Vance, Lenhardt named Shrine Bowl head coaches

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Kelly Walsh’s Jon Vance and Torrington’s Mark Lenhardt will be the coaches for the North and South teams, respectively, in the 2016 Shrine Bowl.

Both coaches will be Shrine Bowl head coaches for the first time in the annual all-star football game, which is scheduled for June 11, 2016, in Casper.

Vance just finished his fifth year as head coach of the Trojans, taking KW to the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. He is the first KW coach to be named a Shrine Bowl head coach since Rod Flack in 1981.

Lenhardt, too, capped off his fifth season as head coach at Torrington, leading the Trailblazers to the 3A East Conference championship. The last time a Torrington coach led the South Shrine Bowl team was in 1989, when Doug Bartlett led the squad.

The game is in its 43rd year. Funds raised from the game go to the Shriners Hospital for Children. Last year’s game, a 40-14 North victory, raised $35,000. The North leads the all-time series 21-18-3 and has won three consecutive Shrine Bowls.

Shrine Bowl Executive Director John Cundall announced the coach selections via email. The coaches will select their assistant coaching staffs before selecting players later this year.

–patrick

2016 Wyoming high school football schedule released

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The 2016 Wyoming high school football schedule was released to schools this morning at the statewide scheduling meeting in Casper.

For 4A and 3A schools, the varsity schedules — which are set up by the Wyoming High School Activities Association — look almost exactly the same as the schedules for the past couple years

But for 2A, 1A 11-man and 1A six-man schools, where reclassification and opt-downs rearranged conferences across the state, the schedules will bring some new twists to next season.

The 4A schedule order is the same as the one used in 2014 and 2015. The 2016 schedule will be the same as the 2014 schedule and a mirror of last season.

The only changes to the 3A schedule were in Week 1 nonconference play, as Jackson will play Sugar-Salem, Idaho, instead of Teton, Idaho, in Week 1; Rawlins will play Lyman instead of Kemmerer in Week 1; and Torrington will play Wheatland instead of Glenrock in Week 1. The remainder of the 3A schedule matches that of 2014 and mirrors 2015.

The biggest changes came for the smallest schools, as reclassification forced new schedules to be constructed for Class 2A, Class 1A 11-man and Class 1A six-man. None of the schools in those classifications play the same schedule as the past two years.

In all, 17 new series will be played, nine in 11-man and eight in six-man. Of the 17 new series, four involve new six-man school Riverside, three involve new six-man school Lingle, three involve Snake River and three involve Wright. The 17 new series on tap include:

Lyman/Rawlins
Kemmerer/Rocky Mountain
Pinedale/Wheatland
Newcastle/Upton-Sundance
Pine Bluffs/Wind River
Tongue River/Wyoming Indian
Upton-Sundance/Wright
Cokeville/Wright
Wright/Wyoming Indian
Kaycee/Riverside
Lingle/Snake River
Kaycee/Lingle
Lingle/Rock River
Burlington/Snake River
Riverside/Snake River
Riverside/St. Stephens
Farson/Riverside

Some highlights to the schedule:

The Bridger Valley Bowl between Mountain View and Lyman will be played in Week 2 instead of acting as the schools’ regular-season finale.

The Sublette County rivalry game between Pinedale and Big Piney was moved from Week 8 to Week 5.

Wheatland and Torrington will renew their rivalry via an interclass game in Week 1. The two schools played each other every year for decades before missing each other on the schedule the past three years.

Six-man neighbors in Carbon County, Snake River and Hanna, will not play each other in 2016. With Hanna in the East Conference and Snake River in the West — and with the nonconference schedule reduced to one game for six-man schools — the Miners and Rattlers will miss each other on the schedule for the first time since six-man came back to Wyoming in 2009.

Similarly, Laramie County neighbors Burns (2A) and Pine Bluffs (1A 11-man) won’t play each other in 2016. The two schools renewed their rivalry the past two years after missing each other for a few years prior to that.

In 2A, with seven schools per conference, one team from the East and one from the West will meet in weeks where they don’t play a conference game, as has been done the past couple years. However, most of the matchups have changed, with Wheatland playing Pinedale in Week 2; Big Horn playing Kemmerer in Week 3; Greybull playing Burns in Week 4; Moorcroft playing Lovell in Week 5; Newcastle playing Big Piney in Week 6; Glenrock playing Lyman in Week 7; and Mountain View playing Thermopolis in Week 8.

In 1A 11-man, with only six schools per conference, teams will have three non-conference weeks, much like 3A. Games in Weeks 2 and 3 in 1A 11-man will be cross-conference games, with several — including Pine Bluffs/Wind River, Tongue River/Wyoming Indian, Cokeville/Wright and Wright/Wyoming Indian — the first games between the participating schools.

Class 1A six-man will have three new teams. Burlington will open its six-man era by hosting Normative Services; Riverside will play its first six-man game at defending state champion Kaycee; Lingle will play at Snake River to start six-man play. Riverside and Lingle, who are opting down to six-man, will be ineligible for the postseason.

