# Badger Conference

The Badger Conference is a high school athletic conference with its membership concentrated in south central Wisconsin. Established in 1952, the Badger Conference is a member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

## History
### Formation and early years (1952–1977)

The Badger Conference was formed in 1952, and most of its members came from two conferences that disbanded the year prior: Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Monroe, Stoughton and Wisconsin High from the Southern Ten Conference, and Evansville, Jefferson, Lake Mills and Milton from the Rock River Valley League. Middleton, formerly of the Madison Suburban Conference, rounded out the original membership roster at ten schools. Three years after joining the conference, three schools left for the Madison Suburban Conference: Evansville, Lake Mills and Milton. They were replaced by the recently opened Monona Grove High School, who joined the conference in 1956. Sun Prairie moved over from the Madison Suburban Conference in 1963, and University of Wisconsin High was closed the next year, with its students being moved to Madison Central High School. The Badger Conference's membership roster would stay consistent until major realignment in the late 1970s.

### Realignment (1977–2001)

In 1977, the Badger Conference underwent a significant realignment. Three schools left the conference: Edgerton and Jefferson for the Rock Valley Conference and Sun Prairie for the Big Eight Conference. They were replaced that same year by Oregon from the Central Suburban Conference and Sauk Prairie from the South Central Conference. Ten years later, DeForest and Waunakee joined from the Capitol Conference. Middleton left to join the Big Eight in 1994, and their place was taken by Verona from the Capitol Conference. Fort Atkinson left for the Southern Lakes Conference in 1997, and Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart in Madison joined in 1999 after competing independently as a WISAA member for most of their athletic history.

### Expansion and divisional split (2001–present)

In 2001, the Badger Conference expanded from nine to fourteen schools, adding three schools formerly in the South Central Conference (Baraboo, Portage and Reedsburg) and two who joined from the Capitol Conference (McFarland and Mount Horeb). In order to accommodate this, the conference split its members into North and South Divisions:
| North Division | South Division |
| Baraboo | Edgewood |
| DeForest | McFarland |
| Mount Horeb | Monona Grove |
| Portage | Monroe |
| Reedsburg | Oregon |
| Sauk Prairie | Stoughton |
| Waunakee | Verona |
In 2008, McFarland and Verona left the Badger Conference to join the Rock Valley and Big Eight Conferences, respectively. Their place in the South Division was taken by Fort Atkinson and Milton, who rejoined the Badger Conference from the Southern Lakes Conference. Beaver Dam and Watertown joined from the dissolved Wisconsin Little Ten Conference in 2017 and were placed in separate divisions (Beaver Dam in the North, Watertown in the South). In 2021, the Badger Conference realigned its divisions by East and West for most sports:
| East Division | West Division |
| Beaver Dam | Baraboo |
| DeForest | Edgewood |
| Fort Atkinson | Monroe |
| Milton | Mount Horeb |
| Monona Grove | Oregon |
| Stoughton | Portage |
| Watertown | Reedsburg |
| Waunakee | Sauk Prairie |
This alignment only remained in place for two years, as it was replaced by Large School and Small School divisions in 2023. During this same year, McFarland and Monroe swapped conference affiliations: McFarland rejoined the Badger Conference and Monroe went to the Rock Valley Conference. Monroe's departure left Stoughton as the only school to have been a member of the conference for its entire history.

## List of member schools
### Current members

| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Joined | Division |
| Baraboo | Baraboo, WI | Public | 919 | Thunderbirds | 2001 | Small |
| Beaver Dam | Beaver Dam, WI | Public | 1124 | Golden Beavers | 2017 | Large |
| DeForest | DeForest, WI | Public | 1093 | Norskies | 1987 | Large |
| Edgewood | Madison, WI | Private, Catholic (Dominican) | 569 | Crusaders | 1999 | Small |
| Fort Atkinson | Fort Atkinson, WI | Public | 964 | Blackhawks | 1952, 2008 | Large |
| McFarland | McFarland, WI | Public | 774 | Spartans | 2001, 2023 | Small |
| Milton | Milton, WI | Public | 1059 | Red Hawks | 2008 | Large |
| Monona Grove | Monona, WI | Public | 1127 | Silver Eagles | 1956 | Large |
| Mount Horeb | Mount Horeb, WI | Public | 792 | Vikings | 2001 | Small |
| Oregon | Oregon, WI | Public | 1248 | Panthers | 1977 | Large |
| Portage | Portage, WI | Public | 705 | Warriors | 2001 | Small |
| Reedsburg | Reedsburg, WI | Public | 897 | Beavers | 2001 | Small |
| Sauk Prairie | Prairie du Sac, WI | Public | 858 | Eagles | 1977 | Small |
| Stoughton | Stoughton, WI | Public | 868 | Vikings | 1952 | Small |
| Watertown | Watertown, WI | Public | 1170 | Goslings | 2017 | Large |
| Waunakee | Waunakee, WI | Public | 1309 | Warriors | 1987 | Large |

