Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is a college athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. In women's gymnastics, it competes alongside Division I and II members, as the NCAA sponsors a single championship event open to members of all NCAA divisions. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Wisconsin, although there are three associate members from Minnesota and one from Illinois. All full members are part of the University of Wisconsin System.

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
WIAC
Established1913
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision III
Members8
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 12
RegionWisconsin
Former namesInter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin (1913–1926)
Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference (1926–1951)
Wisconsin State College Conference (1951–1964)
Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference (1964–1997)
HeadquartersMadison, Wisconsin
CommissionerGary Karner (since July 1996)
Websitewiacsports.com
Locations

History
UW–Eau Claire
UW–La Crosse
UW–Oshkosh
UW–Platteville
UW–River Falls
UW–Stevens Point
UW–Stout
UW–Whitewater
WIAC, full members

In 1913, representatives from Wisconsin's eight normal schools—Superior Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Superior), River Falls State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-River Falls), Stevens Point Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point), La Crosse State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse), Oshkosh State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), Milwaukee State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) and Platteville Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville)--met in Madison to organize the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin. The Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout) joined in 1914, followed by Eau Claire State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) in 1917.[1]

The conference evolved with the growing educational mission of its member schools. It changed its name to the Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference in 1926, and the Wisconsin State College Conference in 1951. Finally, in 1964, it became the Wisconsin State University Conference.

In 1971, the member schools of the WSUC joined with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin–Parkside and Carthage College to form the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. By 1975, UW–Milwaukee, Carroll College, the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and Marquette University had also joined. With the dissolution of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women in 1982, the member schools joined their male counterparts in either the NCAA or NAIA. By 1993, the non-NCAA Division III members had all dropped out, resulting in the WWIAC having the same membership as the WSUC. Under the circumstances, a merger was inevitable. In 1996, Gary Karner was named commissioner of both the WSUC and the WWIAC. The two conferences formally merged in 1997 to form the current WIAC.[1]

Effective with the 2001–02 academic year, Lawrence University joined the conference in the sport of wrestling. Three Minnesota schools, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University and Winona State University, became members of the conference in the sport of women's gymnastics during the 2004–05 academic year. In 2009–10, the conference added men’s soccer as a sponsored sport with the announcement of Michigan school Finlandia University as an affiliate member. Lawrence discontinued its affiliation with the WIAC in wrestling.[1]

The conference remained unusually stable over the years; the only changes in full membership being the departures of UW–Milwaukee in 1964 and UW–Superior in 2015.

Centennial celebration

The ninth-oldest conference in the nation, the WIAC celebrated its centennial year during the 2012–13 academic year.[2] Additionally, the WIAC is the most successful NCAA Division III conference in history, boasting NCAA National Championships in 15 different sports.[3] At the beginning of the 2011–12 academic year, the conference had claimed a nation-leading 92 NCAA National Championships.[4]

To celebrate its centennial, the conference named All-Time Teams in each sport that is currently or was previously recognized as a "championship" sport within the conference.[5] Furthermore, the WIAC commissioned a commemorative work of art, created by Tim Cortes,[6] and has also created a two-year calendar in celebration of its centennial.[7]

The celebration was headlined by its Centennial Banquet held on August 4, 2012, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Among the honorees at the event were the All-Time Team members and the inaugural class to the WIAC Hall of Fame.

Member schools

Current members
Institution Nickname Location in Wisconsin Founded Type Undergraduate
enrollment		 Joined
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds Eau Claire 1916 Public 10,043[8] 1917–18
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles La Crosse 1909 Public 9,708[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans Oshkosh 1871 Public 15,111[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers Platteville 1866 Public 8,134[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons River Falls 1874 Public 5,725[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers Stevens Point 1894 Public 8,792[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils Menomonie 1891 Public 7,555[8] 1914–15
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks Whitewater 1868 Public 11,722[8] 1913–14

UW–Superior left the WIAC as a full member on July 1, 2015.[9] They remain affiliate members for men's and women's ice hockey.[9]

Affiliate members
Institution Nickname Location
(Population)		 Founded Type Undergraduate
Enrollment		 Joined Current
Conference		 WIAC
Sport(s)
Finlandia University Lions Hancock, Michigan
(4,634)		 1896 Private 500 2018–19 ACAA baseball
Gustavus Adolphus College Golden Gusties St. Peter, Minnesota 1862 Private 2,600 2004–05 MIAC gymnastics
Hamline University Pipers Saint Paul, Minnesota 1854 Private 2,100 2004–05 MIAC gymnastics
Northland College Lumberjacks Ashland, Wisconsin 1906 Private/United Church of Christ 700 2019 UMAC men's and women's ice hockey
University of Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Superior, Wisconsin 1893 Public 2,294[8] 2015–16[a 1] UMAC men's and women's ice hockey
Winona State University Warriors Winona, Minnesota 1858 Public 8,896 2004–05 NSIC
(NCAA Division II)		 gymnastics
  1. Wisconsin–Superior had been a full member of the WIAC from 1913 to 2015.

