefish Bay.[9] This alignment is set to stay in place until the 2026-2027 cycle, when West Bend East and West Bend West move to their primary conference affiliation in the Glacier Trails Conference, which is set to begin competition next year as an all-sport conference before its first football season in 2026. The two schools currently slated to replace them are Pewaukee of the Classic 8 Conference and Wisconsin Lutheran of the Woodland Conference.[10][11]
List of conference members
[edit]Current full members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedarburg | Cedarburg, WI | Public | 1,087 | Bulldogs | 1985[1] | |
| Grafton | Grafton, WI | Public | 713 | Black Hawks | 1985[1] | |
| Hartford Union | Hartford, WI | Public | 1,281 | Orioles | 2017[6] | |
| Homestead | Mequon, WI | Public | 1,261 | Highlanders | 1985[1] | |
| Nicolet | Glendale, WI | Public | 1,086 | Knights | 1985[1] | |
| Slinger | Slinger, WI | Public | 1,052 | Owls | 2017[6] | |
| Whitefish Bay | Whitefish Bay, WI | Public | 944 | Blue Dukes | 1985[1] |
Current associate members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Primary Conference | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Plymouth, WI | Public | 746 | Panthers | Glacier Trails | Girls Swim & Dive | |
| Port Washington | Port Washington, WI | Public | 815 | Pirates | Glacier Trails | Girls Swim & Dive, Boys Volleyball | |
| University School | River Hills, WI | Private (Nonsectarian) | 406 | Wildcats | Midwest Classic | Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse | |
| West Bend East | West Bend, WI | Public | 948 | Suns | Glacier Trails | Football | |
| West Bend West | West Bend, WI | Public | 1,077 | Spartans | Glacier Trails | Football, Girls Swim & Dive[a] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Co-operative with West Bend East
Current co-operative members
[edit]| Team | Colors | Host School | Co-operative Members | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bend Rush | West Bend West | West Bend East, Hartford Union, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Living Word Lutheran, Slinger, Grafton (boys only) | Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse | |
| WNS Wolfpack | Whitefish Bay | Nicolet, Shorewood, Dominican, Grafton (girls only) | Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse |
Former full members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown | Germantown | Public | 1,295 | Warhawks | 1985[1] | 2017[6] | Greater Metro | ||
| Menomonee Falls | Menomonee Falls, WI | Public | 1,292 | Indians | 1993[4] | 1997[5] | Greater Metro | ||
| Milwaukee Lutheran | Milwaukee, WI | Private (Lutheran, LCMS) | 908 | Red Knights | 1997[5] | 2017[6] | Woodland | ||
| Port Washington | Port Washington, WI | Public | 815 | Pirates | 1985[1] | 2025[7] | Glacier Trails | ||
| Shorewood | Shorewood, WI | Public | 662 | Greyhounds | 1985[1] | 1992[3] | Parkland | Woodland | |
| Wauwatosa East | Wauwatosa, WI | Public | 1,047 | Red Raiders | 1985[1] | 1993[4] | Woodland | Greater Metro | |
| Wauwatosa West | Wauwatosa, WI | Public | 1,028 | Trojans | 1985[1] | 1993[4] | Woodland | Greater Metro | |
| West Bend East | West Bend, WI | Public | 948 | Suns | 2017[6] | 2025[7] | Glacier Trails | ||
| West Bend West | West Bend, WI | Public | 1,077 | Spartans | 2017[6] | 2025[7] | Glacier Trails | ||
Future football-only members
[edit]| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joining | Former Conference | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pewaukee | Pewaukee, WI | Public | 874 | Pirates | 2026[11] | Classic 8 | Woodland | |
| Wisconsin Lutheran | Milwaukee, WI | Private (Lutheran, WELS) | 938 | Vikings | 2026[11] | Woodland | Woodland |
Membership timeline
[edit]Full members
[edit]
Football members (since 2020)
[edit]
Membership map
[edit]Sanctioned sports
[edit]Baseball
|
Boys Basketball
|
Girls Basketball
|
Boys Cross Country
|
Girls Cross Country
|
Football
|
Boys Golf
|
Girls Golf
|
Gymnastics
|
Boys Lacrosse
|
Girls Lacrosse
|
Boys Soccer
|
Girls Soccer
|
Softball
|
Boys Swim & Dive
|
Girls Swim & Dive
|
Boys Tennis
|
Girls Tennis
|
Boys Track & Field
|
Girls Track & Field
|
Boys Volleyball
|
Girls Volleyball
|
Boys Wrestling
|
Girls Wrestling
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedarburg | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Grafton | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[a] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Hartford Union | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[b] | X[b] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Homestead | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nicolet | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Slinger | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Whitefish Bay | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X[c] | X[c] | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Notes
[edit]List of state champions
[edit]Fall sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Whitefish Bay | 2005 | Division 1 |
| Port Washington | 2007 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead | 1986 | Class A |
| Whitefish Bay | 2008 | Division 1 |
| Slinger | 2023 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Port Washington | 1985 | Division 2 |
| Germantown | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 1999 | Division 1 |
