The WIAA Board of Control approved the addition of lacrosse as a sanctioned sport at its meeting Friday.
The spring of 2024 will be the first season for lacrosse having a WIAA-sanctioned season and tournament series.
The Board of Control also approved three fast-tracked non-football conference realignment requests, including one involving Wisconsin Dells boys soccer and another involving Beloit Memorial boys hockey’s participation in the Big Eight Conference.
The Board of Control received a presentation from the committee that had been assigned to evaluate potentially adding boys and girls lacrosse to sports sanctioned by the WIAA, then unanimously passed the proposal, according to a WIAA release.
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The first season, including with a tournament series, would be in the spring of the 2023-24 school year.
Details about season regulations and the tournament procedure will be announced when they become available.
“We commend members of the planning committee for months of work and collaboration with member schools that already sponsor the sport,” WIAA executive director Stephanie Hauser said in the release. “Our staff and membership look forward to the new opportunity for student-athletes to participate in a sport quickly gaining popularity around the nation.”
Hauser
It is the first time an entirely new sport has been introduced for boys and girls since boys and girls soccer was added in 1982-83, according to the WIAA.
Hockey and wrestling expanded to WIAA sponsorship for girls in 2002 and 2022, respectively. Boys volleyball was reinstated in 2000. However, those three sports already were sanctioned for the other gender.
The Board of Control voted and passed three fast-tracked non-football conference realignment requests.
Wisconsin Dells will move from the Capitol Conference to the South Central Conference for boys soccer only in the fall of 2023.
The Board of Control renewed the membership of Beloit Memorial in the Big Eight Conference for boys hockey only, after Beloit Memorial was realigned to the Southern Lakes Conference for most other sports in 2021 (for instance, its girls hockey co-op plays in the Badger Conference).
Arcadia will shift from the Midwestern Wisconsin Conference to the Mississippi Valley Conference for boys and girls soccer in 2023-24.
Photos: Oregon boys soccer tops Whitefish Bay in shootout to win Division 2 state title
Oregon senior Noah Malcook celebrates towards the Panthers fans after making his penalty kick during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon players celebrate after receiving the championship trophy after winning Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Luke Bennett defends against Whitefish Bay's Quinn Muderlak during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
The Oregon cheerleading team support the Panthers during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Daniel Compton looks up field for an open teammate during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon junior Neige Dolbeau looks to make a pass during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon junior Cameron Eck attacks a loose ball during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Anthony Elert serves up a corner kick during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon sophomore Kellen Diercks sends a pass forward during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Jack Kreckman looks to stop a penalty kick during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Noah Malcook races after a loose ball while being held by Whitefish Bay's Alex Franchesi during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Mason Diercks looks to send in a cross during the WIAA Division 2 state championship game Nov. 5 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
The Oregon cheerleading team support the Panthers during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Pierce Nelson races up field during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Casey Schoenecker sends a goal kick forward during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
The Oregon student section celebrates after the final horn during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
The Oregon boys soccer team pose with the championship trophy after winning Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Myles Tomlinson battles for possession against Whitefish Bay's Will Smith during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Carter Uhlmann races after a loose ball during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon senior Colin Vandermause controls a throw-in during Saturday's WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
