Since its inception in 1984, the five schools comprising the Western Athletic Conference have had a significant impact on postseason play in multiple sports sponsored by the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
There have been 69 state team championships celebrated by the WAC schools, with Liberal owning the most with 32. Twenty-five of those came in track and field when KSHSAA Hall of Fame Coach Gary Cornelsen coached the Redskins to 14 straight Class 5A titles and the school won 10 Class 5A girls crowns in an 11-year span under two different coaches. Cornelsen also coached Liberal to four Class 5A state football championships during the 1990s (1992-1994-1995-1997).
Garden City has captured 14 state championships during the league’s existence, with nine of those coming in wrestling. Rocky Welton guided the Buffaloes to six Class 6A titles in the 1990s (1990-91-92-93 and 1998-99) while Carlos Prieto headed the program when they won four in a row in 2013-14-15-16.
Great Bend owns 12 state championships, but interestingly those come in seven different sports. Among the highlights for the Panthers were consecutive Class 5A boys basketball titles in 2005-2006 under coach Jeff Langrehr.
Hays has notched seven state titles, four of those coming in boys track and field (2010-11-12-13) when Ryan Cornelsen (Gary’s son) coached the Indians.
Dodge City has four state crowns, and owns the most recent in 2020 when the boys’ soccer team won its second Class 6A title in five seasons with an unbeaten 20-0 record, with Saul Hernandez serving as the Red Demons’ coach.
KSHSAA sponsors 22 state championship sports, with the WAC schools competing in 21 of those as none of the schools participate in gymnastics. Of those 21 sports, the WAC schools have garnered a state championship in 13 different sports – five of seven fall sports, four of six winter sports and four of eight spring sports.
State championships have been won in girls and boys cross country, football, boys soccer, girls golf, boys basketball, wrestling, girls and boys bowling, boys and girls track and field, baseball and boys golf. Sports where they have not captured a state team title include volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls basketball, boys and girls swimming, softball and girls soccer.
Western Athletic Conference
State Championship Teams
| Sport | Year | School | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soccer Boys | 2020 | Dodge City | 6A |
| Bowling Girls | 2017 | Garden City | 6A |
| Bowling Girls | 2017 | Great Bend | 5A-1A |
| Bowling Boys | 2016 | Garden City | 6A |
| Soccer Boys | 2016 | Dodge City | 6A |
| Wrestling | 2016 | Garden City | 6A |
| Wrestling | 2015 | Garden City | 6A |
| Golf Girls | 2014 | Hays | 4A |
| Wrestling | 2014 | Garden City | 6A |
| Bowling Boys | 2013 | Great Bend | 5A-1A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2013 | Hays | 5A |
| Wrestling | 2013 | Garden City | 6A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2012 | Hays | 5A |
| Soccer Boys | 2011 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2011 | Hays | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2010 | Hays | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 2007 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Basketball Boys | 2006 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Basketball Boys | 2005 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2004 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 2004 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2003 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 2003 | Liberal | 5A |
| Cross Country Girls | 2002 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2002 | Liberal | 5A |
| Cross Country Boys | 2001 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Cross Country Girls | 2001 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Golf Girls | 2001 | Dodge City | 6A-5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2001 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 2001 | Liberal | 5A |
| Cross Country Boys | 2000 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Cross Country Girls | 2000 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 2000 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 2000 | Liberal | 5A |
| Baseball | 1999 | Dodge City | 6A |
| Cross Country Boys | 1999 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Football | 1999 | Garden City | 6A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1999 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1999 | Liberal | 5A |
| Wrestling | 1999 | Garden City | 6A |
| Baseball | 1998 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Golf Boys | 1998 | Garden City | 6A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1998 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1998 | Liberal | 5A |
| Wrestling | 1998 | Garden City | 6A |
| Football | 1997 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1997 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1997 | Liberal | 5A |
| Golf Boys | 1996 | Hays | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1996 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1996 | Liberal | 5A |
| Baseball | 1995 | Great Bend | 5A |
| Football | 1995 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1995 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1995 | Liberal | 5A |
| Football | 1994 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1994 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1994 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1993 | Liberal | 5A |
| Wrestling | 1993 | Garden City | 6A |
| Football | 1992 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1992 | Liberal | 5A |
| Wrestling | 1992 | Garden City | 6A |
| Track & Field Boys | 1991 | Liberal | 5A |
| Wrestling | 1991 | Garden City | 6A |
| Wrestling | 1990 | Garden City | 6A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1989 | Hays | 5A |
| Basketball Boys | 1986 | Liberal | 5A |
| Track & Field Girls | 1984 | Liberal | 5A |
