Cheyenne South will only field sub-varsity football teams in 2027, dropping its top level of competition to junior varsity alongside a combined freshman-sophomore squad. The decision arrives as the Bison endure a 65-game losing streak.
Building a Foundation Away from Class 4A
Athletics director Wendy Johnson informed families of the shift Thursday morning through the ParentSquare app, following collaborative discussions with Laramie County School District 1. Speaking to WyoSports, Johnson noted that the program requires fundamental development that has proved difficult while pressing younger athletes into varsity action.
Cheyenne South athletics director Wendy Johnson and football coach Steven Fernandez said the decision to only play sub-varsity games in 2027 wasn't made lightly and had safety at the forefront. They hope it will let the program build. https://t.co/P9Qud3xYPn #wyosports
“I talk to people about our program and they ask me about rebuilding it,” Johnson told the publication. “A rebuild implies that we were there at one point and, unfortunately, we haven’t been. Our program needs a chance to build, and that’s really hard to do when you keep playing our younger kids up on the varsity level in (Class) 4A.”
The Bison’s last victory occurred on Oct. 11, 2019, with a 36-35 win over Laramie. Since moving into varsity competition in 2011 when the building housed only freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, the school holds an all-time record of 10-135. Its most successful campaign took place in 2016, finishing 3-7 and reaching the Class 4A playoffs.
Roster Pressures and Safety Concerns
Roster depth has long challenged the program. South forfeited a 2024 game against Campbell County due to a shortage of healthy and academically eligible players. The team dressed 25 players for its season finale this fall, a 72-0 defeat against Thunder Basin, finishing the year with just 11 upperclassmen.
Second-year coach Steven Fernandez anticipated starting three freshmen on the varsity squad—including the starting center and quarterback—but ultimately relied on six freshmen to play regular minutes.
Cheyenne South athletics director Wendy Johnson and football coach Steven Fernandez said the decision to only play sub-varsity games in 2027 wasn't made lightly and had safety at the forefront. They hope it will let the program build. https://t.co/dQmLTmhBZ5 #wyosports
“I hate to have to have the younger players play up on varsity when their bodies are still adjusting to high school football,” Fernandez said. “It’s a big safety concern for me. Those guys are the foundation of what we’re trying to build, so we have to look out for them.”
South recorded 17 player concussions during the season, surpassing the national average of roughly 5.6 per 100 players. On the field, the team was outscored by an average of 63.6 to 1.3, getting shut out in every contest except a 79-12 loss at Rock Springs on Oct. 9. The squad finished last in Class 4A across all primary offensive and defensive statistical categories.
Statewide Repercussions for Class 4A
The pivot to sub-varsity play leaves Class 4A with nine varsity football teams. The Wyoming High School Activities Association is currently in the first year of its two-year reclassification cycle, with future reorganizations tied to average daily membership figures following the 2027-28 school year.
Based on current ADM numbers, South ranks as Wyoming’s seventh-largest school with an average of 1,269 students. WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson declined to comment on the move because the governing body had not yet received official notice from Laramie County School District 1 as of Thursday afternoon, though discussions between the organizations have been ongoing ahead of a scheduled virtual meeting with 4A athletics directors.
Johnson plans to contact smaller varsity programs across Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska to schedule games for the sub-varsity squads. Meanwhile, administration and coaching staff emphasize that the shift is designed to establish sustainable participation numbers for the future.
