Here is this week's Trio, trying to look as good as possible as we head into the final stages of the fall season.

VOLLEYBALL: Volleybowl. The annual rivalry game between Natrona County and Kelly Walsh always takes on a little extra meaning in the volleyball version, simply because both teams are usually pretty good. That's the case again this year, as the Trojans' only West Conference loss has come courtesy of the unbeaten-in-league-play Fillies.

GIRLS SWIMMING: 4A North Regional, Riverton. I just want to see by how much Gillette wins. The Camels look unstoppable this year, but the scary part is they look unstoppable for about three or four more years to come, too.

CROSS COUNTRY: 4A East Regional, Cheyenne. Given how often Wyoming teams leave the state for their cross country fix, regional meets are the best -- and sometimes, the only -- gauge for possible state meet success. With all the teams in Wyoming scheduled to stay in Wyoming the next two weeks, the best teams and individuals will undisputedly be sorted out. The most intrigue rests in Cheyenne, though, where any of the half-dozen teams in attendance could come out on top.

There are three events I'm watching closely this weekend. How about you? What's got your attention? Post a comment below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Here are five teams that are starting to hit their peaks at the right time of the year, in no particular order:

1. Top-ranked volleyball teams: It was a good week to be one of the top-ranked teams in the Star-Tribune's volleyball poll. Combined, Natrona County (2-0), Wheatland (1-0), Big Horn (1-0) and Cokeville (3-0) went 7-0 in their seven matches. Together, they lost only one game all weekend.

2. Cheyenne girls swimming: Central and East finished 1-2 at the Rawlins Invitational on Saturday. Central had the most points -- 388 to East's 290 -- but East had more event winners -- seven to Central's four.

3. Burns football: The Broncs won two games in a span of four days, topping Sundance 47-6 on Friday and Saratoga 46-0 on Monday.

4. Kelly Walsh girls swimming: The Fish Bowl is always a big pride meter for the Casper swimming teams. This year, it was the Trojans that came out on top. And that's momentum KW can carry into regionals next week.

5. Snow: For the first time this fall, we all got reminded who's in charge for real. Snow moved a bunch of events around and caused a few to be canceled. Be careful out there.

Additions? Post yours below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

KW MOVES UP TODAY'S VOLLEYBALL TIME: Saturday's Kelly Walsh volleyball game times against Star Valley have been moved up. Games will start at 9 a.m. with the varsity game scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. start. 

KW, NC SKIP GILLETTE: The Natrona County and Kelly Walsh girls swimming teams will not be traveling to Gillette on Saturday to participate in the Gillette Invitational.

RIVERTON CANCELS XC: The Berry Bryant/Kyle Johnson Invitational cross country meet on Friday in Riverton was canceled.

If you know of any more postponements or cancellations, please e-mail sports@trib.com

You know how we do. This week's 5:

1. Gillette golf: The Camels won the girls' team title and finished second in the boys' division at the Casper Invitational last week -- not a bad little roll to start the week before state.

2. Lyman volleyball: We see ya there, Eagles. Lyman finished third at its host tournament, but watch out -- the Eagles have been consistently pesky all season and could be a scary team come late October.

3. Cokeville volleyball: Speaking of volleyball tournaments, check out the Panthers. They won the Thermopolis Invitational, beating some much bigger schools (Cody in the championship and Powell in pool play) in the process. Then again, it's not all that surprising. Cokeville seems to do this every year.

4. Gillette girls swimming: OK, one more quick trip up to Campbell County, because I've got to give a quick shout-out to the Camels' swimmers. Really, think about this: It's not all that often you see a team more than double up the second-place team in a nine-team meet, but that's exactly what the Camels did at the Riverton Invitational. In fact, the rest of the field couldn't even double up the Camels -- the eight other teams scored 766 points combined; Gillette scored 443 all on their own. I don't care who you are, that's impressive right there.

5. Lovell football: I knew it was only a matter of time. The Bulldogs finally broke out big in a 30-point victory over Wright; Grant Geiser threw five TD passes to five different receivers. Yay, diversity!

