The Classic 8 Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership base in southeastern Wisconsin. Founded in 1997, the conference and its member schools belong to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
History The Classic 8 Conference was formed in 1997 by eight large high schools in the western suburbs of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The six public school members of the new conference were previously members of the Southeast Conference (Arrowhead, Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Waukesha North, Waukesha South and Waukesha West). Two private Catholic high schools that were formerly in the Metro Conference (Catholic Memorial in Waukesha and Pius XI in Milwaukee) joined the conference in conjunction with the coming merger between the WIAA and their previous parent organization, the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association. The original lineup remained intact for the first fifteen years of competition. In 2012, Pius XI, which was the smallest school in the conference, left the Classic 8 to join the Woodland Conference and compete with schools that were closer in size. They were replaced by Muskego, who joined the Classic 8 from the Southeast Conference after the new Indian Trail High School opened on the west side of Kenosha. The Classic 8 absorbed a ninth member in 2017 when Oconomowoc joined from the shuttered Wisconsin Little Ten Conference. In 2020, Catholic Memorial left the Classic 8 as a football member due to difference in competition level with the conference's public high schools, joining the football-only Parkland Conference for that sport. The Classic 8 has returned to an eight-member roster for the 2025–26 school year with Waukesha North and Waukesha South both joining the Woodland Conference and Oak Creek moving over from the Southeast Conference. In April 2026, the WIAA Board of Controls finalized their realignment package for the 2027-28 school year, granting Oak Creek's request to shift to the Greater Metro Conference, exchanging affiliations with current GMC members Sussex Hamilton.
Football-only alignment 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. Most of the Classic 8 remained intact for football, with the exception of Catholic Memorial shifting to the new football-only Parkland Conference to create an eight-member loop. This alignment stayed intact through the 2022-2023 cycle. In 2024, the Classic 8 experienced a net loss of one member, with Waukesha North and Waukesha South moving over to the Parkland Conference, with Pewaukee swapping affiliations to make a seven-member conference. The Classic 8 also entered into a scheduling alliance with the Greater Metro Conference where there would be one mandatory crossover game per school that would count towards the conference standings. For the 2026-2027 realignment cycle, the Classic 8 will be losing Pewaukee and Waukesha West to the North Shore Conference. These two schools are currently slated to be replaced Franklin of the Southeast Conference, and the schedule crossover became a double crossover with two GMC opponents being scheduled for conference play per season.
List of member schools
Current full members SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedArrowheadHartland, WIPublic1,862Warhawks 1997Catholic MemorialWaukesha, WIPrivate (Catholic)617Crusaders 1997Kettle MoraineWales, WIPublic1,285Lasers 1997MukwonagoMukwonago, WIPublic1,536Indians 1997MuskegoMuskego, WIPublic1,621Warriors 2012Oak CreekOak Creek, WIPublic2,118Knights 2025OconomowocOconomowoc, WIPublic1,573Raccoons 2017Waukesha WestWaukesha, WIPublic1,158Wolverines 1997
Notes
Current associate members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsPrimary ConferenceSport(s)CedarburgCedarburg, WIPublicBulldogs North ShoreBoys HockeyFranklinFranklin, WIPublicSabers SoutheastFootballHomesteadMequon, WIPublicHighlanders North ShoreBoys HockeyMarquette UniversityMilwaukee, WIPublicHilltoppers Greater MetroBoys Hockey