#### Notes

* ↑ Left the Badger Conference in 1997, returned in 2008
* ↑ Left the Badger Conference in 2008, returned in 2023

### Football-only members

| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Primary Conference |
| Lakeside Lutheran | Lake Mills, WI | Private (WELS) | 506 | Warriors | 2024 | Capitol |
| Sun Prairie East | Sun Prairie, WI | Public | 1,329 | Cardinals | 2022 | Big Eight |
| Sun Prairie West | Sun Prairie, WI | Public | 1,347 | Wolves | 2022 | Big Eight |

### Former members

| Institution | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
| Edgerton | Edgerton, WI | Public | 537 | Crimson Tide | 1952 | 1977 | Rock Valley | Rock Valley |
| Evansville | Evansville, WI | Public | 507 | Blue Devils | 1952 | 1955 | Madison Suburban | Rock Valley |
| Jefferson | Jefferson, WI | Public | 604 | Eagles | 1952 | 1977 | Rock Valley | Rock Valley |
| Lake Mills | Lake Mills, WI | Public | 491 | L-Cats | 1952 | 1955 | Madison Suburban | Capitol |
| Middleton | Middleton, WI | Public | 2,357 | Cardinals | 1952 | 1994 | Big Eight | Big Eight |
| Monroe | Monroe, WI | Public | 742 | Cheesemakers | 1952 | 2023 | Rock Valley | Rock Valley |
| Wisconsin High | Madison, WI | University of Wisconsin-Madison | N/A | Badger Preps | 1952 | 1964 | Closed in 1964 | Closed in 1964 |
| Sun Prairie | Sun Prairie, WI | Public | 1,329 | Cardinals | 1963 | 1977 | Big Eight | Big Eight |
| Verona | Verona, WI | Public | 1,801 | Wildcats | 1994 | 2008 | Big Eight | Big Eight |

#### Notes

* ↑ Currently known as Sun Prairie East High School

## List of state champions
### Fall sports

Boys Cross Country :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monona Grove | 1959 | Medium Schools |
| Monroe | 1973 | Medium Schools |
| Monroe | 1974 | Class A |
| Monroe | 1979 | Class A |
| Oregon | 1988 | Class A |
| Middleton | 1992 | Division 1 |
| McFarland | 2002 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2013 | Division 2 |
Girls Cross Country :
| School | Year | Division |
| Mount Horeb/Barneveld | 2008 | Division 2 |
Football :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monona Grove | 1977 | Division 2 |
| Middleton | 1983 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 1984 | Division 3 |
| Monroe | 1986 | Division 2 |
| Middleton | 1987 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 1990 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 1991 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 1992 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 1994 | Division 3 |
| Waunakee | 1999 | Division 3 |
| Waunakee | 2002 | Division 3 |
| Reedsburg | 2009 | Division 3 |
| Waunakee | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Waunakee | 2010 | Division 2 |
| Waunakee | 2011 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2013 | Division 3 |
| Waunakee | 2017 | Division 2 |
| DeForest | 2019 | Division 3 |
| Waunakee | 2021 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 2022 | Division 3 |
Girls Golf :
| School | Year | Division |
| Edgewood | 2001 | Single Division |
| Edgewood | 2002 | Single Division |
| Edgewood | 2003 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2004 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2005 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2006 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2007 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2008 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2011 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2012 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2013 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2014 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2019 | Division 2 |
Boys Soccer :
| School | Year | Division |
| Sauk Prairie | 1996 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Mount Horeb | 2011 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2013 | Division 2 |
| Mount Horeb | 2015 | Division 3 |
| Mount Horeb | 2017 | Division 3 |
| Oregon | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2021 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2022 | Division 2 |
Girls Swimming & Diving :
| School | Year | Division |
| Verona | 1998 | Division 2 |
| Sauk Prairie | 2002 | Division 2 |
| DeForest | 2006 | Division 2 |
| DeForest | 2007 | Division 2 |
| DeForest | 2008 | Division 2 |
| Milton | 2010 | Division 2 |
| Milton | 2011 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2016 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2017 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2019 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2020-21 | Alternate Season |
| Edgewood | 2021 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2022 | Division 2 |
Girls Tennis :
| School | Year | Division |
| Edgewood | 2013 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2016 | Division 2 |
Boys Volleyball :
| School | Year | Division |
| Wisconsin High | 1954 | Single Division |
| Wisconsin High | 1962 | Single Division |
| Wisconsin High | 1963 | Single Division |
| Monona Grove | 1965 | Single Division |