With an even number of teams in each classification, all schools in both 1A classifications have full eight-game schedules.

Class 3A-1A teams can add Zero Week games, scrimmages or other contests. Game times and specific dates will be set by the participating schools; dates listed are the Friday of the week when most of the games are expected to be played.

Schedules by Week
Week 0 (Friday, Aug. 29)
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Natrona
Cheyenne East at Rock Springs
Evanston at Cheyenne South
Kelly Walsh at Gillette
Laramie at Sheridan

Week 1 (Friday, Sept. 2)
Class 4A
Cheyenne South at Cheyenne Central
Gillette at Evanston
Natrona at Cheyenne East
Rock Springs at Laramie
Sheridan at Kelly Walsh
Class 3A
Buffalo at Cody
Green River at Riverton
Lander at Worland
Powell at Douglas
Class 2A
Lovell at Big Horn
Pinedale at Glenrock
Thermopolis at Greybull
Class 1A 11-man
Wind River at Tongue River
Wyoming Indian at Wright
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Midwest
Farson at Guernsey-Sunrise
Hanna at Meeteetse
Hulett at Ten Sleep
Lingle at Snake River
Normative Services at Burlington
Riverside at Kaycee
St. Stephens at Rock River
Interclass
Big Piney at Shoshoni
Burns at Saratoga
Cokeville at Mountain View
Kemmerer at Rocky Mountain
Lusk at Moorcroft
Lyman at Rawlins
Torrington at Wheatland
Upton-Sundance at Newcastle
Interstate
Mitchell, Neb., at Pine Bluffs
Preston, Idaho, at Star Valley
Southeast at Bayard, Neb.

Week 2 (Friday, Sept. 9)
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Gillette
Cheyenne East at Cheyenne South
Evanston at Sheridan
Kelly Walsh at Rock Springs
Laramie at Natrona
Class 3A
Douglas at Cody
Lander at Jackson
Powell at Buffalo
Rawlins at Green River
Riverton at Star Valley
Worland at Torrington
Class 2A
Big Piney at Lovell
Burns at Big Horn
Greybull at Kemmerer
Mountain View at Lyman
Newcastle at Moorcroft
Thermopolis at Glenrock
Wheatland at Pinedale
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Wind River
Rocky Mountain at Upton-Sundance
Saratoga at Lusk
Shoshoni at Southeast
Tongue River at Wyoming Indian
Wright at Cokeville
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Farson
Guernsey-Sunrise at Lingle
Kaycee at Hanna
Meeteetse at Dubois
Midwest at Normative Services
Rock River at Hulett
Snake River at Riverside
Ten Sleep at St. Stephens

Week 3 (Friday, Sept. 16)
Class 4A
Cheyenne South at Kelly Walsh
Laramie at Evanston
Natrona at Gillette
Rock Springs at Cheyenne Central
Sheridan at Cheyenne East
Class 3A
Cody at Lander
Green River at Torrington
Rawlins at Jackson
Riverton at Powell
Star Valley at Douglas
Worland at Buffalo
Class 2A
Big Horn at Kemmerer
Glenrock at Newcastle
Lovell at Greybull
Lyman at Big Piney
Moorcroft at Burns
Pinedale at Mountain View
Wheatland at Thermopolis
Class 1A 11-man
Cokeville at Tongue River
Lusk at Rocky Mountain
Southeast at Saratoga
Upton-Sundance at Shoshoni
Wind River at Wright
Wyoming Indian at Pine Bluffs
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Ten Sleep
Dubois at Riverside
Farson at St. Stephens
Hulett at Hanna
Meeteetse at Snake River
Midwest at Guernsey
Normative Services at Lingle
Rock River at Kaycee

Week 4 (Friday, Sept. 23)
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Laramie
Evanston at Natrona
Gillette at Cheyenne South
Kelly Walsh at Cheyenne East
Sheridan at Rock Springs
Class 3A
Buffalo at Rawlins
Cody at Star Valley
Douglas at Lander
Jackson at Worland
Powell at Green River
Torrington at Riverton
Class 2A
Glenrock at Wheatland
Greybull at Burns
Kemmerer at Big Piney
Mountain View at Lovell
Newcastle at Big Horn
Pinedale at Lyman
Thermopolis at Moorcroft
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Upton-Sundance
Rocky Mountain at Cokeville
Saratoga at Wyoming Indian
Shoshoni at Wind River
Tongue River at Southeast
Wright at Lusk
Class 1A six-man
Guernsey at Normative Services
Hanna at Rock River
Kaycee at Hulett
Lingle at Midwest
Riverside at Meeteetse
St. Stephens at Burlington
Snake River at Dubois
Ten Sleep at Farson

