On May 5, the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Chicago Catholic League, and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference announced, in a combined press release, that the nine members of the East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC)—Carmel Catholic, Benet Academy, Joliet Catholic, Marian Catholic, Marist, Nazareth, Notre Dame, St. Patrick, and St. Viator—will join the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Next school year, the East Suburban Catholic Conference will enter its 52nd and final season as a co-curricular institution, with all nine members of the ESCC accepting concurrent invitations from the CCL and GCAC to join their respective leagues. When conference realignment is complete for the 2026-27 school year, the Chicago Catholic League will feature 26 members competing in boys sports, and the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference will expand to 24 schools competing in girls sports.
At its peak, the ESCC was home to 15 Catholic high schools, and its athletic programs have captured 96 IHSA State Championships—along with 91 IHSA individual titles—since its inception in 1974. Along the way, more than 230 teams and individuals have been enshrined in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Hall of Fame, including 17 CCHS student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, as well as five teams. The ESCC will continue to induct new Hall of Fame members through 2036-37.
For the better part of a decade, the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Chicago Catholic League, and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference have pursued cooperative opportunities to the benefit of our schools, athletic programs, and students. Monday's statement represents a commitment, on behalf of 26 Catholic schools, to expand collaboration beyond non-conference contests and single-sport coordination, and to meld the tradition-rich heritage of three leagues through a historic coalition.
While work remains to ensure a smooth transition into the CCL and GCAC for the 2026-27 school year, Carmel Catholic students stand to benefit from this expansion of competitive opportunities prioritizing geography and parity. Traditional rivalries will be maintained, new rivalries will mature, and the Corsairs Community will continue to support our teams as they pursue excellence in sport, while guided by our institutional mission. In short, this partnership has all the hallmarks of a winner.