The Montana High School Sports Association has denied applications from Sheridan High School and Twin Bridges High School to create a co-op football program, claiming that both schools have enough athletes to field their own teams.
According to The Madisonian, the MHSSA decision marks the third time that the state organization has denied a co-op application from Sheridan and Twin Bridges High Schools. In each case, roster size has played a role in the denial.
“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. Roster size is the primary factor that would be considered for any future co-op application. 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.”
Despite past denials, Sheridan and Twin Bridges made this third attempt at combining the teams after a student-athlete from Sheridan High School tragically died last winter. That student death caused uncertainty regarding the future of the football program.
“Beginning late spring, and through most of the summer, we had a plan A, B, and C at least in the thought process,” said Sheridan athletics director Ed Burke. “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.”
Both Sheridan and Twin Bridges are expected to field full teams for the 2026 season, and football tryouts begin on Aug. 14.
