Reclassification is when the pot gets stirred when it comes to which Wyoming HS teams play in which class, and in the next 2-year cycle, Tongue River is about to get caught in the mix.
Based off of new Average Daily Membership (ADM) numbers, and the change in classification structures within the Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA), it is highly possible that the Eagles will move up to Class 3A in all sports that it offers except football (stay in Class 2A), for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.
ADM numbers are put together by school districts every 2 years and are submitted to the Wyoming Legislature for state funding purposes.
The WHSAA uses those numbers to help determine which schools compete in which class for various sports.
In the current 2-year reclass format (for school years 2024-25 and 2025-26), not including football, schools with an enrollment of 700 or greater 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 puts 15 schools in 4A, 16 in 3A, 14 in 2A and the rest in 1A.
If the current format of classifying schools remains unchanged, a number of schools would drop from 2A to 1A, further crowding the 1A pool and not leaving much competition in 2A.
Wyoming High School Activities Association Commissioner Trevor Wilson says that would create too much of an imbalance among the smaller schools.
“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 option of moving up or down 1 class in each reclass cycle, but if it moves down, it is automatically disqualified from the post season.
Early discussions would put the Eagles in the 3A Northeast with Buffalo, Newcastle and Douglas, hence they would have to play home and away matches with those teams in volleyball and basketball.
Whether or not they have to play teams in the 3A Southeast (Glenrock, Torrington, Wheatland, and Burns) is to be determined, but they would have to face them in regional tournaments.
Aksamit said TR would continue to schedule non-conference games vs. Big Horn, and if there’s room, the Eagles would also work in Wright, Moorcroft and Sundance, although it may only be one time in a season, instead of the usual two.
As for BH, their 2-year ADM numbers increased by 30 (147 to 177), but only moved up the rankings from #36 to #35.
As for the rest of the new 3A, the northwest would be Powell, Lovell, Worland and Lander, while the southwest would be Pinedale, Mountain View, Lyman and Rawlins who would shift from the East.