Week 5 (Friday, Sept. 30)
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Cheyenne Central
Cheyenne South at Laramie
Gillette at Sheridan
Natrona at Kelly Walsh
Rock Springs at Evanston
Class 3A
Douglas at Torrington
Jackson at Green River
Lander at Buffalo
Riverton at Rawlins
Star Valley at Powell
Worland at Cody
Class 2A
Big Horn at Glenrock
Big Piney at Pinedale
Burns at Thermopolis
Lyman at Greybull
Moorcroft at Lovell
Mountain View at Kemmerer
Wheatland at Newcastle
Class 1A 11-man
Cokeville at Wyoming Indian
Lusk at Tongue River
Shoshoni at Saratoga
Southeast at Upton-Sundance
Wind River at Rocky Mountain
Wright at Pine Bluffs
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Meeteetse
Farson at Dubois
Hanna at Lingle
Hulett at Normative Services
Kaycee at Guernsey
Rock River at Midwest
St. Stephens at Riverside
Ten Sleep at Snake River

Week 6 (Friday, Oct. 7)
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Sheridan
Evanston at Kelly Walsh
Laramie at Cheyenne East
Natrona at Cheyenne South
Rock Springs at Gillette
Class 3A
Buffalo at Riverton
Cody at Jackson
Green River at Star Valley
Powell at Worland
Rawlins at Douglas
Torrington at Lander
Class 2A
Glenrock at Burns
Greybull at Mountain View
Kemmerer at Pinedale
Lovell at Lyman
Moorcroft at Wheatland
Newcastle at Big Piney
Thermopolis at Big Horn
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Shotheast
Rocky Mountain at Shoshoni
Saratoga at Cokeville
Upton-Sundance at Lusk
Tongue River at Wright
Wyoming Indian at Wind River
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Burlington
Guernsey at Hanna
Lingle at Kaycee
Meeteetse at Farson
Midwest at Hulett
Normative Services at Rock River
Riverside at Ten Sleep
Snake River at St. Stephens

Week 7 (Friday, Oct. 14)
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Evanston
Cheyenne South at Rock Springs
Gillette at Laramie
Kelly Walsh at Cheyenne Central
Sheridan at Natrona
Class 3A
Douglas at Riverton
Green River at Cody
Jackson at Powell
Lander at Rawlins
Star Valley at Worland
Torrington at Buffalo
Class 2A
Big Horn at Moorcroft
Big Piney at Mountain View
Glenrock at Lyman
Kemmerer at Lovell
Newcastle at Thermopolis
Pinedale at Greybull
Wheatland at Burns
Class 1A 11-man
Cokeville at Wind River
Pine Bluffs at Tongue River
Saratoga at Rocky Mountain
Southeast at Lusk
Upton-Sundance at Wright
Wyoming Indian at Shoshoni
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Snake River
Dubois at St. Stephens
Farson at Riverside
Hulett at Lingle
Meeteetse at Ten Sleep
Midwest at Kaycee
Normative Services at Hanna
Rock River at Guernsey

Week 8 (Friday, Oct. 21)
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Gillette
Evanston at Cheyenne Central
Laramie at Kelly Walsh
Natrona at Rock Springs
Sheridan at Cheyenne South
Class 3A
Buffalo at Douglas
Cody at Powell
Rawlins at Torrington
Riverton at Lander
Star Valley at Jackson
Worland at Green River
Class 2A
Big Horn at Wheatland
Burns at Newcastle
Greybull at Big Piney
Lovell at Pinedale
Lyman at Kemmerer
Moorcroft at Glenrock
Mountain View at Thermopolis
Class 1A 11-man
Lusk at Pine Bluffs
Rocky Mountain at Wyoming Indian
Shoshoni at Cokeville
Tongue River at Upton-Sundance
Wind River at Saratoga
Wright at Southeast
Class 1A six-man
Guernsey at Hulett
Hanna at Midwest
Kaycee at Normative Services
Lingle at Rock River
Riverside at Burlington
St. Stephens at Meeteetse
Snake River at Farson
Ten Sleep at Dubois

Schedules by team
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central: at Natrona; vs. Cheyenne South; at Gillette; vs. Rock Springs; at Laramie; vs. Cheyenne East; at Sheridan; vs. Kelly Walsh; vs. Evanston.
Cheyenne East: at Rock Springs; vs. Natrona; at Cheyenne South; vs. Sheridan; vs. Kelly Walsh; at Cheyenne Central; vs. Laramie; at Evanston; at Gillette.
Cheyenne South: vs. Evanston; at Cheyenne Central; vs. Cheyenne East; at Kelly Walsh; vs. Gillette; at Laramie; vs. Natrona; at Rock Springs; vs. Sheridan.
Evanston: at Cheyenne South; vs. Gillette; at Sheridan; vs. Laramie; at Natrona; vs. Rock Springs; at Kelly Walsh; vs. Cheyenne East; at Cheyenne Central.
Gillette: vs. Kelly Walsh; at Evanston; vs. Cheyenne Central; vs. Natrona; at Cheyenne South; at Sheridan; vs. Rock Springs; at Laramie; vs. Cheyenne East.
Kelly Walsh: at Gillette; vs. Sheridan; at Rock Springs; vs. Cheyenne South; at Cheyenne East; vs. Natrona; vs. Evanston; at Cheyenne Central; vs. Laramie.
Laramie: at Sheridan; vs. Rock Springs; at Natrona; at Evanston; vs. Cheyenne Central; vs. Cheyenne South; at Cheyenne East; vs. Gillette; at Kelly Walsh.
Natrona: vs. Cheyenne Central; at Cheyenne East; vs. Laramie; at Gillette; vs. Evanston; at Kelly Walsh; at Cheyenne South; vs. Sheridan; at Rock Springs.
Rock Springs: vs. Cheyenne East; at Laramie; vs. Kelly Walsh; at Cheyenne Central; vs. Sheridan; at Evanston; at Gillette; vs. Cheyenne South; vs. Natrona.
Sheridan: vs. Laramie; at Kelly Walsh; vs. Evanston; at Cheyenne East; at Rock Springs; vs. Gillette; vs. Cheyenne Central; at Natrona; at Cheyenne South.

