Reclassification is when the pot will get stirred on the subject of which Wyoming HS groups play wherein class, and within the subsequent 2-year cycle, Tongue River is about to get caught within the combine.
Based off of recent Average Daily Membership (ADM) numbers, and the change in classification constructions inside the Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA), it’s extremely potential that the Eagles will transfer as much as Class 3A in all sports activities that it presents besides soccer (keep in Class 2A), for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 college years.
ADM numbers are put collectively by college districts each 2 years and are submitted to the Wyoming Legislature for state funding functions.
The WHSAA makes use of these numbers to assist decide which faculties compete wherein class for numerous sports activities.
In the present 2-year reclass format (for college years 2024-25 and 2025-26), not together with soccer, faculties with an enrollment of 700 or larger are in Class 4A, between 210-699 are in Class 3A, between 110-209 are in Class 2A, and all others in Class 1A.
That places 15 faculties in 4A, 16 in 3A, 14 in 2A and the remaining in 1A.
If the present format of classifying faculties stays unchanged, a variety of faculties would drop from 2A to 1A, additional crowding the 1A pool and never leaving a lot competitors in 2A.
Wyoming High School Activities Association Commissioner Trevor Wilson says that will create an excessive amount of of an imbalance among the many smaller faculties.
“We tried to go put these cut lines in this last cycle and it worked for one cycle, but when the numbers came out, it would have ended up putting 11 schools in 2A and then 29 schools in 1A and that’s just not good for any of us, so at that point we just kind of starting planning on coming out with some different ideas and the biggest thing was we just had to go back to assigning x amount of schools in a certain class. With only 70 schools that’s just the best way for us, so we don’t have this shifting in one class down to another nd vice versa.
Earlier this month, the WHSAA Board of Directors passed on first reading a proposal that would reclassify teams with the top 16 most enrolled schools (regardless of exact enrollment numbers) into Class 4A, the next 16 in Class 3A, the next 18 in Class 2A and the rest in 1A.
The board is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, November 4th, and if the proposal is passed on second reading, it would become official.
Looking at the 2-year average ADM numbers for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, Tongue River moves up from being the 35th most enrolled school in the state, to the 32nd most enrolled, which puts the Eagles right above the cut-off line between 3A and 2A.
TR’s 2-year ADM numbers increased by 36 students (165 before to 191 in the new cycle).
Combine that increase with enrollment decreases at Moorcroft (down 18), Thermopolis (down 13) and Kemmerer (down 14), and there are the reasons for Tongue River’s jump up the list to #32.
TR Activities Director Chad Aksamit says the school has been aware of the possibility of moving up to 3A for some time, and this is sooner than anticipated.
He adds the general reaction has been mixed, and there is not much in his power that he can do to change it.
“It’s a little bit of disbelief, just because Tongue River has been 1A and 2A in some sports for so long and it’s still kind of hard to believe that we’re growing at that rate. There’s some excitement to see some different teams. There’s some excitement to be in 3A. We’ll just take it as it is and see what TR can do up there.”
Schools have the choice of shifting up or down 1 class in every reclass cycle, but when it strikes down, it’s routinely disqualified from the put up season.
Early discussions would put the Eagles within the 3A Northeast with Buffalo, Newcastle and Douglas, therefore they must play residence and away matches with these groups in volleyball and basketball.
Whether or not they must play groups within the 3A Southeast (Glenrock, Torrington, Wheatland, and Burns) is to be decided, however they must face them in regional tournaments.
Aksamit mentioned TR would proceed to schedule non-conference video games vs. Big Horn, and if there’s room, the Eagles would additionally work in Wright, Moorcroft and Sundance, though it might solely be one time in a season, as an alternative of the same old two.
As for BH, their 2-year ADM numbers elevated by 30 (147 to 177), however solely moved up the rankings from #36 to #35.
As for the remainder of the brand new 3A, the northwest could be Powell, Lovell, Worland and Lander, whereas the southwest could be Pinedale, Mountain View, Lyman and Rawlins who would shift from the East.