Sheridan and Twin Bridges football co-op denied by MHSA
The MHSA found that each school had enough athletes to field their own team and both are expected to field teams for the 2026 season
On July 29, the Montana High School Sports Association denied an application to co-op the Twin Bridges and Sheridan football programs.
“The co-op application was denied after we analyzed the roster sizes for each school (grades 9–12,)” said MHSA executive director Brian Michelotti. “Based on that review, we believed both schools had sufficient participants to field their own 8-player football programs independently. The co-op was therefore not approved at this time.”
This was not the first time the schools have been denied a co-op request from MHSA.
“We've been down this road before,” said Sheridan athletic director Ed Burke. “This is the third time the two schools have applied for a co-op and we are now 0-3. The primary reason in all three cases is the size of the roster. There are too many boys on each school's team.”
Michelotti agreed with the assessment and defined what would need to happen for a future application to be approved.
“Roster size is the primary factor that would be considered for any future co-op application,” said Michelotti. “Should the number of available student-athletes at either school decline to a point where an independent 8-player program is no longer viable, a co-op request would be evaluated accordingly.”
According to Burke the process to co-op the teams likely began with a discussion between the school’s football coaches after a difficult offseason for the Sheridan Panthers.
“Sheridan suffered a tragedy last winter with the death of a student,” he said. “In the wake of that there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding our football program. It was a stressful time January through the end of the school year. Still is in many ways. That's where the thought of co-oping for football began.”
It was rumored that if the merger was denied, Sheridan would consider not fielding a football team. Burke points out that was only a rumor and that he expects both schools to field teams.
“ don't think that would have happened,” said Burke when asked if Sheridan would have not fielded a team.
“Beginning late spring,and through most of the summer, we had a plan A, B, and C at least in the thought process,” he continued. “Plan A was co-op approved. Plan B was our recent and now current coach, and plan C was a few locals with football knowledge who were willing to step up if absolutely necessary. Plan B is in place now. We should have 14-15 boys out for football, it is my understanding that Twin Bridges will have a few more, maybe 16.”
Football tryouts begin for both schools on Aug. 14.