Class 3A
East Conference
Buffalo: at Cody; vs. Powell; vs. Worland; at Rawlins; vs. Lander; at Riverton; vs. Torrington; at Douglas.
Douglas: vs. Powell; at Cody; vs. Star Valley; at Lander; at Torrington; vs. Rawlins; at Riverton; vs. Buffalo.
Lander: at Worland; at Jackson; vs. Cody; vs. Douglas; at Buffalo; vs. Torrington; at Rawlins; vs. Riverton.
Rawlins: vs. Lyman; at Green River; at Jackson; vs. Buffalo; vs. Riverton; at Douglas; vs. Lander; at Torrington.
Riverton: vs. Green River; at Star Valley; at Powell; vs. Torrington; at Rawlins; vs. Buffalo; vs. Douglas; at Lander.
Torrington: at Wheatland; vs. Worland; vs. Green River; at Riverton; vs. Douglas; at Lander; at Buffalo; vs. Rawlins.
West Conference
Cody: vs. Buffalo; vs. Douglas; at Lander; at Star Valley; vs. Worland; at Jackson; vs. Green River; at Powell.
Green River: at Riverton; vs. Rawlins; at Torrington; vs. Powell; vs. Jackson; at Star Valley; at Cody; vs. Worland.
Jackson: at Sugar-Salem, Idaho; vs. Lander; vs. Rawlins; at Worland; at Green River; vs. Cody; at Powell; vs. Star Valley.
Powell: at Douglas; at Buffalo; vs. Riverton; at Green River; vs. Star Valley; at Worland; vs. Jackson; vs. Cody.
Star Valley: vs. Preston, Idaho; vs. Riverton; at Douglas; vs. Cody; at Powell; vs. Green River; at Worland; at Jackson.
Worland: vs. Lander; at Torrington; at Buffalo; vs. Jackson; at Cody; vs. Powell; vs. Star Valley; at Green River.

Class 2A
East Conference
Big Horn: vs. Lovell; vs. Burns; at Kemmerer; vs. Newcastle; at Glenrock; vs. Thermopolis; at Moorcroft; at Wheatland.
Burns: at Saratoga; at Big Horn; vs. Moorcroft; vs. Greybull; at Thermopolis; vs. Glenrock; vs. Wheatland; at Newcastle.
Glenrock: vs. Pinedale; vs. Thermopolis; at Newcastle; at Wheatland; vs. Big Horn; at Burns; at Lyman; vs. Moorcroft.
Moorcroft: vs. Lusk; vs. Newcastle; at Burns; vs. Thermopolis; at Lovell; at Wheatland; vs. Big Horn; at Glenrock.
Newcastle: vs. Upton-Sundance; at Moorcroft; vs. Glenrock; at Big Horn; vs. Wheatland; at Big Piney; at Thermopolis; vs. Burns.
Thermopolis: at Greybull; at Glenrock; vs. Wheatland; at Moorcroft; vs. Burns; at Big Horn; vs. Newcastle; vs. Mountain View.
Wheatland: vs. Torrington; at Pinedale; at Thermopolis; vs. Glenrock; at Newcastle; vs. Moorcroft; at Burns; vs. Big Horn.
West Conference
Big Piney: at Shoshoni; at Lovell; vs. Lyman; vs. Kemmerer; at Pinedale; vs. Newcastle; at Mountain View; vs. Greybull.
Greybull: vs. Thermopolis; at Kemmerer; vs. Lovell; at Burns; vs. Lyman; at Mountain View; vs. Pinedale; at Big Piney.
Kemmerer: at Rocky Mountain; vs. Greybull; vs. Big Horn; at Big Piney; vs. Mountain View; at Pinedale; at Lovell; vs. Lyman.
Lovell: at Big Horn; vs. Big Piney; at Greybull; vs. Mountain View; vs. Moorcroft; at Lyman; vs. Kemmerer; at Pinedale.
Lyman: at Rawlins; vs. Mountain View; at Big Piney; vs. Pinedale; at Greybull; vs. Lovell; vs. Glenrock; at Kemmerer.
Mountain View: vs. Cokeville; at Lyman; vs. Pinedale; at Lovell; at Kemmerer; vs. Greybull; vs. Big Piney; at Thermopolis.
Pinedale: at Glenrock; vs. Wheatland; at Mountain View; at Lyman; vs. Big Piney; vs. Kemmerer; at Greybull; vs. Lovell.