That's it for now. Who else had a noteworthy weekend? Comment below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

This week's Five, in NPO:

1. Rawlins volleyball: In the biggest 3A tournament outside of state, the Outlaws won their own tournament, losing only one set along the way. And that was in pool play -- Rawlins swept everything on Saturday in the Gold bracket.

2. Jackson girls swimming: The Broncs did the double-dip this weekend, winning both the Pinedale Invitational and the Kemmerer Invitational. So how about it: Lander and Jackson are again alone at the top in 3A? Can anyone push either of these teams?

3. Sheridan girls cross country: Lela Carpenter won and Dana Morin finished third to pace the Broncs to a team championship at the talent-rich Wayne Chaney Memorial in Gillette on Friday.

4. Lingle football: The Doggers are playing Norman Dale-style football: "They can't win if they don't score." The Doggers pitched their second straight shutout and improved to 2-0 this season, even though they've only scored 14 points combined.

5. Cokeville football: Speaking of shutouts, the Panthers notched their second straight zero of the season, too, by beating the Evanston JV. Cokeville's total points scored through two games is a bit more impressive -- 77.

There they are. Add yours by making a comment below.

Before we get too deep into the possible new conference alignments facing the scrutiny of the Wyoming High School Activities Association this fall, we need to set the ground rules of what's up for vote. The WHSAA's first quarterly meeting, scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Casper, will have great sway in how the conferences and classifications are organized for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

It's easiest to examine the proposals if we look at football as separate from everything else. And here's how everything else breaks down:

One proposal before the WHSAA is the so-called "natural breaks" proposal, one that would allow the WHSAA to put as many as 14 teams into Class 4A. Using enrollment numbers provided to them earlier this fall, the WHSAA executive staff has already set those "natural breaks" so schools will know where they would go if this proposal passes.

Here are how the conferences would break down IF this proposal passes (for basketball, track and volleyball, and to a certain extent for wrestling):

4A West: Cody, Evanston, Green River, Jackson, Riverton, Rock Springs, Star Valley.
4A East: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Sheridan.
3A West: Lander, Lovell, Powell, Worland, Kemmerer, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale.
3A East: Buffalo, Glenrock, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Douglas, Rawlins, Torrington, Wheatland.
2A Northwest: Greybull, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni.
2A Northeast: Big Horn, Moorcroft, Sundance, Tongue River, Wright.
2A Southwest: Big Piney, Saratoga, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
2A Southeast: Burns, Lingle, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Southeast.
1A Northwest: Burlington, Dubois, Fort Washakie, Meeteetse, St. Stephens, Ten Sleep.
1A Northeast: Arvada-Clearmont, Hulett, Kaycee, Normative Services, Upton.
1A Southwest: Arapaho Charter, Cokeville, Encampment, Farson, Hanna, Snake River.
1A Southeast: Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Midwest, Rock River.

If the proposal DOES NOT pass, and the WHSAA goes back to using its current classification system (12-16-20-rest), here's how the conferences would break down:

4A West: Natrona County, Evanston, Green River, Riverton, Rock Springs, Star Valley.
4A East: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Sheridan.
3A West: Cody, Lander, Powell, Worland, Jackson, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale.
3A East: Buffalo, Glenrock, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Douglas, Rawlins, Torrington, Wheatland.
2A Northwest: Greybull, Lovell, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni.
2A Northeast: Big Horn, Moorcroft, Sundance, Tongue River, Wright.
2A Southwest: Big Piney, Kemmerer, Saratoga, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
2A Southeast: Burns, Lingle, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Southeast.
1A Northwest: Burlington, Dubois, Fort Washakie, Meeteetse, St. Stephens, Ten Sleep.
1A Northeast: Arvada-Clearmont, Hulett, Kaycee, Normative Services, Upton.
1A Southwest: Arapaho Charter, Cokeville, Encampment, Farson, Hanna, Snake River.
1A Southeast: Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Midwest, Rock River.

