Titles by Conferences

[THE BIG GUY]

I thought it would be interesting to see what conferences are producing the most state championships of late. I actually looked through and noticed a pattern of which conferences were producing and which ones weren't.

2006: 4x8r: Whitefish Bay (North Shore)
800: Markson (North Shore)
1600: Pede (Wisconsin Little Ten)
3200: Pede (Wisconsin Little Ten)
xc: Merch (Fox River Classic)
2007: 4x8r: Monroe (Badger-South)
800: Perkins (Wisconsin Little Ten)
1600: Perkins (Wisconsin Little Ten)
3200: Merch (Fox River Classic)
xc: Krause (FVA)
2008: 4x8r: Port Washington (North Shore)
800: Sowinski (Classic 8)
1600: Hackett (North Shore)
3200: Krause (FVA)
xc: Storkel (MVC)
2009: 4x8r: Port Washington (North Shore)
800: Hucke (Classic 8)
1600: Ross (North Shore)
3200: Brill (Big 8)
xc: Paulson (GMC)
2010: 4x8r: Homestead (North Shore)
800: Genovesi (North Shore)
1600: Wardall (FVA)
3200: Heck (Big 8)
xc: ????
It seems that the conferences like GMC and Big 8 often get called the best distance conferences. But are they really....
Big 8 : 2
GMC : 1
Classic 8 : 2
Wisconsin Little 10: 4
Fox River Classic aka Merch : 2
FVA : 3
North Shore : 8
MVC : 1

[markrazzy]

If you take out the 4x800 and the 800, (depends on your definition of "distance" events), that'll change the titles a lot... I think a better way to look at it would be podium finishes, not just champions. And maybe an even better way would be to look at team finishes @ state cross country meet. Just my 2 cents.

[aubbierunner]

i agree with markrazzy

[runasone]

That's one way of looking at it, but that only includes individuals and 4x8 teams. I don't think that having a few good individuals says that much about the strength of a conference. Here's another way of looking at, using the same era you did, but only team xc place. 6 points for 1st, 5 points for 2nd, and so on down to 6th place with 1 point. Only D1 for now.

2006
6 points -Madison Lafollette (Big 8)
5 points -Stevens Point (Wisconsin Valley)
4 points -Muskego (Southeast)
3 points -Neenah (Fox Valley)
2 points -Kimberly (Fox Valley)
1 point -Arrowhead (Classic 8)


2007
6 points -Madison Lafollette (Big 8)
5 points - Stevens Point (Wisconsin Valley)
4 points -Marquette (GMC)
3 points -Waukesha West (Classic 8)
2 points -Milwaukee King (City)
1 point -Neenah (Fox Valley)


2008
6 points -Stevens Point (Wisconsin Valley)
5 points -Madison West (Big 8)
4 points -Marquette (GMC)
3 points -Milwaukee King (City)
2 points -Madison Lafollette (Big 8)
1 point -Arrowhead (Classic 8)


2009
6 points -Brookfield Central (GMC)
5 points -Marquette (GMC)
4 points -Stevens Point (Wisconsin Valley)
3 points -Neenah (Fox Valley)
2 points -Hudson (Big Rivers)
1 point -Madison Memorial (Big 8)

Totals:
Big 8 = 20
Wisconsin Valley = 20 (All SPASH)
GMC = 19
Fox Valley = 9
Classic 8 = 5
City = 5
Southeast = 4

[K-Man]

And if you're keeping score, by this scale the following is a list of the top programs in the last 5 years.
1. SPASH 20 pts
2. LaFollette 14 pts
3. Marquette 13 pts
4. Neenah 7 pts.

Each of these teams could (maybe should) solidify their places or move up in 2010. Would be interesting to go back a decade.

[lime42]

2006: 4x8r: Whitefish Bay (North Shore)
800: Markson (North Shore)
1600: Pede (Wisconsin Little Ten)
3200: Pede (Wisconsin Little Ten)
xc: Merch (Fox River Classic)
2007: 4x8r: Monroe (Badger-South)
800: Perkins (Wisconsin Little Ten)
1600: Perkins (Wisconsin Little Ten)
3200: Merch (Fox River Classic)
xc: Krause (FVA)
2008: 4x8r: Port Washington (North Shore)
800: Sowinski (Classic 8)
1600: Hackett (North Shore)
3200: Krause (FVA)
xc: Storkel (MVC)
2009: 4x8r: Port Washington (North Shore)
800: Hucke (Classic 8)
1600: Ross (North Shore)
3200: Brill (Big 8)
xc: Paulson (GMC)
2010: 4x8r: Homestead (North Shore)
800: Genovesi (North Shore)
1600: Wardall (FVA)
3200: Heck (Big 8)
xc: ????
It seems that the conferences like GMC and Big 8 often get called the best distance conferences. But are they really....
Big 8 : 2
GMC : 1
Classic 8 : 2
Wisconsin Little 10: 4
Fox River Classic aka Merch : 2
FVA : 3
North Shore : 8
MVC : 1

--------------------------------------
I like the idea of the post, but statistics can be easily manipulated to make a point you are looking for in the first place.
To add to what others have posted: a single athlete could be a multiple champion for multiple years and therefore give his/her conference the most track titles over a 5 year period. In other words, it doesn't indicate the strength of the conference, but the strength of an individual runner.
In other words, it's hard to justify counting one runner (ie, Pede/Perkins-Wisconsin Little Ten) for multiple conference titles.

[THE BIG GUY]

And if you're keeping score, by this scale the following is a list of the top programs in the last 5 years.
1. SPASH 20 pts
2. LaFollette 14 pts
3. Marquette 13 pts
4. Neenah 7 pts.

Each of these teams could (maybe should) solidify their places or move up in 2010. Would be interesting to go back a decade.

u went the exact opposite side of the spectrum that i did. just putting xc team doesnt signify anything. those teams are great yes but how many of those have good (state winning) 4x8's

And the 800 is a mid-distance event. I guess people seem to forget that the 1600/1500 is also mid-distance. so that leaves us with just the 3200. that cant be counted as the only distance event. so i included everything from 800-3200 and 4x8. i should have included xc teams as well. i think that would have an overall balanced side of the team and conference championships.

I did not try and show some sort of bias. I found facts and that it was interesting that everything thinks the Big 8 or whatever is the best conference...

[K-Man]

I appreciate what you were trying to do here. Definitely interesting stats. 4 x 8 teams, however, are often filled with quarter milers. The 800 has become a sprint event at the state level. I only listed the point totals as a point of discussion. And even they are flawed. The success of a program isn't completely determined by state finishes. When I think of the best distance programs in the state, I would have to include a number of teams that don't have the consistent finishes (maybe due to numbers). For instance, Mad West, Arrowhead, Port Washington, Muskego, Germantown, and others, are programs that seem to get the most out of their athletes. And Shorewood, Wisconsin Lutheran could be listed as well. Statistics are fun, but I think people who know what's been going on in this sport for the past 3-20 years know the good conferences, programs and coaches.

[champ]

When I think of the best distance programs in the state, I would have to include a number of teams that don't have the consistent finishes (maybe due to numbers). For instance, Mad West, Arrowhead, Port Washington, Muskego, Germantown, and others, are programs that seem to get the most out of their athletes. And Shorewood, Wisconsin Lutheran could be listed as well. Statistics are fun, but I think people who know what's been going on in this sport for the past 3-20 years know the good conferences, programs and coaches.

Regardless of division, who do you think is the best high school cross country coach in the state of wisconsin?

[K-Man]

Wow. Tough question. So many variables and hard to know what these people are really like unless you've run for them. Just to be safe, I'll say Mick Byrne.