Mid-Continent League

The Mid-Continent League, (MCL), is a league of member schools of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. The league was formed in 1947 by six high schools in small towns in northwest Kansas. Today, the league consists of nine schools, none of which are above Class 3A in enrollment. The current members of the MCL have all been in the league since at least the 1978-79 school year, and three schools--Hill City, Plainville and Stockton--have been in the league continuously since its formation.

The MCL is known for its highly competitive football teams. MCL schools have won 22 state championships, eight by the Smith Center Redmen. The Redmen have won five consecutive Class 2-1A state championships and enter the 2009 season with a 67-game winning streak, the longest ACTIVE high school streak in the United States. In 1985, the MCL became the first, and through 2008 only, league to produce three state football champions in the same season: Norton (4A), Plainville (3A) and Victoria (2-1A).

Hill City and Stockton switched to Eight-man football in 2008 due to declining enrollment. Under KSHSAA bylaws, a school may play 8-man football if it has 100 students or fewer in grades 9, 10 and 11 when it is classified in September of odd-numbered years. Osborne will switch to 8-man in 2010.

Wrestling is a sport which draws great interest throughout the MCL. League schools have 15 state championships, nine by the Norton Community Bluejays and three in a row from 2007-09 by Smith Center.

The MCL also sponsors basketball, volleyball, cross country, golf (boys only) and tennis (girls only). It also holds non-athletic competition in music, speech and debate and quiz bowl.

Member schools

Current members

Former members

State championships

Football

• 1971 - Stockton (2A)
• 1980 - Plainville (3A)
• 1981 - Victoria (2A)
• 1982 - Smith Center (3A)
• 1983 - Osborne (3A)
• 1985 - Norton (4A), Plainville (3A), Victoria (2-1A)
• 1986 - Norton (4A), Smith Center (3A)
• 1987 - Stockton (2-1A)
• 1988 - Victoria (2-1A)
• 1992 - Stockton (2-1A)
• 1993 - Stockton (2-1A)
• 1995 - Stockton (2-1A)
• 1999 - Smith Center (3A)
• 2004 - Smith Center (2-1A), Victoria (8-man Division I)
• 2005 - Smith Center (2-1A)
• 2006 - Smith Center (2-1A)
• 2007 - Smith Center (2-1A)
• 2008 - Smith Center (2-1A)

NOTE: Victoria won the 8-man Division II state championship in 2006 after it left the MCL.

Wrestling

• 1959 - Norton
• 1962 - Norton
• 1965 - Norton
• 1968 - Norton (A-B)
• 1970 - Norton (3-2-1A)
• 1973 - Norton (3A)
• 1987 - Phillipsburg (3-2-1A)
• 1988 - Plainville (3-2-1A)
• 1992 - Plainville (3-2-1A)
• 1993 - Stockton (3-2-1A)
• 2004 - Norton (3-2-1A)
• 2005 - Norton (3-2-1A)
• 2006 - Norton (3-2-1A)
• 2007 - Smith Center (3-2-1A)
• 2008 - Smith Center (3-2-1A)
• 2009 - Smith Center (3-2-1A)

NOTE: Norton was a member of the Northwest Kansas League prior to the 1978-79 school year.