Football programs move forward with reclassification choices

With the release of enrollment figures to be used in the next reclassification cycle in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, eight football programs set to be reclassified have decisions to make.

Most schools have decided to stay where they are.

When contacted this week by wyoming-football.com, coaches and activities directors with five of the eight programs said they will either opt up or down to stay in their current classification.

So far, just two football programs have indicated a change, with both Big Piney and Guernsey making the move to Class 1A nine-man in 2022. Riverside is still considering its decision.

The five schools that will either opt up or down to stay in their current classification are:

Big Horn: The Rams will continue to opt up to Class 2A, AD Mike Daley said. The Rams were in classified in 1A nine-man both in the current and the upcoming reclassification period.

Cokeville: The Panthers will continue opting into Class 2A, AD Tim Teichert said. Cokeville is a Class 1A six-man school by enrollment.

Moorcroft: The Wolves will continue to opt down to Class 1A nine-man, AD Dusty Petz said. Moorcroft was, and will be, classified as a 2A program.

Wyoming Indian: The Chiefs will opt down to Class 1A nine-man, AD Keith Bauder said. The Chiefs, in 1A nine-man the past two years, were classified in 2A for the 2022-23 seasons.

Saratoga: The Panthers will opt up to stay in Class 1A nine-man, AD Greg Bartlett and coach Logan Wright said. Saratoga was classified into six-man for the upcoming reclassification period.

The two schools ready to move:

Guernsey: The Vikings will move up to Class 1A nine-man, as their placement by enrollment requires, AD Glenn Freeburg said, and will not opt to stay in six-man.

Big Piney: The Punchers will move from Class 2A to Class 1A nine-man, AD Jeff Makelky said. Makelky said the decision was difficult, but it was in line with the Punchers’ projected participation numbers.

Still deciding is:

Riverside: The Rebels’ decision was not clear as of this week, both AD Cindi Smith and coach Jason Mitchell said. Mitchell said numerous constituent groups, including players, parents and board members, will meet to talk before any decision is reached. The Rebels are currently in 1A nine-man but will be classified in 1A six-man for 2022 and 2023 if they choose not to opt up.

Classification opt-up and opt-down requests will not be finalized until, and unless, approved by the Wyoming High School Activities Association’s board of directors. The group’s first quarterly meeting will be Tuesday in Casper. Final reclassification decisions will come during the second quarterly meeting later this fall.

–patrick