A couple weekends ago, both the Class 1A girls and Class 2A boys championship games produced something interesting — the same two teams who reached those games in 2022 also made it in 2023.
In the case of the 1A girls, Upton avenged last year’s loss to Southeast and won its first girls basketball championship. In 2A boys, Pine Bluffs won its second straight, beating Big Horn for the second year in a row (both times by exactly 11 points, oddly enough).
Those games got me thinking about all the times we’ve seen the same two schools go against each other in back-to-back years in a state championship game, no matter the sport.
Across the WHSAA team game sports (basketball, soccer, volleyball, football and softball), the same two teams have played each other in consecutive years in the championship game 116 times. The defending champ has won 66 of those, or 57%.
- In basketball, the defending champ has won 21 times in 41 matchups.
- In soccer, the defending champ has won 13 times in 22 matchups.
- In volleyball, the defending champ has won 14 times in 25 matchups.
- And in football, the defending champ has won 18 times in 28 matchups.
Four times, two teams have played each other in their respective championship games four years in a row. It’s happened twice in volleyball: From 1996-99, Cokeville beat Burlington four straight times in the Class 1A volleyball championship, and from 2003-06, Star Valley and Wheatland played four times in the Class 3A volleyball championship, with Star Valley winning three and Wheatland one.
It also happened once in football and once in boys soccer. From 1953-56, Worland defeated Torrington four consecutive times in the Class A football championship; from 2008-11, Cody and Buffalo played four times in the Class 3A boys soccer championship, with Cody taking three of those four.
Another eight times have produced three-peat championship matchups: University Prep and St. Stephens in Class B boys basketball from 1959-61; Lovell and Wyoming Indian in 2A boys basketball from 1984-86; Natrona and Campbell County in 4A girls basketball from 1999-2001; Douglas and Lyman in 3A girls basketball from 2019-22 (no tournament in 2020); Laramie and Campbell County in 4A girls soccer from 2009-11; Natrona and East in 4A girls soccer from 1987-89; Natrona and Sheridan in 4A football from 1936-38 and again from 2016-18.
Here is a list of all the times we’ve seen repeat championship game pairings:
Basketball (21 repeats, 20 changes)
4A boys (2 repeats, 5 changes)
2003: Sheridan 62, Campbell County 61
2002: Campbell County 76, Sheridan 49
1993: Campbell County 72, East 69, OT
1992: Campbell County 57, East 56 OT
1973: Rock Springs 57, Central 54
1972: Rock Springs 89, Central 80
1960: Rock Springs 59, Sheridan 47
1959: Sheridan 52, Rock Springs 46
1956: Central 48, Natrona 46
1955: Natrona 67, Central 45
1946: Natrona 47, Central 32
1945: Central 45, Natrona 39
1928: Rock Springs 35, Central 30
1927: Central 21, Rock Springs 9
3A boys (1 repeat, 2 changes)
2004: Thermopolis 70, Kemmerer 61, OT
2003: Thermopolis 66, Kemmerer 60
2002: Douglas 43, Star Valley 41
2001: Star Valley 69, Douglas 63
1972: Buffalo 66, Green River 57
1971: Green River 74, Buffalo 67
2A boys (5 repeats, 2 changes)
2023: Pine Bluffs 49, Big Horn 38
2022: Pine Bluffs 52, Big Horn 41
2003: Lovell 63, Lusk 50
2002: Lovell 78, Lusk 71, OT