Current co-operative members TeamColorsHost SchoolCo-operative MembersSport(s)Brookfield Stars Brookfield EastBrookfield Central, Hamilton, Menomonee Falls, Wauwatosa East, Wauwatosa WestBoys HockeyKenosha Thunder Kenosha BradfordKenosha Indian Trail, Kenosha Tremper, Westosha Central, Wilmot UnionBoys HockeyKMMO Hockey Kettle MoraineMukwonago, OconomowocBoys HockeyMuskego Ice Force MuskegoBurlington, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee Reagan Prep, Nathan Hale, New Berllin Eisenhower, New Berlin West, Oak Creek, St. Francis, Union Grove, Waterford, West Allis Central, WhitnallBoys HockeyWaukesha Gymnastics Waukesha WestWaukesha North, Waukesha South, Catholic MemorialGymnasticsWaukesha Nighthawks Waukesha WestWaukesha North, Waukesha South, Catholic Memorial (girls only)Boys Lacrosse, Girls LacrosseWaukesha Wings Waukesha NorthBrookfield Academy, Catholic Memorial, Lake Country Lutheran, Pewaukee, St. John's Northwestern, Waukesha South, Waukesha WestBoys HockeyWest Bend Ice Bears West Bend WestGermantown, Hartford Union, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Kewaskum, Living Word Lutheran, Slinger, West Bend EastBoys HockeyWNS Storm Whitefish BayNicolet, Shorewood, Dominican, Martin Luther, Milwaukee Rufus King, St. Thomas MoreBoys Hockey
Notes
Future full members SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoiningFormer ConferenceHamiltonSussex, WIPublic1,513Chargers 2027Greater Metro
Former full members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent ConferencePius XIMilwaukee, WIPrivate (Catholic)Popes 19972012WoodlandParkland (2026)Waukesha NorthWaukesha, WIPublicNorthstars 19972025WoodlandParkland (2026)Waukesha SouthWaukesha, WIPublicBlackshirts 19972025WoodlandParkland (2026)
Former associate members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsJoinedLeftPrimary ConferenceSportOconomowocOconomowoc, WIPublicRaccoons 20002002Wisconsin Little TenBoys HockeyPewaukeePewaukee, WIPublicPirates 20242025Park RidgeFootballSt. John's NorthwesternDelafield, WIPrivate (Nonsectarian, Military)Lancers 20102012Midwest ClassicBoys HockeyUniversity SchoolRiver Hills, WIPrivate (Nonsectarian)Wildcats 20132023Midwest ClassicBoys Hockey
Former co-operative members TeamColorsHost SchoolCo-operative MembersJoinedLeftSportLakers Hockey OconomowocPewaukee, St. John's Northwestern20022010Boys Hockey
Membership timeline Full members
Football members
Membership map
Sponsored sports +Arrowhead●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Catholic Memorial●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Kettle Moraine●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Mukwonago●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Muskego●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Oak Creek●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Oconomowoc●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Waukesha West●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Notes
List of state champions
Fall sports +Boys Cross CountrySchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial1999Division 1 (WISAA)Waukesha West1999Division 1Catholic Memorial2002Division 1Arrowhead2010Division 1Arrowhead2011Division 1Oconomowoc2020Division 1 +Girls Cross CountrySchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial1997Division 1 (WISAA)Catholic Memorial1998Division 1 (WISAA)Waukesha West1998Division 1Catholic Memorial1999Division 1 (WISAA)Waukesha West1999Division 1Waukesha West2000Division 1Waukesha West2001Division 1Waukesha West2004Division 1Waukesha West2005Division 1Arrowhead2007Division 1Arrowhead2011Division 1Arrowhead2012Division 1Arrowhead2013Division 1Muskego2018Division 1Muskego2019Division 1Muskego2022Division 1 +FootballSchoolYearDivisionMukwonago2004Division 1Waukesha West2004Division 2Arrowhead2007Division 1Waukesha West2010Division 1Arrowhead2012Division 1Catholic Memorial2012Division 3Arrowhead2013Division 1Catholic Memorial2016Division 3Catholic Memorial2018Division 3Muskego2018Division 1Catholic Memorial2019Division 3Muskego2019Division 1Kettle Moraine2022Division 2Arrowhead2025Division 1 +Girls GolfSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead2004Division 