The Middlesex League is a high school athletic conference in District 4 of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
The conference consists only of schools from the Middlesex County, hence the name.
The league was founded in 1903 for baseball, by schools Andover High School, Reading Memorial High School, Saugus High School, Stoneham High School, and Woburn Memorial High School.
History Peabody Veterans Memorial High School joined in 1906, with Andover and Reading leaving the following year. In 1912, Wakefield High School joined, replacing the recently departed Saugus. In 1914, Reading returned to the league.
Following the 1914 season, Woburn would sue the Middlesex league after a controversy following their final game against Stoneham at home. Woburn won the game, and therefore won the league, but the following day, the Stoneham players returned to the diamond and measured the distance from home plate to the mound, deeming it 6–8 feet greater than what the rules stated. However, both the batter and pitcher's plates were not in the ground at the time, and they used spike holes to determine where they would be located. Ignoring the bylaw that "any protest to be valid shall be made in writing and duly signed during the progress of the game," the league voted that the game be played again. Woburn obviously declined, and in October when the committee met in preparation of the 1915 season, they purposely left out Woburn.
The 20's had a lot of movement from teams leaving and joining the league. Arlington High School joined in 1920, but would be gone the following year In 1921, Belmont and Lexington joined, replacing Wakefiled and Peabody The Middlesex League began sponsoring basketball in 1925. Winchester joined the same year, leaving the Suburban League. However it would only play basketball in the Middlesex, and would continue with other sports in the Mystic Valley league. Wakefield rejoined as a basketball only member in 1928.
In 1931, the league began sponsoring football, welcoming newcomers Concord High School and Maynard High School. They joined Belmont, Lexington, Reading, Stoneham, and Winchester (who completely left the Mystic Valley), with Reading being the only school not to play football. Concord and Maynard would not participate in Basketball.
The 1940 season became the final season for football in the league as Concord withdrew. Maynard left after 1943, deciding to only participate in the Midland League, and Concord found themselves returning to replace Maynard.
Melrose High School became the newest member in almost 15 years when they joined at the beginning of 1945 as a basketball-only member. However, a year later the league would open up baseball to both them and Wakefield, bringing the league to eight full members. Football in the Middlesex league returned in 1956, with all eight teams participating.
Woburn returned to the conference after over fifty years, leaving the Northeastern Conference at the end of 1968. Watertown High School would join a year later in 1970. In 1972 Concord-Carlisle left for the Dual County League, coincidentally, Maynard joined the DCL the same year, leaving the Midland League. Replacing Concord would be Burlington High School, leaving the Merrimack Valley Conference.
In 2009, the league split into a large and small divisions, following Watertown's choice to be independent for a couple seasons. Finally in 2011, Wilmington High School left the Cape Ann League, and Arlington left the Dual County, joining the Middlesex League starting in the fall.
Member Schools +SchoolLocationMascotColorsJoined LeagueYear FoundedEnrollmentArlington High SchoolArlington, MassachusettsSpy PondersMaroon, Gray, & White 201119221,757Belmont High SchoolBelmont, MassachusettsMaraudersMaroon & Blue 192118651,498Burlington High SchoolBurlington, MassachusettsRed DevilsRed, White, & Blue 197219391,000Lexington High SchoolLexington, MassachusettsMinutemenBlue & Gold 192118542,348Melrose High SchoolMelrose, MassachusettsRed HawkRed & White 192118681,004Reading Memorial High SchoolReading, MassachusettsRocketsRed & Black 1903-1907, 1914-present19541,066Stoneham High SchoolStoneham, MassachusettsSpartansBlue & White 1903598Wakefield Memorial High SchoolWakefield, MassachusettsWarriorsRed, White, & Silver 1912-1921, 1928-present871Watertown High SchoolWatertown, MassachusettsRaidersRed & Black 19701925728Wilmington High SchoolWilmington, MassachusettsWildcatsBlue & White 2011633Winchester High SchoolWinchester, MassachusettsRed & BlackRed & Black 192518501,418Woburn Memorial High SchoolWoburn, MassachusettsBullsBlack & Orange 1903-1914, 1969-present18521,203
Former Members +SchoolLocationMascotColorsYears in LeagueCurrent LeagueAndover High SchoolAndover, MassachusettsGolden WarriorsNavy Blue & Gold 1903-1907Merrimack Valley ConferenceConcord-Carlisle High SchoolConcord, MassachusettsPatriotsMaroon & White 1931-1940, 1943-1972Dual County LeagueMaynard High SchoolMaynard, MassachusettsTigerOrange & Black 1931-1943Midland Wachusett LeaguePeabody Veterans Memorial High SchoolPeabody, MassachusettsTannersBlue & White 1906-1921Northeastern ConferenceSaugus Middle-High SchoolSaugus, MassachusettsSachemsRed & White 1903-1912Northeastern Conference
State Championships This is a list of state championships won by schools while a part of the Middlesex League
Football Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-football.pdf
