The Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame has named 12 high school football players as finalists for its annual scholarship awards.
The Wyoming Chapter will award its scholarships during its banquet, set for 5 p.m. March 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn and UW Conference Center in Laramie. The winners are then in the running for the NFF’s national awards, which will be announced this summer.
Each one of the finalists receives a $1,200 scholarship. One overall winner will be named from the finalists, with that scholar-athlete receiving an additional $1,200 scholarship.
The chapter also named 10 special award winners, who will also be honored at the banquet. Tickets are $40 and are available by contacting chapter President Mike Schutte at (970) 484-2797 or MShootee@gmail.com. The banquet usually sells out, so people are encouraged to purchase tickets early.
The winners are listed below:
SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football: Frank Gambino, Casper.
Greatest UW Football Fans: Paul Rechard, Laramie, and Doug Campbell, Saratoga.
Greatest High School Football Fans: Rita Moore, Evanston, and Clyde and Joan Cundall, Douglas.
Ox Zellner Football Official Career Achievement: John Bard, Laramie.
Football Coach Career Achievement: Jim Wiseman, Torrington (posthumous).
Keith & Joyce Bloom Scholar-Athlete Courage Award: Jacob Hepp, Buffalo, and Derek Bacon, Pine Bluffs.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE FINALISTS
University of Wyoming: Chris Prosinski and Dax Crum.
High school: Sean Rietveld, Snake River; Shawn Straub, Kaycee; Jessee Wilson, Rocky Mountain; Beau Petersen, Cokeville; Holden Fauber, Wright; Ryan Haefele, Wright; Trent Boner, Douglas; Hayden Barker, Douglas; Mitch Espeland, Douglas; Lucas Rowley, Natrona County; Dawson Osborn, Sheridan; Jim Shellenberger, Natrona County.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE NOMINEES
Big Horn: Michael Klepperich.
Buffalo: Jacob Hepp, Hayden Kessler, Dave Long.
Burns: Ryler Lerwick.
Cheyenne Central: Josh Borm.
Cokeville: Beau Petersen.
Douglas: Hayden Barker, Gary Bolinger, Trent Boner, Mitch Espeland, Paul Foy, Joe Lake, Justin Melton, Baylor Sieg.
Cheyenne East: Aaron Boyd, Cole Brooks, Zachary Ellender, Michael Galicia, Jeremiah Hunter, Jordan Williams.
Evanston: Jack Lambert.
Gillette: Cody Barber, Riley Bousa, Jake Gill, Drake Kelley.
Glenrock: Matthew Widiker.
Green River: Jacob Flores.
Greybull: Clay Cundall, Dillon McCoy.
Kaycee: Shawn Straub.
Lander: Mitchell Cooper.
Meeteetse: Travis Guthrie.
Natrona County: Chase Cimburek, Jordan Dick, Cole Montgomery, Lucas Rowley, Jim Shellenberger, Kyle Vinich.
Newcastle: Jeremy Beehler, Trey Sylte.
Pine Bluffs: Derek Bacon, Eric Bond, Blayne Gilbert.
Pinedale: Ezra Brown, Stratton Brown, Kenneth Reed.
Rawlins: Jared Craig.
Riverside: Ben Anson.
Rock Springs: Michael Granthom, Zack Rosette.
Rocky Mountain: Jessee Wilson.
Saratoga: Ransom Gates.
Sheridan: Dawson Osborn, Alex Welch.
Shoshoni: Zedekiah Mills.
Snake River: Sean Rietveld.
Star Valley: Logan Abrams.
Sundance: Reed Moore.
Ten Sleep: Scott Erdahl.
Thermopolis: Mitch Syverson.
Wheatland: Ward Anderson, Tyrell Garton, Quinn Zimmerman.
Wright: Holden Fauber, Ryan Haefele.
–patrick
I believe this is the first time one school has had three finalists. Douglas has three in 3A, would be surprised if that ever happens again.