Class 1A 11-man
East Conference
Lusk: at Moorcroft; vs. Saratoga; at Rocky Mountain; vs. Wright; at Tongue River; vs. Upton-Sundance; vs. Southeast; at Pine Bluffs.
Pine Bluffs: vs. Mitchell, Neb.; at Wind River; vs. Wyoming Indian; at Upton-Sundance; vs. Wright; at Southeast; at Tongue River; vs. Lusk.
Southeast: at Bayard, Neb.; vs. Shoshoni; at Saratoga; vs. Tongue River; at Upton-Sundance; vs. Pine Bluffs; at Lusk; vs. Wright.
Tongue River: vs. Wind River; at Wyoming Indian; vs. Cokeville; at Southeast; vs. Lusk; at Wright; vs. Pine Bluffs; at Upton-Sundance.
Upton-Sundance: at Newcastle; vs. Rocky Mountain; at Shoshoni; vs. Pine Bluffs; vs. Southeast; at Lusk; at Wright; vs. Tongue River.
Wright: vs. Wyoming Indian; at Cokeville; vs. Wind River; at Lusk; at Pine Bluffs; vs. Tongue River; vs. Upton-Sundance; at Southeast.
West Conference
Cokeville: at Mountain View; vs. Wright; at Tongue River; vs. Rocky Mountain; at Wyoming Indian; vs. Saratoga; at Wind River; vs. Shoshoni.
Rocky Mountain: vs. Kemmerer; at Upton-Sundance; vs. Lusk; at Cokeville; vs. Wind River; at Shoshoni; vs. Saratoga; at Wyoming Indian.
Saratoga: vs. Burns; at Lusk; vs. Southeast; at Wyoming Indian; vs. Shoshoni; at Cokeville; at Rocky Mountain; vs. Wind River.
Shoshoni: vs. Big Piney; at Southeast; vs. Upton-Sundance; at Wind River; at Saratoga; vs. Rocky Mountain; vs. Wyoming Indian; at Cokeville.
Wind River: at Tongue River; vs. Pine Bluffs; at Wright; vs. Shoshoni; at Rocky Mountain; vs. Wyoming Indian; vs. Cokeville; at Saratoga.
Wyoming Indian: at Wright; vs. Tongue River; at Pine Bluffs; vs. Saratoga; vs. Cokeville; at Wind River; at Shoshoni; vs. Rocky Mountain.

Class 1A six-man
East Conference
Guernsey: vs. Farson; at Lingle; vs. Midwest; at NSI; vs. Kaycee; at Hanna; vs. Rock River; at Hulett.
Hanna: at Meeteetse; vs. Kaycee; vs. Hulett; at Rock River; at Lingle; vs. Guernsey; vs. NSI; at Midwest.
Hulett: at Ten Sleep; vs. Rock River; at Hanna; vs. Kaycee; at NSI; vs. Midwest; at Lingle; vs. Guernsey.
Kaycee: vs. Riverside; at Hanna; vs. Rock River; at Hulett; at Guernsey; vs. Lingle; vs. Midwest; at NSI.
Lingle: at Snake River; vs. Guernsey; vs. NSI; at Midwest; vs. Hanna; at Kaycee; vs. Hulett; at Rock River.
Midwest: vs. Dubois; at NSI; at Guernsey; vs. Lingle; vs. Rock River; at Hulett; at Kaycee; vs. Hanna.
NSI: at Burlington; vs. Midwest; at Lingle; vs. Guernsey; vs. Hulett; at Rock River; at Hanna; vs. Kaycee.
Rock River: vs. St. Stephens; at Hulett; at Kaycee; vs. Hanna; at Midwest; vs. NSI; at Guernsey; vs. Lingle.

West Conference
Burlington: vs. NSI; at Farson; at Ten Sleep; vs. St. Stephens; at Meeteetse; vs. Dubois; at Snake River; vs. Riverside.
Dubois: at Midwest; vs. Meeteetse; at Riverside; vs. Snake River; vs. Farson; at Burlington; at St. Stephens; vs. Ten Sleep.
Farson: at Guernsey; vs. Burlington; at St. Stephens; vs. Ten Sleep; at Dubois; vs. Meeteetse; at Riverside; vs. Snake River.
Meeteetse: vs. Hanna; at Dubois; at Snake River; vs. Riverside; vs. Burlington; at Farson; at Ten Sleep; vs. St. Stephens.
Riverside: at Kaycee; vs. Snake River; vs. Dubois; at Meeteetse; vs. St. Stephens; at Ten Sleep; vs. Farson; at Burlington.
St. Stephens: at Rock River; vs. Ten Sleep; vs. Farson; at Burlington; at Riverside; vs. Snake River; vs. Dubois; at Meeteetse.
Snake River: vs. Lingle; at Riverside; vs. Meeteetse; at Dubois; vs. Ten Sleep; at St. Stephens; vs. Burlington; at Farson.
Ten Sleep: vs. Hulett; at St. Stephens; vs. Burlington; at Farson; at Snake River; vs. Riverside; vs. Meeteetse; at Dubois.