1986: Lovell 66, Wyoming Indian 54
1985: Wyoming Indian 74, Lovell 67
1984: Wyoming Indian 90, Lovell 64
1961: University Prep 48, St. Stephens 18
1960: St. Stephens 71, University Prep 55
1959: St. Stephens 56, University Prep 50
1950: Byron 31, Cowley 27
1949: Byron 32, Cowley 24
1A boys (2 repeats, 1 change)
2007: St. Stephens 52, Burlington 46
2006: Burlington 49, St. Stephens 47
1960: LaGrange 54, Carpenter 48
1959: LaGrange 57, Carpenter 56
1956: Veteran 68, LaGrange 45
1955: Veteran 68, LaGrange 50
4A girls (5 repeats, 2 changes)
2022: East 51, Cody 41
2021: East 52, Cody 37
2018: Campbell County 65, East 41
2017: East 53, Campbell County 50
2001: Campbell County 63, Natrona 57
2000: Natrona 87, Campbell County 84, 2OT
1999: Natrona 76, Campbell County 61
1997: Campbell County 88, Green River 68
1996: Campbell County 76, Green River 53
1986: Sheridan 29, Rawlins 26
1985: Sheridan 33, Rawlins 28
1980: Rock Springs 48, Sheridan 46
1979: Rock Springs 59, Sheridan 51
3A girls (5 repeats, 3 changes)
2022: Douglas 45, Lyman 37
2021: Douglas 51, Lyman 11
(no tournament 2020)
2019: Douglas 56, Lyman 41
2017: Star Valley 44, Worland 43
2016: Worland 44, Star Valley 35
2010: Jackson 49, Powell 42, 2OT
2009: Jackson 43, Powell 29
2003: Thermopolis 48, Star Valley 42
2002: Thermopolis 46, Star Valley 43
1998: Mountain View 48, Douglas 46
1997: Douglas 68, Mountain View 51
1989: Star Valley 50, Powell 43
1988: Star Valley 46, Powell 45
1984: Douglas 61, Wheatland 51
1983: Wheatland 56, Douglas 51
2A girls (1 repeat, 1 change)
2008: Big Horn 47, Tongue River 32
2007: Tongue River 49, Big Horn 43, OT
2006: Tongue River 55, Lovell 51
2005: Tongue River 64, Lovell 39
1A girls (0 repeats, 4 changes)
2023: Upton 59, Southeast 54
2022: Southeast 58, Upton 53, OT
2014: Lingle 60, Cokeville 48
2013: Cokeville 59, Lingle 55
1983: Manderson 54, Snake River 51
1982: Snake River 62, Manderson 50
1979: Byron 60, Snake River 57
1978: Snake River 51, Byron 32
Soccer (13 repeats, 9 changes)
4A boys (4 repeats, 2 changes)
2021: Jackson 2, Thunder Basin 1, OT
(no tournament 2020)
2019: Jackson 1, Thunder Basin 0
2014: Laramie 2, Campbell County 0
2013: Laramie 2, Campbell County 1
2011: Sheridan 2, Laramie 1
2010: Laramie 2, Sheridan 0
2003: Kelly Walsh 1, East 0
2002: Kelly Walsh 1, East 0
1999: Central 1, Kelly Walsh 0
1998: Kelly Walsh 2, Central 0
1989: East 1, Natrona 0 (SO)
1988: East 1, Natrona 0
3A boys (2 repeats, 2 changes)
2021: Worland 1, Powell 0
(no tournament 2020)
2019: Worland 2, Powell 0
2011: Cody 2, Buffalo 1
2010: Buffalo 1, Cody 0
2009: Cody 5, Buffalo 1
2008: Cody 2, Buffalo 1
4A girls (5 repeats, 5 changes)
2022: Thunder Basin 2, Rock Springs 0
2021: Rock Springs 2, Thunder Basin 0
2019: Thunder Basin 2, Central 1 (SO)
2018: Central 2, Thunder Basin 0
2017: Campbell County 4, Laramie 1
2016: Laramie 4, Campbell County 2
2015: East 1, Sheridan 0
2014: East 6, Sheridan 1
2011: Campbell County 2, Laramie 1 (SO)
2010: Laramie 2, Campbell County 0
2009: Laramie 1, Campbell County 0
2002: East 2, Campbell County 1 (SO)
2001: East 2, Campbell County 0
1991: Natrona 2, Sheridan 0
1990: Natrona 4, Sheridan 1
1989: Natrona 2, East 0
1988: East 3, Natrona 0
1987: East 5, Natrona 2
3A girls (2 repeats, 0 changes)
2018: Cody 2, Worland 0
2017: Cody 2, Worland 1
2010: Jackson 1, Buffalo 0 (SO)
2009: Jackson 2, Buffalo 0
