One of the important bits of help I had in building all-decade teams were the all-class, all-state teams chosen throughout the years.
Often, those came in the form of Super 25 recognition, started in 1991 as a joint venture between the Casper Star-Tribune and the Wyoming Radio Network.
However, all-class, all-state teams didn’t start with the Super 25. Variously, such teams have been chosen throughout the past century, although their popularity waned as classifications took root in the 1940s.
That said, five other Star-Tribune all-state teams were not only helpful in building some all-decade teams but fascinating to look at from today. In 1972, 1973, 1982, 1983 and 1984 (from what I could find), the CST also chose all-state teams from across all classifications based on position, an early precursor to what became the Super 25.
I thought they were interesting, so I thought I’d share the choices here. Those teams included:
1972 (66 choices)
BASIN: Roger Cowan, 6-0, 195, sr, OG.
BIG PINEY: Mark Mickelson, 6-0, 225, sr, OT; Solon Murdock, 5-10, 165, sr, LB.
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Jef Johnson, 6-0, 170, sr, OT; Steve Stowe, 5-9, 168, jr, LB.
CHEYENNE EAST: Greg Federer, 5-4, 145, sr, E; Mike Rafferty, 6-1, 172, jr, QB.
CODY: Ernie Fuller, 6-1, 165, sr, DB.
COKEVILLE: Briant Teichert, 5-6, 130, sr, LB.
COWLEY: Don Strom, 6-3, 190, sr, E.
DOUGLAS: Kent Griffin, 5-8, 170, sr, DB; Larry Shatto, 5-7, 150, sr, DB.
DUBOIS: Mike Hesseltine, 6-3, 236, sr, C.
EVANSTON: Alan Aanerud, 5-11, 160, sr, DB; Bob Hansen, 5-7, 130, sr, DB.
GLENROCK: Fred Hiser, 5-9, 165, sr, LB; Steve Potter, 6-0, 180, sr, OG; Mike Ragan, 5-10, 160, sr, QB.
GUERNSEY-SUNRISE: Greg Putman, 6-1, 185, sr, DE.
KELLY WALSH: Tom Coleman 5-10, 150, sr, DB; Gerry Geldien, 6-2, 180, sr, FB; Marv Jackson, 6-0, 150, jr, LB; Gary Potter, 6-1, 164, sr, DE; Mark Smith, 5-9, 136, sr, DB.
KEMMERER: Mark Borino, 6-2, 217, sr, DT; Joe Feeley, 6-8, 185, sr, HB.
LANDER: Jim Eustace, 6-1, 200, sr, OT; Kirk Lunt, 6-1, 185, sr, E; Mike Milne, 5-11, 155, sr, HB; Jim Svilar, 6-3, 205, jr, DE.
LARAMIE: Jeff Collins, 6-1, 187, sr, DT; Craig Parham, 5-9, 140, sr, HB; Lenny Roehrkasse, 6-0, 155, sr, DB; George Waskovich, 5-10, 150, sr, DE.
LINGLE: John Thomas, 6-0, 175, sr, LB.
LOVELL: John Cassity, 6-0, 165, sr, E.
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Wade Rudy, 5-10, 156, sr, DT.
NATRONA: Dick Fenster, 6-1, 178, sr, DT; Brent Lorimer, 5-11, 187, sr, OT; Roy Renfro, 6-0, 182, sr, DE.
PINEDALE: Loren Springstead, 6-3, 180, jr, OG.
POWELL: Dusty Franklin, 6-0, 170, sr, DB; Kim Frame, 5-11, 160, sr, DB.
RAWLINS: Jim Wells, 5-10, 170, sr, LB.
RIVERTON: Dennis Bishop, 5-11, 190, sr, OG; R.B. Hackbarth, 5-11, 152, sr, E; Scott Komrs, 5-9, 165, jr, OT; Randy Pickinpaugh, 5-8, 167, sr, DB.
