The Pewaukee High School football team left the Parkland Conference this season to join the Classic 8 Conference. Arrowhead and Pewaukee’s first-ever conference football game was on Friday, September 13, at Pewaukee High School football field.
The Classic 8 Conference used to include Arrowhead, Oconomowoc, Mukwonago, Muksego, Kettle Moraine, Catholic Memorial, Waukesha West, Waukesha South, and Waukesha North. In the past three seasons, Catholic Memorial, Waukesha South, and Waukesha North have left the conference, resulting in Pewaukee addition to the conference.
The Parkland Conference now includes Catholic Memorial, New Berlin West, New Berlin Eisenhower, Wauwatosa West, Wauwatosa East, Pius XI Catholic, and Milwaukee Lutheran since the departure of Pewaukee.
According to Max Preps, Pewaukee had a record of 5-5 in the 2023-2024 season. The team lost in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs against Waterford in a 22-17 score game.
According to Max Preps, Arrowhead had a record of 7-4 in the 2023-2024 season, losing in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs against Sussex Hamilton in a 30-28 score game.
According to Max Preps, four out of the top twenty-five schools for football in the state came from the Classic 8 Conference. This compares to Pewaukee’s former Parkland Conference which had zero teams in the top twenty-five for the state.
“Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense as they are a D3 football program,” said Matt Harris, Arrowhead High School head football coach. “So to make the D3 playoffs they have to beat all D1 teams?”
“They were kind of forced into it because who would want to play Arrowhead, Muskego, and Mukwonago,” said Tanner Hansen, senior Arrowhead football player. “They are basically eliminated from the playoffs.”
“Depth could pose a problem strictly because of enrollment,” said Harris. “They have a great program and I know Coach Friske will do the exact same thing to ensure his kids have the best possible experience in football.”
Pewaukee in the Classic 8 Conference not only affects players’ and coaches’ football experience but the student-fans as well. “Obviously it’s good to see new people in the conference,” said Billy Bamba, junior Arrowhead student. “They’re not gonna stand a chance here.”
By the end of the 2nd quarter, Arrowhead was winning 23-7.
After the first half, Pewaukee was already losing to Arrowhead. “It’s probably going to get a lot worse,” Jack Westerman, Pewaukee junior, said.
Arrowhead won the game 36-13 with touchdowns from Senior Vance Hotlz and Junior Jacob Stiner.