Volleyball (14 repeats, 11 changes)
4A girls (3 repeats, 3 changes)
2021: Laramie 3, Kelly Walsh 0
2020: Laramie 3, Kelly Walsh 1
2017: Kelly Walsh 3, East 1
2016: East 3, Kelly Walsh 0
2008: Kelly Walsh 3, Natrona 1
2007: Natrona 3, Kelly Walsh 1
2004: East 3, Kelly Walsh 1
2003: East 3, Kelly Walsh 1
2002: Kelly Walsh 2, Riverton 0
2001: Kelly Walsh 2, Riverton 1
1976: Natrona 2, East 0
1975: East 2, Natrona 1
3A girls (2 repeats, 3 changes)
2022: Mountain View 3, Lyman 2
2021: Lyman 3, Mountain View 2
2006: Wheatland 3, Star Valley 0
2005: Star Valley 3, Wheatland 0
2004: Star Valley 3, Wheatland 1
2003: Star Valley 3, Wheatland 1
1981: Wheatland 2, Star Valley 0
1980: Star Valley 2, Wheatland 1
2A girls (2 repeats, 1 change)
2017: Sundance 3, Wright 0
2016: Wright 3, Sundance 0
2008: Big Horn 3, Mountain View 0
2007: Big Horn 3, Mountain View 0
1981: Pine Bluffs 2, Saratoga 0
1980: Pine Bluffs 2, Saratoga 1
1A girls (7 repeats, 4 changes)
2013: Cokeville 3, Lingle 2
2012: Cokeville 3, Lingle 0
2011: Cokeville 3, Kaycee 0
2010: Kaycee 3, Cokeville 2
2009: Burlington 3, Cokeville 2
2008: Cokeville 3, Burlington 1
2003: Snake River 3, Burlington 1
2002: Burlington 2, Snake River 1
2001: Cokeville 2, Snake River 1
2000: Cokeville 2, Snake River 1
1999: Cokeville 2, Burlington 1
1998: Cokeville 2, Burlington 0
1997: Cokeville 2, Burlington 1
1996: Cokeville 2, Burlington 1
1994: Burlington 2, Cokeville 0
1993: Cokeville 2, Burlington 0
1992: Cokeville 2, Pine Bluffs 1
1991: Cokeville 2, Pine Bluffs 0
1987: Cokeville 2, Ten Sleep 0
1986: Cokeville 2, Ten Sleep 0
Football (18 repeats, 10 changes)
4A (5 repeats, 4 changes)
2018: Natrona 28, Sheridan 14
2017: Sheridan 28, Natrona 14
2016: Sheridan 56, Natrona 28
2002: Rock Springs 36, Campbell County 14
2001: Rock Springs 22, Campbell County 19
1992: Sheridan 27, Campbell County 9
1991: Sheridan 27, Campbell County 8
1981: Kelly Walsh 35, Rock Springs 0
1980: Kelly Walsh 20, Rock Springs 7
1969: Laramie 22, Worland 14
1968: Laramie 48, Worland 0
1938: Sheridan 6, Natrona 0
1937: Natrona 19, Sheridan 0
1936: Sheridan 14, Natrona 0
1935: Rock Springs 19, Sheridan 0
1934: Sheridan 26, Rock Springs 6
3A (6 repeats, 0 changes)
2021: Cody 41, Jackson 24
2020: Cody 34, Jackson 13
2002: Worland 17, Star Valley 14, OT
2001: Worland 6, Star Valley 0
1998: Riverton 9, Star Valley 7
1997: Riverton 23, Star Valley 20
1956: Worland 46, Torrington 12
1955: Worland 16, Torrington 14, OT
1954: Worland 32, Torrington 7
1953: Worland 13, Torrington 7
2A (3 repeats, 4 changes)
2019: Mountain View 24, Buffalo 14
2018: Buffalo 43, Mountain View 18
2014: Mountain View 28, Big Horn 19
2013: Big Horn 47, Mountain View 22
2012: Lyman 22, Lovell 20
2011: Lovell 21, Lyman 13
2008: Glenrock 18, Kemmerer 0
2007: Kemmerer 22, Glenrock 0
2001: Big Piney 24, Mountain View 14
2000: Big Piney 44, Mountain View 28
1991: Thermopolis 6, Lovell 0
1990: Thermopolis 21, Lovell 20, OT
1957: Byron 20, Kemmerer 0
1956: Byron 19, Kemmerer 7
1A (all levels) (4 repeats, 2 changes)
2019: Big Horn 55, Cokeville 7
2018: Big Horn 56, Cokeville 3
2014: Cokeville 26, Lusk 6
2013: Cokeville 13, Lusk 12
2003: Big Horn 29, Lusk 8
2002: Lusk 31, Big Horn 0
1984: Cokeville 12, Midwest 8
1983: Cokeville 20, Midwest 6
2017: Kaycee 55, Farson 30
2016: Kaycee 41, Farson 30
2012: Dubois 54, Snake River 30
2011: Snake River 54, Dubois 33
–patrick