The Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association is a former organization for high school athletics in Wisconsin. Consisting entirely of private schools, it was formed in 1968 and completed a merger with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association in 2000.
History The Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association traces its origin back to a predecessor organization formed in 1957, the Wisconsin Catholic Interscholastic Athletic Association. Around the same time as the WCIAA was formed, many new non-Catholic private high schools opened in the state of Wisconsin, and in 1968, the forty-one member schools of the WCIAA added thirteen new members outside of the organization to form the initial WISAA roster:
Fox Valley Lutheran High School (Appleton) Luther High School (Onalaska) Milwaukee Lutheran High School Northwestern Military & Naval Academy (Lake Geneva) Queen of Apostles High School (Madison) Racine Lutheran High School St. John's Military Academy (Delafield) The Prairie School (Wind Point) University Lake School (Hartland) University School of Milwaukee (River Hills) Wayland Academy (Beaver Dam) Wisconsin Lutheran High School (Milwaukee)
In the early 1970s, WISAA became a leader in promoting interscholastic girls' athletics, sponsoring the first statewide girls' track meet in 1971, just over a year before Title IX was written into law. The next year, WISAA admitted five all-girls high schools into the organization: four in Milwaukee (Divine Savior Holy Angels, Mercy, St. Joan Antida and St. Mary's Academy) and St. Joseph Academy in Green Bay.
Membership levels fluctuated over the course of WISAA's history, but the organization generally had between 50 and 65 member schools at any given time. By the 1990s, there were increasing calls to merge WISAA into the WIAA to create a single statewide governing body for interscholastic athletics. This became a reality in 1997 when a merger agreement was reached between the two organizations, and it was finalized for the 2000–01 school year. The last remaining vestige of the organization is the Midwest Classic Conference, which is the only WISAA-affiliated conference to move over to the WIAA after the merger.
Executive Directors
Steve Pavela (1968–1988) Al Bill (1988–1997) Burt McDonald (1997–2000)
WISAA membership history SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedLeftCurrent StatusAbbot PenningsDe PereCatholic (Norbertine)N/A (Boys only)Squires 19681990Merged into Notre Dame AcademyAquinasLa CrosseCatholic307Blugolds 19682000WIAA (Mississippi Valley)AssumptionWisconsin RapidsCatholic139Royals 19682000WIAA (Marawood)Beloit CatholicBeloitCatholicN/ACrusaders 19682000ClosedBurlington Catholic CentralBurlingtonCatholic128Hilltoppers 19682000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Campion JesuitPrairie du ChienCatholic (Jesuit)N/ARed Knights 19681975ClosedCathedralSuperiorCatholicN/APanthers 19681969ClosedCatholic MemorialWaukeshaCatholic576Crusaders 19682000WIAA (Classic Eight)Columbus CatholicMarshfieldCatholic146Dons 19682000WIAA (Cloverbelt)Concordia PrepMilwaukeeLutheran (LCMS)N/AFalcons 19681971Closedde Sales PrepSt. FrancisCatholicN/ASaints 19681979ClosedDominicanWhitefish BayCatholic (Sinsinawa Dominican)324Knights 19682000WIAA (Metro Classic)Don BoscoMilwaukeeCatholicN/ADons 19681972Merged into Thomas MoreEdgewoodMadisonCatholic569Crusaders 19682000WIAA (Badger)Fox Valley LutheranAppletonLutheran (WELS)742Foxes 19682000WIAA (North Eastern)Francis JordanMilwaukeeCatholicN/ACardinals 19681969ClosedHoly Cross SeminaryLa CrosseCatholicN/AComets 19681971ClosedHoly Name SeminaryMadisonCatholicN/A (Boys only)Hilanders 19681995ClosedJohn F. Kennedy PrepSt. NazianzCatholicN/AMoors 19681982ClosedLourdes AcademyOshkoshCatholic178Knights 19682000WIAA (Trailways)LutherOnalaskaLutheran (WELS)228Knights 19682000WIAA (Coulee)Marinette Central CatholicMarinetteCatholic38Cavaliers 19682000WIAA (Marinette & Oconto)Marquette UniversityMilwaukeeCatholic (Jesuit)1,794 (Boys only)Hilltoppers 19682000WIAA (Greater Metro)McDonell Central CatholicChippewa FallsCatholic206Macks 19682000WIAA (Cloverbelt)MessmerMilwaukeeCatholic499Bishops 19682000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Milwaukee LutheranMilwaukeeLutheran (LCMS)908Red Knights 19682000WIAA (Woodland)Newman CatholicWausauCatholic128Cardinals 19682000WIAA (Marawood)Northwestern Military & Naval AcademyLake GenevaNonsectarian, MilitaryN/A (Boys only)Falcons 19681995ClosedNotre DameMilwaukeeCatholicN/ARedwings 19681988ClosedOur Lady of PremontreGreen BayCatholicN/A (Boys only)Cadets 19681990Merged into Notre Dame AcademyPacelliStevens PointCatholic169Cardinals 19682000WIAA (Central Wisconsin)Pio