Black Hawk League

The Black Hawk League is a former high school athletic conference in Wisconsin. Formed in 1930 and in operation until 1997, its membership consisted primarily of small high schools in the southwest corner of Wisconsin. All members (with the exception of two) were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

1930-1959

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Location of Original Black Hawk League Members

The Black Hawk League was founded in 1930 by six small high schools in southwestern Wisconsin: Belmont, Benton, Hazel Green (now Southwestern), New Diggings, Shullsburg and South Wayne.[1] It was named after the portion of southwestern Wisconsin (then Michigan Territory) where the Black Hawk War had been fought a century earlier. Darlington joined the conference in 1936,[2] who maintained dual membership with the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League for one season before leaving the Black Hawk League in 1938.[3][4] Six-player football was sponsored for the first time in 1939, with State Line League members Argyle joining five conference members (Belmont, Benton, Hazel Green, Shullsburg and South Wayne) in the initial roster.[5] Membership grew to eight schools after World War II with the addition of Gratiot High School in 1946[6] and Scales Mound High School in 1947.[7] In 1953, New Diggings High School was closed when their district was consolidated into Hazel Green,[8] and Scales Mound left two years later to join the U.S. Grant Conference, an IHSA-sponsored conference in Illinois.[9] The Black Hawk League also transitioned from six-player to eight-player football in 1955, with six participants.[10]

1959-1979

The consolidation of rural school districts and folding of smaller athletic conferences in southwestern Wisconsin continued to affect Black Hawk League membership into the 1960s and 1970s. Cassville and Potosi joined from the West Grant League in 1959,[11] and Bloomington joined the next year when the conference disbanded after all other members were lost to consolidation.[12] South Wayne left to join the State Line League in 1962[13] and were replaced by Highland, who joined from the I-W League in 1963,[14] one year before that conference's demise. The Black Hawk League lost Gratiot when it consolidated with South Wayne to form Black Hawk High School in 1967,[15] and they took South Wayne's place in the State Line League. That same year, the Black Hawk League shifted to eleven-player football,[16] and all members from the previous season participated with the exception of Potosi, who joined the league for the 1968 season. West Grant moved over from the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League in 1969,[17] and the conference added a tenth member (and its only private school) in 1979 when Martin Luther Prep moved their campus from New Ulm, Minnesota to the former Campion High School campus in Prairie du Chien.[18]

1979-1997

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Location of Final Black Hawk League Members

Southwestern High School's exit for the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League brought conference membership in the Black Hawk League to nine in 1983.[19] 1995 saw an even more drastic change to membership, with a net loss of two schools in the process. Martin Luther Prep merged with Northwestern Prep in Watertown to form Luther Prep, closing the Prairie du Chien campus in the process.[20] In addition, Bloomington and West Grant were consolidated into River Ridge High School,[21][22] repurposing the West Grant High School campus for their new home. For the final two years of the conference, the Black Hawk League added former State Line members Black Hawk and Pecatonica/Argyle for football when the league ended sponsorship of that sport after the 1993 season.[23] In 1997, the seven members of the Black Hawk League merged with the nine members of the State Line League to form the new Six Rivers Conference.[24]

Conference membership history

Full members

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Left Conference Joined Current Conference
Belmont Belmont, WI Public 121 Braves     1930[1] 1997[24] Six Rivers
Benton Benton, WI Public 65 Zephyrs     1930[1] 1997[24] Six Rivers
New Diggings New Diggings, WI Public N/A Midgets     1930[1] 1953[8] Closed (consolidated into Hazel Green)
Shullsburg Shullsburg, WI Public 104 Miners     1930[1] 1997[24] Six Rivers
South Wayne South Wayne, WI Public N/A Vandals     1930,[1] 1962[13] State Line Closed (consolidated into Black Hawk)[15]
Southwestern Hazel Green, WI Public 162 Wildcats     1930[1] 1983[19] Southern Eight SWAL
Darlington Darlington, WI Public 280 Redbirds     1936[2] 1938[3][4] SWAL
Gratiot Gratiot, WI Public N/A Golden Eagles     1946[6] 1967[15] Closed (consolidated into Black Hawk)[15]
Scales Mound Scales Mound, IL Public 80[25] Hornets     1947[7] 1955[9] U.S. Grant (IHSA) Northwest Upsate Illini (IHSA)
Cassville Cassville, WI Public 57 Comets     1959[11] 1997[24] Six Rivers
Potosi Potosi, WI Public 107 Chieftains     1959[11] 1997[24] Six Rivers
Bloomington Bloomington, WI Public N/A Blue Jays     1960[12] 1995[21][22] Closed (consolidated into River Ridge)[21][22]
Highland Highland, WI Public 105 Cardinals     1963[14] 1997[24] Six Rivers
West Grant Patch Grove, WI Public N/A Falcons     1969[17] 1995[21][22] Closed (consolidated into River Ridge)[21][22]
Martin Luther Prep Prairie du Chien, WI Private (Lutheran, WELS) N/A Rams     1979[18] 1995[20] Merged with Northwestern Prep (Luther Prep)
River Ridge Patch Grove, WI Public 175 Timberwolves       1995[21][22] 1997[24] Six Rivers

Football-only members

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Seasons Primary Conference
Argyle Argyle, WI Public 74 Orioles     1939-1943 State Line
Hanover Hanover, IL Public N/A Red Devils     1952-1971 U.S. Grant (IHSA)
Black Hawk South Wayne, WI Public 109 Warriors     1994-1996 State Line
Pecatonica/Argyle Blanchardville, WI Public 180 Vikings     1994-1996 State Line