Note: From 1972 to 2012, football state championships were separated by region, so there would be multiple champions from each division. From 1972 to 1977 and from 1997 to 2008, it was split between Eastern Mass and Central/Western Mass and there would be two champions in each division. From 1978 to 1996 and from 2009 to 2012 Central and Western Mass split so there would be three champions in each division. In 2013 everything was combined and therefore only allowed one state champion per division. Melrose - 2017, 2019 D4 Reading Memorial - 1994, 1996, 1998 D2A Eastern; 2000 D2C Eastern; 2009, 2012 D2 Eastern Stoneham - 2018 D6 Wakefield Memorial - 1999 D2B Eastern; 2022 D3 Winchester - 1986 D1 Eastern; 1990 D2 Eastern Woburn Memorial - 1975, 1979 D1 Eastern; 2005 D1A Eastern
Cross Country Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-track-cross-country.pdf
Boys Wakefield Memorial - 1972 D1; 2021, 2022 D2
Girls Lexington - 2001, 2016, 2025 D1 Wakefield Memorial - 2023 D2
Field Hockey Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-11/fieldhockey-2024-state-finals-program.pdf Reading Memorial - 2023 D2 Watertown - 1986, 1988-1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2990-2017 D1; 2021-2024 D3
Fall Volleyball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-volleyball.pdf Melrose - 2012 D2
Soccer Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-soccer.pdf
Boys Lexington - 2016 D1 Stoneham - 2004 D3; 2005 D2 Wakefield Memorial - 1989 D1; 1997 D2 Winchester - 1986, 1987, 2019 D2 Woburn Memorial - 2000 D2
Girls Belmont - 1984 D2 Winchester - 1983, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998 (Co-Champs with Springfield Cathedral High School), 2002 D1; 2018 D2
Fall Golf Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-10/2024-fall-golf-program.pdf Winchester - 2019 D2 Woburn Memorial - 1999, 2000, 2002 D2
Fall Swim & Dive Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-swimming.pdf
Girls Reading Memorial - 2010, 2016-2018 D2
Basketball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-basketball.pdf
Boys Belmont - 1948, 1958 Class B; 1993 D2 Concord-Carlisle - 1964 Class B Lexington - 1943, 1971 Class B; 1972, 1978 D1 Melrose - 1966, 1967 Class B Wakefield Memorial - 1965 Class B; 1997 D2 Watertown - 2007, 2009, 2010 D3 Winchester - 1952, 1954, 1955 Class B
Girls Reading Memorial - 2012 D2 Wakefield Memorial - 1988, 1997 D2
Indoor Track & Field Source:
Boys Belmont - 1955, 1993 Class C; 1959-1961, 1963 Class B Concord-Carlisle - 1948, 1951-1954, 1956-1960 Class D Lexington - 1970, 1976 Class A; 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016 D1 Melrose - 1966, 1968, 1969 Class B Reading Memorial - 1975, 1987-1981, 1993, 1996, 1997 Class B; 1981, 1982 Class C; 2003, 2013 D2; 2026 D3 Stoneham - 1971, 1992, 1994 Class C Wakefield Memorial - 1967 Class B; 2024, 2026 D4 Winchester - 1984 Class C Woburn Memorial - 1999 Class B; 2008 D2
Girls Burlington - 2022 D3 Lexington - 1986, 1989-1991 Class A; 2026 D1 Reading Memorial - 1983, 1995-1997, 2000, 2001 Class B; 2013 D2 Stoneham - 2007 D3 Woburn Memorial - 1987 Class A
Ice Hockey Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-ice-hockey_0.pdf
Boys Burlington - 2012, 2013 D1 Melrose - 1950, 1962 All-State Reading Memorial - 2008 D1A; 2014 D1 Watertown - 2015 D3 Wilmington - 2012, 2013 D2 Winchester - 1955 All-State; 1998, 2000 D1
Girls Reading Memorial - 2015 D1 Winchester - 2010 D2 Woburn Memorial - 2003 D2; 2004, 2006, 2017, 2018 D1
Wrestling Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-wrestling.pdf
Boys Melrose - 2017, 2022 D3 Winchester - 1995 D2; 2007, 2008 D3 Woburn Memorial - 2001 D2
Baseball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-baseball.pdf Reading Memorial - 1996 D2 Stoneham - 1995 D2
Softball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-softball.pdf Burlington - 2023 D2 Lexington - 1976, 2008, 2009 D1 Reading Memorial - 1986, 2001 D1
Outdoor Track & Field Source:
Boys Belmont - 1941, 1957, 1959, 1961 Class B; 1948-1950, 1953-1956 Class C; 1972 All-State Burlington - 2023 D4 Concord-Carlisle - 1952, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 Class D; 1954 Class B Lexington - 1937, 1960 Class B; 1994, 2007 All-State; 2023 D1 Melrose - 1944 Class B; 1967, 1969 All-State Reading Memorial - 1975 All-State Wakefield Memorial - 2022 D3; 2025 D4 Winchester - 1948 Class D
Girls Lexington - 1987 All-State; 2025, 2026 D1 Reading Memorial - 1996 All-State Stoneham - 1999 D2 Wilmington - 2022 D4 Woburn Memorial - 2014 All-State
Lacrosse Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-lacrosse.pdf
Boys Reading Memorial - 2018, 2023 D2 Winchester - 1971, 1999 All-State; 2000 D1; 2019 D2
Girls Winchester - 2008 D2
Tennis Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-tennis.pdf
Boys Lexington - 1985, 2014, 2023 D1 Winchester - 1977 Class A; 1981 D1; 2003-2009, 2011 D2; 2016, 2018 EMass D2
Girls Lexington - 1975 All-State; 2000, 2022, 2023 D1 Winchester - 1979 All-State; 1983, 1996-1999 D1; 2007-2011 D2
Rugby Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-rugby.pdf
Boys Belmont - 2019, 2022, 2023 D1
Girls Belmont - 2017-2019, 2022-2026
External links School Websites Arlington High School Belmont High School Burlington High School Lexington High School Melrose High School Reading Memorial High School Stoneham High School Wakefield Memorial High School Wilmington High School Winchester High School Woburn Memorial High School
References