GOSHEN COUNTY – Athletes across Goshen County took 2024 by storm. A look back at the top sports stories from January to May.

January 12

Southeast senior signs to run track and field at BHSU

YODER – Senior Tylar Stoddard is unafraid to step up and try any event in track and field. One event stands out for Stoddard above all the others, however – the triple jump. 

Stoddard holds the Southeast High School outdoor triple jump record at 35 feet, 1 ¼ inches and she snagged third place in the event at state.

At a ceremony on January 4, the Platte River School senior signed to compete on the indoor and outdoor track teams for Black Hills State University, specializing in the triple jump.

January 12

Torrington senior signs to compete in football and track at Dickinson State

TORRINGTON – Torrington High School senior Ty Bennick found himself stepping into a leadership role on the Blazers’ football team this fall. 

Being a role model goes beyond teaching freshmen how to run a play. For Bennick, leadership centered on teaching new players to value hard work and demonstrating character on the gridiron.

Bennick signed to play on the D-line for the Dickinson State University Blue Hawks at a ceremony in the Willi Gym on January 10. He will also compete on the college’s track team.

January 31

Houk, Brothwell snag championships at Ron Thon

RIVERTON – Seniors Kaleb Brothwell and Josie Houk fought through brackets crowded with talented wrestlers from across the state to triumph over the competition (at Ron Thon tournament) and garner championships.

Brothwell secured the boys’ championship at 138 pounds while Houk snagged gold in the girls’ 155-pound division.

February 14

Doggers snag 12th home court victory

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers successfully defended their home court for a 12th time this season with a resounding 50-pint victory against the Guernsey-Sunrise Vikings, 63-13, on February 10.

The Doggers’ triumph also marked the team’s 16th overall season win

Roaring onto the court in the first quarter of the non-conference matchup, a coordinated Dogger offense netted 18 points while a solid LFL defense held Guernsey to only two points.

February 21

Goshen County athletes achieve top 10 at Simplot

POCATELLO, IDAHO – More than 2,000 of the best indoor tracksters from 20 U.S. states, along with athletes from Canada, New Zealand and Australia, gathered at the 44th Annual Siplot Games on February 15-17.

Runners, jumpers and throwers from Goshen County on the THS indoor team posted exceptional performances at Simplot, with eight athletes qualifying for the finals at the internationally renowned meet.

Senior Harper Boche captured fourth place in the finals for the girls’ shot put, snagging a spot on the podium with a mark of 39 feet, 9 ½ inches.

February 21

Blazers rout Newcastle

NEWCASTLE – The Torrington High School Blazers offense and defense clicked during the February 17 away game against Newcastle, resulting in the Blazers netting a decisive 39-21 victory over Douglas.

Torrington’s win provided the Blazers with positive momentum as they prepapre for the final weekend of the regular season with home games against Glenrock and Rawlins.

February 28

LFL/SE crowns four state champions

CASPER – An epic season for the Lingle-Fort Laramie/Southeast wrestling team culminated in four championships at the 2024 state tournament in Casper last weekend.

Senior Josie Houk snagged gold in the girls’ 155-pound bracket. Senior Kaleb Brothwell (144 pounds) and juniors Nathan Fish (120 pounds) and Louden Bremer (150 pounds) captured state titles in the 2A boys’ tournament.

February 28

Four THS grapplers medal at state

CASPER – The Torrington High School Blazers wrestling team continued its postseason momentum with eight grapplers advancing to the quarterfinals and four earning semifinal berths at the 2024 Wyoming Wrestling Championships in Casper on February 22-24.

Torrington rounded out the season-culminating event with an 11-th placing finish, posting 63 team points.

Barrett Eichenberger placed fourth at 132 pounds. Sixth-place finishes included Brendan Woodard (150 pounds), Bryce Hager (175 pounds) and Colby Sandusky (144 pounds).

March 1

THS senior commits to Hawkeye College

TORRINGTON – On February 27, Torrington High School senior Alyssa Wondercheck committed to continuing her athletic career at the collegiate level, signing to compete on the Hawkeye Community College track team in Waterloo, Iowa, specializing in the long jump.

Wondercheck earned all-state track honors in the long jump in 2023. She is also a member of the THS school record-breaking 4x200-meter relay team.

March 6

Lady Cyclones capture state title

CASPER – Fans representing every sector of the Southeast High School community packed a section of the Ford Wyoming Center to support the Lady Cyclones in their showdown against the Upton Lady Bobcats for the 1A state championship on March 2.

