The Bay-Lakes Conference is a former high school athletic conference in northeast Wisconsin, operating from 1970 to 1979. Its public school members belonged to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and its private school members were part of the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association.
History
The Bay-Lakes Conference, named so for its proximity to Green Bay and the many lakes in northeastern Wisconsin, was formed in 1970 by a mix of seven small public and private schools in the region. Six of the seven schools were members of conferences that had disbanded prior to the 1970-71 school year: three from the Peninsula Conference (Gibraltar, Manitowoc Lutheran and Sevastopol), two from the Fox Valley Tri-County League (St. Lawrence Seminary and Winnebago Lutheran) and one from the Wisconsin Seminary League (Sacred Heart Seminary). Stockbridge, the seventh member, was an independent prior to joining the conference, as they had competed without affiliation since the demise of the Kettle Moraine Conference in 1963. The conference kept the same membership over the course of its nine-year history with the exception of Sacred Heart Seminary's exit in 1976 due to its closing. The Bay-Lakes Conference split up in 1979 with two public high schools moving to the Packerland Conference (Gibraltar and Sevastopol), two private schools joining the Classic Conference (St. Lawrence Seminary and Winnebago Lutheran), Stockbridge joined the Central Lakeshore Conference and Manitowoc Lutheran became an independent.
Conference Membership History
| School | Location | Affiliation | Enrollment | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar | Fish Creek, WI | Public | 182 | Vikings | 1970 | 1979 | Packerland | ||
| Manitowoc Lutheran | Manitowoc, WI | Private (Lutheran, WELS) | 227 | Lancers | 1970 | 1979 | Independent | Big East | |
| Sacred Heart Seminary | Oneida, WI | Private (Catholic) | N/A | Scouts | 1970 | 1976 | Closed in 1976 | ||
| Sevastopol | Sturgeon Bay, WI | Public | 180 | Pioneers | 1970 | 1979 | Packerland | ||
| St. Lawrence Seminary | Mount Calvary, WI | Private (Catholic, Capuchin) | 256 | Hilltoppers | 1970 | 1979 | Classic | Independent | |
| Stockbridge | Stockbridge, WI | Public | 54 | Indians | 1970 | 1979 | Central Lakeshore | Independent | |
| Winnebago Lutheran | Fond du Lac, WI | Private (Lutheran, WELS) | 319 | Vikings | 1970 | 1979 | Classic | Wisconsin Flyway | |
Membership Timeline
List of State Champions
Fall Sports
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence Seminary | 1975 | WISAA Class B |
| St. Lawrence Seminary | 1977 | WISAA Class B |
Winter Sports
None
Spring Sports
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar | 1979 | Class C |
| School | Year | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Winnebago Lutheran | 1978 | WISAA Class B |
| Winnebago Lutheran | 1979 | WISAA Class B |
References
- ^ "Staff's Stuff". Green Bay Press-Gazette. August 9, 1970. p. 30. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Lutheran Faces Crucial Tests in Bay-Lakes Race". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. December 10, 1970. p. 41. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Title Up For Grabs in Bay-Lakes Loop". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 3, 1970. p. 32. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Diocese to Close Oneida Facility". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. January 8, 1976. p. 5. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Lutheran looks for new conference". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. October 12, 1978. p. 19. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Hilander harriers settle for second". Wisconsin State Journal. November 2, 1975. p. 31. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Aquinas harriers win state title". La Crosse Tribune. October 30, 1977. p. 27. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Bates takes state first; Winnebago wins 'B' crown". Appleton Post-Crescent. May 21, 1978. pp. E-2. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Vikes repeat in state track". Fond du Lac Reporter. May 20, 1979. p. 9. Retrieved December 19, 2024.