TribTown

I didn't get into the sports reporting business to interview and write stories about NFL or NBA or Major League Baseball stars -- although I have.

I never had the full-blown desire to tell the stories of professional athletes disguised in the uniforms of colleges and universities -- although I did.

I didn't want to write about contract negotiations, free agency or salary caps -- and, thankfully on those, I didn't.

Instead, I entered this business with the wide-eyed, naive desire to tell the stories no one else was telling, stories from and about the level of sports I understood best. I wanted to write about Obed Pigg, or Brody Knell, or Adrianne Griebel and Joni Stephenson, or the Meeteetse quintet of Karess Pinter, Sarah Evans, Alix Hagen, Jillian Zerkle and Amber Offley.

I wanted to be there to tell the story of Stephen Easton's best gridiron moment, to describe Carrah Haley's last high school race, or to immortalize both the triumph and sadness surrounding Darryn Davis, Wambli Burnette and the rest of the St. Stephens Eagles, hoisting the championship trophy with tears in their eyes and "Bonez" Blackburn etched in their memories.

I wanted to resurrect the stories of Shannon Brown's greatness, of the troubles Jim Wiseman and Walter Gray had while building separate football dynasties, of Beth Morgan and the 1937 girls state basketball tournament.

I never wanted to be the one responsible for the stories I had to write about Vance Peterson, Sherry Douglas, Harry Geldien, Casey McKee or Tim Wagner, among others, but I'm glad I was able to hear their stories from the ones they loved.

And, believe it or not, I actually WANTED to write high school football box scores and regional track results.

For just short of four years, through the Star-Tribune, I was able to do that.

But now, it's time for me to go. I'm moving to Laramie later this week, and I'm enrolling at UW (again) this fall to pursue my master's degree in journalism.

As I ponder what I leave behind in Casper, I come back to one thought: I hope that I never, ever failed the people that I wrote about. I hope the Wyoming high school Class of 2009 is satisfied that they had me as the high school sports coordinator here the past four years. All I've ever really cared about is getting their stories out there and their experiences shared.

And as I leave for Laramie, I'm reminded of the words, uttered by one of the greatest men of our times, that have guided me throughout my career -- "If you hadn't have done it, some other loser would have. So quit milking it!"

With that, I'm out. Smell ya later.

Patrick Schmiedt isn't done writing about high school sports in Wyoming. He'll occasionally write stories for the Star-Tribune and he'll be posting on his blog at http://www.wyoming-football.com.

Edit: One of the tough things about working at the Star-Tribune is that sometimes the cut and paste keys don't work. All the above links should be correct now. :P

Since the WHSAA moved its headquarters from Riverton to Casper in 1973, the list of all the state track champions has been misplaced, lost forever in some box or in the Riverton landfill with no chance of coming back.

This week, I took it upon myself to go round up all the missing team champions from the state track meets of the past.

The list we had in the Star-Tribune archive only dated back to 1974, when Central, Torrington, Upton and Burlington won the titles from the oldest meet on record for the current incarnation of the WHSAA.

However, the state track meet dates back to 1922 -- only state-sanctioned basketball, which began with the 1918 state tournament, has a longer history than track and field.

The champions listed below here is almost complete. I'm still missing four champions -- the 1967 Class A champion, as well as the 1923, 1942 and 1943 overall one-class champions. Also, Natrona's championships listed from 1936-41 and in 1944 come from the banners hanging in their gym; I haven't made the step to double-check those years yet (but I will, and soon).

(By the way, the girls state track champions list has always been complete. Dating to 1973, the girls' championships have always been easily accessible and up-to-date. It's posted below, as well.)

Anyway, for the first time since 1973, here is the complete (or darn near complete) state track champions list:

Past State Champions
BOYS
4A, 3A, 2A, 1A
2009, Gillette, Powell, Wind River, Burlington
2008, Gillette, Cody, Guernsey/Wind River, Saratoga
2007, Central, Powell, Sundance, Lingle
2006, Gillette, Powell, Sundance, Cokeville
2005, Gillette, Lander, Big Horn, Cokeville
2004, NC/Gillette, Lander, Upton, Cokeville
2003, Gillette, Lander, Big Piney, Upton
2002, Gillette, Torrington, Big Piney, Burlington
2001, Gillette, Glenrock, Big Piney, Southeast
2000, Central, Powell/Worland, Big Piney, Burlington
1999, Gillette, Torrington, Big Piney, Burlington
1998, Central, Torrington, Upton, Farson
1997, Central, Torrington, Upton, Lingle
1996, Laramie, Powell, Upton, Lingle
1995, East, Worland, Lovell, Burlington
1994, East, Worland, Southeast, Dubois
1993, Gillette, Worland, Guernsey, Dubois
1992, Gillette, Worland, Guernsey, Southeast
1991, Gillette, Douglas, Mtn. View, Lingle
1990, Gillette, Douglas, Mtn. View, Dubois
1989, Gillette, Powell, Wright, Southeast
1988, Central, Powell, Greybull, Baggs-Snake River
1987, Gillette, Jackson, Basin, Big Horn
1986, Cody, Glenrock, Basin, Wright
1985, Kelly Walsh, Glenrock, Tongue River, Big Horn
1984, Kelly Walsh, Powell, Tongue River, Big Horn
AA, A, B, C
1983, Central, Star Valley, Wind River, Albin
1982, Kelly Walsh, Jackson, Lingle, Ten Sleep
1981, Kelly Walsh, Torrington, Southeast, Meeteetse
1980, Central, Buffalo, Pine Bluffs, Goshen Hole
1979, Central, Torrington, Guernsey, Burlington
1978, Central, Torrington, Guernsey, Cokeville
1977, Central, Torrington, Guernsey, Byron
1976, East, Torrington, Pine Bluffs, Byron
1975, Central, Torrington, Wind River, Byron
1974, Central, Torrington, Upton, Burlington
1973, Central, Torrington, Lingle, Medicine Bow
1972, Rock Springs, Torrington, Pine Bluffs, Deaver-Frannie
1971, Lander, Star Valley, Cowley, Deaver-Frannie
1970, East, Torrington, Upton, Deaver-Frannie
1969, Laramie, Gillette, Byron, LaGrange
1968, Central, Torrington, Byron, LaGrange
1967, Central, UNKNOWN, Deaver-Frannie, Goshen Hole
1966, Central, Buffalo, Byron, LaGrange
1965 , Central, Newcastle, Saratoga, LaGrange
1964, Natrona, Newcastle, St. Stephens, Veteran
1963, Riverton, Greybull, Glenrock, LaGrange
1962, East, Torrington, Shoshoni, Veteran
1961, Cody, Torrington, Pine Bluffs, LaGrange
1960, Natrona, Torrington, St. Stephens, LaGrange
1959, Sheridan, Torrington, Shoshoni, Carpenter
1958, Sheridan, Powell, Shoshoni, Fort Laramie
1957, Central, Rawlins, Kemmerer, Farson
AA, A, B
1956, Natrona, Rawlins, Pinedale
1955, Rock Springs, Rawlins, Pinedale
1954, Natrona, Torrington, Dayton
1953, Rock Springs, Powell, Upton
1952, Rock Springs, Green River, Upton
AA-A, B
1951, Central, Lyman
One Class
1950, Rock Springs
1949, Central
1948, Rock Springs
1947, Rock Springs
1946, Central
1945, Natrona
1944, Natrona
1943, UNKNOWN
1942, UNKNOWN
1941, Natrona
1940, Natrona
1939, Natrona
1938, Natrona
1937, Natrona
1936, Natrona
1935, Central
1934, Natrona
1933, Natrona
1932, Thermopolis
1931, Rock Springs
1930, Natrona
1929, Thermopolis
1928, Natrona
1927, Thermopolis
1926, Thermopolis
1925, Thermopolis
1924, Natrona
1923, UNKNOWN
1922, Thermopolis

GIRLS
4A, 3A, 2A, 1A
2009, Natrona, Cody, Lingle/Mtn. View, Burlington
2008, Central, Cody, Lingle, Burlington
2007, Gillette, Mountain View, Big Horn, Lingle
2006, Gillette, Mountain View, Burns, Lingle
2005, Gillette, Douglas, Lingle, Guernsey
2004, Central, Douglas, Pine Bluffs, Shoshoni
2003, Central, Douglas, Shoshoni, Albin
2002, Kelly Walsh, Douglas, Burns, Albin
2001, Gillette, Lander, Moorcroft, Dubois
2000, Central, Lander, Pine Bluffs, Cokeville
1999, East, Torrington, Pine Bluffs, Cokeville
1998, Central, Torrington, Pine Bluffs, Kaycee
1997, Central, Worland, Upton, Lingle
1996, Green River, Worland, Upton, Lingle
1995, Central, Worland, Lingle, Burlington
1994, Natrona, Worland, Lovell, Pine Bluffs
1993, Natrona, Worland, Riverside, Dubois
1992, Gillette, Powell, Lovell, Dubois
1991, Gillette, Worland, Riverside, Lingle
1990, Gillette, Worland, Mtn. View, Big Horn
1989, Gillette, Worland, Greybull, Big Horn
1988, Gillette, Torrington, Tongue River, Big Horn
1987, Green River, Evanston, Tongue River, Southeast
1986, Riverton, Evanston, Tongue River, Ten Sleep
1985, Riverton, Buffalo, Burns, Ten Sleep
1984, Riverton, Wheatland, Kemmerer, Ten Sleep
AA, A, B, C
1983, Sheridan, Kemmerer, Hanna, Ten Sleep
1982, Central, Douglas, Pine Bluffs, Ten Sleep
1981, Central, Douglas, Pine Bluffs, Ten Sleep
1980, Central, Torrington, Tongue River, Encampment
1979, Central, Buffalo, Pine Bluffs, Manderson
1978, Worland, Buffalo, Pine Bluffs, Glendo
1977, Natrona, Torrington, Burns, Meeteetse
1976, Natrona, Torrington, Burns, Meeteetse
1975, Natrona, Torrington, Burns, Ten Sleep
1974, Natrona, Burns
1973, Central, Burns

