While a variety of factors have contributed to the Montezuma-Cortez High School football team’s success this season, chief among them has been the Panthers move to the 2A classification.
After winning just five games in 3A between 2010 and 2013, M-CHS athletic director Stacey Hall petitioned the Colorado High School Activity Association to allow M-CHS to move into the 2A this season.
Among Hall’s justifications for the change was the fact that M-CHS football team had struggled to win games for several seasons. And M-CHS’s enrollment of roughly 650 students put it just over the Class 2A threshold of 599.
“Hopefully, (the change) will lead to some successful years for these kids,” said Hall after CHSAA approved the change. “It’s dropping down into a classification where we’re a little more evenly matched man for man.”
Partially as a result of those matchups, M-CHS has flourished, finishing the regular season 7-2. The Panthers defeated six Class 2A teams this season and lost to Class 2A Gunnison.
“It was the right thing for us in terms of travel, numbers and competitive spirit,” Hall said. “We’re playing where we belong. We’re not going to win every game all the time, but we’re going to be competitive.”
Hall emphasized that school spirit has increased, and the number of students playing on athletic teams is up.
“The atmosphere and the attitude at our whole school are totally different this year,” said Hall. It has been good for not only the students, but the entire community.”