Let'r Buck?

Happy birthday, Ghosts

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:09:20 GMT

One year ago the Ghosts announced their name change from the Casper Rockies to the Casper Ghosts. The team improved on the field, almost going .500 (36-37), and just missed the Pioneer League playoffs. This was my story about the name change. It was also my first story at the paper.

The name and image change has had positive results. What are your opinions on the change? Has your opinion changed during the past year? Do you own more Ghosts or Casper Rockies merchandise?

Interesting BCS scenario

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:25:50 GMT

While Mountain West Conference teams fight for a chance to get into a Bowl Championship Series game, other conferences are fighting for multiple bids. Here is story about what would happen if three teams from the same conference, in this case the Big 12, qualified for the BCS.

I'm went to Missouri, so I don't like the outcome, but if the Tigers would have done better against Oklahoma St. and Texas, they wouldn't be in this situation.

I found this story linked on one of my favorite blogs.

AIFA expands in the West

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:08:20 GMT

The Wyoming Cavalry will have a new team and a renamed team on its schedule next season. The American Indoor Football Association announced two new teams will play in Utah next season. The teams are the Utah Valley Thunder and a to be named team in Ogden.

The AIFA is also looking at expanding in Wenatchee, Wash. League officials visited Wenatchee a few weeks ago, and the new arena there is owned by the same company that owns Arizona and New Mexico's arena, so it would be a good fit for the league.

The AIFA's press release says the Thunder are an expansion team, but news articles say the team is the Utah Saints under new ownership and in a new location. The Saints went 1-13 last year, allowed a league-high 845 points (including 103 in a game against Wyoming), and the league had to step in midway through the season to keep the team alive on the field and financially. Utah Valley is based in Orem, and is now owned by Dave Affleck, a former BYU player. Affleck's son, Mike, was the Saints’ quarterback last season. The Thunder will be coached by Chad DeGrenier, who played quarterback for the Arizona Adrenaline last season.

I think both new teams will be good for the AIFA and the Cavs. Utah was Wyoming's closest opponent last year, so having two teams in the state will cut down travel costs. Also, a new team and a new/improved version of the Saints should mean better competition. At the very least, it adds another opponent, which is good since the Cavs didn't play outside of the West Division last year until the playoffs. With the Ogden team and possible Wenatchee team, Wyoming won't have to play the Utah six times, Arizona five times (four regular season games and one playoff game) and New Mexico (four times).

What are your thoughts on these AIFA announcements?

Juco Polls

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:11:51 GMT

The Laramie County women’s soccer team is the only Wyoming junior college ranked in this week’s NJCAA polls. The Golden Eagles moved from No. 9 to No. 6 in the rankings after beating previous No. 1 Iowa Western on Friday. Iowa Western dropped to No. 9 in this week’s poll.

Northwest is receiving votes in the volleyball poll, but it’s unclear as to how close they are to breaking into the top 20 because the poll doesn’t list points for teams outside the top 20. Western Nebraska is No. 1 in the poll.

Gillette ran in its second cross country meet on Saturday, and for the first time competed against a junior college. Gillette placed seventh (221 points) in the men’s non-Division I class at the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder, Colo. Coach Chris Kozlowski e-mailed me and said he thought the team might be ranked after having a strong showing against Garden City (Kan.), which placed sixth with 153 points. Garden City is No. 8 in this week’s men’s cross country poll, while the Pronghorns didn’t make the poll.

Click here for links to complete polls.

Wyo. team upsets No. 1

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:20:49 GMT

In case you missed it in print, the No. 9 Laramie County Community College women's soccer team defeated No. 1 Iowa Western Community College 1-0 last Friday.

Here is our cap on the game:

Women's Junior College Soccer

LARAMIE COUNTY 1, IOWA WESTERN 0: At Cheyenne, Friday, Megan Erickson (Cheyenne East) scored off a pass from Kelsey Altenbern (Cheyenne East) in the 35th minute to give the No. 9 Golden Eagles an upset victory against the No. 1 Reivers.

No. 9 Laramie County 1, No. 1 Iowa Western 0

Friday at Cheyenne

IWCC 0 0--0

LCCC 1 0--1

Scoring: LCCC, Megan Erickson (Kelsey Altenbern).

Shots: Laramie County 8, Iowa Western 6. Shots on goal: Laramie County 7, Iowa Western 5. Corner kicks: Laramie County 4, Iowa Western 3. Saves: Laramie County 5 (Emily Michna).

The Golden Eagles are 12-2-2 and trying to make their fourth consecutive NJCAA National Tournament. Only eight teams qualify for the event each year.

