Plentywood and Fairview Moving Back to Class C in 2027-2028 School Year
The Montana High School Association Executive Board has approved reclassification for six schools beginning in the 2027-28 academic year, shifting competitive landscapes in multiple sports across the state.
At its April 20–21 meeting, the board voted to move:
- Anaconda from Class B to Class A, tentatively in the Southwest conference for most sports.
- Jefferson from Class B to Class A, tentatively assigned to the Southeast conference for most sports.
- Cascade from Class C to Class B, joining District 1B for basketball, volleyball and track, and remaining the Northern division for 8-player football and Western B-C division for wrestling.
- Park City from Class C to Class B, moving into District 4B for basketball, volleyball and track, and the Southeast division for golf.
- Fairview from Class B to Class C, assigned to District 2C for several sports, the Eastern division for golf, and remaining in the Eastern division for 8-player football.
- Plentywood from Class B to Class C, placed in District 2C for basketball, volleyball and track, and the Eastern division for golf.
Butte Central again met enrollment guidelines to change classifications but petitioned successfully to remain in Class A.
The MHSA approved significant changes to high school wrestling that will take effect in the 2026-27 season.
For the first time, girls’ wrestling will be split into two classifications — Class AA and Class A-B-C. In each classification, 16 wrestlers will qualify per weight class, with the top six finishers earning medals at the state tournament. Girls wrestling will continue to feature six divisional seeding tournaments held at the same time and location as the boys divisional events.
On the boys’ side, weight classes will change to align with the 14 standard NFHS weight divisions. The new weights will be 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, and 285 pounds.
