GOSHEN COUNTY – Athlets across Goshen County took 2024 by storm. A look back at the top sports stories from October to December.

October 9

Coach snags 400th  career win

TORRINGTON – A pair of conference victories by the Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers versus Northwest College and Central Wyoming College resulted in two milestones for the program.

Head coach George Hamilton rang in his 400th career victory following EWC’s win over Central Wyoming College on October 5.

The Lady Lancers also maintained their season winning streak, scoring two more victories over the weekend.

October 11

Pacing with patience – Lingle runner wins Monument Marathon  in Scottsbluff

LINGLE – Patience is a virtue – especially in the midst of a grueling, 26.2-mile marathon run through the steep, rugged bluffs of western Nebraska as temperatures pushed into the 80s.

The capacity to endure tough conditions and unpredictability while maintaining a steady pace is key to conquering the mental game in marathons, Lingle runner Joe Wilson said.

Wilson’s patient game plan paid off at the annual Monument Marathon around Scottsbluff on September 28. The veteran runner crossed the finish line in first place, more than 16 minutes ahead of the runner-up with a time of 2 hours, 46 minutes, 45 seconds.

October 11

THS boysí tennis coach of year honored

TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School tennis team demonstrated improvement over the course of the season, culminating with the varsity boys’ squad clinching fourth place at the South Conference regional tournament in Green River the third week of September.

The postseason also resulted in tennis coaches from across the region honoring head tennis coach Lauren Shields as the 2024 conference boys’ coach of the year.

October 16

Blazers snag conference Homecoming win

TORRINGTON – A 23-14 victory by the Torrington High School Blazers football team over the Buffalo Bison catapulted Torrington to an undefeated, 3-0 conference record as competition heats up midway into October.

The Blazers scored their third consecutive conference win against Buffalo in front of the Homecoming Week crowd on Friday, October 11.

Three touchdowns by a solid Blazer offense once again in control of the game on the ground and in the air established a 23-14 lead for Torrington following a physical first half. A determined Blazer defense shut out Buffalo in the second half to seal the victory.

October 23

Harriers capture hardware at regionals ñ junior duo earns all-conference recognition

RAWLINS – The Torrington High School cross-country team fought deteriorating weather conditions and tough competition at the 3A East conference championships in Rawlins on Thursday, October 17.

Goshen County harriers stepped up to the plate regardless of the obstacles, with four athletes breaking into the top 20. Southeast junior Kaycee Kosmicki and Lingle-Fort Laramie junior Sullivan Wilson both snagged 3A all-conference accolades for top 10 finishes.

In boys’ varsity, Wilson set the pace for Goshen County with a second-place finish at 17 minutes, 49.19 seconds. 

Kosmicki led the girls’ varsity pack, capturing third place with a time of 21:57.42.

October 25

A new experience – Lingle runner competes in Chicago Marathon for first time

TORRINGTON – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the largest running events in the United States. According to the official marathon website, 52,150 contestants crossed the finish line on October 13 – an event record.

This year’s list of registered runners included AnnMarie Wilson of Lingle. Wilson is a veteran runner and has completed 18 marathons across the country, including the famous 26.2-mile courses in New York and Boston. This was her first experience running the Chicago Marathon, though.

Three hours, 16 minutes and 30 seconds before starting the race at Grant Park, Wilson crossed the finish line in 997th place (out of thousands of women).

October 30

Doggers finish regular season undisputed No. 1

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers football proved beyond any doubt it is the No. 1 team in the 1A 9-man East Conference with an overwhelming 52-0 victory against the Saratoga Panthers in Lingle on Friday, October 25.

The Doggers’ triumph against Saratoga marked the team’s sixth conference victory and eighth overall win over the course of an epic, undefeated regular season. LFL is the only team in the statewide 1A 9-man division to post an undefeated regular-season record in 2024.

October 30

Southeast undefeated in  SEWAC conference

YODER – The Southeast High School Lady Cyclones volleyball team capped off a successful regular season with three victories over the course of a busy weekend from October 24-26.

Southeast finished the regular season with an undefeated 9-0 conference record in the 1A Southeast Quadrant and a 23-4 overall record. The Lady Cyclones enter the 1A East regional tournament in Guernsey as the unchallenged No. 1 seed and is one of two 1A programs in Wyoming with an undefeated conference record.

November 1

Lady Lancers capture  Region IX North title

TORRINGTON – This year, the Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers proved beyond any doubt they are capable of defeating any opponents in a clean sweep, in four sets or even five.

The October 25 victory against Northwest followed a 3-0 win against Central Wyoming College on October 26, allowing the Lady Lancers to snag the NJCAA Region IX North conference title for the first time since 1998 with an undefeated 10-0 conference record.

November 6

Lady Cyclones snag  regional championship

GUERNSEY – The championship match between the Southeast High School Lady Cyclones and the Upton Lady Bobcats came down to the fifth set at the 1A regional tournament in Guernsey on Saturday, November 2.

Southeast’s victory in the fifth set clinched the 3-2 win for the Lady Cyclones against Upton, along with the 1A East regional title.

Southeast’s win in five sets against Upton boosted the Lady Cyclones’ confidence for the upcoming state championships in Casper beginning on Thursday.

November 6

Doggers score  quarterfinal victory

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers football team remained undefeated for the 2024 following a 57-0thrashing against Wind River in the quarterfinals for the 1A 9-man bracket in Lingle on Friday, November 1.

Fireworks by the LFL defense, coupled with a rock solid, dogged defense established an overwhelming 51-0 lead at halftime and advanced the Doggers to the semifinals this weekend against the Big Piney Punchers.

