Wisconsin Independent Football Association

The Wisconsin Independent Football Association is a former high school football conference made up of private high schools in the state of Wisconsin. Founded in 1995 and ended after the 1998 football season, the conference's member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association.

History

The Wisconsin Independent Football Association was founded in 1995 by the twenty-six football-playing members of three conferences: the Fox Valley Christian Conference, Metro Conference and Midwest Classic Conference.^[1] When the original announcement of the conference's formation was made in 1994, the schools were aligned into four divisions largely based on their previous affiliations, with the move of St. Catherine's and St. Joseph out of the Metro Conference to join the WIFA Midwest Division with three former Midwest Classic schools (Luther Prep, Martin Luther and Winnebago Lutheran) and longtime independent Edgewood:^[2]

Fox Valley Christian	Metro	WIFA Classic	WIFA Midwest
Fox Valley Lutheran	Catholic Memorial	Burlington Catholic Central	Edgewood
Lourdes	Dominican	Holy Name Seminary	Luther Prep
Manitowoc Lutheran	Marquette University	Northwestern M&NA	Martin Luther
Roncalli	Milwaukee Lutheran	Racine Lutheran	St. Catherine's
St. Mary's Springs	Pius XI	St. John's Military Academy	St. Joseph
Xavier	Thomas More	St. Mary Catholic	Winnebago Lutheran
		University School
		Wayland Academy

Two of the schools announced as inaugural members didn't make it to see the conference come to fruition: Holy Name Seminary was closed by the Madison diocese^[3] and Northwestern Military and Naval Academy in Lake Geneva was merged with St. John's Military Academy in Delafield.^[4] This alignment was maintained for two seasons, until the Fox Valley Christian Conference dropped sponsorship of football^[5] and the Metro Conference ceased operations altogether^[6] following the 1996 season. The seven remaining members (Burlington Catholic Central, Lourdes Academy, Racine Lutheran, St. John's Northwestern, St. Mary Catholic, University School of Milwaukee and Wayland Academy) carried on under the WIFA Classic banner until its disbanding after the 1998 football season.

Conference membership history

School	Location	Affiliation	Enrollment	Mascot	Seasons	Primary Conference
Catholic Central	Burlington, WI	Private (Catholic)	128	Hilltoppers	1995–1998	Midwest Classic
Catholic Memorial	Waukesha, WI	Private (Catholic)	576	Crusaders	1995–1996	Metro
Dominican	Whitefish Bay, WI	Private (Catholic, Sinsinawa Dominicans)	324	Knights	1995–1996	Metro
Edgewood	Madison, WI	Private (Catholic)	569	Crusaders	1995–1996	Independent
Fox Valley Lutheran	Appleton, WI	Private (Lutheran, WELS)	742	Foxes	1995–1996	Fox Valley Christian
Lourdes Academy	Oshkosh, WI	Private (Catholic)	178	Knights	1996–1998	Fox Valley Christian
Luther Prep	Watertown, WI	Private (Lutheran, WELS)	406	Phoenix	1995–1996	Midwest Classic
Manitowoc Lutheran	Manitowoc, WI	Private (Lutheran, WELS)	227	Lancers	1995–1996	Fox Valley Christian
Marquette University	Milwaukee, WI	Private (Catholic, Jesuit)	1,794 (Boys only)	Hilltoppers	1995–1996	Metro
Martin Luther	Greendale, WI	Private (Lutheran, LCMS)	649	Spartans	1995–1996	Midwest Classic
Milwaukee Lutheran	Milwaukee, WI	Private (Lutheran, LCMS)	908	Red Knights	1995–1996	Metro
Pius XI	Milwaukee, WI	Private (Catholic)	699	Popes	1995–1996	Metro
Racine Lutheran	Racine, WI	Private (Lutheran, LCMS)	303	Crusaders	1995–1998	Midwest Classic
Roncalli	Manitowoc, WI	Private (Catholic)	223	Jets	1995–1996	Fox Valley Christian
St. Catherine's	Racine, WI	Private (Catholic, Dominican)	472	Angels	1995–1996	Metro
St. John's Northwestern	Delafield, WI	Private (Nonsectarian), Military	236	Lancers	1995–1998	Midwest Classic
St. Joseph	Kenosha, WI	Private (Catholic)	229	Lancers	1995–1996	Metro
St. Mary Catholic	Neenah, WI	Private (Catholic)	277	Zephyrs	1995–1998	Fox Valley Christian
St. Mary's Springs	Fond du Lac, WI	Private (Catholic)	263	Ledgers	1995–1996	Fox Valley Christian
Thomas More	Milwaukee, WI	Private (Catholic)	547	Cavaliers	1995–1996	Metro
University School	River Hills, WI	Private (Nonsectarian)	407	Wildcats	1995–1998	Midwest Classic
Wayland Academy	Beaver Dam, WI	Private (Nonsectarian, historically Baptist)	159	Big Red	1995–1998	Midwest Classic
Winnebago Lutheran	Fond du Lac, WI	Private (Lutheran, WELS)	319	Vikings	1995–1996	Midwest Classic
Xavier	Appleton, WI	Private (Catholic)	468	Hawks	1995–1996	Fox Valley Christian