It's important to note several things at this point. First, conference alignments are still flexible, and there could still be changes in the make-up of the conferences even if the "natural breaks" proposal passes or fails. This is most likely to happen at the 1A level, specifically with Midwest rejoining the Northeast or Arapaho Charter rejoining the 1A Northwest or swapping spots with Fort Washakie in the Southwest.

But it could also happen in Class 4A, especially if the "natural breaks" proposal does not pass. The current Class 4A ADs got together in Casper last week and hammered out the alignment shown above in the example where the "natural breaks" proposal doesn't pass. You'll note that the Casper schools are split -- Natrona in the West, Kelly Walsh in the East -- and that Riverton has moved into the West. As I understand it, the ADs suggested this alignment by a vote of 11-1.

Schools' classifications will be determined by the vote on the "natural breaks" proposal, and classification can't change once it's set except for by special vote by the WHSAA board. But, as I said before, though, conference alignment is still fluid and will continue to be fluid right up until the final vote in November.

And we haven't even touched soccer. In each case, no matter what, soccer will stay at 12 teams in Class 4A, with Natrona, Evanston, Green River, Riverton, Rock Springs and Star Valley in the West and Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie and Sheridan in the East.

Now, take a breath....

Whew.

On to football... and another proposal. This one is for the reorganization of the football classifications, the big crux of which is reducing Class 5A to 10 teams and adding a division of six-man football.

Here is how the football conferences would shake out IF the proposal passes:

Class 4A: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Evanston, Green River, Laramie, Rock Springs, Sheridan.
3A West: Cody, Jackson, Lander, Powell, Star Valley, Worland.
3A East: Buffalo, Douglas, Rawlins, Riverton, Torrington, Wheatland.
2A West: Big Piney, Greybull, Kemmerer, Lovell, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale, Wyoming Indian.
2A East: Burns, Big Horn, Glenrock, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Tongue River, Wright.
1A 11-man West: Burlington, Cokeville, Dubois, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Saratoga, Shoshoni, Wind River.
1A 11-man East: Hulett, Lingle, Lusk, Normative Services, Pine Bluffs, Southeast, Sundance, Upton.
1A six-man: Fort Washakie, Guernsey, Hanna, Kaycee, Snake River, Meeteetse, Midwest, Rock River, Ten Sleep.

You'll note that there are no conferences for 4A or 1A-six-man. In both cases, there will only be one conference, with a round-robin schedule set up for both divisions. Class 4A teams will play each other each once, including a full-on regular season game scheduled for Zero Week, for a nine-game regular season. Each game will be a "conference" game -- there will be no non-conference games -- and the top eight teams from that "conference" will be seeded 1-8 in the playoff bracket.

For six-man, each team will play every other once -- nine teams, making for an eight-game regular season -- and the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.

As for 2A and 1A-11, you'll note that the conferences themselves are much bigger now. Therefore, the conference season will take up the bulk of the schedule -- seven of the eight games for each team will be conference games.

If the proposal DOES NOT pass, here is how the classes/conferences would be made up:

5A East: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Sheridan.
5A West: Natrona County, Evanston, Green River, Rock Springs, Star Valley.
4A West: Cody, Jackson, Lander, Powell, Riverton, Worland.
4A East: Buffalo, Douglas, Rawlins, Torrington, Wheatland.
3A West: Big Piney, Kemmerer, Lovell, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale.
3A East: Burns, Glenrock, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Wright.
2A West: Greybull, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
2A East: Big Horn, Lingle, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Sundance, Tongue River.
1A West: Burlington, Cokeville, Dubois, Hanna, Saratoga.
1A East: Guernsey, Hulett, Midwest, Normative Services, Southeast, Upton.

Once again, it's important to note in both cases, conference alignment can be fluid but, usually, classification is not. The only hiccup I see here is with Saratoga football, which usually co-ops with Encampment, which might cause them to move up a classification in the second case.