| Germantown | 2003 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 2006 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2008 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2012 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Slinger | 2024 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead | 1987 | Single Division |
| Homestead | 1999 | Single Division |
| Homestead | 2011 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2012 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Cedarburg | 1989 | Single Division |
| Wauwatosa East | 1990 | Single Division |
| Cedarburg | 1991 | Single Division |
| Homestead | 1993 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1994 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1995 | Division 2 |
| Cedarburg | 1996 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 1999 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2016 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2017 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Germantown | 1992 | Division 2 |
| Germantown | 1993 | Division 2 |
| Grafton | 2004 | Division 2 |
| Grafton | 2005 | Division 2 |
| Grafton | 2013 | Division 2 |
| Grafton | 2014 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2024 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolet | 1989 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1990 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1992 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1993 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1994 | Division 1 |
| Nicolet | 1995 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1995 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 1996 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1996 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 1998 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 1999 | Division 1 |
| Nicolet | 2000 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2005 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2007 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2008 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2009 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2010 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2011 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2012 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2016 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2017 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2018 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2019 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wauwatosa East | 1985 | Class A |
| Wauwatosa East | 1992 | Division 1 |
Winter sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Wauwatosa East | 1989 | Class A |
| Whitefish Bay | 1996 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2011 | Division 2 |
| Germantown | 2012 | Division 1 |
| Germantown | 2013 | Division 1 |
| Germantown | 2014 | Division 1 |
| Nicolet | 2019 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Grafton | 2007 | Division 2 |
| Grafton | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 2011 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Whitefish Bay | 1989 | Class A |
| Homestead | 1993 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay/ Shorewood |
1995 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay/ Shorewood |
1996 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2002 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2001 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2011 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2012 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2014 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2016 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2017 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2019 | Division 2 |
| Hartford Union | 2020 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2021 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2022 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 2023 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Whitefish Bay | 1997 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 1998 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 1999 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2000 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2001 | Division 1 |
| Cedarburg | 2021 | Division 2 |
Spring sports
[edit]| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Lutheran | 2002 | Division 2 |
| Milwaukee Lutheran | 2003 | Division 2 |
| Milwaukee Lutheran | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2023 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead | 1996 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2006 | Division 1 |
| Cedarburg | 2013 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2014 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead | 1992 | Single Division |
| Whitefish Bay | 1994 | Single Division |
| Homestead | 1995 | Single Division |
| Grafton | 1997 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1999 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2000 | Division 2 |
| Homestead | 2007 | Division 1 |