Membership timeline

Fox Valley Christian Metro WIFA Classic WIFA Midwest

List of state champions

School	Year	Organization	Division
St. Mary's Springs	1995^[7]	WISAA	Division 1
Catholic Memorial	1996^[8]	WISAA	Division 1
Roncalli	1996^[8]	WISAA	Division 2

List of conference champions

Fox Valley Christian Conference

School	Quantity	Years
St. Mary's Springs	2	1995, 1996
Fox Valley Lutheran	0
Lourdes Academy	0
Manitowoc Lutheran	0
Roncalli	0
Xavier	0

Metro Conference

School	Quantity	Years
Marquette University	2	1995, 1996
Catholic Memorial	1	1996
Dominican	0
Milwaukee Lutheran	0
Pius	0
Thomas More	0

WIFA Classic Division

School	Quantity	Years
Catholic Central	2	1995, 1997
Racine Lutheran	2	1995, 1996
University School	1	1998
Lourdes Academy	0
St. John's Northwestern	0
St. Mary Catholic	0
Wayland Academy	0

WIFA Midwest Division

School	Quantity	Years
Luther Prep	2	1995, 1996
Edgewood	1	1995
St. Joseph	1	1995
Martin Luther	0
St. Catherine's	0
Winnebago Lutheran	0

References

^ Shriver, Gregory (25 August 1995). "WLA set to compete in new-look WISAA league". Fond du Lac Reporter. pp. E-35. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
^ Cohen, Andrew (14 October 1994). "A home for Edgewood". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 3B. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
^ Perry-Daniels, Gail (3 May 1995). "'Sense of loss' felt deeply as Holy Name will close". The Capital Times. p. 3. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
^ "St. John's-Northwestern academies to merge". Oconomowoc Enterprise. 9 August 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
^ Byrne, Ed (12 September 1996). "The notebook (see Football, Headed for a new league)". Appleton Post-Crescent. pp. C3. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
^ Associated Press (6 March 1997). "Last hurrah at hand for Metro Conference". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
^ "Scoreboard (see Volleyball, High School Girls, WISAA Tournament)". Racine Journal Times. 30 October 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Scoreboard (see Girls Volleyball, WISAA State Tournament)". Wisconsin State Journal. 3 November 1996. p. 39. Retrieved 15 January 2025.

[1] Shriver, Gregory (25 August 1995). "WLA set to compete in new-look WISAA league". Fond du Lac Reporter. pp. E-35. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

[2] Cohen, Andrew (14 October 1994). "A home for Edgewood". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 3B. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

[1995_Holy_Name-3] Perry-Daniels, Gail (3 May 1995). "'Sense of loss' felt deeply as Holy Name will close". The Capital Times. p. 3. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

[:27-4] "St. John's-Northwestern academies to merge". Oconomowoc Enterprise. 9 August 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

[5] Byrne, Ed (12 September 1996). "The notebook (see Football, Headed for a new league)". Appleton Post-Crescent. pp. C3. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

[6] Associated Press (6 March 1997). "Last hurrah at hand for Metro Conference". Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

[7] "Scoreboard (see Volleyball, High School Girls, WISAA Tournament)". Racine Journal Times. 30 October 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 15 January 2025.

[:0-8] "Scoreboard (see Girls Volleyball, WISAA State Tournament)". Wisconsin State Journal. 3 November 1996. p. 39. Retrieved 15 January 2025.

