Category Archives: Nff

The Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation has named its 10 scholar-athlete finalists for the 2021 season.

Congratulations to the following for being selected as finalists for the @wychapterNFF scholarships:
6-man- Koye Gilbert, Encampment
9-man- Zane Linder, Moorcroft; Ty Sweeter, Pine Bluffs. 2a- Joshua Thompson, Big Horn; Kade Preuitt, Wheatland;

— Heath Hayes (@hayes8wyo) March 29, 2022

3a- Keltan Ewing, Douglas; Toran Graham, Powell; Lucas Chappell, Star Valley; 4A- Gavin Goff, East; Isaac Schoenfeld, Rock Springs.

— Heath Hayes (@hayes8wyo) March 29, 2022

Courage Award- Jonathan Williams, Cody; Perseverance Award- Dylan Taylor, Green River; Brock Steel, Sheridan. @NFFNetwork @wyopreps @WyoVarsity #StudentAthletes #MultiSport #Leaders

— Heath Hayes (@hayes8wyo) March 29, 2022

The winners were chosen from 73 nominees, who were announced in January. Each of the 10 finalists earns a $1,200 college scholarship, while the winner earns an additional $1,200 scholarship. The winner will be decided by 40% football ability, 40% academic achievement and 20% on extracurriculars and work in their communities and schools.

–patrick

A total of 73 football players from 20 different programs have been nominated for Wyoming’s scholar-athlete awards given by the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation, the Wyoming Chapter announced in a news release Wednesday.

Nominees are seniors and have a GPA of at least 3.0.

From the list of 73 nominees, 10 will be chosen next month as finalists for the Wyoming Chapter’s top scholar-athlete award. Each of the 10 finalists earns a $1,200 college scholarship, while the winner earns an additional $1,200 scholarship. The winner will be decided by 40% football ability, 40% academic achievement and 20% on extracurriculars and work in their communities and schools.

The Wyoming Chapter gives out several other awards each year. Two University of Wyoming seniors will also be nominated and honored. Last year’s winner was Andrew Johnson from Cheyenne Central. Winners are usually honored at a banquet in March, although no banquet has been held the past two years due to COVID-19. A date for this year’s honors has yet to be set.

Nominated players include:

Big Horn: Josh Thompson.
Cheyenne East: Gavyn Aumiller, Gavin Goff, Matthew Jaquot, Landen LaRue, Brian Mead, Robert Pino, Cade Pugh, Kaleb Romero, Braxton Rosner, Tucker Smith, Floyd Tatum, Zaudan Wawhkyung, Landon Whitt.
Cody: Danny Becker, Kellon George, Drew Trotter, Jonathan Williams, Nathan Wilson.
Cokeville: Treyson Dayton.
Douglas: Jayden Archuleta, Kyle Logar, Rylan Wehr.
Encampment: Koye Gilbert.
Green River: Dylan Taylor.
Kemmerer: Matt McMillan, Tommy Skidmore.
Meeteetse: Dace Bennett, Jonathan Blessing, Kalvin Erickson.
Moorcroft: Zane Linder.
Natrona: Kaleb Borus, Braden Cantrell, William Garlick, Tyler Hill, Ashton Nash, Brendyn Nelson, Roman Overstreet, Kaeden Wilcox.
Pine Bluffs: Ty Sweeter.
Rock Springs: Brock Bider, Isaac Schoenfeld, Cadon Shaklee, Andrew Skorcz.
Sheridan: Carl Askins, Ezra Eckland Rich Hall, Matthew Ingalls, Cody Kilpatrick, Tyler Ormseth, Rudy Osborne, Brock Steel, Caden Steel, Jim Strobbe, Texas Tanner.
Shoshoni: Braeden Cash, Duke Gibbel.
Star Valley: Lucas Chappell.
Thermopolis: Wyatt McDermott.
Thunder Basin: Cade Ayers, Ryan Baker, Ethan Cox, Kolter DeKay, Justin Dennison, Isaiah Haliburton, McKale Hote, Ryan Jordan, Brandon Lanston, Aiden Mitchel, Caden Randall.
Wheatland: Rodee Brow, Jake Hicks, Kade Preuit.