### Winter sports

Boys Basketball :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monroe | 1965 | Single Division |
| Edgewood | 2002 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 2007 | Division 2 |
| Mount Horeb | 2015 | Division 2 |
Girls Basketball :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monroe | 1989 | Class A |
| Waunakee | 1993 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 2006 | Division 2 |
| Monroe | 2008 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2017 | Division 3 |
| Beaver Dam | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Beaver Dam | 2019 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2024 | Division 3 |
Girls Gymnastics :
| School | Year | Division |
| Mount Horeb | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Mount Horeb | 2020 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood/Verona | 2023 | Division 1 |
Boys Swimming & Diving :
| School | Year | Division |
| Verona | 2000 | Division 2 |
| McFarland | 2007 | Division 2 |
| McFarland | 2008 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2013 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2014 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2016 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2017 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2019 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2020 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2022 | Division 2 |
Boys Wrestling :
| School | Year | Division |
| Stoughton | 1968 | Single Division |
| Stoughton | 1972 | Single Division |
| Monroe | 1973 | Single Division |
| Stoughton | 1975 | Single Division |
| Stoughton | 1976 | Single Division |
| Stoughton | 1977 | Single Division |
| Stoughton | 1987 | Class A |
| Stoughton | 1988 | Class A |
| Stoughton | 2018 | Division 1 |
| Stoughton | 2019 | Division 1 |
| Stoughton | 2020 | Division 1 |

### Spring sports

Baseball :
| School | Year | Division |
| Sun Prairie | 1974 | Single Division |
| Sauk Prairie | 1996 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2004 | Division 2 |
| Portage | 2006 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Portage | 2012 | Division 2 |
| Waunakee | 2018 | Division 1 |
| Milton | 2022 | Division 1 |
| Edgewood | 2024 | Division 2 |
Boys Golf :
| School | Year | Division |
| Wisconsin High | 1955 | Single Division |
| Monona Grove | 1989 | Class B |
| Middleton | 1993 | Division 1 |
| McFarland | 2004 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2010 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2017 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2018 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2019 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2021 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2022 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2023 | Division 2 |
Girls Soccer :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monona Grove | 2001 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2002 | Division 2 |
| Monona Grove | 2003 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2009 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2015 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2019 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2022 | Division 2 |
| Oregon | 2024 | Division 2 |
Softball :
| School | Year | Division |
| Middleton | 1989 | Class A |
| Monroe | 2003 | Division 2 |
| Portage | 2005 | Division 2 |
Boys Tennis :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monroe | 1996 | Division 2 |
| Sauk Prairie | 2001 | Division 2 |
| Sauk Prairie | 2003 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2016 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2018 | Division 2 |
Boys Track & Field :
| School | Year | Division |
| Monroe | 1966 | Class B |
| Monona Grove | 1982 | Class A |
| Monona Grove | 1984 | Class B |
| Monona Grove | 1985 | Class B |
| Sauk Prairie | 1999 | Division 2 |
| Verona | 1999 | Division 1 |
| Monroe | 2014 | Division 2 |
Girls Track & Field :
| School | Year | Division |
| Sauk Prairie | 1996 | Division 2 |
| Edgewood | 2002 | Division 2 |
| DeForest | 2023 | Division 1 |