Bigfork will compete in District 7B

Move takes place for the 2009-10 school year

By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake

Bigfork has been assigned to District 7B for most sports beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

The reclassification became official at the Montana High School Association Executive Board meeting held Nov. 24-25 in Helena.

Bigfork will now compete in 7B in cross country, basketball, volleyball, football and track. That district also includes Eureka, Plains/Hot Springs, St. Ignatius, Thompson Falls and Troy.

Longtime Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler has been involved in the school switching classes three times, and favors the move.

"It's what's best for the kids," she said.

"As soon as people realize that, we will be fine.

"We have quality athletes," she stressed.

"But it's getting to be where we don't have the number of quality athletes to compete (successfully) against the (Class A) schools who have (more)."

Loeffler began teaching and coaching in Bigfork in 1974. She's the head cross country and track coach.

Will moving down a class help bring more success, and as a result, increase participation in the various Viking and Valkyrie programs?

"Maybe," Loeffler said.

"I don't know. We'll have to wait and see."

The Vikes and Vals have enjoyed limited success in their latest stay in Class A.

The Valkyries basketball team has advanced to the Class A state tournament the last two seasons.

The Bigfork boys soccer team fell in the semifinal round of the playoffs this fall, while the BHS volleyball team finished second in league play.

The football and boys basketball programs, however, have struggled through winless campaigns.

"In track, the boys were very successful this last year," Loeffler said.

"Again, we didn't have the numbers to compete for a divisional title. We just don't have enough. It was no longer a team sport for us."

District 7B is a member of the Western Division, along with 6B, which includes Darby, Deer Lodge, Florence-Carlton, Loyola Sacred Heart and Superior.

"After reviewing it and after a healthy discussion, I feel we reached the best decision," Bigfork athletic director Matt Jensen said of the move to Class B.

"The coaches were supportive.

"We're just trying to put our students in the best environment possible so they can have a positive experience with extracurricular activities. Transition is hard, but we're looking forward to building relationships in Class B and becoming the best Class B school possible."

Jensen said Bigfork's athletic teams will have to travel further for conference games in 7B, but he says the nonconference games will be closer.

"Right now we're working on regionalizing our schedule," he said. "We still want to play our nonconference games with the teams we've built a good rivalry with (in Class A)."

According to a MHSA press release, there are 49 high schools (39 have co-op programs) competing in Class B football. The seven districts are divided into three divisions - Northern (Districts 1-2), Southern (3-4-5) and Western (6-7).

There are 43 schools playing Class B basketball in seven districts, which are divided into three divisions.

Bigfork tennis will compete in the Western B-C Division, while the golf teams will be in Division 3. Class B golf is played in the spring instead of the fall.

The school's soccer program, however, will remain in Class A since that sport is not offered in Class B.

Bigfork moved up to Class A during the 1997-98 school year. It competed in the Northern A and Northwestern A divisions.

Bigfork was a member of District 6B before its last move to Class A.

Also reassigned by the MHSA at the last meeting were Seeley-Swan, Fort Benton and St. Labre, from Class B to Class C, and Rocky Boy and Superior from, Class C to B.

Four schools petitioned the board to remain in their respective classes - Billings Central and Butte Central in Class A, and Manhattan Christian and Valley Christian in Class B - although the enrollment numbers warranted a reclassification down.

The Bigfork School Board voted 4-2 on Nov. 12 to go along with the Montana High School Association's recommendation for reclassification. The high school has one of the smallest enrollments in Class A with 326 students, as of last February.

Bigfork school officials expect the enrollment decline to continue.