It's been a couple weeks since we've done one of these, so here's a basic review of the rules: No researching to find the answer (well, you can, but if you do, you shouldn't post the answer....). Guesses are allowed an encouraged. You guess by commenting on this post, and I'll let you know as soon as I can whether you're right or wrong.

This week's question: What boys team holds the record for the largest margin of victory between first and second place at the Wyoming State High School Track and Field Championships?

Bonus questions: In what year did this team accomplish this feat? What team finished second in that classification that year? And how many points was the margin between first and second?

Now taking answers...

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

With the first practice approaching fast -- don't look, but it's less than three weeks away -- now is the right time to start looking ahead to the upcoming volleyball season. To get the discussion started, here are my early top five in each classification, made without consulting anyone except me. Tell me where I went wrong...

Class 4A
1. Natrona County: I wholly underestimated the Fillies at the beginning of last year, but even before they won the 4A state championship, they had earned my respect. And with basically the entire front line coming back from last year's championship team, they're the odds-on favorites to win this year.
2. Kelly Walsh: The Trojans were actually pretty young last year, and although KW lost some talent, plenty remains -- including last year's Gatorade player of the year, Emily Rochelle.
3. Gillette: The Camels only lost three seniors and are in reloading mode -- not rebuilding mode.
4. Sheridan: Sheridan lost a lot of talent to graduation, but it also returns just enough to stay competitive with the state's top teams.
5. Evanston: The returning Red Devils are quick and athletic, which should help them overcome the big losses they suffered to graduation rather quickly.
(How can I leave out... Star Valley? Lost only three seniors and have an unmatched tradition... D'oh!)

Class 3A
1. Rawlins: Three seniors are gone, including the Outlaws' only all-stater (Myriah Warren), but a solid group of underclass players are more than ready to take their place.
2. Douglas: My instincts tell me to vote the Bearcats high. They have a good group of returners and a strong senior class leading the way.
3. Jackson: Perhaps the state's best player (Kelly Burns) plays here. She's going to play at N.C. State in '09 -- and her presence alone should be enough to make Jackson one of 3A's favorites.
4. Wheatland: The back-to-back state champs were hurt pretty hard by graduation, but there's enough talent returning to make a run at a three-peat.
5. Kemmerer: My early underdogs. The Rangers made state last year for the first time in a loooooong time and return all but one player from that squad.
(How can I leave out... Worland? Yeah, the front line's gone, but basically everyone else is back... D'oh! )

Class 2A
1. Big Horn: Coach Daley has that program in perfect shape for another title run -- he's got athletic players who've bought into the team concept he preaches.
2. Mountain View: Last year's runners-up may be the most athletic 2A team in the state (and them's fightin' words for those Big Horn folks...).
3. Sundance: The Bulldogs have become contenders year in and year out, and even though they lost some talented players to graduation (including two-time all-stater Sidney Materi), they return enough to stay competitive.
4. Thermopolis: The Bobcats have a deep core of talented players and should make life tough again for all those schools up in the Northwest.
5. Wyoming Indian: Only one senior graduated and there is a solid senior class ready to make this season special.
(How can I leave out... Tongue River? Made a deep run at state last year and return a bunch of height... D'oh! )

Class 1A
1. Cokeville: The Panthers are consistent year in and year out, and they've got a load of players back who saw time on the floor last year.
2. Burlington: Burlington will miss a lot of seniors that graduated, but in 1A this year, that's the trend. And the Huskies bring back enough talented players to stay right in the thick of the race, including 2x all-stater Paige Neves.
3. Southeast: The Cyclones were also hurt hard by graduation, but a tough schedule plus depth should yield a talented team come October.
4. Farson: Don't overlook the Pronghorns. They lost only two seniors to graduation and all-stater Jewell Moss is surrounded by an enthusiastic -- if a little young -- team.
5. Hulett: The core of last year's championship team is gone, but the returning players know what it takes to win and will be a threat all season.
(How can I leave out... Arvada-Clearmont? Morgan Mines goes there. All they need is someone to get her the ball... D'oh! )

So there you go. Debate away.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Same with e-mails and phone calls.

I'll come back raring to go for the fall season. 'Til then...

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Brief reminder of the rules: No researching to find the answer. Guessing is allowed and encouraged. Post your guess as a comment on this post and I'll comment whether or not you're right as quick as I can.

This week's question:

The rosters for the Wyoming Coaches Association's all-star weekend were released today (see below). My question: Who won last year's WCA all-star volleyball, girls basketball and boys basketball games? (You have to get all three right, and if any part of your answer is wrong, it's all wrong).

Oh by the way, here are the rosters. Two spots still need to be filled, one on the South's girls basketball team and one on the South's volleyball team.