Laramie County features nine players from Wyoming: Brittany Palczewski (Buffalo), Michaela Boyd (CBOE), Chelsea Eades (Kelly Walsh), Crystal Stewart (Cheyenne East), Rachel LaTorre (Lander), Sarah Newell (Lander), Sarah Gillett (Kelly Walsh), Megan Erickson (Cheyenne East), and Kelsey Altenbern (Cheyenne East).

Wyoming State High School Wrestling Championships recap

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:33:37 GMT

Before most people move their thoughts to basketball, Ithought I’d give some of my highlights from last weekend’s Wyoming State High School Wrestling Championships last weekend at the Casper Events Center.

Here they are in no particular order:

There was never a dull moment. I was overwhelmed the first half hour or so I was covering the meet because I hadn’t been to anything like it before. I covered every class, so I couldn’t just focus on two or three mats. It took me a while figure out I had to focus on one match at a time with so many things going on at once. Luckily though, with nine mats of action during most of the tournament there was always a good match to watch. You just have to follow the cheers.

The Class 4A race: Star Valley, Natrona County and Gillette all led the meet at one point. The team title came down to the last match where Gillette’s R.J. Boylan beat NC’s Nick Elliott at 285 to give the Camels the title. Had Boylan lost, the Camels and Braves would have shared the title. Gillette won its sixth title in a row, while Star Valley showed it could compete and challenge Class 4A schools after winning four of the past five Class 3A titles.

Cokeville winning its third title in a row.

Powell establishing itself as the team to beat in Class 3A with Star Valley moving up.

Greybull-Riverside’s Kasey Garnhart and Torrington’s Jared Hatley becoming the 10^th and 11^th wrestlers in Wyoming history to win their four individual titles. Leading up to the Championships, I talked to Garnhart, Hatley and many of the previous four-time champions. Accomplishing that feat seems like one of the toughest things to do in high school sports. Congrats to both of them.

The fans: The fans at the Events Center were smart and knew their wrestling. Garnhart and Hatley both received standing ovations from the crown, and most fans were aware of the team races. Gillette fans were cheering and chanting Jesse Hillhouse’s name when the Kelly Walsh wrestler was going against Star Valley’s Ricky Fairbanks. Star Valley fans, likewise, were cheering for Gillette’s opponents.

Three get third titles: Gillette’s Tyler Cox, Greybull-Riverside’s Colten Zier and Cokeville’s Rodney Teichert each earned their third titles. Cox will go for his fourth next year.

Three go undefeated: Cox, Lander’s Brett Klopp and Southeast’s Stephen Easton each had perfect seasons.

Getting to know Star Valley’s Dakota Dana and coach Eddie Clark: Dana had a family tragedy this year and still managed to get fifth place at 4A’s 130-pound weight class. He’s overcome more than most people could handle and still managed to compete. He’s a guy that people want to cheer for. Clark is also a quality individual. He helped Dana deal with the loss of both parents and was emotional each time I talked to him about Dana and his losses. Clark has gone beyond his call as coach to help Dana.

Finally, I hope the Gillette fan that collapsed during the first match of the finals is having a healthy recovery.

What were some of your highlights from the championships?Now that wrestling is over, are you following your school’s basketball teams,are you looking forward to any spring sports, or are you already lookingforward to next year’s Wrestling Championships?

My focus is switching to girls basketball. I’m coveringClass 1A and 2A girls basketball this weekend and the 3A / 4A tournaments nextweek. Let the games begin…luckily there is just one at a time this weekend.

Dave

Do you know these wrestlers?

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:23:45 GMT

Readers,

I'm trying to track down Wyoming's nine four-time state high school wrestling champions. The Wyoming State High School Wrestling Championships are next weekend in Casper, and Greybull/Riverside's Kasey Garnhart and Torrington's Jared Hatley are going for their fourth titles. For our tournament coverage I'm trying to do a look back at the nine people who have accomplished what Hatley and Garnhart are attempting. I've had some success finding people, but others are harder to track down. If you are one of these people or know them, please contact me at david.buck@trib.com or you can call me. My number is (307) 266-0596.

Patrick asked for similar help with the 25 best basketball games at the Events Center and got a great response. I'm hoping to get similar help. Thanks.

Dave

The four-time state wrestling champions are:

Jeff Wood, Gillette (2004-07)

Cody Grant, Torrington (2001-04)

Bobby Thoman, Wind River (1995-98)

Troy McIlravy, Gillette (1995-98)

Russell Davis, Upton (1988-91)

Lanny Schneider, Worland (1984-87)

Johnny Lucchi, Rock Springs (1970-73)

Ray Sanchez, Chey. Central (1962-65)

Dave Edington, Saratoga (1957-60)