Most Villagers are aware of the excellent academics, but maybe equally impressive is the athletic success of the student-athletes within the Whitefish Bay School District. Did you know that Whitefish Bay ranks second in the state for total WIAA team titles? If recent history is any guide, there realistically may be a new number one as early as next school year. Today, we take a look at the numbers.
The WIAA lists team state championships dating back to 1895, when Milwaukee’s East High School (now known as Milwaukee Riverside) won a boys track & field championship held at the University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium on June 8th of that year. In the 131 years since, no school in Wisconsin has accumulated more team titles than Madison West (93), followed by Whitefish Bay (90).
All Time WIAA Team Titles
The full WIAA list can be found here and reflects team championships through the beginning of this school year. The list above was updated by the WFB Buzz to reflect the standings as of May 2026. The list does not include WISAA championships (sorry, Marquette High graduates, I don’t make the rules) which merged with the WIAA in 2000. The WISAA encompassed private schools who played in separate conferences and competed for separate state titles from public schools prior to 2000.
A Diverse Track Record
Whitefish Bay’s student-athletes have won at least one state championship across 17 unique boys/girls sports. One of the most storied athletic legacies at the high school is in track and field. The Blue Dukes have won 18 team track and field state championships in their history, headlined by an almost unimaginable stretch of dominance: 16 consecutive state titles from 1937 to 1952. That run stands as one of the longest dynasty streaks in Wisconsin prep sports history, across any sport. Incredibly, a few videos from this era have recently surfaced and have been posted by the baystrackhistory blog.
2025-26: A Historic Year
This school year may be the most decorated in recent memory. The Blue Dukes have already won five state team championships, with the spring sports season still underway. The 1998 season also saw the school bring home five championships.
Girls Swimming & Diving – D2 Champions (November 2025) After winning their first-ever title in 2024, the girls swim team made an emphatic statement with a dominant repeat.
Boys Soccer – D2 Champions (November 2025) The boys soccer team defeated top-seeded DeForest 3-1 to add to seven prior state championships for the program.
Boys Swimming & Diving – D2 Champions (February 2026) Following in the girls footsteps, the boys completed a 2025-26 school year D2 swimming sweep, winning their sixth program title in school history.
Girls Basketball – D2 Champions (March 2026) In one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament, the Blue Dukes beat Beaver Dam 64-63 on a defensive stop in the final seconds, winning the program’s first-ever girls basketball state title.
Boys Basketball – D2 Champions (March 2026) One week later, the boys team completed the school’s first-ever basketball boys/girls double state championships, routing Slinger 77-46 at the Kohl Center. The program won boys basketball state titles previously in 1996, 1998, and 2011.
Still Playing for More
With two weeks left in the spring sports tournament season, Whitefish Bay has a few more opportunities to add to its total. The North Shore Conference co-champion baseball squad is a #1 seed in their sectional for the state tournament. The girls soccer team is a #2 seed in their sectional. And the Conference champion boys tennis team enters the WIAA team state tournament as the #1 seed in Division 2.
A tip of the hat to our neighbors to the North – Nicolet (your author’s alma mater) comes in at number five in the state and our neighbors to the South – Shorewood comes in tied for number twelve on the list.
The current first place school Madison West High School has won three state titles over the past decade. Comparing that with the 16 titles won by Whitefish Bay High School in the past 10 years, and one may notice that the gap has been closing quickly. By this time next year, there just might be a new title holder for Most WIAA Team Championships in Wisconsin.
What do you think, Bay Neighbor?