BRIDGER VALLEY — As the calendar pages turn, schools and athletes are prepping for the 2022-2023 athletic season.

Summer is on the downhill slope and school is in the near future. And, as usual, there will be some changes in the classification structure of some of Wyoming’s high schools.

As Valley residents know, both Mountain View and Lyman are strong 3A contenders, but compete in 2A in football. This was necessitated after Gillette’s second high school, Thunder Basin, was opened. The Mountain View Buffalos head to Rawlins and the Lyman Eagles to Malad, Idaho, on Aug. 26, in zero week.

As for the football teams, Big Piney has dropped from Class 2A to Class 1A 9-Man. Also, Moorcroft and Wyoming Indian, opted down to Class 1A 9-Man, and are ineligible for the playoffs.

Glenrock and Moorcroft’s moves into 3A classification has created changes in all four conferences. The Herders and Wolves are now in the 3A Northeast with Buffalo and Newcastle. This makes a shift for Thermopolis to the 3A Northwest with Lovell, Powell and Worland. Lander goes to the Southwest with Lyman, Mountain View and Pinedale. Finally, Douglas goes to the Southeast with Rawlins, Torrington, and Wheatland.

Volleyball looks different, particularly in Classes 3A and 2A, where several schools have shifted around for the upcoming season. As per 4A, the change is on track with Kelly Walsh and Natrona County and their two-year swap. This swap sends Kelly Walsh back to the Northwest and Natrona County to the Northeast. Valley teams volleyball are slated to compete next week at the preseason tournament in Cokeville Aug. 26-27.

In cross country and golf, Star Valley is now in Class 4A, while Evanston falls to Class 3A. Mountain View has already been on the course practicing twice at Whiskey Springs last week. They were also slated for Tuesday and Thursday of this week and scheduled to compete at the Wasatch Rendezvous on Aug. 27. Lyman’s calendar shows the Lyman cross country team is headed to Green River on Aug. 26. Now, when both teams face Evanston on their runs, Evanston will be a conference contender.

Lyman Highs golf team has already hit the course as they were slated to stroke at Star Valley yesterday, Thursday. Results were not available at press time. The team will also head to Star Valley next week on Thursday and Friday.

In soccer, there are no changes to the classifications. The change in this sport includes two changes that will impact standings. First, there will be no point awarded for an overtime loss. Instead, the winner of a match earns three points, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. The other new feature is there will be no overtime periods in Class 3A. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, 3A soccer matches will go to a shootout to determine the winner. The victorious team gets three points for the win, while the losing team receives one point for tying in regulation. This eliminates ties in the regular season.