Kansas’ kings and queens by era: See the top state-championship high schools by decade
From Wichita East’s 30-year dominance in Kansas to St. Thomas Aquinas’ recent ascent, every decade of Kansas high school sports has provided statistical stories.
Here is a look at the top title-winning school from each decade of KSHSAA sports.
Click here to see the full dataset
Click here to see the full dataset
2010s
1. St. Thomas Aquinas - 51 titles
2. Bishop Miege - 33
3. Shawnee Mission East - 32
T-4. Olathe East - 24
T-4. Bishop Carroll - 24
T-4. Olathe East - 24
T-4. Collegiate - 24
8. St. James Academy - 20
T-9. Baldwin - 19
T-9. Topeka Hayden - 19
St. Thomas Aquinas had the greatest decade of any school in Kansas high school sports history. The Saints won seven straight in girls soccer (2010-16), six straight in boys cross country to end the decade, five in girls cross country (2012-16), four straight in girls basketball (2016-19) and two streaks of three in girls golf.
Bishop Miege became arguably the most respected name in Kansas high school sports with 33 titles, including streaks of six in football (2014-19), five in volleyball (2010-15), four in boys soccer to end the decade, four in girls basketball (2014-17), four in girls soccer to end the decade, plus three in boys basketball (2016-18).
Shawnee Mission East was the sneaky-good school of the decade with just one fewer than Miege. The Lancers had streaks of five in girls swim (2010-14), four in boys swim (2015-18), four in girls tennis (2011-14) and three in boys tennis (2012-14).
- Central Plains won 13 championships, including a six-year run in girls basketball that set the Kansas record and longest streak in the country in 67 years for consecutive wins at 136.
- Bishop Carroll set the state record with five straight softball titles (2011-15) and won four straight in boys cross country (2010-11).
- Topeka Hayden was arguably the top small school across all sports with 19 titles in nine sports.
- Collegiate continued its tennis dominance with 15 titles in 10 years.
- Kapaun Mt. Carmel won nine golf championships in the decade, including two streaks of four.
- Andale won eight state track and field championships, including three straight to end the decade for the girls team.
- Nemaha Central wins three straight volleyball titles while going back-to-back in football and girls basketball in the same school years (2012-14).
- Baldwin wins 19 titles with 16 of them coming in either cross country or track and field.
- Norton wins seven wrestling titles in 10 years, including five straight (2013-17). Goddard won five straight wrestling titles to close the decade and won again in 2020.
- Derby won eight championships in the decade. Five of them came in Class 6A football with back-to-back undefeated seasons (2018-19).
- St. James Academy won seven volleyball titles in 10 years, including four straight (2010-13) and came runner-up a few other times.
2000s
1. St. Thomas Aquinas - 37
2. Collegiate - 29
3. Olathe East - 25
4. Blue Valley North - 21
5. Bishop Miege - 19
6. Shawnee Mission Northwest - 18
7. Bishop Carroll - 17
8. Topeka Hayden - 16
T-9. St. Mary’s Colgan - 15
T-9. Washburn Rural - 15
- St. Thomas Aquinas finished with 37 total, the most of any school in the decade. The Saints won seven straight in boys soccer (2003-09), three straight in girls golf (2007-09) and three straight in girls soccer (2005-07).
- Hutchinson’s golden era featured a streak of six straight football titles (2004-09), which stands as the Kansas state record. The Salthawks won 14 across all sports.
- Miege’s girls sports were outstanding, accounting for 14 of 19 titles, including three straight in volleyball (2002-04) and three striaght in girls basketball (2001-03).
- Olathe East won 25 titles in 11 different sports. The Hawks had a streak of four in softball (2004-07).
- Baldwin won 14 titles. All came in cross country or boys track and field. The boys CC team won six straight (2000-05).
- Conway Springs had its best decade with streaks of four in football (2001-04), three in volleyball (2000-02), and two in girls track and field (2000-01) and boys tennis (2004-05) to finish with 14 total.