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v t e Wisconsin high school athletic conferences
Organizations	WIAA (1895-present) WISAA (1968-2000) WCIAA (1957-1968)
Current	Badger Bay Big East Big Eight Big Rivers Capitol Central Wisconsin Classic 8 Cloverbelt Coulee Dairyland Dunn-St. Croix Eastern Wisconsin Fox River Classic Fox Valley Association Glacier Trails Great Northern Greater Metro Heart O'North Indian Trails Lake City Lakeland Marawood Marinette & Oconto Metro Classic Middle Border Midwest Classic Milwaukee City Mississippi Valley North Eastern North Shore Northern Lakes Northern Lights Packerland Ridge & Valley Rock Valley Scenic Bluffs Six Rivers South Central Southeast Southern Lakes Southwest Wisconsin SWAL Trailways Wisconsin Flyway Wisconsin Valley Woodland
Former	3-C (1928-1962) 4-C (1934-1953) 7-C (1926-1962) 10-12 (1946-1948) Badger Lutheran (1961-1964) Baraboo Valley (1928-1929) Bay-Lakes (1970-1979) Bi-County (1928-1959) Big Nine (1985-1993) Black Hawk League (1930-1997) Braveland (1953-1993) Central Lakes (1951-1962) Central Lakeshore (1969-2015) Central State (1962-1984) Central Wisconsin Catholic (1956-2000) Classic (1973-1983) Dual County (1926-2001) East Central (1970-2001) East Central (2015-2025) East Central Flyway (2001-2007) Eastern Suburban (1969-2001) Eastern Valley (2007-2015) Eastern Wisconsin (1923-1970) Flambeau (1940-1970) Flambeauland (1946-1955) Flyway (1970-2001) Fox River Valley (1923-2007) Fox Valley Catholic (1929-1971) Fox Valley Christian (1971-1999) Fox Valley Tri-County (1924-1970) Gateway (1941-1952) Granite Valley (1945-1951) Granite Valley (1954-1960) Head of the Lakes (1918-1954) I-W League (1960-1964) Iowa County (1927-1960) Juneau County (1926-1958) Kettle Moraine (1928-1969) Kickapoo Valley (1907-1971) Lakeshore (1997-2008) Little Eight (1926-1937) Little Five (1929-1935) Little Nine (1928-1970) Little Seven (1926-1934) Little Ten (1925-1970) Lumberjack (1953-2008) Madison Suburban (1926-1969) Marathon County (1928-1949) Menominee Valley (1945-1947) Metro (1974-1997) Michigan-Wisconsin (1937-1973) Mid-Eastern (1952-1970) Mid-Valley (1946-1950) Midwest Prep (1940-1983) Milwaukee Catholic (1930-1974) Mississippi Valley (1933-1965) Mississippi Valley Triangular (1936-1940) Monroe-Vernon (1928-1958) Nicolet (1938-1942) Northeastern Wisconsin (1927-1970) Northern Wisconsin (1955-1956) Northwest Border (1940-1955) Olympian (1970-2015) Parkland (1963-2006) Peninsula (1933-1970) Rock River Valley (1922-1952) Scenic Central (1958-1979) South Central (1926-1941) South Shore (1970-1980) Southeastern Badger (1963-1970) Southeastern Wisconsin (1928-1963) Southern Eight (1971-1987) Southern Five (1928-1946) Southern Regional (1937-1958) Southern Six (1928-1941) Southern Ten (1941-1952) State Line (1927-1997) Suburban (1925-1985) Suburban Park (1985-1993) SWANI (1946-1952) SWAPS (1957-1961) SWISS (1982-2006) Trempealeau Valley (1927-1959) Tri-County (1923-1963) Upper St. Croix Valley (1934-1994) Upper Wisconsin (1926-1937) Vacationland (1966-1970) Valley 8 (1999-2007) Valley-Ridge (1934-1935) West Central (1941-1952) West Central (1959-1977) West Grant (1930-1960) Western Wisconsin (1931-1937) Wisconsin Little Ten (1970-2017) Wisconsin River (1928-1960) Wisconsin Seminary (1963-1969) Wolf River Valley (1932-1970) Wood County (1925-1942)
Football-only	856 (1953-1956) Across the Bay (2022-present) Chippewa-Black River Valley (1929-1944) Cloverwood (2008-2019) CWC-8 (2020-2023) Eastern Suburban (2020-present) Fox Valley Classic (Spring 2021) Lower Fox (1933-1936) MONLPC (2017-2021) North Central (2024-present) Northeast-8 (2024-present) Northern Border (2022-2023) Northwest Football League (1994-1995) Northwoods (2020-present) Olympian-Packerland (2007-2014) Parkland (2020-present) Southeast-8 (2024-present) Southern Dairyland (1959-1962) Suburban Six-Man (1939-1957) Tri-County Football (1934-1944) Tri-Valley (1953-1958) Valley Football Association (2011-2023) WCFC (1997) WIFA (1995-1998)