And it's interesting to see here that if the six-man/10 in 4A proposal doesn't pass, Casper's two teams could again be split up, aided by Star Valley's jump into 5A and Riverton's fall to 4A.

It's a lot to process. I'm still trying to do just that.... And now, you have some time to do so, too.

The first of the four district meetings was today; those will continue through next week. Then, on Sept. 30, the WHSAA board will gather in Casper, make some votes and help clear up a lot of the "what-ifs" facing them this month.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

... Where are you going? Do you have some room for me?

Tomorrow is Thursday. A big Thursday. The start of fall sports big.

Golf tournaments in Riverton, Sheridan and Wheatland mark the start of competition. As usual, golf hogs the early sports spotlight, simply because it's the only sport allowed to have competitions the first week and a half.

Next week is when stuff gets truly busy -- cross country and tennis start next Thursday, then volleyball, swimming and football join the fun next Friday.

We'll be running our fall sports previews for all sports starting next Friday (Aug. 29), with class-by-class football previews starting the following day.

Coaches have begun to send me their fall sports preview information. Reading through those in and of itself is enough to spark my excitement. It's a fun time of year...

Is there any event in particular you've been keeping your eye on this summer? I have a few that have already piqued my interest: Gillette Invitational and Rawlins Invitational volleyball, anything tennis in Rawlins (but that's a whole other blog post), Riverside at Big Horn in Week 2 of football season, Casper Invite cross country to kick off the season.... How about you? Any "can't miss" events this fall?

Now for something completely different:

HEY COACHES! Be sure to send me your fall sports preview information if you haven't done so already. Call me at (307) 266-0615 or (800) 791-5002 or e-mail me at patrick.schmiedt@trib.com if you have questions.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Of the WHSAA's 12 boys and 12 girls sanctioned sports, each one has had its dynasties.

Sooner or later, all dynasties eventually fade. Some last longer than others, and they're all worthy of recognition.

But in which sport is it hardest to build and maintain a multi-year dynasty?

Is it a mainstream team sport like football, basketball or soccer, where seasons are often defined by how teams play in a three-game loser-out tournament?

Or is it tougher in a sport like golf, where one bad day for a team meber -- or one outstanding day -- might mean the difference between first and fifth?

Or is it in a sport like wrestling or tennis, where individual efforts are paramount and team success -- and therefore the construction of a dynasty -- simply a byproduct?

For argument's sake, here are the the longest and second-longest state championship streaks in WHSAA-sponsored sports (excluding indoor track, which is brand new, and alpine skiing, where our archives only go back to 1993):

Boys
Football: Cokeville, 6 (1986-91), and Worland, 5 (1952-56)
Cross country: Gillette, 7 (1988-94) and 6 (1998-2003), and Wright, 5 (1998-02) and Encampment, 5 (1973-77)
Tennis: Cheyenne Central, 8 (1986-93), and Natrona County, 3 (1977-79) and Jackson, 3 (2000-02)
Golf: Cheyenne Central, 4 (2004-07) and Douglas, 4 (1981-84)
Basketball: Gillette, 6 (1992-97), and Cheyenne Central, 4 (1942-45) and La Grange, 4 (1958-61)
Wrestling: Star Valley, 7 (1992-98), and Cody, 6 (1947-52) and Gillette, 6 (2003-08)
Swimming: Lander, 12 (1997-08), and Green River, 4 (1974-77), Laramie, 4 (1976-79 and 1985-88) and Gillette, 4 (1993-96)
Nordic skiing (since 1982): Jackson, 5 (1989-93 and 2004-08), and Natrona County, 4 (1996-99)
Track (since 1974): Torrington, 6 (1974-79) and Gillette, 6 (2001-06)
Soccer: Cheyenne East, 4 (1986-89), and Kelly Walsh, 2 (2002-03) and Cheyenne Central, 2 (1990-91)