- Jetmore won seven titles across boys basketball, with back-to-back championships (2004-05), and football with a streak of four (2001-04) that could count as five with Hanston, which was soon incorporated, winning as well.
- Smith Center established itself as the class of small town football with five straight titles (2004-08) along with three straight in wrestling (2007-09).
- Olathe North won five football titles in 10 years, including four straight (2000-03).
- Shawnee Mission Northwest won 18 titles with 13 coming in cross country, including eight straight from the boys (2000-07).
- Collegiate has two streaks of four in boys golf (2000-03, 2006-09), a streak of six in girls tennis (2000-05) and a streak of three in boys tennis (2000-02).
- Liberal ended its track and field run with its teams winning nine titles in five years (2000-04).
- Bishop Ward won six titles across all sports, but all of them came in baseball (2003-08).
- Baxter Springs won all five of its titles in baseball over a six-year stretch (2002-07).
- St. Mary’s Colgan won five straight baseball titles, too (2005-09), and four straight in football (2000-03).
1990s
T-1. Shawnee Mission Northwest - 29
T-1. Collegiate - 29
3. Blue Valley North - 26
4. Bishop Miege - 25
5. Lawrence - 23
6. Liberal - 19
T-7. St. Thomas Aquinas - 18
T-7. Topeka Hayden - 18
9. Arkansas City - 16
10. Shawnee Mission East - 15
- Arkansas City just misses out on a decade sweep of 5A wrestling with nine straight titles (1990-98).
- Collegiate, from Class 321A, co-leads the state with 29 championships, including multiple in five sports and two streaks of nine in tennis to account for 18 titles.
- Shawnee Mission Northwest co-leads Kansas with 29 titles: six straight in boys cross country (1994-99) and three straight in girls cross country (1990-92).
- Lawrence wins at least three titles in four different sports to finish with 23 total, including five straight in girls swim (1990-94), five in six years in volleyball (1990-95) and five in six years in football (1990-95).
- Liberal begins its track and field dynasty accounting for 15 of the Redskins’ 19 total titles. The other four came in football.
- St. Thomas Aquinas wins five straight in boys soccer (1992-96) and four straight for the girls (1994-96) to along with 18 across all sports.
- Miege hits 25 championships with six straight in girls hoops (1990-96), five in-a-row for girls cross country (1990-94) and four straight in volleyball (1991-94).
- Blue Valley North wins titles in 13 sports for 26 total, including streaks in girls tennis, girls swim, boys tennis, boys swim and boys golf.
- Johnson-Stanton County wins 14 titles at the Class 2-1A level with a dozen in cross country or track and field.
- (Assaria/Kipp) Gypsum-Southeast of Saline wins 10 titles as a school with nine coming in cross country, including streaks of five and three (1991-93, 1991-95).
- Claflin (Central Plains) wins five football titles, including back-to-back (1991-92) and three straight (1997-99).
- Kapaun has two streaks of three in boys golf (1992-94, 1997-99) and another streak of three in girls tennis (1993-95).
- Columbus wins seven girls golf titles in 10 years, including a streak of three (1990-92) and two back-to-back runs (1994-95, 1998-99).
- Garden City takes six wrestling titles, including four straight (1990-93) and back-to-back (1998-99).
- Leavenworth wins all six of its titles in track with five coming from the girls in six years (1994-99).
- Moundridge wins 10 basketball titles with streaks of four for the boys (1990-93) and four for the girls (1996-99), which went along with a three-year streak in volleyball (1997-99).
- McPherson wins 13 total championships with nine coming in basketball, including three-year streaks for the boys (1990-92) and girls (1997-99).
- Quinter wins nine total championships, including seven in track with a streak of five for the boys (1992-96).
- Silver Lake wins six softball titles in 10 years, including five straight (1992-96).
