More eighth-graders helping high school programs than ever

The surge in the number of middle school athletes participating on high school teams was helped with a rule change.

Until this year, eighth-graders were only allowed to participate on varsity, but the rule was expanded to allow them to play on sub-varsity teams.

In order for eighth-graders to be allowed to play at the high school level, a school must have fewer than five players solely dedicated to varsity.

Frazer eighth-grader powers varsity basketball squad

Fifty-nine Montana high schools have 217 eighth-graders participating in high school basketball and volleyball this year.

One of them is Class B Choteau High School, which has only seven high schoolers out for girls basketball despite qualifying for the state tournament a year ago. Six eighth-graders round out the roster.

“They’re not participating on a daily basis, but they have the option. Some of the girls are doing junior high volleyball concurrently,” Principal Nate Achenbach said. “A few girls have traveled.”

The team is 11-3, with the losses coming to No. 2 Fairfield and undefeated No. 3 Shepherd.

Having a team of seven makes games and practice challenging, Achenbach said. Injuries and fouling out become huge issues. That’s where the eighth-graders have proven so valuable.

“We don’t want to wear them out with two practices, but some make it work,” Achenbach said.

“It’s a new thing. We’re learning as we go. Our goal was to have them there for support, but we started to realize with only seven girls we would really need them,” he said.

“We’re trying to get them some experience at the end of games, so it’s not a matter of waiting for an emergency. We’re trying to support them through this,” he said. “We’re thankful for the eighth-graders. You don’t know what could happen without them.”

The Roy-Winifred Outlaws have three girls and two boys who are playing basketball with high schoolers as middle schoolers.

“We wouldn’t be able to play JV without them,” athletic director Ann Bergum said. “They seem to have coped well. They’re playing well, so they must be dealing with it all right.”

Bergum said she thinks the middle schoolers’ participation bodes well for the program’s future.

“Any time you can get experience helps,” she said. “It’s an adjustment for them, but it’s one they would have had to make next year as freshmen anyway.”

Last month, a proposal to allow eighth-graders to participate in all high school sports was voted down at an MHSA meeting in Billings. In addition to volleyball and basketball, eighth-graders are allowed to compete on track relay teams.