1Arrowhead2013Division 1Arrowhead2016Division 1Arrowhead2017Division 1Kettle Moraine2018Division 1 +Boys SoccerSchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial2010Division 2Muskego2013Division 1Waukesha West2024Division 2 +Girls Swimming & DivingSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead2002Division 1Arrowhead2003Division 1Arrowhead2004Division 1Arrowhead2005Division 1Arrowhead2006Division 1Arrowhead2008Division 1Arrowhead2009Division 1Arrowhead2010Division 1Mukwonago/Waukesha South2011Division 1Mukwonago/Waukesha South2012Division 1Mukwonago/Waukesha South2013Division 1Arrowhead2014Division 1Arrowhead2015Division 1Arrowhead2022Division 1 +Girls TennisSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead2014Division 1Catholic Memorial2019Division 2Muskego2020Division 1Catholic Memorial2021Division 2Arrowhead2022Division 1Arrowhead2023Division 1 +Boys VolleyballSchoolYearCatholic Memorial2000Pius XI2001Catholic Memorial2010Catholic Memorial2016Kettle Moraine2020Kettle Moraine2022 +Girls VolleyballSchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial1997Division 1 (WISAA)Catholic Memorial1998Division 1 (WISAA)Pius XI2002Division 1Catholic Memorial2006Division 2Catholic Memorial2009Division 2Catholic Memorial2010Division 2Catholic Memorial2011Division 2Catholic Memorial2014Division 2Catholic Memorial2015Division 2Catholic Memorial2016Division 2Arrowhead2019Division 1Oconomowoc2021Division 1Catholic Memorial2024Division 2
Winter sports +Boys BasketballSchoolYearDivisionPius XI2000Division 1 (WISAA)Catholic Memorial2004Division 2Arrowhead2010Division 1Catholic Memorial2010Division 2 +Girls BasketballSchoolYearDivisionPius XI1998Division 1 (WISAA)Kettle Moraine1999Division 1Pius XI1999Division 1 (WISAA)Pius XI2000Division 1 (WISAA)Pius XI2010Division 1Kettle Moraine2022Division 1Kettle Moraine2023Division 1Arrowhead2024Division 1Arrowhead2026Division 1 +GymnasticsSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead2026Division 1 +Boys HockeySchoolYearArrowhead2009University School2019 +Boys Swimming & DivingSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead2002Division 1Arrowhead2003Division 1Arrowhead2004Division 1Arrowhead2008Division 1Catholic Memorial/Waukesha South2010Division 1Catholic Memorial/Waukesha South2017Division 1 +Boys WrestlingSchoolYearOrganizationCatholic Memorial1998WISAA
Spring sports +Boys GolfSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead2001Division 1Arrowhead2007Division 1Arrowhead2008Division 1Arrowhead2009Division 1Arrowhead2010Division 1Arrowhead2012Division 1Arrowhead2015Division 1Arrowhead2017Division 1Arrowhead2021Division 1 +Girls LacrosseSchoolYearKettle Moraine/Badger2024 +Girls SoccerSchoolYearDivisionArrowhead1998Division 1Catholic Memorial1999Division 1 (WISAA)Catholic Memorial2000Division 1 (WISAA)Pius XI2001Division 1Catholic Memorial2004Division 2Catholic Memorial2006Division 2Catholic Memorial2007Division 2Catholic Memorial2010Division 2Catholic Memorial2012Division 2Catholic Memorial2013Division 2Catholic Memorial2014Division 3Catholic Memorial2015Division 3Catholic Memorial2016Division 3Catholic Memorial2017Division 3Catholic Memorial2019Division 3Muskego2019Division 1Muskego2022Division 1Muskego2023Division 1Muskego2024Division 1 +SoftballSchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial2021Division 2 +Boys TennisSchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial2021Division 2 +Boys Track & FieldSchoolYearDivisionPius XI1998Division 1 (WISAA)Arrowhead2004Division 1Kettle Moraine2008Division 1Arrowhead2009Division 1Arrowhead2021Division 1Arrowhead2022Division 1Arrowhead2023Division 1Arrowhead2024Division 1 +Girls Track & FieldSchoolYearDivisionCatholic Memorial1999Division 1 (WISAA)Catholic Memorial2000Division 1 (WISAA)Waukesha West2000Division 1Waukesha West2004Division 1Waukesha West2005Division 1Waukesha West2006Division 1Waukesha West2018Division 1Muskego2019Division 1Muskego2021Division 1Arrowhead2024Division 1Arrowhead2026Division 1
Summer sports +BaseballSchoolYearPius XI2001Arrowhead2009Muskego2018
List of conference champions
Boys Basketball