The 2025-2026 Cody Fillies are gearing up for another shot at a 3A Title, following last year’s runner-up finish. Your preseason prediction might lean toward the Fillies making another title appearance, and you’re probably right.
The Fillies feature many of the key players from last year’s campaign, including two All-State players and another All-Conference. It appears, early on, this could be another fun season for Cody.
The squad features five seniors, including Ellie Talich, the 2x All-State forward. She is expected to be another top scorer, and rebounder, for the Fillies this season. Last year Talich averaged 11.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. She recently signed with Black Hills State for soccer.
Sydney Simone averaged 8.5 points last season, including 3 boards and 2 assists. The 5-foot-10 senior is a main anchor of Cody’s long, athletic defense. Simone signed with Carroll College to play volleyball next season. Another senior to keep your eye on is Maddie Beaudrie, the hard-nosed, defensive stopper from last year’s campaign. She will also play college volleyball next year – at the University of Mary.
It’s hard to forget Grace Hays, another 2x All-State selection. The 5-foot-10 junior who led the Fillies in nearly every statistical category last season. Last year she led Cody with 481 total points (19.2 ppg), 203 rebounds (8 rpg), 78 assists (3 apg), and 162 steals (6.5 spg).
The Fillies also feature a new coach, Robert Tedlund, hailing from Montana. Tedlund recently accepted the position when his friend and former Fillies coach, Chris Wagner, took the Sheridan High School coaching position.
Wyoming Five Star had the opportunity to chat with Coach Tedlund ahead of the upcoming season. Tedlund explained that he, and the Cody community, are very excited for this basketball season for a multitude of reasons. The main being, 1. An extremely talented roster, and 2. A redemption shot at the 3A state-title.
Generational Group of Fillies
It feels like any direction you look, you’ll find a tall, dynamic athlete from Cody, Wyoming. It’s really no secret. Whether it be the girls athletic programs, or the boys, someone is signing to play college ball (if not half the team).
“They’re athletic, multi-sport athletes. It has been really fun coaching them so far,” said Tedlund. “I’m not going to beat around the bush – we’re a very talented team this year. The challenge will be bringing it all together at the right time.”
This Fillies program feels similar to the 2015 Natrona Mustangs boys basketball team – football star here, basketball star there, soccer star over there. From the outside, you could reasonably expect about a half-dozen Fillies to sign with high-level, collegiate-athletic programs.
Current seniors in the program would remember Cody’s incredible run through the 4A Basketball Championships in 2023, when the Fillies brought home the trophy. Across basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball, track, wrestling – this particular group has witnessed or been a part of multiple state-final appearances.
The point is, Cody’s athletic pedigree finds itself amongst top programs anywhere in Wyoming – with only about 600 students. Thanks in part to Athletic Director Matt McFadden, committed training personnel, and a faithful community, the Cody programs have risen to a competitive standpoint equal to high schools with thousands of students.
It’s all in perfect timing, too. Next year the Cody programs will jump back up to the 4A Classification, throwing another competitive layer at the Fillies in 2026-2027.
“We’re at about 550 [students], playing against schools of 2,000 kids…that’s an insane discrepancy,” said Tedlund. “We’re really selling the message to our kids that we’re moving up to 4A next year – we’ve got to bring a different mentality and intensity.”
The Fillies are adding stiffer competition to their schedule this season to prepare for what’s around the corner. At the WyoSports Ranch Tournament in Casper, the Fillies played Jackson, Natrona County, and Laramie – all 4A programs.
“The girls love that challenge, so we say ‘Bring it On!’,” said Tedlund.
Quit Talking About A Championship!
Anytime you’re talking about a high-caliber group, such as the Cody Fillies of recent, the topic of championships somehow finds its way into the conversation. I guess, it’s better to be associated with state championships, versus not, but that expectation isn’t always helpful.
In the case of this year’s Fillies program, it’s hard not to wonder, ‘is this the season it all comes together?’
Last season the Fillies fell just short of a State Championship, falling to the Douglas Bearcats in the season-finale 58-55. It was the Bearcats 7th-consecutive title, powered by Wyoming’s all-time leading scorer Lauren Olsen.
It so happens that many of the Cody Fillies basketball players are also members of the volleyball program, who came up just short against Lovell in the State Championship one month ago.
It’s been somewhat of a dilemma for the Cody athletic programs. The football team have achieved, but lost, four-straight title games; the girls basketball team narrowly lost in the championship last season; this year’s volleyball team lost in a five-set championship match; the boys soccer team lost via shootout in last year’s championship game.
But teenagers are fairly short minded – in all the best ways! Another sport-season is right around the corner, and although the fall-season was somewhat heartbreaking, a new winter-sport has their full attention.
“Kids are so resilient, you know? Sometimes as adults, we might think this was the end of the world for these guys…but kids are so resilient. This weekend we play a different sport, different teams, a big tournament – that energy level will be right back up to where it’s supposed to be,” said Tedlund.
Unlike many surrounding states, there’s really not much overlap between Wyoming fall and winter seasons. In fact, a state-championship qualifying team will have at least seven days of mandatory-rest before official basketball practices begin.
“We don’t really see [a toll] from a physical standpoint – maybe a mental standpoint, a little bit. But with this senior group we have, and the juniors behind them, they’re extremely hard workers … We focus on the day-to-day. We’re not obsessed with outcomes – we’re obsessed with the process,” explained Tedlund.
“I tell the girls, ‘there’s an alternative to pressure. Meaning, you’re supposed to lose’,” joked Tedlund. “We do have pressure, we’re not going to lie about that – but we embrace it. [The girls] have earned this, and developed into really good players. Pressure is a privilege, and they know that.”
Weight Room, Weight Room, Weight Room
It’s obvious now-a-days, but one of the most important factors in competitive athletics is being bigger, faster, and stronger. How do you achieve that? You guessed it.
When the margin between winning and losing might be one, single, box-out, or diving on a loose ball, it helps to have the more-durable frame. A consistent theme amongst all coaches – at virtually every level – is a profound commitment to the weight room.
“One of the main reasons I came [to Cody] is our weight program is phenomenal. Our A.D., Matt McFadden, does a great job with the weight program; all the P.E. teachers take it very seriously. I’ve been to other programs where lifting weights is iffy – not here. It’s the real deal,” explained Tedlund.
“This summer when I was working with the team, I was blown away by how seriously our girls take the weight room. That’s been the culture before I got here, and it makes my job really easy. From a physical strength and intensity standpoint, I have been very impressed.”
It’s sort of the name-of-the-game, to continually improve. A tangible way to notice on-court results is dedicating time to strengthening your body. It’s not rocket science, but it’s not for the faint-of-heart either. Especially when the hour is 6 a.m., and you’ve got a full day of school ahead.
“We just focus on getting better every day. Douglas is going to get better; Powell is going to get better; Lander is going to get better. So we have to get better, too. Our obsession is getting better every day. We preach it.”
Looking Ahead
The Fillies opened their season at the “Compete Casper Classic” at the brand-new WYO Sports Ranch in Casper last Thursday night. They opened their season against 4A Jackson, and walloped them on opening night – final score 63-8. On Friday, the Fillies won again versus 4A Laramie, 61-29. In the final game of the weekend, Cody moved to 3-0 after taking down 4A Natrona County 75-37.
The Fillies will play again on Friday, December 19th versus #4 ranked Douglas at the Douglas Invite at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Cody will play Burns at 1:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more coverage at wyomingfivestar.com.