–patrick

Burlington cancels all but one remaining 11-man game, schedules six-man games

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Burlington has forfeited all but one of its 11-man football games in 2015 and has added four six-man games to close out the season.

Burlington is scheduled to move to Class 1A six-man officially in 2016. The Huskies are a part of the Class 1A 11-man West Conference this season but have failed to play a single conference game due to a lack of players.

Burlington AD Mike Aagard said via email the program was down to nine players, but a few more have joined the team. He said the program is taking a “week by week” approach.

However, three of Burlington’s upcoming opponents — Cokeville (Oct. 2), Shoshoni (Oct. 16) and Rocky Mountain (Oct. 23) — have all scheduled games to take Burlington’s place. Burlington will forfeit those games.

For now, Burlington’s game with Saratoga on Oct. 9 is still scheduled, Aagard said.

The Huskies previously forfeited games to Riverside, Wyoming Indian and Wind River. The only 11-man game Burlington played this season was in Week 1, a 52-0 loss to Lusk.

The Burlington school website calendar says the Huskies have scheduled the following six-man games:

Saturday, Sept. 26 at Custer, Mont., 1 p.m. (Burlington lost this game 60-37.)
Monday, Oct. 12 at Meeteetse, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Midwest, TBA
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Kaycee, TBA

Replacement games have been set by Cokeville, Shoshoni and Rocky Mountain.

The Cokeville school calendar indicates a game with the Evanston JV at 4 p.m. Thursday in Cokeville.

Shoshoni AD Max Mills said via email the Wranglers will host the Natrona sophomores at 6 p.m. Oct. 15.

The Rocky Mountain school calendar indicates a game with the Gillette JV at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 in Sheridan.

Meanwhile, Saratoga’s school calendar indicates a game with the Wheatland JV at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in Saratoga as a potential replacement if the Burlington game falls through.

–patrick

Reclassification numbers for 2016-17 released to schools

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In advance of the first quarterly meeting of the Wyoming High School Activities Association’s Board of Directors on Sept. 29-30 in Casper, the WHSAA has released the enrollment numbers it will use to classify schools for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 sports seasons to the state’s high schools.

And the potential changes are numerous.

Although larger changes could be made to the classification structures of various sports — such as changing the number of schools in each classification — the following changes are on tap if no such changes are made:

Football

Class 4A and Class 3A will remain the same.

Class 2A will see Moorcroft jump back into the classification after two years in Class 1A 11-man. WHSAA Commissioner Ron Laird said via email to wyoming-football.com that Moorcroft has filed a petition to stay in Class 1A 11-man. Even if it’s approved, such a move might make the Wolves ineligible for the postseason.

Class 1A 11-man will see Wright come down from Class 2A to take Moorcroft’s prior place in 1A.

Riverside will be the 11th-largest Class 1A 11-man school but has asked to play six-man. Lingle, meanwhile, is the 14th-largest 11-man school but has also asked to play down in six-man. Class 1A 11-man’s size is designated as 14 schools.

Previously, when schools have asked to opt down a classification, if the WHSAA approved the option, those schools have been ineligible for the playoffs.

Cokeville, which came in 51st place — just below the cutoff for 11-man football — opted up to Class 1A 11-man again, Laird said.

Burlington, meanwhile, will be below the six-man/11-man cutoff and will move to six-man, coach Aaron Papich said via email Thursday.

Upton and Sundance are slated to continue their co-op for football, Laird said. Laird also said the Patriots’ playoff eligibility for the 2016 season won’t be determined until hard enrollment figures come in prior to that school year. Their decision to join football programs will not affect the classification of any other schools.

Other sports

Other sports will see significant shifts, too.

Jackson has supplanted Riverton as the state’s 12th-largest school and, because of that, will be scheduled to enter Class 4A for all sports except football in the fall of 2016. The difference between Jackson (742.26) and Riverton (741.70) ended up being less than one student.

Thermopolis and Lyman are scheduled to move from Class 2A to Class 3A, while Glenrock and Lovell are scheduled to move from Class 3A to Class 2A.

Upton is scheduled to move from Class 1A to Class 2A, while Saratoga is scheduled to move from Class 2A to Class 1A.

Gillette’s new school

The ADM figures do not account for the proposed second high school in Gillette, which is tentatively scheduled to open in the fall of 2017.

Districts

Tentative district alignments set by the WHSAA are as follows, as noted in information provided to the schools:

Football
4A and 3A: Unchanged
2A East: Wheatland, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Moorcroft, Glenrock, Big Horn, Burns.
2A West: Pinedale, Mountain View, Lyman, Lovell, Big Piney, Kemmerer, Greybull.
1A 11-man East: Tongue River, Wright, Upton/Sundance, Pine Bluffs, Southeast, Lusk.
1A 11-man West: Wyoming Indian, Rocky Mountain, Wind River, Shoshoni, Saratoga, Cokeville.
1A six-man East: Lingle, Guernsey, NSI, Midwest, Hanna, Hulett, Kaycee, Rock River.
1A six-man West: Riverside, Burlington, Dubois, Snake River, Farson, St. Stephens, Meeteetse, Ten Sleep.