1980s
1. Kapaun Mt. Carmel - 31
2. Grainfield Wheatland/Grinnell - 27
3. Lawrence - 25
T-4. Bishop Miege - 21
T-4. Shawnee Mission East - 21
T-6. Johnson Stanton County - 11
T-6. Shawnee Mission Northwest - 11
T-6. Shawnee Mission South - 11
9. Hesston - 10
T-10. (Baileyville B&B/Bern) Seneca Nemaha Central - 9
T-10. Concordia - 9
T-10. Manhattan - 9
T-10. Silver Lake - 9
- Kapaun has the top decade in Kansas with 31 championships across nine sports, including a six-year run in boys golf (1980-85), five in a row for wrestling (1983-87), three straight in girls gymnastics (1980-82) and girls tennis (1987-89).
- Grainfield Wheatland/Grinnell has arguably the most impressive decade of any small school in Kansas history with 27 championships across seven sports, including streaks of three and five in volleyball and eight in boys cross country (1980-87).
- Lawrence wins 25 championships in 11 sports, including three-year runs in football (1986-89), volleyball (1983-85) and girls cross country (1985-87)
- Denton Midway (Altoona) wins seven 8-man football state championships, including a streak of five (1984-88) and back-to-back (1981-82).
- All six of Beloit’s championships come in wrestling and come consecutively (1980-85).
- Arkansas City starts a streak of wrestling titles that would hit a state record of 11 in the 1990s (1988-89).
- Miege begins its ascent with 21 titles, including four straight in volleyball (1980-83).
- Shawnee Mission East’s 21 championships highlight a four-year run in girls swim (1980-83).
- Burrton wins six titles across girls cross country and girls track and field in four years (1986-89).
- Emporia wins six wrestling titles in 10 years, including a streak of three to close the decade.
- Nemaha Valley and Baileyville B&B each win boys basketball championships in 1984 before eventually incorporating.
- Johnson-Stanton County wins 11 total titles with 10 coming in cross country or track and field.
- Lakin’s eight championships all come in cross country and feature a four-year streak for the girls (1981-84).
1970s
1. Shawnee Mission South - 22
2. Kapaun Mt. Carmel - 19
3. Lawrence - 18
4. Wichita Southeast - 17
5. (Bogue/Morland) Hill City - 15
T-6. Buhler - 11
T-6. Shawnee Mission East - 11
T-6. Shawnee Mission North - 11
9. Wichita South - 9
T-10. (Windom/Geneseo) Little River - 8
T-10. Bishop Miege - 8
- Shawnee Mission South has its golden age, leading Kansas with 22 titles in 10 sports, including four straight in boys gymnastics (1975-77).
- Kapaun Mt. Carmel comes second in Kansas for the decade with 19 championships, including a four-year run in football (1974-77) and three straight in boys outdoor track (1977-79).
- Buhler wins 11 state titles, all from its girls teams, including four in girls basketball and a three-year streak in girls outdoor track (1975-77).
- Wichita Southeast has its best decade with 17 championships, including five in boys swim, four in baseball and three in football.
- Lawrence takes 18 championships behind a five-year run for boys gymnastics (1970-74) and volleyball (1975-79).
- (Bogue/Morland) Hill City wins 15 titles total in eight sports, including a three-year run in boys cross country (1977-79).
- Bonner Springs dominates track with four boys titles in indoor and outdoor (1973-74).
- Beloit and (Courtland) Scandia-Pike Valley’s three titles as a schools come in-a-row for football (1975-77, 1970-72).
- Shawnee Mission East wins 11 titles, including eight in swimming behind a three-year run for the girls (1977-79).
- Bishop Miege opens as a school and wins eight titles, including three straight to end the decade in volleyball.
- Hays wins four straight in boys cross country (1970-73) and five for the decade.