Former members
Institution Nickname Location
(Population)		 Founded Type Undergraduate
Enrollment		 Joined Left Current
Conference
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Cardinals[lower-alpha 1] Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1885 Public 22,767[8] 1913–14 1963–64 Horizon
(NCAA Division I)
University of Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Superior, Wisconsin 1893 Public 2,294[8] 1913–14 2014–15 UMAC
  1. Nickname changed to the current "Panthers" in 1964, immediately after leaving the league.

Former affiliate members
Institution Nickname Location
(Population)		 Founded Type Undergraduate
Enrollment		 Joined Left Current
Conference		 WIAC
Sport
Lawrence University Vikings Appleton, Wisconsin
(72,623)		 1847 Private 1,555 2001–02 2008–09 Midwest wrestling
Finlandia University Lions Hancock, Michigan
(4,634)		 1896 Private 500 2009–10 2015–16 ACAA men's soccer
Illinois Institute of Technology Scarlet Hawks Chicago, Illinois 1890 Private 2,977 2017–18 2017–18 NACC baseball

Membership timeline
Northland College (Wisconsin)Illinois Institute of TechnologyFinlandia UniversityWinona State UniversityHamline UniversityGustavus Adolphus CollegeLawrence UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin–StoutUniversity of Wisconsin–WhitewaterUniversity of Wisconsin–SuperiorUniversity of Wisconsin–Stevens PointUniversity of Wisconsin–River FallsUniversity of Wisconsin–PlattevilleUniversity of Wisconsin–OshkoshUniversity of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeUniversity of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Sports

Member institutions field men's and women's teams in cross country, basketball, ice hockey, track and field, and swimming and diving. Men's teams are fielded for baseball, football, and wrestling. Women's teams are fielded for golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The WIAC is the only NCAA Division III all-sports conference that does not sponsor men's soccer.

Main article: WIAC Men's Basketball Tournament
Main article: WIAC Men's Ice Hockey Tournament

National championship teams
  • Baseball

UW-Oshkosh: 1985, 1994
UW-Whitewater: 2005, 2014

  • Men's basketball

UW-Whitewater: 1984, 1989, 2012, 2014
UW-Platteville: 1991, 1995, 1998, 1999
UW-Stevens Point: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2015
UW-Oshkosh: 2019

  • Women's Basketball

UW-Stevens Point: 1987, 2002
UW-Oshkosh: 1996

  • Men's Cross Country

UW-Oshkosh: 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002
UW-La Crosse: 1996, 2001, 2005
UW-Eau Claire: 2015

  • Women's Cross Country

UW-La Crosse: 1983
UW-Oshkosh: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1996
UW-Eau Claire: 2009

  • Football

UW-La Crosse: 1992, 1995
UW-Whitewater: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014

  • Men's Golf

UW-Eau Claire: 2001

  • Men's Ice Hockey

UW-River Falls: 1988, 1994
UW-Stevens Point: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2016, 2019
UW-Superior: 2002
UW-Eau Claire: 2013

  • Softball

UW-Stevens Point: 1998
UW-Eau Claire: 2008

  • Men's Indoor Track & Field

UW-La Crosse: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017
UW-Oshkosh: 2009
UW-Eau Claire: 2015, 2016

  • Men's Outdoor Track & Field

UW-La Crosse: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
UW-Oshkosh: 2009

  • Women's Indoor Track & Field

UW-Oshkosh: 1994-96, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014
UW-La Crosse: 2015

  • Women's Outdoor Track & Field

UW-La Crosse: 1983, 1984, 2015
UW-Oshkosh: 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011
UW-River Falls: 2008

  • Women's Volleyball

UW-Whitewater: 2002, 2005

Conference facilities
School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity
UW–Eau Claire Carson Park 6,500 W. L. Zorn Arena 2,450
UW–La Crosse Veterans Memorial Stadium 10,000 Mitchell Hall 2,880
UW–Oshkosh Titan Stadium 9,800 Kolf Sports Center 5,800
UW–Platteville Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium 10,000 Williams Fieldhouse 2,300
UW–River Falls Ramer Field 4,800 Don Page Arena 2,149
UW–Stevens Point Goerke Field 4,000 Quandt Fieldhouse 3,281
UW–Stout Don and Nona Williams Stadium 5,000 Johnson Fieldhouse 1,800
UW–Whitewater Forrest Perkins Stadium 13,200 Williams Center 3,000
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References
  1. History
  2. Centennial year
  3. NCAA National Championships in 15 sports
  4. 92 NCAA Championships
  5. All-Time Teams
  6. Commemorative work of art
  7. 2-year calendar
  8. "The University of Wisconsin System Education Reports & Statistics, Enrollments". University of Wisconsin System. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  9. http://wiacsports.com/news/2014/5/7/GEN_0507142824.aspx
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