Girls
Volleyball: Cokeville, 9 (1985-93) and 7 (1995-01), and Pine Bluffs, 5 (1978-82)
Cross country: Gillette, 12 (1995-06), and Douglas, 5 (2001-05)
Swimming: Gillette, 6 (1994-99), Laramie, 6 (1972-77) and Douglas, 6 (1978-83)
Tennis: Cheyenne Central, 7 (1981-87), and Sheridan, 4 (1990-93)
Golf: Lusk, 6 (2001-06), and Gillette, 4 (2000-03) and Natrona County, 4 (1991-94)
Basketball: Gillette, 5 (1994-98), and Gillette, 4 (2001-04) and Star Valley, 4 (1986-89)
Nordic skiing (since 1982): Lander, 6 (1993-98), and Natrona County, 4 (1989-92)
Gymnastics: Gillette, 7 (1999-05), and Laramie, 6 (1979-84)
Track: Ten Sleep, 6 (1981-86), and Worland, 5 (1993-97)
Soccer: Cheyenne East, 3 (1986-89) and Natrona County, 3 (1989-91)

What do you think? Looks like soccer might have the early edge...

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Terry Rolfe's swimming career has always been uncertain at best -- and never more than last year.

Rolfe, then a junior at Newcastle, was the defending state champion in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. But on the first day of practice, Rolfe was one of only two Dogies to show up.

That didn't stop him. He practiced in Newcastle during the week, then on the weekends, he joined up with the Buffalo Bison and wherever they were headed.

He got the chance to defend his state championships and did just that, winning the 100 free and 100 back again while helping Buffalo -- normally a rival to Newcastle in the pool -- to a fourth-place finish at state.

This year, the Dogies resurrected their own program, and Rolfe has never been swimming better. Entering the Class 3A Wyoming State High School Swimming and Diving Championships, which start Thursday in Gillette, Rolfe has the top qualifying time in six of the eight swimming events (200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 100 breaststroke). In the other two, Rolfe is close to the top -- he's qualified fourth in the 500 free and fifth in the 100 butterfly.

The only drawback is that he can only swim in two individual events at state. But no matter where he swims this weekend, Rolfe is sure to impress.

And it makes it all the more worthwhile that he gets to do so while wearing a Dogies swim cap.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

A quick glance at this week's high school events around the state:

INDOOR TRACK: Finally! The shortest winter sports season of them all gets going with the Shine Invitational, which starts Friday in Laramie. Watch out -- before you know it, it'll be time for state.

SWIMMING: Can you say Cheyenne? The Pre-Invitational on Friday is tough enough, but then the Cheyenne Invitational on Saturday is basically a preview for the Class 4A state meet -- all 11 4A teams are scheduled to be in the Capital City on Saturday.

WRESTLING: It's a big weekend for the grapplers, as the Shane Shatto Invitational in Douglas and the Don Runner Invitational in Pavillion both have 14 Wyoming teams scheduled to attend. But several Wyoming teams are headed out of state, too, mostly to Vernal, Utah, or Miles City, Mont.

GYMNASTICS: Go to Gillette on Saturday, where the Rick Mills Invitational is the only event of the weekend.

The skiers, both downhill and XC, are off this week. They'll be back next week, though.

Where are you headed this weekend? Don't be shy; let the world know by commenting below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

.... Then again, isn't every year?

The Lander boys swimming team is shooting for its 12th consecutive state championship. Read that again: a dozen state championships in a row. Think about how hard it is to win one, let alone 12, let alone 12 in a row.

It's the second-longest active boys swimming championship streak in the nation.

Within the Wyoming borders, 12 has a certain meaning, as well. For all WHSAA-sanctioned sports, no team has ever won more than 12 titles in a row. The only team to win 12 straight was the Gillette girls cross country team (a streak that, coincidentally, ended in October when Gillette finished second to Cheyenne Central).

Bruce Gresly has built a dynasty in Fremont County, and the Tigers have every reason to be proud. The question now is, "How long will it last?"

That's the question I pose: How long will the Tigers' reign atop Class 3A last? What will it take for another team to dethrone the team that can't seem to lose?

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com