The Western Lakes Activities Association was an athletic conference for high schools located in western Wayne and southern Oakland Counties in Michigan from 1982 through 2007. The twelve schools of the WLAA merged with the Kensington Valley Conference, schools from the Oakland Activities Association, and newly opening schools to form the Kensington Lakes Activities Association in 2008.
History
The WLAA was formed in 1982 from the merger of the Western Six Activities Association and the Inter-Lakes League, with two schools from the Suburban Eight League. The Western Six had lost Waterford Mott to the Greater Oakland Activities Association after 1980, while the Inter-Lakes League lost White Lake Lakeland to the Kensington Valley Conference, and Pontiac Northern did not field a team for 1981, leaving the ILL with four teams. Livonia Bentley and Plymouth-Salem came from the Suburban Eight to align themselves with more local rivals, including Livonia Churchill, Livonia Stevenson, and Plymouth-Canton. The extant school from the ILL, Waterford High School, joined Waterford Mott in the Greater Oakland conference before closing in 1983.
The initial roster of 10 schools was divided into two divisions, the Western and Lakes Divisions, and remained the same until 1985, when Livonia Bentley closed, and three schools joined from the Northwest Suburban League. The 1985 alignment remained the same through the 2001-02 school year.
In 2002, Farmington, North Farmington, and Harrison left for the Oakland Activities Association, and Wayne Memorial joined. In 2004, Walled Lake Northern and Plymouth joined the conference, bringing the WLAA to 12 teams for the remainder of its existence.
Divisional Alignments 1982-1984 Western Division Farmington Harrison Hawks (from Western Six) Livonia Churchill Chargers (from Western Six) Northville Mustangs (from Western Six) Plymouth-Canton Chiefs (from Western Six) Walled Lake Western Warriors (from Western Six)
Lakes Division Farmington Falcons (from Inter-Lakes) Livonia Bentley Bulldogs (from Suburban Eight) Livonia Stevenson Spartans (from Inter-Lakes) Plymouth-Salem Rocks (from Suburban Eight) Walled Lake Central Vikings (from Inter-Lakes)
1985-2001 Western Division Farmington Harrison Hawks Livonia Churchill Chargers Livonia Franklin Patriots Northville Mustangs Plymouth-Canton Chiefs Walled Lake Western Warriors
Lakes Division Farmington Falcons Livonia Stevenson Spartans North Farmington Raiders Plymouth-Salem Rocks Walled Lake Central Vikings Westland John Glenn Rockets
Changes from 1984: Livonia Franklin, North Farmington, and Westland John Glenn join from the Northwest Suburban League Livonia Bentley closes
2002-2003 Western Division Canton Chiefs Livonia Churchill Chargers Livonia Franklin Patriots Northville Mustangs Walled Lake Western Warriors
Lakes Division Livonia Stevenson Spartans Salem Rocks Walled Lake Central Vikings Wayne Memorial Zebras Westland John Glenn Rockets
Changes from 2001: Farmington, North Farmington and Harrison leave and join the Oakland Activities Association Wayne Memorial joins from the Michigan Mega Conference Plymouth-Salem and Plymouth-Canton drop "Plymouth" from their names with the opening of the new Plymouth High School
2004-2007 Western Division Canton Chiefs Livonia Churchill Chargers Livonia Franklin Patriots Northville Mustangs Plymouth Wildcats Walled Lake Western Warriors
Lakes Division Livonia Stevenson Spartans Salem Rocks Walled Lake Central Vikings Walled Lake Northern Knights Wayne Memorial Zebras Westland John Glenn Rockets
Changes from 2003: Plymouth and Walled Lake Northern began play in 2004
TeamLocationJoinedDivisionPrevious ConferenceDepartedSuccessive ConferenceFarmington Harrison Hawks Farmington Hills 1985 Western Western Six Conference 2002 Oakland Activities AssociationLivonia Churchill Chargers Livonia 1985 Western Western Six Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationLivonia Franklin Patriots Livonia 1985 Western Northwest Suburban League 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationNorthville Mustangs Northville Township 1982 Western Western Six Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationPlymouth-Canton Chiefs Canton Township 1982 Western Western Six Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities Association Plymouth Wildcats Canton Township 2004 Western None (school opened) 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationWalled Lake Central Vikings Commerce Township 1982 Western Inter-Lakes Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationWalled Lake Western Warriors Commerce Township 1982 Western Western Six Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationFarmington Falcons Farmington 1982 Lakes Inter-Lakes Conference 2002 Oakland Activities AssociationLivonia Bentley Bulldogs Livonia 1982 Lakes Suburban Eight Conference 1985 None (school closed)Livonia Stevenson Spartans Livonia 1982 Lakes Inter-Lakes Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationNorth Farmington Raiders Farmington Hills 1985 Lakes Northwest Suburban League 2002 Oakland Activities AssociationPlymouth-Salem Rocks Canton Township 1982 Lakes Suburban Eight Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationWalled Lake Northern Knights Commerce Township 2004 Lakes None (school opened) 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationWayne Memorial Zebras Wayne 2002 Lakes Michigan Mega Conference 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities AssociationWestland John Glenn Rockets Westland 1985 Lakes Northwest Suburban League 2008 Kensington Lakes Activities Association
References
http://michigan-football.com/ - Michigan High School Football - conference records from 1950–present