After several difficult seasons, two Montezuma-Cortez High School sports teams are moving down one classification next season in hopes of bolstering their success.
Football team drops to 2A
Among the teams changing classifications is M-CHS football squad, which, after years of competing at the Class 3A level, will move to the 2A classification.
As a 2A team, M-CHS will play league games against Gunnison, Olathe, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Alamosa.
The Panthers will also play four nonconference games against opponents that have not been determined.
The classification change was decided upon after the school petitioned the Colorado High School Activities Association for the switch. The petition was possible because the team had a winning percentage below 25 percent during the last four seasons.
“Hopefully, it will lead to some really successful years for these kids,” said M-CHS athletic director Stacey Hall, discussing the change. “It’s dropping down into a classification where we’re a little more evenly matched man for man.”
After two seasons in the 2A classification, the M-CHS team will most likely return to the 3A classification.
Boys soccer switches to 3A
Joining the football team in its move to a lower classification, the M-CHS boys soccer team, which has historically competed at the 4A level, will move to 3A next year.
M-CHS will play in a league featuring teams from Crested Butte, Telluride, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Centauri next season.
The boys soccer team’s move was decided upon after the group won only 11 percent of their games over the past four years.
“It’s going to be a really good thing for our kids,” said Hall. “They will get a taste of winning.”
Like the football team, the boys soccer team will play at the 2A level for two seasons, and their classification status will then be reassessed.
Colorado High School Sports Classifications
Classification and number of students
Football
6-man: 1-75
8-man: 76-135
1A: 136-300
2A: 301-599
3A: 600-1,049
4A: 1,050-1,609
5A: 1,610-plus
Other Sports
1A/2A: 1-240
3A: 241-600
4A: 601-1,410
5A: 1,411-plus
Note: M-CHS had 664 students as of October.