NonoSt. FrancisCatholicN/ASpartans 19681972Merged into Thomas MorePius XIMilwaukeeCatholic699Popes 19682000WIAA (Woodland)Queen of ApostlesMadisonCatholicN/ARaiders 19681979ClosedRacine LutheranRacineLutheran (LCMS)303Crusaders 19682000WIAA (Metro Classic)RegisEau ClaireCatholic210Ramblers 19682000WIAA (Cloverbelt)RoncalliManitowocCatholic223Jets 19682000WIAA (Eastern Wisconsin)Sacred Heart SeminaryOneidaCatholicN/AScouts 19681976ClosedSt. BonaventureSturtevantCatholicN/ACardinals 19681983ClosedSt. Catherine'sRacineCatholic (Dominican)472Angels 19682000WIAA (Metro Classic)St. GregorySt. NazianzCatholicN/AKnights 19681969ClosedSt. JohnLittle ChuteCatholicN/AFlying Dutchmen 19681973ClosedSt. John's CathedralMilwaukeeCatholicN/AEagles 19681976ClosedSt. John's Northwestern Military AcademyDelafieldNonsectarian, Military236Lancers 19682000WIAA (Midwest Classic)St. JosephKenoshaCatholic229Lancers 19682000WIAA (Metro Classic)St. Lawrence SeminaryMount CalvaryCatholic (Capuchin)256 (Boys only)Hilltoppers 19682000WIAA (Independent)St. Mary CatholicNeenahCatholic277Zephyrs 19682000WIAA (Big East)St. Mary's SpringsFond du LacCatholic263Ledgers 19682000WIAA (Wisconsin Flyway)The Prairie SchoolWind PointNonsectarian226Hawks 19682000WIAA (Metro Classic)University Lake SchoolHartlandNonsectarian73Lakers 19682000WIAA (Lake City)University School of MilwaukeeRiver HillsNonsectarian406Wildcats 19682000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Wayland AcademyBeaver DamNonsectarian (historically Baptist)159Big Red 19682000WIAA (Trailways)Wisconsin LutheranMilwaukeeLutheran (WELS)938Vikings 19682000WIAA (Woodland)XavierAppletonCatholic468Hawks 19682000WIAA (Bay)Brookfield AcademyBrookfieldNonsectarian334Blue Knights 19692000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Martin LutherGreendaleLutheran (LCMS)649Spartans 19692000WIAA (Metro Classic)Divine Word SeminaryEast TroyCatholicN/A (Boys only)Titans 19701991ClosedSt. Joseph SeminaryEdgertonCatholicN/A (Boys only)Johawks 19701980ClosedSheboygan ChristianSheboyganNon-denominational Christian131Eagles 19712000WIAA (Big East)Central Wisconsin ChristianWaupunReformed119Crusaders 19722000WIAA (Trailways)Divine Savior Holy AngelsMilwaukeeCatholic1,344 (Girls only)Dashers 19722000WIAA (Greater Metro)MercyMilwaukeeCatholicN/A (Girls only)None 19721973ClosedSt. Joan AntidaMilwaukeeCatholic376 (Girls only)Jaguars 19722000WIAA (Lake City)St. Joseph AcademyGreen BayCatholicN/A (Girls only)Sajoacs 19721990Merged into Notre Dame AcademySt. Mary's AcademyMilwaukeeCatholicN/A (Girls only)None 19721991ClosedThomas MoreMilwaukeeCatholic547Cavaliers 19722000WIAA (Metro Classic)Maranatha Baptist AcademyWatertownBaptist65Crusaders 19741982WIAA (Indian Trails)Northwestern PrepWatertownLutheran (WELS)N/AHornets 19741995Merged into Luther PrepShoreland LutheranSomersLutheran (WELS)384Pacers 19742000WIAA (Metro Classic)Lakeside LutheranLake MillsLutheran (WELS)506Warriors 19752000WIAA (Capitol)Kettle Moraine LutheranJacksonLutheran (WELS)553Chargers 19762000WIAA (East Central)Winnebago Lutheran AcademyFond du LacLutheran (WELS)319Vikings 19762000WIAA (Wisconsin Flyway)Manitowoc LutheranManitowocLutheran (WELS)227Lancers 19772000WIAA (Big East)Union Grove ChristianUnion GroveNon-denominational ChristianN/ACougars 19781982Joined WIAA (Closed in 2018)Immanuel LutheranEau ClaireLutheran (CELC)96Lancers 19792000WIAA (Dairyland)Martin Luther PrepPrairie du ChienLutheran (WELS)N/ARams 19791995Merged into Luther PrepNortheastern Wisconsin LutheranGreen BayLutheran (LCMS)145Blazers 19792000WIAA (Packerland)Sheboygan LutheranSheboyganLutheran (LCMS)206Crusaders 19802000WIAA (Big East)Heritage ChristianNew BerlinProtestant196Patriots 19872000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Notre Dame AcademyGreen BayCatholic727Tritons 19902000WIAA (Fox River Classic)Abundant Life ChristianMadisonNon-denominational Christian115Challengers 19942000WIAA (Trailways)Luther PrepWatertownLutheran (WELS)407Phoenix 19952000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Christian LifeKenoshaNon-denominational Christian202Eagles 19962000WIAA (Midwest Classic)Faith Christian SchoolWilliams BayNon-denominational Christian62Eagles 19982000WIAA (Lake City)Oshkosh ChristianOshkoshNon-denominational ChristianN/AEagles 19982000Merged into Valley Christian
Former WISAA-affiliated conferences
Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference (1968-2000) Classic Conference (1973-1983) Fox Valley Catholic Conference (1968-1971) Fox Valley Christian Conference (1971-1999) Metro Conference (1974-1997) Midwest Classic Conference (1983-2000) Midwest Prep Conference (1968-1983) Milwaukee Catholic Conference (1968-1974)
WISAA members in non-WISAA conferences