The final seconds came down to a battle at the free-throw line that the Lady Cyclones soundly won, thanks to (Kaycee) Kosmicki shooting 6-for-8 from the charity stripe to seal the state championship victory for Southeast, 45-40.

March 6

Lady Doggers clinch second at state

CASPER – The championship game at the 2A State Basketball tournament between two talented teams – the Lingle Fort Laramie Lady Doggers and the Tongue River Lady Eagles – truly encapsulated a clash of the titans in the conference.

LFL entered the tournament boasting an undefeated 6-0 conference record and 20-5 overall.

Both teams left it all on the court in an epic, four-quarter, point-for-point battle at the Ford Wyoming Center on March 2.

March 6

Indoor track crowns five state champions

GILLETTE – The THS indoor track team competed at the state championships in Gillette on March 1-2.

In a single toss, (Harper) Boche snagged the indoor track state championship – her second state title – and garnered All-State honors in the process. Boche’s throw the previous year set the 3A state indoor track shot put record.

The Torrington High School indoor track girls’ 4x200-meter relay team (Trishell Pontarolo, Natalie Hawes, Alyssa Wonderchek and Brooklyn Asmus) broke its own personal record, and the THS school record, each week over the course of the 2024 season. The state championships were no exception.

March 6

Cyclones rally at state to snag consolation trophy

CASPER – The Southeast High School Cyclones chose to battle back (after early setbacks at the state championships).

The Cyclones rebounded on Friday afternoon to defeat Kaycee, 37-25, in the consolation semifinals.

A gritty Southeast defense and a tenacious Cyclones offense combined to defeate the Meeteetse Longhorns, 46-37, on Saturday to snag the 1A state consolation trophy.

March 8

Girlsí softball team gears up for inaugural season

TORRINGTON – More than a dozen athletes gathered at the Wyoming National Guard Armory in Torrington on Tuesday for the second practice of the first girls’ high school softball season in Goshen County.

Team members represented all three high schools in the district – Torrington, Lingle-Fort Laramie and Southeast – and Robin Schainost is the head coach.

March 13

Lady Blazers rally to clinch state consolation trophy

CASPER – The Torrington High School Lady Blazers fought their way back from a loss to Mountain View, 46-31, in the quarterfinals at the 3A state tournament in Casper to snag the consolation trophy.

Digging deep, the Lady Blazers returned to the court early on Friday morning to overwhelm the Lyman Eagles, 50-33.

Advancing to the consolation finals on Saturday, Torrington defeated Wheatland in a decisive game, 35-30.

March 13

SE duo named players of the year

YODER – Postseason awards for the 2023-2024 winter season are in and two athletes in Goshen County garnered player of the year awards from the WyOming Coaches Association.

Southeast High School senior and Lady Cyclone Baylie Booth captured the 1A Southeast player of the year award for girls’ basketball. Southeast sophomore and Cyclone T.J. Moats snagged the 1A Southeast player of the year award for boys’ basketball.

March 22

Pay it forward ñ Hamer-Smith named to Officials Hall of Fame

TORRINGTON – Longtime Torrington coach and official Kathy Hamer-Smith dedicated countless hours to youth sports over the course of a stoied career.

Hamer-Smith served as head THS volleyball coach for 12 years, worked as a junior-varsity basketball coach for 12 years and is now beginning her 43rd year as a track coach.

Thirty-two years ago, Hamer-Smith began officiating volleyball games at the middle-school, high-school and junior college levels and never looked back.

March 22

Boche sings for track at Concordia University, Nebraska

YODER – Southeast High School senior Harper Boche initially did not set out to be a shot put and discus thrower. Boche commenced her track career in middle school at the urging of her parents.

Boche’s shot put and discus talents took off in high school and the senior snagged all-state honors for both the discus and shot put.

Boche’s throwing skills caught the eyes of college recruiters and the senior signed to compete on the track teams at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska on March 19.

March 29

Albaugh commits to WNCC

TORRINGTON – Torrington High School senior Alyssa Albaugh emerged as a leader early in her softball career.

Albaugh joined the Cheyenne South Lady Bison softball team her freshman year. Albaugh continued to play varsity softball for Cheyenne South and served as a team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Albaugh committed to play softball at the college level when the senior signed to compete for the Western Nebraska Community College Lady Cougars at a ceremony with family, friends and coaches on March 21.

April 5

Scheer named 1A basketball coach of the year

TORRINGTON – The Wyoming Coaches Association honored the Southeast High School Lady Cyclones’ head coach Jennifer Scheer as the 1A girls’ basketball coach of the year on April 2.