SHERIDAN: Greg Filbert, 6-2, 230, sr, FB; Mike Harris, 175, sr, DB; Mark Hendrickson, 5-9, 160, sr, HB; Jim Jurosek, 6-1, 205, sr, OT.
ST. MARY’S: Doug Brown, 6-0, 150, sr, LB.
STAR VALLEY: Ballard Johnson, 6-1, 165, jr, E.
THERMOPOLIS: Dave Haworth, 6-2, 180, sr, C; John Hendryx, 5-89, 155, sr, OG.
TONGUE RIVER: Dennis Brunson, 5-11, 186, jr, HB; Steve Switzer, 5-10, 180, sr, DT.
TORRINGTON: Tom Anderson, 6-0, 210, sr, OG; Ron Brooks, 6-1, 165, jr, FB; Gary Herdt, 6-2, 165, sr, QB; Kelly Sittner, 6-3, 195, sr, LB.
UPTON: Chuck McAulay, 5-9, 170, sr, HB; Cecil Strong, 5-10, 185, sr, DE.
WHEATLAND: Rex Johnson, 6-2, 190, sr, C.
WORLAND: Don Love, 6-0, 180, sr, DT.
1973 (26 choices)
COWLEY: John Wilson, 170, sr, CB.
GLENROCK: Blair Hershey, 225, sr, OT.
GREEN RIVER: Stan Owens, 210, sr, DE; Bruce Parker, 170, sr, OG.
GUERNSEY-SUNRISE: Mark Gorman, 170, jr, LB; Dennis Reffalt, 205, jr, DE.
JACKSON: Gary Clinkenbeard, 190, sr, S.
KELLY WALSH: Neil Grandbouche, 165, sr, TE; Les Jackson, 145, sr, S.
KEMMERER: Jerry Dolar, 180, sr, QB; Steve Dover, 180, sr, RB.
LANDER: Jim Svilar, 206, sr, OG.
LARAMIE: Mike Gerard, 135, sr, WR; Terry Martin, 185, sr, NG.
LINGLE: Joe Kinnan, 210, sr, OT.
NATRONA: Bruce Gonce, 160, sr, P; Chuck Wilson, 165, jr, LB.
PINEDALE: Chuck McAdam, 190, sr, C.
POWELL: Nevin Jacobs, 190, sr, K.
RIVERTON: Dirk Bush, 187, jr, FL.
ROCK SPRINGS: Jerry Fennell, 190, sr, K.
TONGUE RIVER: Dennis Brunson, 187, sr, RB; Mike Hille, 230, sr, DT.
TORRINGTON: Ron Brooks, 175, sr, CB; Byron Grapes, 240, sr, DT.
WHEATLAND: Randy Kennicut, 165, sr, RS.
1982 (25 choices)
BURNS: David Petsch, 5-10, 165, jr, DB.
BYRON: Brian Ballard, 6-2, 215, sr, NG.
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Scott Romsa, 6-2, 205, sr, C.
COKEVILLE: Ed Delgado, 5-9, 150, sr, K; Scott Ferguson, 6-1, 210, sr, DT.
JACKSON: Tom Basye, 6-3, 190, sr, RB; Scott Coonce, 6-4, 215, sr, OT.
KELLY WALSH: Jim McAnulty, 6-3, 165, (??), DB.
LARAMIE: Troy Gillum, 5-10, 155, sr, KR; Vaughn Spiegelberg, 5-8, 183, sr, LB.
MOORCROFT: Rock Mirich, 6-3, 200, sr, LB.
NATRONA: David Browning, 6-2, 180, jr, P.
NEWCASTLE: Mike Gregory, 6-2, 235, sr, OG.
RAWLINS: Sam Earl, 6-3, 180, sr, DB; Dwayne Weythman, 6-3, 195, sr, OT; Mike Wilcox, 6-1, 205, sr, OG.
RIVERTON: Jim Price, 6-0, 195, sr, DE.