Before you go counting, here's some interesting numbers for the boys title-holders:

Central has the most state championships with 22, followed by Torrington with 20. Natrona County (18), Gillette (16) and Powell (10) also have double-digit championships. Lingle has more track championships than any other current 2A school (as of 2009-10) with six, while Upton leads all current 1A schools with eight.

Thermopolis has won six championships, but none since 1932 -- a streak of 77 years.

Torrington has the state record for consecutive championships with the eight it won from 1972-79. Gillette and Natrona have won six consecutive apiece, Gillette from 2001-06 and Natrona from 1936-41. Big Piney has the 2A record with five straight titles from 1999-2003, while Deaver-Frannie (1970-72), Byron (1975-77) and Cokeville (2004-06) share the 1A record with three consecutive titles apiece.

Only two current 4A and 3A schools -- Evanston and Wheatland -- have never won a boys track title.

For schools rich with athletic tradition, Lusk, Wyoming Indian and Rocky Mountain have combined to win no track championships, boys or girls, in their respective histories. And they're the only three current 2A schools to have never won at least one track championship, be it boys or girls.

There have been four shared state championships -- all in the past decade.

There it is. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did researching it....

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Willie Neal, one of Wyoming's best Nordic skiers and one of its best young activists, died Sunday after being struck from behind by a car while training in Maine.

Neal was an eight-time Nordic skiing state champion, never losing a race in four years at the state meet.

Nordicski.org is doing a great job of posting stories related to Neal's death. You can find the list by clicking here.

I wrote a story about Neal during his senior year; it didn't take long to tell that this was a guy set to change the world. You can read that story from December 2007 by clicking here.

See Wednesday's Star-Tribune for more. And unplug your cell phone chargers for Willie.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com.

I've spent the majority of my week at Shrine Bowl practices, and the one thing that keeps sticking out to me is how even the two teams are. This won't be a cliche "Size vs. Speed" game because both teams are pretty balanced.

The biggest difference between the two teams has nothing to do with athleticism or size. It has to do with the atmospheres at practice.

The North team is definitely the more ridgid and structured of the two teams. The atmosphere around the North squad all week was one of focus and intensity. At one point this week, they were even running hamburger drills to get the players in a hitting mood.

The South atmosphere was one of relaxation. It seemed more like summer camp and less like football season. But that doesn't mean the South is any less focused -- just more relaxed.

That said, I think it'll be an extremely even game. Call it one of those 14-10-type games. Both teams are fundamentally sound and have their best athletes on defense, so athleticism on offense could be the difference -- and that's where the South might have an edge.

Either way, I think it'll be close, exciting football. And it'll be interesting to see what style wins out -- the intense and focused North or the laid-back but confident South.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Three athletes from Casper are among the finalists for the Milward Simpson Athlete of the Year Award.

Tommy Earl and Mario Harris from Natrona County and Emily Rochelle from Kelly Walsh are among the 10 finalists for the award, presented to the top senior boy and girl athlete from around the state.

Three girls from the Bridger Valley -- Mountain View's Jaci Egley and Amber Henry and Lyman's Tayler Anderson -- are also finalists, as are three athletes from Gillette -- Tyler Cox, Dominick Robinson and Emily Moore.

Lander's Bret Klopp rounds out this year's finalists.

The winners will be announced later this month in Casper.

The award is considered by many to be the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a Wyoming high school athlete and is named in honor of the late Milward Simpson, a former Wyoming governor and United States Senator from Cody. The Simpson Awards are presented each June by a member of the Simpson family.