Membership timeline

Full members

Football members

List of state champions

Fall sports

Football
School Year Division
Martin Luther Prep 1979[26] WISAA Class B
Martin Luther Prep 1982[27] WISAA Class B
Martin Luther Prep 1987[28] WISAA Class B

Winter sports

Boys Basketball
School Year Division
Bloomington 1972 Class B
Shullsburg 1991 Division 4
Cassville 1994 Division 4
Cassville 1995 Division 4

Spring sports

Baseball
School Year Division
Potosi 1993 Division 3
Softball
School Year Division
Martin Luther Prep 1989[29] WISAA Class B
Girls Track & Field
School Year Division
Bloomington 1975 Class C

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

School Quantity Years
Bloomington 13 1961, 1962, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
Cassville 11 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997
Belmont 10 1935, 1936, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1979, 1996, 1997
(Hazel Green) Southwestern 10 1933, 1934, 1937, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1968, 1969, 1978, 1981
Shullsburg 9 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1974, 1990, 1991
South Wayne 8 1930, 1931, 1932, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1960
Benton 6 1938, 1939, 1949, 1954, 1956, 1985
West Grant 4 1975, 1980, 1985, 1986
New Diggings 3 1946, 1947, 1948
Highland 2 1966, 1992
Scales Mound 1 1952
Gratiot 1 1964
Darlington 0
River Ridge 0
Martin Luther Prep 0
Potosi 0

Girls Basketball

School Quantity Years
Bloomington 7 1976, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995
West Grant 5 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991
Benton 2 1988, 1989
Cassville 1 1985
Highland 1 1993
Potosi 1 1997
Shullsburg 1 1996
Southwestern 1 1981
Belmont 0
Martin Luther Prep 0
River Ridge 0
Champions from 1977-1980 unknown

Football

School Quantity Years
Shullsburg 13 1939, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1973, 1974, 1984, 1990, 1991
Cassville 11 1966, 1969, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994
South Wayne 9 1940, 1943, 1944, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960
Belmont 8 1944, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1995
Benton 7 1949, 1950, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1985
Bloomington 6 1970, 1971, 1972, 1981, 1988, 1993
(Hazel Green) Southwestern 5 1944, 1945, 1948, 1955, 1981
Potosi 3 1975, 1976, 1993
Argyle 2 1941, 1942
Highland 2 1990, 1992
Black Hawk 1 1995
Hanover 1 1963
Martin Luther Prep 1 1986
Pecatonica/Argyle 1 1996
River Ridge 1 1995
Gratiot 0
West Grant 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Black Hawk League for Preps Organized". Wisconsin State Journal. November 14, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Josephson, Nelson (January 25, 1937). "Southern Wisconsin Teams Unbeaten in League Play Number 14 (see Blackhawk standings)". The Capital Times. p. 12. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Benton High Wins, Holds Loop Lead". Wisconsin State Journal. February 9, 1938. p. 12. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Southern Wisconsin Prep Cage Ratings (see Blackhawk)". Wisconsin State Journal. January 22, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  5. ^ "Three Circuits Organized for 6-Man Football". The Capital Times. September 20, 1939. p. 17. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Southern State Prep Basketball Standings". Wisconsin State Journal. December 22, 1946. p. 28. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Dommershausen, Joe (November 24, 1947). "Preps to Open Play in Six More Loops". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "New Diggings Case Settled". Platteville Journal and Grant County News. December 11, 1952. p. 15. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Hanover Wins". Freeport Journal-Standard. February 15, 1956. p. 10. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hazel Green Gets Lift to Race". The Capital Times. October 22, 1955. p. 9. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c "Blackhawk Prep League Admits Cassville, Potosi". Wisconsin State Journal. August 29, 1958. p. 34. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Patterson, John (February 18, 1960). "Blackhawk League Accepts Bluejays". The Bloomington Record. p. 1. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "South Wayne to Enter State Line Prep Loop". Wisconsin State Journal. September 24, 1961. p. 30. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Prep Cage Standings". Wisconsin State Journal. December 22, 1963. p. 24. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d Wedeward, Dave (September 14, 1967). "High Notes". Janesville Weekly Gazette. p. 19. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Dommerhshausen, Joe (August 31, 1967). "Area Preps Kick Off Friday". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 2, Section 2. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "West Grant to be in Blackhawk League". The Boscobel Dial. October 10, 1968. p. 9. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Associated Press (December 12, 1978). "WISAA adds three, increases size to 64". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 19. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Iowa-Grant, Cuba City put heat on Platteville". Wisconsin State Journal. August 28, 1983. pp. 54 (Football '83 insert). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Kabelowsky, Steve (August 25, 1994). "Martin Luther Prep hopes final season is one to remember". La Crosse Tribune. pp. 33 (Football '94 insert). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Variety of issues approved, defeated". Wisconsin State Journal. November 9, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Defending champ Cassville will be tested". Wisconsin State Journal. August 27, 1995. pp. 67 (Football '95 insert). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "Same old story, for last time". Wisconsin State Journal. August 29, 1993. pp. 56 (Football '93 insert). Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h Hernandez, Rob (May 20, 1997). "Leagues realign: For now, merger brings no changes". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  25. ^ "Two-Year Cycle Enrollments and Classifications". Illinois High School Association. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  26. ^ "Lutheran's crusade falls short". Racine Journal Times. November 4, 1979. pp. 1C. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  27. ^ "Martin Luther wins WISAA Class B title". Wisconsin State Journal. November 7, 1982. p. 28. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  28. ^ Associated Press (November 8, 1987). "Prairie du Chien wins in WISAA football". Oshkosh Northwestern. p. 32. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  29. ^ AP, State Journal staff (May 21, 1989). "Martin Luther Prep takes softball title". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 9E. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
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