Note: Post updated 9:44 a.m. MST Jan. 20 to include Hicks and Preuit on Wheatland’s list, who were unintentionally omitted from the original list of nominees sent out. This changes the total number of nominees to 73. … Post updated 11:06 p.m. MST Jan. 21 to correct Cade Pugh’s first name; the original list had the wrong name.

–patrick

Eleven Wyoming high school football players have been named as finalists for the National Football Foundation’s Wyoming Chapter scholar-athlete awards.

Each finalist will earn a $1,200 scholarship; one winner will be awarded an additional $1,200 scholarship and a chance to win regional and national honors.

Each classification has two finalists, except for Class 4A, which has three this year. Finalists are:

Class 4A: Graedyn Buell, Cheyenne East, and Andrew Johnson, Cheyenne Central, backs; Quinton Mangus, Sheridan, lineman.

Class 3A: Nic Talich, Cody, back; Rylan Koehn, Riverton, lineman.

Class 2A: C.J. Lindsay, Lovell, back; Hunter Meeks, Mountain View, lineman.

Class 1A nine-man: Colter Collver, Wind River; Bodie Herring, Southeast.

Class 1A six-man: Hadley Abarr, Meeteetse; Dalton Peterson, Encampment.

The 11 finalists were taken from 96 nominees. The Wyoming Chapter banquet is normally in March, but plans for this year’s ceremony are delayed due to COVID-19.

–patrick

A total of 96 Wyoming high school football players have been nominated for the scholar-athlete awards given by the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Two finalists from each classification — one lineman and one back — will be given $1,200 scholarships from the group. The top scholar-athlete will earn an additional $1,200 scholarship and is eligible for regional and national recognition.

The group will also give out awards to honor contributions to amateur football, to fans of UW and high school football, to coaches and officials, and to players who are nominated for courage and perseverance awards.

The scholar-athlete awards are based 40% on football ability, 40% on academic achievement and 20% on extracurricular activities and citizenship. All nominees must be seniors and have a GPA of 3.0 or better.

Last year’s winner was Dax Yeradi of Wright. Here is a list of all former Wyoming Chapter award winners.

Due to COVID-19, a date and location for the group’s annual award ceremony have not been set.

The nominees are:

Class 4A
Cheyenne Central: Andrew Johnson.
Cheyenne East: Josiah Aragon, Nick Begeman, Trey Bower, Graedyn Buell, Shaye Ellis, Dakota Heckman, Jackson Hesford, Logan Kusler, Isaac Marshall, Cael Pugh, Jake Rayl, Bradley Whitright.
Cheyenne South: Kobe Barto.
Laramie: Isaac Sell.
Natrona: Myllian Allison, Dominick Bradach, Rhett Buhler, Braxton Bundy, Avery Cox, Robert Douglas, Bode Draper, Brady Dutcher, Jace George, Colter Helm, Ben Hoppens, D’Anthony Smith, Zack Southerland, Harrison Taubert, Nolan Valdez.
Rock Springs: Collin Madsen.
Sheridan: Izak Aksamit, Rance Beck, Kavan Bede, Alexander Coon, Carter Dubberley, Francisco Gallegos, Zach Koltiska, Quinton Mangus, Ryan Marchant, Kyle Meinecke, Ben Novotny, Reece Osborne, Kahlil Rios, Matthew Taylor, Justin Vela, Gaige Vielhauer.
Thunder Basin: Sergio Aguilar, Dillon Bannister, River Brisko, Gavin Carroll, Michael Coleman, Kameron Engle, Andre Felton, Hayden Lunberg, Hunter Lunberg, Alex O’Dell, Scott O’Dell, Jaxon Pikula, Brody Richardson, Camden Schlekeway, Dyse Shepherd.

Class 3A
Cody: Keaton Stone, Nic Talich.
Green River: Jacob Fuss, James King, Jacob Marinez, Seth White.
Lander: Jack Sweeney.
Riverton: Rylan Koehn.
Star Valley: Brant Nelson.
Worland: Rudy Sanford.

Class 2A
Kemmerer: Aaron Ortiz, Austin Peternal.
Lovell: CJ Lindsay.
Mountain View: Hunter Meeks.
Pinedale: Carson Gregory.
Wheatland: Adam Suko.

Class 1A nine-man 
Pine Bluffs: Marvin Reza.
Saratoga: Teagan Love.
Shoshoni: Kaden Dower.
Southeast: Sawyer Anderson, Brant Fullmer, Bodie Herring, Reece Robertson.
Wind River: Colter Collver.
Wright: Kagen Baker, Kayden Mack.