Volleyball
NORTH
BIG HORN: Winsome Williams, Lauren Roberts. HULETT: Sonja Neiman. KELLY WALSH: Kristin Glisczinski, Kristen Getter. NATRONA COUNTY: Brianna Wood, Kaylee Beddes. POWELL: Abby Pollart, Katie Patterson. SHERIDAN: Erika Stender, Katie Malin. SUNDANCE: Sidney Materi. Coaches: Sally Nichols, Natrona County; Mike Daley, Big Horn.
SOUTH
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Sharaeh Bullock, Kayli Jordan. COKEVILLE: Camille Petersen. DOUGLAS: Elisa Etchemendy. KEMMERER: Lynzee Crosland. LARAMIE: April Johnson, Carlynn Meranda. PINE BLUFFS: Kori Gilbert. WHEATLAND: Jannel Patterson, Bailey Yost, Whitney Jenkins. Coach: Brandy Taylor, Star Valley.

Girls basketball
NORTH
ARVADA-CLEARMONT: Becky Holland. GILLETTE: Becky Miller. JACKSON: Alex Koncak. LANDER: Dani White. LOVELL: Kristen Scheffler, Wendy Walker. NEWCASTLE: Emily Gregory. RIVERTON: Jeri Jacobson. SHERIDAN: Laura Quist. TONGUE RIVER: Kelly Horn. Coaches: Mark Mortimer, Worland; Dave Egger, Ten Sleep; Jacob Kraft, Worland.
SOUTH
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Cassie Carlson. GREEN RIVER: Kada Williams. LARAMIE: Kendahl Avery. MOUNTAIN VIEW: Keshia Iorg. PINEDALE: Chelsey Hanson. SOUTHEAST: Katelin Ross, Megan House. STAR VALLEY: Danette Warren. TORRINGTON: Mandy Mullock. Coaches: Darol Nutt, Green River; Marvin Applequist, Farson.

Boys basketball
NORTH
BUFFALO: Jerad Anderson. BURLINGTON: Paul Christiansen. CODY: Trevor Morton. JACKSON: Ryan Stafford. KAYCEE: Seth Pheasant. LANDER: Tony Redman. MIDWEST: Noah Adams. SUNDANCE: Cody Emrick. TONGUE RIVER: Rob Johnson. WIND RIVER: Leithaniel Peahrora. Coaches: Dick Quayle, Wind River; Tony Selph, Lander.
SOUTH
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Jason Moyte. DOUGLAS: Jordan Lisco. EVANSTON: Austin Kofoed. GUERNSEY: David Moats. LARAMIE: Galand Thaxton. LUSK: Taylor Johnson, Kaare Sigvartsen. PINEDALE: Conor Raney. ROCK SPRINGS: Brandon Allen. SARATOGA: Jake Johnston. Coaches: Rex Hohnholt, Saratoga; Ron Erickson, Douglas.

Golf
Boys
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Josh Creel, Derek Francois. CHEYENNE EAST: Riley Kallhoff. CODY: Clinton Boutelle. GILLETTE: Kyle Hanson. LANDER: Seth Rohrbacher, Eric Ragan. TORRINGTON: Ryan Yung.
Girls
CODY: Brandi Holmes. LANDER: Melia Rohrbacher. WRIGHT: Katlyn Thomas.
Coaches: Kirk Aegerter, Laramie; Paul Hartigan, Cheyenne East.

Officials
Volleyball: Bev Leichtnam, Pauline Fackrell. Girls basketball: Mark Errampouse, Rock Springs; Jeff Lee, Worland; Eric Heiser, Riverton. Boys basketball: Joe White, Lovell; Jake Hagar, Casper; Lane Buchanan, Laramie. Trainer: Nancy Robertson, Casper.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Quick thought on home-field advantage for this year's football championship games... This year, the conference champs from these conferences will have the top seeds and the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs:

5A: North Conference
4A: East Conference
3A: East Conference
2A: East Conference
1A: West Conference

Seeds will go the usual way, just like they did last year, power ratings and all:

1--Conference champion, host conference
2--Conference champion, non-host conference
3--Conference runner-up, host conference
4--Conference runner-up, non-host conference
5-8--Next four best by power rankings

Highest remaining seed hosts the championship game.

Last year, three of the five state champions were the No. 1 seeds (Jackson, Kemmerer and Southeast). Cheyenne East was a 3-seed and Riverside was a 4-seed.

See ya Nov. 15 to see how this all works out.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

As always, a brief reminder of the rules: No researching to find the answer -- you either know it or you don't. Guesses are encouraged. Submit your answer as a comment in the comments section of this post. I'll do my best to reply to the answers as they come in and let you know if you're right or wrong.

This week's question: Chugwater's Doug Baker put up one of the most memorable performances in state basketball history in the Class 1A boys championship game in 2002. He scored 51 points in the Buffaloes' 69-63 victory over Arvada-Clearmont. But my question is: Who led Arvada-Clearmont in scoring that game?

Bonus question: How many points did this mystery player score in this game?

Post your guesses below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com