| Cedarburg | 2013 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2016 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2017 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2021 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2023 | Division 2 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Germantown | 1996 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolet | 1986 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1987 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1988 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1989 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1990 | Single Division |
| Nicolet | 1997 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1997 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 1998 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 1999 | Division 1 |
| Whitefish Bay | 1999 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2000 | Division 2 |
| Whitefish Bay | 2002 | Division 2 |
| Nicolet | 2004 | Division 1 |
| Nicolet | 2005 | Division 1 |
| Nicolet | 2006 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolet | 1990 | Class A |
| Grafton | 2000 | Division 2 |
| Germantown | 2006 | Division 1 |
| Homestead | 2010 | Division 1 |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Whitefish Bay | 2015 | Division 1 |
Summer sports
[edit]| School | Year |
|---|---|
| Homestead | 1994 |
| Nicolet | 1998 |
List of conference champions
[edit]Source:[12]
Boys Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolet | 12 | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2019, 2020, 2024 |
| Germantown | 9 | 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Homestead | 7 | 1987, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2022, 2023 |
| Whitefish Bay | 7 | 1987, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2009, 2021 |
| Wauwatosa East | 6 | 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 |
| Cedarburg | 4 | 2003, 2017, 2018, 2021 |
| Port Washington | 1 | 2010 |
| Slinger | 1 | 2025 |
| Grafton | 0 | |
| Hartford Union | 0 | |
| Menomonee Falls | 0 | |
| Milwaukee Lutheran | 0 | |
| Shorewood | 0 | |
| Wauwatosa West | 0 | |
| West Bend East | 0 | |
| West Bend West | 0 |
Girls Basketball
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolet | 12 | 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Grafton | 8 | 1987, 1988, 1991, 1994, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012 |
| Homestead | 7 | 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Cedarburg | 4 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013 |
| Germantown | 4 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Port Washington | 3 | 1990, 1999, 2000 |
| Slinger | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Whitefish Bay | 3 | 1986, 2006, 2012 |
| Milwaukee Lutheran | 2 | 2001, 2003 |
| Wauwatosa East | 2 | 1992, 1993 |
| Hartford Union | 2 | 2024, 2025 |
| West Bend West | 2 | 2020, 2021 |
| Menomonee Falls | 0 | |
| Shorewood | 0 | |
| Wauwatosa West | 0 | |
| West Bend East | 0 |
Football
[edit]| School | Quantity | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead | 25 | 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023 |
| Whitefish Bay | 8 | 1986, 1989, 1993, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 |
| Port Washington | 6 | 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2000 |
| Cedarburg | 5 | 1986, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2014 |
| Germantown | 4 | 1997, 1999, 2000, 2014 |
| Hartford Union | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
| Grafton | 1 | 1995 |
| Nicolet | 1 | 1989 |
| Slinger | 1 | 2024 |
| Wauwatosa East | 1 | 1986 |
| Menomonee Falls | 0 | |
| Milwaukee Lutheran | 0 | |
| Shorewood | 0 | |
| Wauwatosa West | 0 | |
| West Bend East | 0 | |
| West Bend West | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fensin, Lee (August 27, 1985). "Waukesha teams begin play in new conference". Waukesha County Freeman. p. 19. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ "Contest winners finally chosen". Ozaukee County News Graphic. October 10, 1984. p. 17. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Harlow, Judy (February 18, 1992). "Parkland moves OK with Slinger High athletic boss". West Bend Daily News. p. 10. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Steinbach, Paul (August 26, 1993). "Blackhawk backfields tough to beat?". Ozaukee County News Graphic. p. 12. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c Cebulski, Mark (June 6, 1986). "Realignment twist has 'em guessing". Ozaukee County News Graphic. p. 5. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Conference Realignment (see Conference C)". Waukesha Freeman. July 26, 2016. pp. b3. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Board Approves Remanded Conference Realignment Plans at April Meeting". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. April 23, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ "Revised Football-Only Conference Plan Released". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 9, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. February 6, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 11-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c "2026 - 27 Conference Realignment – 11-Player Football (" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. December 10, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "All-Time Conference Champions". North Shore Conference (official website). Retrieved May 29, 2025.