November 6

Lady Doggers capture regional consolation title

GUERNSEY – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Lady Doggers volleyball team rallied from a semifinal setback to snag the consolation championship at the 1A East regional tournament in Guernsey from November 1-2.

LFL pulled out all the stops in the opening match at regionals to sweep Midwest on Friday morning.

The Lady Doggers left it all on the court in the consolation bracket to defeat Kaycee, 3-0, on Saturday morning.

Progressing to the consolation finals, LFL dispatched Niobrara County in four sets, 3-1, to clinch the No. 3 seed going into the state championships in Casper this weekend.

November 6

Lady Blazers clinch third  place at regionals

DOUGLAS – The Torrington High School Lady Blazers volleyball team battled back from a semifinal setback to snag the consolation championship at the 3A East regional tournament in Douglas from November 1-2.

Torrington left it all on the court in the first round on Friday to defeat Newcastle in four close sets, 3-1.

Finding themselves in the consolation bracket, Torrington rallied to knock out Buffalo in four sets, 3-1, securing a berth at the 3A state championships in the process.

Torrington wrapped up the tournament with a clean sweep against Rawlins on Saturday to clinch the No. 3 seed from the east region and the consolation title.

November 13

Doggers advance to  state title game

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers punched their ticket to the 1A 9-man state championship game following a 52-6 semifinal victory against the Big Piney Punchers on Saturday, November 9.

The season-culminating matchup between the Doggers and the Pine Bluffs Hornets at the University of Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium on Saturday, November 16 marks the first title game for LFL since 2009and the fourth in the 122-year history of Dogger football.

Saturday’s semifinal game briefly tied at six in the first quarter before the Doggers shifted into high gear to establish an overwhelming 30-6 lead at halftime.

Three additional touchdowns by LFL in the second half topped off the win.

November 13

Lady Cyclones capture  bronze at state

CASPER – The third-place match between the Southeast High School Lady cyclones and the Upton Lady Bobcats at the 1A state championships in Casper on November 9 reflected Southeast’s ability to rally from a loss and triumph.

Southeast’s tenacity and positive energy remained intact throughout the rollercoaster ride at state as the Lady Cyclones played 18 sets over the course of three exhausting days.

Resolved to end the tournament on a high note, Southeast triumphed against Upton, 3-2, securing the consolation title in the process.

November 20

Doggers 1A 9-man state runner-ups

LARAMIE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers battled in an explosive second half in a bid to come back from a 21-0 halftime deficit against Pine Bluffs at the 1A 9-man state title game in Laramie on November 16.

Despite the Doggers’ best efforts, including three touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters at War Memorial Stadium, the Doggers ultimately came up short by a single possession and Pine Bluffs won, 28-22.

LFL finished the season with a 10-1 overall record. The Doggers dominated the 1A 9-man East classification with an undefeated 6-0 record to claim the conference championship at the conclusion of the regular season.

The 2024 season marked the fifth time in the Doggers’ 122-year football history the team went undefeated during the regular season and the second consecutive year with a unbeaten conference record.

November 27

Perseverance and grit – Southeast senior named 1A Southeast player of the year

YODER – Southeast High School senior and Lady Cyclones volleyball player Brooklyn Leithead attacked the 2024 fall season with poise, confidence and talent.

Developing those traits took years of hard work, though, and Leithead’s first encounters with volleyball were not exactly smooth.

Fast-forward (to Leithead’s senior year) and volleyball is now Leithead’s favorite sport (the multi-sport athlete also excels on the basketball court and in the throwing ring).

The Wyoming Coaches Association recognized LEithead’s skill, tenacity and leadership on the volleyball court this fall and honored the senior as the 1A Southeast player of the year. Leithead also captured 1A all-state honors and 1A and SEWAC all-conference awards.

November 29

Doggers earn player of the year awards

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers football team punched in an historic season. LFL went undefeated in the regular season for only the fifth time in the program’s 122-year history. 

The Doggers also posted their second consecutive year going 6-0 in conference play for an overall 19-2 record in 2023 and 2024.

LFL’s success was rooted in exceptional talent on the gridiron and it comes as no surprise that three senior athletes snagged 1A East conference player of the year awards.

Louden Bremer earned the offensive player of the year award. Senior Kaiden Riggs clinched the 1A East special teams player of the year. Cooper Smith garnered the 1A East defensive player of the year award.

Both Bremer and Riggs secured a spot on the Casper Star-Tribune’s Super-25 roster.

December 11

EWC cowgirls honored by Wyoming Tourism

LAS VEGAS – Eastern Wyoming College sophomore Brenna Herring was selected by the Wyoming Office of Tourism to speak at its Salute to Team Wyoming breakfast on December 6 in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo.

Herring was chosen (by the Wyoming Office of Tourism) for her outstanding performance in the rodeo arena and her dedication to representing Wyoming with pride and integrity outside the arena.

Currently ranked in the top 10 in the region for team roping, Herring’s success on the rodeo circuit is matched by her academic accomplishments. She has earned academic all-American honors from the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

December 20

Logsdon signs with Chadron State for track

YODER – Southeast High School senior Angie Logsdon first attempted to pole vault in eighth grade.

By her freshman year, Logsdon reached a height of nine feet in the pole vault – enough to win the 1A state title. Logsdon went on to snag the state championship in the pole vault as a sophomore.

Logdon’s skill and experience in the pole vault caught the attention of college recruiters. On December 17, Logsdon signed to compete for the Chadron State College Eagles indoor and outdoor track teams at a ceremony with coaches and family.