Western Athletic Conference (KSHSAA league)

The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is a league of member schools of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. The league is made up of five large high schools in Western Kansas. Member schools compete for championships in American football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, wrestling, swimming, diving, track, cross country, volleyball and softball.

History

The league was formed in 1986 Roger Ellis, Garden City High School athletic director at the time, organized meetings with the largest schools west of Hutchinson: Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend, Hays and Liberal. These schools had experienced trouble joining leagues in the past separately as leagues with smaller schools did not want them as it would disrupt competitive balance and leagues in central and eastern Kansas did not want them due to travel issues. The five had been playing as independents for at least a decade prior to the formation of the WAC.

For the first 10 years of the league's existence, Ulysses, a Class 4A school, was an associate member of the WAC in sports with individual elements, such as wrestling, tennis and golf but remained an independent in football, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball. Ulysses eventually joined the Mid-State League and is currently a member of the Great West Activities Conference.

Member schools

Current members