Simpson served as the team captain for the University of Wyoming football, basketball, and baseball teams and earned varsity letters in each sport from 1917-21. As a halfback in football, he became the first Wyoming native to earn All-America honors. He turned down a professional baseball contract to attend Harvard Law School. Simpson was inducted into the UW Hall of Fame in 1996.

As an administrator and politician, Simpson's life was devoted to the service of the people of Wyoming. As the President of the UW Board of Trustees, he was instrumental in the hiring of President Duke Humphrey and Athletic Director Glenn "Red" Jacoby, both of whom are in the school's Athletics Hall of Fame. Simpson served as the Governor of Wyoming from 1954-58, and later as a United States Senator, 1962-67.

Born in Jackson in 1897, Simpson came from one of the true pioneering Wyoming families. His grandparents moved to the state in 1865 following the Civil War.

Boys finalists
Tyler Cox, Gillette: On a statewide level, Cox went 164-2 in his wrestling career and was a four-time state champion. But he also picked up international recognition, as well. He was twice a member of the Fila Junior World team, finishing fifth at a meet in China in 2007 and eighth at a meet in Turkey in 2008. He also placed second in the Fila Junior tournament in Bulgaria this year. He was a two-time folkstyle national champion, winning national meets in 2005 and 2007, and was a Greco-Roman national champion in 2005. He'll wrestle for Wyoming in college.

Tommy Earl, Natrona County: Earl was a multi-sport star for the Mustangs, notching six all-conference and four all-state awards in football and basketball. He was a two-time first-team honoree on the Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 and was the Super 25 offensive player of the year as a junior. He set NC records for yards in a game (325), season (1,787) and career (3,084). He was also twice named all-state in basketball, was twice the 4A West Player of the Year and was a three-year starter. He'll attend Metro State in Denver to play basketball.

Mario Harris, Natrona County: Harris emerged as one of the state's top athletes on the track, augmenting work he had already done on the hardwood. He was twice all-state in track after joining the team as a junior and set a school, Class 4A and overall state meet record with his time of 47.63 seconds in the 400-meter dash as a senior. He also won the 100 but pulled up with an injury in the finals of the 200. Harris was also a three-year starter for the Mustang basketball team and was twice all-conference.

Bret Klopp, Lander: Klopp didn't need much time in Wyoming to establish himself. After moving to Wyoming before his junior year, Klopp went undefeated on the wrestling mat, piling up a record of 116-0 in two years with the Tigers, including a pair of Class 3A championships at 160 pounds. His overall high school record, including two years in Wisconsin, was 203-10 with 147 pins. He was also an all-state football player and participated in track as a senior. His wrestling talent helped earn him a scholarship to Duke.

Dominick Robinson, Gillette: Robinson was a nine-time all-state and 10-time all-conference winner, all in distance running. He set new state meet records in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs as a senior and won the 800, 1600, 3200 and 3200 relay championships as both a junior and a senior. He also won the Class 4A championship in cross country as a junior and senior and won five state titles in indoor track. He will run on an athletic scholarship at Duke.

Girls finalists
Tayler Anderson, Lyman: Anderson was an 11-time all-state choice, earning four all-state nods in both volleyball and basketball and three in track, and was an all-conference winner 12 times. She was the team captain for three years in basketball and earned a basketball scholarship to Southern Utah -- the only Wyoming senior girl to earn a Division I basketball scholarship. She also set numerous team records in volleyball and won three events at state in her track career.

Jaci Egley, Mountain View: Hampered by injuries throughout her career, Egley still emerged as one of the state's best athletes. She earned 11 letters, eight all-conference and five all-state awards in volleyball, basketball and track, including four all-conference and three all-state awards in basketball. She was twice an all-state selection in volleyball and was the conference player of the year her senior year. She'll play basketball at Chadron State.

Amber Henry, Mountain View: Mountain View's ace distance runner, Henry won 15 events in 16 tries at the state track and field meet in four years. She won the 800, 1600 and 3200 four consecutive years and also won the 400 three times. She was also twice all-state in basketball and earned all-state honors her senior year in volleyball. She also ran cross country as a freshman and sophomore, earning all-state honors both years. In her career, she was all-state nine times and all-conference 11 times. She will attend Weber State on a track scholarship.

Emily Moore, Gillette: Wyoming's most decorated track athlete, Moore won 15 state championships and 14 "Best of the Best" awards in her four years, earning a scholarship to Iowa in the process. She won both the 200 and the long jump four times and was a three-time champ in the 100 and the triple jump. She was also a two-time all-state basketball player and was selected for the Wyoming-Montana all-star series and was also a two-time all-state golfer.

