Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(WIAC)
Established 1913
Association NCAA
Division Division III
Members 8
Sports fielded 22 (men's: 10; women's: 12)
Region Wisconsin
Former names Inter-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)
Headquarters Madison, Wisconsin
Commissioner Gary Karner (since July 1996)
Website wiacsports.com
Locations

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is a college athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Wisconsin, although there are three associate members from Minnesota and one from Michigan. All full members are part of the University of Wisconsin System.

History

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. 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.

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]

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 (all in Wisconsin)
(Population)		 Founded Type Undergraduate
Enrollment		 Joined
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds Eau Claire
(65,883)		 1916 Public 9,799[8] 1917–18
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles La Crosse
(52,485)		 1909 Public 8,324[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans Oshkosh
(66,083)		 1871 Public 9,386[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers Platteville
(11,224)		 1866 Public 6,498[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons River Falls
(15,000)		 1874 Public 5,801[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers Stevens Point
(26,717)		 1894 Public 8,481[8] 1913–14
University of Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils Menomonie
(16,264)		 1891 Public 6,874[8] 1914–15
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks Whitewater
(13,437)		 1868 Public 9,323[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 2009–10 NCAA D-III Independent (men's)
GSAC (women's)		 men's soccer
Gustavus Adolphus College Golden Gusties St. Peter, Minnesota
(11,196)		 1862 Private 2,600 2004–05 MIAC gymnastics
Hamline University Pipers Saint Paul, Minnesota
(285,068)		 1854 Private 2,100 2004–05 MIAC gymnastics
University of Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Superior, Wisconsin
(26,960)		 1893 Public 2,114[8] 2015–16[a 1] UMAC men's and women's ice hockey
Winona State University Warriors Winona, Minnesota
(27,592)		 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 Panthers Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(594,833)		 1885 Public 25,271 1913–14 1963–64 Horizon
(NCAA Division I)
University of Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Superior, Wisconsin
(26,960)		 1893 Public 2,550[8] 1913–14 2014–15 UMAC

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

Membership timeline

Finlandia University Winona State University Hamline University Gustavus Adolphus College Lawrence University University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University of Wisconsin–Stout University of Wisconsin–Whitewater University of Wisconsin–Superior University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point University of Wisconsin–River Falls University of Wisconsin–Platteville University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Sports

Member institutions field men's and women's teams in cross country, basketball, track and field, swimming and diving, and soccer. Men's teams are fielded for baseball, football, ice hockey, and wrestling. Women's teams are fielded for golf, gymnastics, softball, tennis and volleyball.

National championship teams

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

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

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

UW-Oshkosh: 1988-90, 2002
UW-La Crosse: 1996, 2001, 2005
UW-Eau Claire: 2015

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

UW-La Crosse: 1992, 1995
UW-Whitewater: 2007, 2009–11, 2013, 2014

UW-Eau Claire: 2001

UW-River Falls: 1988, 1994
UW-Stevens Point: 1989-91, 1993
UW-Superior: 2002
UW-Eau Claire: 2013

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

UW-La Crosse: 1987, 1988, 1991–94, 1997, 2001–06, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014
UW-Eau Claire: 2015, 2016

UW-La Crosse: 1988, 1991–93, 1997, 2001–04, 2006, 2007, 2013
UW-Oshkosh: 2009

UW-Oshkosh: 1994-96, 2004–06, 2011, 2013, 2014

UW-La Crosse: 1983, 1984
UW-Oshkosh: 1990, 1991, 1995–97, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011
UW-River Falls: 2008

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 Karges Center 2,000
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

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool". Office of Postsecondary Education. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  9. 1 2 http://wiacsports.com/news/2014/5/7/GEN_0507142824.aspx

External links

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