Scheer felt “very grateful” to receive the award and gave full credit for the Lady Cyclones’ success to the Southeast coaching staff and players on the team. During the course of the 2023-2024 winter season, Scheer worked with coaches Monica Anderson and Emily Buchanan.

April 12

Bartel and Cook named SEWAC coaches of the year

LINGLE – A successful winter basketball season for the Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) High School culminated with Lady Doggers head coach Susan Bartel and Doggers head coach Chris Cook receiving the SEWAC coach of the year awards.

The Lady Doggers concluded the 2023-2024 winter season ranked No. 1 in the 2A Southeast Quadrant, netting an impressive 22-6 overall record and an undefeated conference record.

The Doggers finished the season as the No. 1 team in the 2A Southeast Quadrant, posting an 18-6 overall record and a 4-2 conference record.

April 17

Blazers shatter Worlandís 3A conference winning streak

TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School Blazer boys’ soccer team battled the Worland Warriors to a 2-2 deadlock by the end of regulation in Torrington on Friday, April 12.

An epic save by Blazers’ goalie Ayden Shimic clinched the Blazers’ victory against Worland in an overtime shootout.

The victory secured the No. 1 spot for the Blazers in the 3A East Conference. Torrington also demolished Worland’s long standing winning streak against 3A teams.

April 24

Wilson breaks long-standing 1600-meter record

SCOTTSBLUFF – LFL tracksters rose to the occasion at the Scottsbluff Twilight Invitational on April 19 to post solid performances against larger teams from Nebraska and Wyoming.

Sophomore Sullivan Wilson broke the long-time Lingle-Fort Laramie school record in the boys’ 1600-meters, snagging second place with a time of 4 minutes, 38.79 seconds.

Bob Daiss set the previous record of 4:39.95 in 1984.

April 24

Asmus breaks 44-year-old 400-meter record

SCOTTSBLUFF – Torrington High School runners, jumpers and throwers raised the bar at the Scottsbluff Twilight Invitational on April 19.

Sophomore Brooklyn Asmus snagged gold in three events, trouncing the competition in sprinting and mid-distance races.

Asmus ran the girls’ 400-meters for the first time and crossed the finish line with a new Torrington High School record at 58.95 seconds. Jackie Cruickshank set the previous record of 59.26 seconds.

May 22

Southeast tracksters snag nine all-state awards

CASPER – An epic track season by both the Southeast High School girls and boys teams culminated in five gold medals and nine all-state awards at the 2024 Wyoming State Track and Field Championships in Casper from May 16-18.

The Lady Cyclones brought their A-game, snagging second place as a team out of 17 schools and posting 107 points. The smaller, younger boys team demonstrated considerable improvement throughout the season and advanced to ninth place on the state leaderboard in a field of 20 schools, tallying 25 points.

May 22

LFL track teams garner trophies at state

CASPER – Three full days of blood, sweat and tears by Lingle-Fort Laramie tracksters culminated in six gold medals and seven all-state awards at the 2024 Wyoming State Track and Field Championships in Casper from May 16-18.

The boys advanced to second place as a team in a field of 14 squads, tallying 106.50 points. The Lady Doggers captured fourth place, posting 50 points.

May 22

THS tracksters capture six all-state awards

CASPER – Both the Torrington girls and boys track teams pulled out all the stops at the 2024 Wyoming State Track and Field Championships in Casper from May 16-18, filling their bag with hardware, new PRs, school records and six all-state awards.

The Lady Blazers took sixth place out of 15 schools as a team, netting 68 points. The Blazer boys, fielding a smaller roster, placed ninth as a team with 34 points.

May 22

Blazers snag bronze at state soccer tournament

GREEN RIVER – The Torrington High School Blazers refused to let a setback prevent them from garnering hardware at the 2024 State Soccer Championships in Green River on May 16-18.

Digging deep, the Blazers battled back from a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against Green River in the semifinals on Friday to defeat Lander, 1-0, on Saturday and capture third place at the tournament.

May 31

Tenacious work ethic ñ Arnusch named 3A player of the year

LINGLE – Lingle-Fort Laramie sophomore Anthony Arnusch dedicated countless hours to improve his soccer game as a member of the THS Blazers.

Acknowledging Arnusch’s ability to coordinate attacks for the Blazers with speed and precision, the Wyoming Coaches Association took its recognition a step further (than all-state and all-conference), naming Arnusch the 3A underclassman of the year.