Non-football
4A East: Gillette, Cheyenne East, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne South, Laramie, Sheridan.
4A West: Kelly Walsh, Natrona, Rock Springs, Evanston, Green River, Jackson.
3A East: Douglas, Rawlins, Worland, Torrington, Buffalo, Wheatland, Newcastle, Thermopolis.
3A West: Riverton, Star Valley, Cody, Lander, Powell, Pinedale, Mountain View, Lyman.
2A East: Moorcroft, Glenrock, Burns, Big Horn, Tongue River, Wright, Sundance, Pine Bluffs, Southeast, Lusk, Upton.
2A West: Lovell, Big Piney, Kemmerer, Greybull, Wyoming Indian, Rocky Mountain, Wind River, Shoshoni, Riverside.
1A East: Lingle, Guernsey, NSI, Midwest, Hanna, Hulett, Kaycee, Rock River, Arvada-Clearmont, Glendo, Chugwater.
1A West: Saratoga, Cokeville, Burlington, Dubois, Snake River, Farson, St. Stephens, Encampment, Meeteetse, Ten Sleep.
(North and South conferences for non-football sports will be set by participating schools in 3A, 2A and 1A.)

+++

The “Average Daily Membership” enrollment numbers for grades 9-12, rounded to the nearest full number:

  1. Gillette, 2,519
  2. Kelly Walsh, 1,893
  3. Natrona, 1,870
  4. Rock Springs, 1,588
  5. Cheyenne East, 1,541
  6. Cheyenne South, 1,340
  7. Cheyenne Central, 1,267
  8. Laramie, 1,066
  9. Sheridan, 965
  10. Evanston, 857
  11. Green River, 837
  12. Jackson, 742
  13. Riverton, 742
  14. Star Valley, 724
  15. Cody, 613
  16. Douglas, 522
  17. Lander, 520
  18. Powell, 514
  19. Rawlins, 492
  20. Worland, 415
  21. Torrington, 361
  22. Buffalo, 332
  23. Pinedale, 299
  24. Wheatland, 272
  25. Mountain View, 236
  26. Newcastle, 224
  27. Thermopolis, 215
  28. Lyman, 210
  29. Lovell, 204
  30. Moorcroft, 193
  31. Big Piney, 192
  32. Glenrock, 191
  33. Burns, 187
  34. Kemmerer, 177
  35. Greybull, 174
  36. Big Horn, 159
  37. Tongue River, 150
  38. Wyoming Indian, 146
  39. Wright, 145
  40. Rocky Mountain, 125
  41. Wind River, 120
  42. Sundance, 118
  43. Pine Bluffs, 111
  44. Southeast, 108
  45. Lusk, 106
  46. Shoshoni, 106
  47. Riverside, 90
  48. Upton, 87
  49. Saratoga, 85
  50. Lingle, 83
  51. Cokeville, 78
  52. Guernsey-Sunrise, 71
  53. Burlington, 67
  54. NSI, 65
  55. Midwest, 55
  56. Arapaho Charter, 53
  57. Hanna, 52
  58. Dubois, 51
  59. Hulett, 49
  60. Snake River, 48
  61. Farson, 48
  62. Fort Washakie, 48
  63. St. Stephens, 45
  64. Kaycee, 45
  65. Encampment, 44
  66. Rock River, 32
  67. Meeteetse, 32
  68. Arvada-Clearmont, 30
  69. Ten Sleep, 27
  70. Glendo, 19
  71. Chugwater, 13

–patrick

Edited 8:10 a.m. Sept. 18 to fix a typo in Burns’ ADM.

Riverside petitions to move to six-man in 2016, 2017

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Riverside will petition the WHSAA to play in the six-man football division of Class 1A in 2016 and 2017.

Rebels coach Sam Buck and activities director Shane Schaffner verified the decision via an email to Wyoming-football.com Thursday.

“We were looking at having 13-15 players over the next couple of years and after dealing with low numbers the last couple of years I think it’s only fair for the players,” Buck wrote. “I think safety is the top priority. Having to play younger players who are not physically ready to compete against 17-18 year olds isn’t safe. Over the next couple of years the number of young players we will have to depend on will only increase.”

Buck and Schaffner also noted that Riverside’s current problems in fulfilling its schedule played a hand in the decision. The Rebels forfeited its Week 1 game to Greybull and won last week after Burlington forfeited to Riverside.

Buck said the move may be temporary.

“While I love the 11-man game and hope Riverside will be able to get our numbers back to the numbers to field an 11-man team, we’re going to embrace the opportunity positively and work like crazy to learn the 6-man game so we can compete,” he said.

Schaffner said it was important for Riverside to maintain football at the school, as it is the only fall sports option for boys at the school.