Emily Rochelle, Kelly Walsh: Rochelle shined in three sports for the Trojans, but made her biggest mark in volleyball, where she was twice named Wyoming's Gatorade player of the year and the Class 4A player of the year. She was all-state twice in basketball and led Class 4A in assists her senior year. She also qualified for the state track meet four years in a row and placed 10 times. She will attend Wyoming on an academic scholarship, but will also play volleyball there.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

The summer season for high school athletes -- the all-star game season -- starts today with the first game of the Wyoming-South Dakota all-star basketball series. Shrine Bowl practice starts on Saturday and the Wyoming-Montana hoops series is slated for next weekend.

If you're involved, it can be a busy time.

Increasingly, though, some of Wyoming's top athletes aren't participating.

UW's only in-state football signee -- Gillette's Spencer Bruce -- isn't playing in the Shrine Bowl. Neither is Green River's Andrew Meredith, the CST Super 25 defensive player of the year. (To the Shrine Bowl's credit, the rest of the rosters are loaded up with talented players, but it's hard to ignore the fact that two of the state's best seniors aren't playing for whatever reason.)

The Wyoming-South Dakota all-star rosters are almost completely northeastern -- only two players, East's Seth Ganison and Lovell's Hyrum Checketts, aren't from schools within a two-hour drive of Gillette.

The Wyoming-Montana basketball series is the one that came closest to obtaining the state's top players....

Thoughts? Post a comment below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

For full leaderboards, see trib.com on Thursday

Projected points at state track, through Saturday's regional meets, using results from all of this season's outdoor meets.
Boys
Class 4A: Gillette 150; Natrona County 97; Sheridan 92.5; Rock Springs 78; Green River 46; Laramie 42; Kelly Walsh 36.5; Star Valley 35; Cheyenne Central 33.5; Cheyenne East 26; Evanston 21; Riverton 6.5.
Class 3A: Cody 1365.5; Douglas 109.67; Powell 89.83; Pinedale 51; Lander 48.67; Torrington 43.83; Glenrock 39.5; Rawlins 38; Lovell 34; Jackson 31; Wheatland 17; Buffalo 10; Worland 7; Lyman 5; Kemmerer 1; Newcastle 0.
Class 2A: Pine Bluffs 93.5; Wind River 91.5; Burns 77; Wyoming Indian 58; Lusk 55; Lingle 43; Big Piney, Thermopolis 41; Rocky Mountain 35; Mountain View 29.5; Tongue River 23.5; Big Horn 17.5; Guernsey 15.5; Greybull, Moorcroft 15; Wright 7; Shoshoni 5; Riverside, Sundance 0.
Class 1A: Burlington 144.75; Cokeville 85; Southeast 65; Dubois 55.75; Saratoga 51; Ten Sleep 44; Snake River 41.5; Hulett 40.5; Normative Services 30.5; Hanna 30; Upton 21; Glendo 16; Midwest 15.75; Meeteetse 6.5; Farson 5.75; Arvada-Clearmont 5; Chugwater 3; Encampment 2; Fort Washakie, Kaycee, Rock River, St. Stephens 0.
Girls
Class 4A: Natrona County 114.25; Sheridan 108; Evanston 92.25; Gillette 82.5; Kelly Walsh 45.5; Cheyenne Central 45; Star Valley 43; Laramie 42.5; Cheyenne East 38; Rock Springs 35; Green River 13; Riverton 3.5.
Class 3A: Cody 181.5; Glenrock 80.33; Rawlins 56; Lovell 55.5; Buffalo 50.5; Lander 38.5; Pinedale 33.5; Powell 26.5; Torrington 25; Lyman 22; Wheatland 21; Jackson, Newcastle 18; Worland 11.67; Douglas 12; Kemmerer 1.
Class 2A: Lingle 119.25; Mountain View 117.25; Riverside 70; Sundance 65; Thermopolis 45; Guernsey 44.33; Burns 41.95; Big Piney 40; Tongue River 34.33; Rocky Mountain 26; Lusk 25.35; Big Horn 12.33; Wind River 11; Greybull 6; Wright 3.6; Pine Bluffs 2.6; Moorcroft, Shoshoni, Wyoming Indian 0.
Class 1A: Burlington 161; Cokeville 105; Snake River 67; Saratoga 56.5; Southeast 43; Midwest 39; Dubois 38.5; Hulett 35; Meeteetse 34.5; Normative Services 24; Encampment, Farson 14; Arvada-Clearmont 11; Upton 10.5; Kaycee 6; St. Stephens 3; Chugwater, Fort Washakie, Glendo, Hanna, Rock River, Ten Sleep 0.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com