After years of competing in Colorado’s 4A classification, two Montezuma-Cortez High School sports teams will be competing at the 3A level next year.
One of the two teams moving down is the girls basketball team, which will compete in the Intermountain League next season.
After years of facing Class 5A opponents in the Grand Junction area, the girls team will play league matchups against Centauri, Bayfield, Alamosa and Monta Vista.
M-CHS will continue to play historic rival Durango High School in a nonleague matchup.
The change in classification was brought about after M-CHS athletic director Stacey Hall filed a petition with the Colorado High School Activity Association’s Legislative Counsel.
Due in large part to the fact that the girls team had won less than 20 percent of its games over the past four seasons, the Counsel agreed to allow the change.
The Southwest League and Intermountain League also consented to the change.
Also shifting to the 3A level will be the M-CHS wrestling team, which has historically competed at the 4A level.
Unlike the girls basketball team, the wrestling team was moved at the behest of the state wrestling committee.
The purpose, according to Hall, was to realign the regions in hopes of achieving more competitive balance across the state.
While Hall said that the change could improve some regional tournaments, she indicated that she was not completely in favor of it.
“My coach was not in favor of it and we did not vote ‘yes’ for it,” said Hall.
Hall says the change could bring about some benefits.
“I’m hoping this will bring more kids out for wrestling,” said Hall. We’re going to be competing with schools that are more our size.”