Riverside may not be eligible for the six-man playoffs; in the enrollment numbers used by the WHSAA to determine classification for the next two seasons, Riverside is still classified as an 11-man school. Lingle, which made a similar decision last week, is in the same position with its enrollment, as well; the Doggers will be classified as an 11-man school and may not be eligible for the playoffs.

–patrick

Valdez named new head coach at St. Stephens

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Lyle Valdez, a former assistant coach and trainer at Wyoming Indian, will be the new head coach at St. Stephens.

Valdez confirmed his hiring via telephone Sunday to wyoming-football.com.

Valdez takes over for Melvin Blackburn, who led the Eagles during their first two years of varsity football since 1965. The Eagles went a combined 0-16 the past two years.

Valdez spent about five years, off and on, helping with the football and basketball programs at Wyoming Indian as both a coach and trainer. He said his primary coaching focus areas at St. Stephens will be tied to technique and to building the players’ confidence.

“I just hope we can get these kids to win, and (learn) how it feels to win,” Valdez said Sunday. “Once that happens, maybe we’ll get more kids to come out to enjoy the game of football.”

Valdez, who works as a substitute teacher and teacher’s aide in Fremont County, will be joined by assistant coach Keenan Groesbeck.

Valdez is one of two new head coaches in Wyoming’s six-man ranks, joining Lee Kremers in Kaycee. Other new head coaches in Wyoming this fall are Todd Weber in Worland, Jason Ferrarini in Kemmerer, Ryan Nelson in Lusk, Mykah Trujillo in Wind River and Aaron Papich in Burlington.

–patrick

Kremers takes over head coach spot in Kaycee

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Longtime assistant Lee Kremers will be the new head coach at Kaycee this fall.

Dustin Sipe, who has been the only coach Kaycee has ever had, recently resigned. Sipe coached the Buckaroos since their inception in six-man in 2009 and stepped down after compiling a record of 32-24.

The Buckaroos’ best finish under Sipe came in that first year when Kaycee finished as state runners-up.

Kremers, too, has been with the program since it started. He will take over a program that finished 6-3 last season but lost in the six-man quarterfinals to Meeteetse.

Sipe verified the change in an email to wyoming-football.com on Wednesday. Sipe said he will stay in Kaycee to teach and coach other sports.

Kremers will be the sixth new head coach in Wyoming this fall, joining Todd Weber in Worland, Jason Ferrarini in Kemmerer, Ryan Nelson in Lusk, Mykah Trujillo in Wind River and Aaron Papich in Burlington.

–patrick

Papich named new head coach at Burlington

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Aaron Papich will be the new head football coach in Burlington this fall.

He replaces Mike Aagard, who steps down with more victories (41) than any other coach in school history.

Aagard finished with a 41-42 record in his nine seasons as Burlington’s coach. The Huskies’ best season with Aagard at the helm was a Class 1A runner-up trophy in 2008.

Papich was an assistant coach with Burlington last year. He previously coached in Casper and in Bozeman and Great Falls, Mont.

Aagard notified wyoming-football.com of change via email Friday.

Papich will be the fifth new head coach in Wyoming this fall, joining Todd Weber in Worland, Jason Ferrarini in Kemmerer, Ryan Nelson in Lusk and Mykah Trujillo in Wind River.

–patrick

Trujillo named coach at Wind River after Noffsinger steps down

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Wind River football coach Cullen Noffsinger will step down as the school’s head football coach after four seasons, Noffsinger said via email to wyoming-football.com last week.

The Cougars’ new coach will be Mykah Trujillo, Wind River AD Justin Walker said via email Tuesday.

Trujillo is an alumnus of Lander High School and was an all-state football player for the Tigers in 2003. He teaches elementary school in Lander and previously coached Lander’s middle school teams.

The Cougars finished 7-26 with Noffsinger as head coach. Wind River did not reach the playoffs but just missed last season after falling to Riverside in a triangular playoff qualifier. The Cougars’ 3-6 finish last season was the best for the Cougars in Noffsinger’s tenure.

–patrick

Rogers leaves as head coach at Kemmerer; Ferrarini named replacement

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Kemmerer’s all-time winningest coach has stepped aside as the Rangers’ head coach.

After 12 seasons, Shawn Rogers resigned as the head football coach at Kemmerer. Jason Ferrarini, a Kemmerer native who was an assistant with the Rangers, has been named as Rogers’ replacement.

Rogers and Ferrarini verified the changes via emails to wyoming-football.com on Thursday.

Rogers finished his tenure as Kemmerer’s all-time winningest coach, going 63-51 in 12 seasons. He led the Rangers to state championships in 2005 and 2007 and also led the team to a school-record 14 consecutive victories in the 2007-08 seasons. However, Kemmerer has gone winless the past two seasons and enters 2015 on a state-worst 20-game losing streak.

Rogers’ 63 victories at Kemmerer is 20 better than any other coach in program history.

Rogers plans to stay at Kemmerer as the elementary principal, he said.

–patrick