Jefferson, East Helena could co-op to offer softball, soccer

Jefferson High School students could have opportunities to play Class-A high school softball and boys soccer as soon as next school year under a potential sports co-op the school is exploring with East Helena High School—a proposal that has gained momentum as East Helena looks to bolster its rosters and as middle school softball players in Clancy aim to keep playing while attending Jefferson High.

At its Feb. 15 meeting, the Jefferson High School Board of Trustees directed Principal Mike Moodry to further explore a sports co-op with East Helena High School. Moodry said that the Montana High School Association, which would have to approve a co-op, requires that such arrangements last for three years. Moodry and the board were careful to state that exploring the possibility of co-op sports did not necessarily mean that Jefferson would eventually enter into an agreement.

In a phone call last week, Moodry said that East Helena Vice Principal Shaun Murgel, who is also the school’s athletic director, approached him in January about combining forces to bolster East Helena’s softball squad. The school competes in Class A softball with just enough girls to field a varsity team, but not enough to also have a junior varsity team, according to Murgel. And softball isn’t the only sport at East Helena that could use additional players: Boys soccer could use help, too, Moodry said. East Helena High School currently has three grades of students, with 11th grade being the oldest; this year’s juniors will become the new facility’s first senior class next school year.