In cased you missed it back in early summer, the Wyoming High School Activities Association threw a wrinkle into the alignments for volleyball and basketball. The organization increased the number for 4A schools from 12 to 16 to help ease the cost of traveling for districts.
The changes begin this fall as volleyball begins the season this weekend. Football remains unchanged and continues to be the 10 biggest schools in Wyoming filling that one conference
The biggest changes are for Sweetwater and Natrona Counties. Though Rock Springs and Green River high schools are just 15 miles apart, they are no longer in the same conference, or quadrant. It’s the same system that 3A has been using for years.
The WHSAA was kind enough to keep the rivalry in place and the Tigers and Wolves will continue to battle but it will be all for bragging rights and no regional implications as the games will be non-conference.
The other surprise move that is a “cost-cutting measure for travel” are the Casper schools. Natrona County and Kelly Walsh are in the same school district but they are in completely different conferences. Kelly Walsh sticks with Rock Springs, while NCHS goes up north and gets the Gillette schools.
Interesting.
So here are the new new conferences, or quadrants, as we prepare to serve up the new volleyball season beginning Friday.
The new
* Star Valley, Riverton and Cody move up from 3A.
- During the regular season, teams must play home and away vs. each team in their quadrant. Northeast and Southeast teams must play each other once, and the same for the Northwest and Southwest teams. A second meeting is optional.
Northeast – Sheridan, Campbell County, Thunder Basin, Natrona County
Southeast – Laramie, Cheyenne East, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne South
Northwest – Cody, Riverton, Kelly Walsh, Rock Springs
Southwest – Green River, Evanston, Jackson, Star Valley