1960s
1. Wichita East - 20
2. Wyandotte - 18
T-3. Concordia - 9
T-3. Lawrence - 9
T-5. Kinsley - 5
T-5. Sacred Heart - 5
T-5. Victoria - 5
- Wichita East ends its 30-year reign over Kansas with 20 titles, including two multi-year streaks in boys swim (1960-63, 1965-67), four straight in boys outdoor track (1964-67) and three in a row in indoor (1965-67).
- Wyandotte’s golden years hit as the Bulldogs win 18 championships across six sports, including three-year runs in boys basketball (1967-69), boys indoor track (1960-62).
- Lawrence’s nine titles all come in boys gymnastics, falling one short of a 10-year streak (1960-69).
- Concordia puts a stranglehold on boys state track with nine titles across indoor and outdoor (1962-69).
- Kinsley wins five boys track titles in three years across indoor and outdoor (1963-95).
- Victoria ins five baseball championships, including two back-to-back spurts.
- Arkansas City and (Lenora) Norton establish themselves as a wrestling powers with three titles each.
- Dwight and Wilsey combine for three boys basketball titles before eventually incorporating (1961-67).
1950s
1. Wichita East - 18
2. Wyandotte - 7
3. Coffeyville Field Kindley - 6
T-4. Douglass - 5
T-4. St. Francis - 5
T-4. Wichita North - 5
- Wichita East wins 11 more titles than any other school. The Aces have two three-year streaks in boys outdoor track (1952-54, 1957-59) and three straight in boys cross country (1957-59.
- Wyandotte is the second-best school in Kansas with seven titles, including back-to-back baseball championships (1953-54) and three straight in boys basketball (1957-59).
- Coffeyville wins six straight boys swim titles as the smallest school to accomplish the feat (1950-55).
- St. Francis captures five straight wrestling titles across all classifications (1952-56).
- Douglass wins five indoor and outdoor track championships in two years (1955-57).
- Russell wins three boys basketball titles in four years (1952-55).
1940s
1. Wichita East - 18
2. Wyandotte - 5
T-3. Buhler - 3
T-3. Halstead - 3
T-3. Newton - 3
T-3. Wichita North - 3
- Wichita East blows Kansas away with 18 titles: 13 more than the next best. The Aces win five straight in boys outdoor track (1943-47), three in-a-row in boys swimming (1940-42) and six straight in wrestling (1943-48).
- Wyandotte has the second-best decade in Kansas with five championships, including three boys swim titles in four years (1943-47).
- Buhler takes three boys basketball championships, including back-to-back (1940-48).
- Newton captures three boys basketball titles (1942-49).
- Halstead wins three boys basketball titles in four years (1942-45).
1930s
T-1. Wichita East - 7
T-1. Wichita North - 7
3. Wyandotte - 5
T-4. Independence - 3
T-4. Newton - 3
T-4. Sacred Heart - 3
- Wichita East takes hold of the Kansas crown with seven titles, sharing with neighbor Wichita North. The Aces win four in wrestling; Redskins take four in boys swimming.
- Wyandotte wins five championships in three sports.
- Independence wins three straight in boys outdoor track (1936-38).
- Newton and Salina Sacred Heart win three boys basketball titles, including back-to-back (1931-37, 1933-37).
1920s
1. Winfield - 8
T-2. Hutchinson - 2
T-2. (Mount Hope/Partridge) Haven - 2
T-2. Newton - 2
T-2. Wichita - 2
- Winfield owns Kansas with eight state championships: four in boys basketball, including a three-year streak (1927-29), and four in boys outdoor track and a four-year streak (1921-25).
- Hutchinson wins back-to-back boys outdoor track championships (1927-28).
1910s
1. Wichita - 4
T-2. (Lenora) Norton - 2
T-2. Reno County - 2
T-2. Newton - 2
T-2. Abilene - 2
- Wichita High (now Wichita East) wins four state championships, the most in Kansas: one in boys basketball and three in boys outdoor track.
- Abilene, (Lenora) Norton, Newton and Reno County are the only other schools with multiple state championships.
Click here to see the full dataset
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 2:01 PM.