SARATOGA: David Jones, 5-10, 160, sr, RB.
SHERIDAN: Pat Keith, 6-1, 190, sr, TE; Marc Martini, 5-11, 170, sr, QB; John Mitchell, 6-1, 215, sr, DT; Tom Weber, 5-9, 205, sr, DE.
STAR VALLEY: Todd Spencer, 5-10, 185, sr, DB.
WHEATLAND: Dean Dick, 6-4, 190, sr, FB; Andy Jones, 6-1, 165, jr, SE.
1983 (25 choices)
BUFFALO: Scott Studie, 6-2, 240, jr, OT.
BURNS: David Petsch, 5-11, 170, sr, RB; Ardie Wardell, 6-2, 195, sr, DE.
CAMPBELL COUNTY: Dan Hays, 6-4, 210, jr, QB; Rich Klein, 6-4, 210, sr, TE.
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Pat Brinkman, 6-0, 160, sr, DB; David Edeen, 6-5, 210, sr, DT; Gordon Knopp, 6-4, 305, sr, OT; Andre Rudolph, 5-11, 175, jr, RB.
EVANSTON: Brent Sanders, 5-11, 170, sr, RB.
KELLY WALSH: Grant Koenekamp, 5-10, 170, sr, C; J.R. Robinson, 5-89, 155, sr, DB.
KEMMERER: Jon Cogdill, 6-5, 235, jr, DT.
LARAMIE: Frank Ahrenholtz, 5-10, 175, sr, OG; Andy Swanson, 5-10, 155, jr, K.
LYMAN: Vince Palmassano, 6-2, 200, sr, NG.
PINEDALE: Mike Davis, 5-9, 185, sr, LB.
SHERIDAN: Kip Halverson, 6-4, 200, sr, DB; Chuck Johnson, 6-7, 200, sr, SE; Tom Kilpatrick, 6-3, 190, sr, P; John Will, 5-9, 150, sr, LB.
STAR VALLEY: Casey Erickson, 5-8, 155, sr, KR; Orrin Schwab, 6-2, 200, sr, DE.
UPTON: Walt Riehemann, 5-9, 150, sr, DB.
WHEATLAND: Dean Finnerty, 6-1, 215, sr, OG.
1984 (25 choices)
BUFFALO: Scott Studie, 6-4, 250, sr, OL.
CAMPBELL COUNTY: Troy Lake, 6-0, 225, sr, C; Flint McCullough, 6-11, 225, jr, DL.
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Jeff Lansing, 5-9, 175, sr, LB; Tony Lowham, 6-2, 180, sr, NG; Andre Rudolph, 5-11, 180, sr, RB.
CODY: John McDougall, 6-3, 190, jr, DB; Shawn Wehrer, 6-3, 240, sr, OL.
DUBOIS: Kal Jepson, 5-6, 140, sr, DB.
KELLY WALSH: Todd Brichacek, 6-2, 185, sr, DB; Sean Simmons, 5-6, 140, sr, DB.
KEMMERER: Jon Cogdill, 6-5, 265, sr, DL.
LARAMIE: Mark Douglas, 5-10, 145, sr, DL; Terrace Vaughn, 6-4, 243, sr, RB; Jay Wright, 6-3, 220, sr, OL.
MIDWEST: Greg Hoff, 5-7, 135, sr, KR.
NATRONA: Lance Banks, 6-2, 185, sr, TE; Bill Brenton, 5-9, 185, sr, LB.
POWELL: Scott Wagner, 6-2, 205, sr, DL.
RAWLINS: Jerry Smith, 6-1, 165, sr, SE.
RIVERTON: Todd Brown, 5-10, 170, sr, K; Ken Crouse, 6-3, 200, sr, P.
SHERIDAN: Brian Conley, 6-4, 200, sr, OL; Tom Kilpatrick, 6-4, 190, sr, QB.
WHEATLAND: Duncan Irvine, 5-10, 185, sr, RB.
–patrick