Lakeland Conference

Lakeland Conference
ConferenceMichigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA)[failed verification]
Founded2022
No. of teams4 Class B, 1 Class C
RegionSouthwest Michigan

The Lakeland Conference is an athletic conference for high schools in southwest Michigan in the United States. Founded in 2022 with the inaugural season of play in 2022-2023, the conference is a reboot of the old Lakeland Athletic Conference to which it shares a similar geographic footprint, school membership and historic rivalries.

The league offers competition in nine boys' and eight girls' sports.

Boys

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling

Sports by school

School Base­ball Basket­ball Cross Country Football Golf Soccer Tennis Track & Field Wrest­ling
Benton Harbor Green tick Green tick Red X Green tick Red X Red X Red X Green tick Green tick
Berrien Springs Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Buchanan Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Dowagiac Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Niles Brandywine Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick

Girls

Basketball, Competitive Cheerleading, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball

Sports by school

School Basket­ball Competitive Cheer Cross Country Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field Volleyball
Benton Harbor Green tick Red X Red X Red X Green tick Red X Green tick Green tick
Berrien Springs Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Buchanan Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Dowagiac Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Niles Brandywine Green tick Red X Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick

Member schools

There are currently five member schools. The geographic footprint of the league includes Berrien and Cass counties in Michigan.

Current members

School data in the table below is current for the 2023-24 season according to the MHSAA website.

School Location Mascot Colors Enrollment Class Affiliation Joined Previous Conference
Benton HarborBenton HarborTigersOrange & Black528BPublic2022Independent
Berrien SpringsBerrien SpringsShamrocksGreen & White554BPublic2022BCS League
BuchananBuchananBucksMaroon & White398BPublic2022BCS League
Niles BrandywineNiles TownshipBobcatsMaroon & Gold348CPublic2022BCS League
DowagiacDowagiacChieftainsOrange & Black517BPublic2022Wolverine Conference

Former members

School Location Joined Previous Conference Departed Successive Conference
n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Membership Timeline

Conference championships

Baseball

Season School Conference
Record
2023

Boys Basketball

Season School Conference
Record
2023Benton Harbor22-2

Girls Basketball

Season School Conference
Record
2023Buchanan8-0

Boys Cross Country

Season School Conference
Record
2022Berrien Springs4-0

Girls Cross Country

Season School Conference
Record
2022Buchanan4-0

Football

Season School Conference
Record
2022Buchanan4-0

Boys Soccer

Season School Conference
Record
2022Dowagiac3-0

Girls Soccer

Season School Conference
Record
2023Berrien Springs4-0

Softball

Season School Conference
Record
2023Buchanan8-0

Volleyball

Season School Conference
Record
2022Buchanan4-0

Wrestling

Season School Conference
Record
2023Niles Brandywine5-0

State championships

Schools that have participated in MHSAA state championship finals while being members of the Lakeland Conference.

TBD
Finish Year School Division
n/a n/a n/a n/a

References

  1. ↑ "About". Michigan High School Athletic Association.
  2. ↑ "New athletic conference gets the go-ahead from school boards". December 17, 2021.
  3. ↑ Walkden, Jack. "Dowagiac to leave Wolverine Conference". South Bend Tribune.
  4. ↑ "2023-24 MHSAA Enrollment List. Procedures for determining classification are outlined on pages 104 - 105 of the MHSAA Handbook" (PDF). www.mhsaa.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Benton Harbor edges Brandywine; Bobcat girls rout Tigers". February 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Faith Carson carries No. 7 Buchanan girls past No. 9 Brandywine Thursday night".
  7. 1 2 Staff Report (October 23, 2022). "Buchanan, Berrien wins Lakeland crowns". Leader Publications.
  8. ↑ STAFF, HP. "High school football: Buchanan tops Benton Harbor, clinches Lakeland title". The Herald Palladium.
  9. ↑ Staff Report (October 15, 2022). "Roundup: Bucks win Lakeland Conference title; Bobcats fall to Shamrocks". Leader Publications.
  10. ↑ Novak, Scott (October 6, 2022). "UPDATED: Roundup: Dowagiac, Edwardsburg wins conference championships". Leader Publications.
  11. ↑ "Roundup: Chieftains, Eddies fall in conference matches". May 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Roundup: Bucks win Lakeland championship; baseball falls in 11 innings". May 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ Novak, Scott (October 24, 2022). "Buchanan tops Dowagiac for Lakeland crown". Leader Publications.
  14. ↑ "Roundup: Bobcats win Lakeland title; Eddies have pair of Wolverine champs". February 6, 2023.