Wisconsin Seminary League
Former Wisconsin high school athletic conference
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The Wisconsin Seminary League was a statewide interscholastic athletic organization consisting of Catholic seminaries in Wisconsin. It was operational from 1963 to 1969.
History
The Wisconsin Seminary League, also known by its official title of the Wisconsin Catholic Seminary Conference, was founded in 1963 by nine Catholic seminaries in the state of Wisconsin: Blessed Sacrament in Waupaca, Divine Word in East Troy, Mount St. Paul in Waukesha, Queen of Apostles in Madison, Sacred Heart in Oneida, Salvatorian in St. Nazianz, St. Francis de Sales in St. Francis, St. Joseph in Edgerton and St. Lawrence in Mount Calvary.[1] The age range for players was slightly different than those in traditional high schools; instead of grades 9-12, teams consisted of boys in grades 10-13.[2] Because of this, it was not associated with the Wisconsin Catholic Interscholastic Athletic Association, but WCIAA members were common non-conference athletic opponents. The conference was subdivided into divisions based on geography for their first season of basketball competition:[3]
| Northern Division | Southern Division |
|---|---|
| Blessed Sacrament | Divine Word |
| Sacred Heart | Mount St. Paul |
| Salvatorian | Queen of Apostles |
| St. Lawrence | St. Francis de Sales |
| St. Joseph |
In 1965, the Pallotine Fathers ended Queen of Apostles' seminary program for a more traditional co-educational high school enrollment model,[4] and two seminaries joined the conference as replacements: Holy Name in Madison and St. Columban in Oconomowoc.[5] Both schools joined the conference's Southern Division:[6]
| Northern Division | Southern Division |
|---|---|
| Blessed Sacrament | Divine Word |
| Sacred Heart | Holy Name |
| Salvatorian | Mount St. Paul |
| St. Lawrence | St. Columban |
| St. Francis de Sales | |
| St. Joseph |
In 1966, three schools (Mount St. Paul, St. Columban and St. Francis de Sales) left the Wisconsin Seminary League and the organization consolidated down to one division with seven schools.[7] The conference's membership roster decreased to six in 1968, as Salvatorian Seminary closed and a new Catholic high school (John F. Kennedy Prep) opened on its former campus in St. Nazianz.[8] The Wisconsin Seminary League was disbanded in 1969,[9] by which time three of the remaining members (Holy Name, Sacred Heart, and St. Lawrence) had joined the WCIAA and remained members during that organization's transition into the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association.[10] Former Seminary League members Divine Word and St. Joseph joined WISAA in 1970,[11] and Blessed Sacrament closed its doors in 1971.[12]
Conference membership history
| Seminary | Location | Affiliation/Order | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Left | Conference Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessed Sacrament | Waupaca, WI | Blessed Sacrament Fathers | Knights | 1963 | 1969 | Independent | Closed in 1971 | |
| Divine Word | East Troy, WI | Verbite | Crusaders | 1963 | 1969 | Independent | Closed in 1991 | |
| Mount St. Paul | Waukesha, WI | Salvatorian | Moors | 1963 | 1966 | Independent | Closed | |
| Queen of Apostles | Madison, WI | Pallotine | Queensmen | 1963 | 1965 | Closed (replaced by co-ed high school) | ||
| Sacred Heart | Oneida, WI | Diocese of Green Bay | Scouts | 1963 | 1969 | Independent | Closed in 1976 | |
| Salvatorian | St. Nazianz, WI | Salvatorian | Royals | 1963 | 1968 | Closed (replaced by JFK Prep) | ||
| St. Francis de Sales | St. Francis, WI | Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Saints | 1963 | 1966 | Independent | Closed in 1979 | |
| St. Joseph | Edgerton, WI | Redemptorists | Johawks | 1963 | 1969 | Independent | Closed in 1980 | |
| St. Lawrence | Mount Calvary, WI | Franciscan | Hilltoppers | 1963 | 1969 | Fox Valley Tri-County | Wisconsin Flyway (2025) | |
| Holy Name | Madison, WI | Diocese of Madison | Hilanders | 1965 | 1969 | Independent | Closed in 1995 | |
| St. Columban | Oconomowoc, WI | Missionary Society of St. Columban | Ramblers | 1965 | 1966 | Independent | Closed in 1971 | |
Membership timeline
Northern Division Southern Division