Class 1A six-man
Encampment: Dalton Peterson.
Farson: Parker Clawson, Carson Jones, Colby Jones, Zander Reed.
Meeteetse: Hadley Abarr, Tozai May, Dale McBride.

–patrick

This post was updated at 8:11 p.m. MST Jan. 4 to correct a spelling mistake on Bodie Herring’s name.

Eleven Wyoming high school football players are finalists for the state’s top scholar-athlete award from the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

The winner will be announced at the chapter’s banquet March 21 in Laramie, a release sent Saturday from chapter organizers said. The awards are in their 26th year.

Each finalist earns a $1,200 scholarship from the Wyoming Chapter; the winner of the top scholar-athlete award earns an additional $1,200 scholarship and becomes a finalist for regional and national honors.

In all, 79 players were nominated for the awards. The awards are based 40% on football ability, 40% on academic achievement and 20% on community service.

Finalists include Wind River’s Colton Befus; Mountain View’s Briggin Bluemel and Hunter Gross; Sheridan’s Jacob Boint and Ethan Johnson; Star Valley’s Trent Clark and Chase Merrell; Burlington’s Jarom Davidson; Thunder Basin’s Mason Hamilton; Snake River’s Riggen Myers; and Wright’s Dax Yeradi.

University of Wyoming players Josh Harshman and Logan Wilson will also be honored.

Douglas’ A.J. Yeaman has been named the chapter’s Courage Award winner, while Natrona’s Nick Frimml won the chapter’s Perseverance Award.

The Wyoming Chapter also gives out a handful of special awards recognizing contributions to football. Those award winners include:

Greatest high school football fan: Roland Simmons, Cowley.
Greatest UW fan: Ed Wilson, Gillette.
Outstanding contribution to amateur football: Mark Whitt, Thermopolis; Sally Ann Shurmur, Glenrock.
Coaching award: Bill Fullmer, Cheyenne; Ray Kumpula, Glenrock; Joe Aimone (posthumous), Kemmerer.
Ox Zellner official award: Pat Harris, Riverton.

–patrick

Updated 9:01 a.m. Jan. 27 to include Gross, whose name was inadvertently left off the initial release announcing the finalists.

Big Horn’s Kade VanDyken was named the top football scholar-athlete in Wyoming by the National Football Foundation’s Wyoming Chapter during the group’s annual banquet Saturday in Laramie.

VanDyken was one of 15 different players recognized during the banquet. A total of $19,200 in scholarships was awarded, including $1,200 for each finalist and an additional $1,200 for VanDyken for being selected for the top spot.

Eight other special awards were given at Saturday’s banquet.

For a full list of award winners and more info on the banquet, click here.

–patrick

Upton’s Dawson Butts and Newcastle’s Cameron Quigley earned the honor of the state’s top football scholar-athletes from the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

The pair shared the honor during a ceremony Saturday in Laramie. Other finalists for the award included Sheridan’s Blayne Baker; Natrona’s Brett Brenton; Snake River’s J.D. Corson; Sheridan’s Kyle Custis; Pine Bluffs’ Wyatt Fornstrom; Green River’s Chance Hofer; Kaycee’s Mark Largent; Glenrock’s Hezekiah (Kia) Sexson; and Torrington’s Jake Wamboldt.

UW’s Dalton Fields and Drew Van Maanen were also honored.

Other award winners were:

Courage Award: Kaden Malm, Southeast; Kaiden Burk, Wind River.

Perseverance Award: Clayton Auzqui, Buffalo.

Greatest UW Football Fan: Warren Benson, Laramie; Tom and Jill Bramlet, Wheatland.

Greatest High School Football Fan: Stan Thompson, Cokeville.

Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football: Trish Williams, Casper; David Anderson, Lingle.

Ox Zellner Football Official Career Achievement Award: Joe Doak, Thermopolis; Joe White, Lovell.

Football Coach Career Achievement Award: Jeff Barnett, Douglas; Pat O’Connor, Torrington; Bruce Keith, Montrose, Colorado (formerly of Wyoming).

Together, more than $20,000 in scholarships was awarded Saturday. Keynote speakers were UW defensive line coach Pete Kaligas and former Sheridan coach Don Julian.

–patrick