Unlike any state in the country, Wyoming doesn’t really have a potent sports-media website. To find historical data, or to remember impactful players and teams, you might be digging through Google for quite some time.
So we created Wyoming Five Star. Our goal is to focus the attention on Wyoming high school sports into one, easy-to-use, platform for all the memorable moments you see year after year. Whether it be historic rivalries like Natrona County and Kelly Walsh, or breakout stars like Logan Wilson, James Johnson, or Casey Bramlet, Wyoming Five Star will be there to record it all.
If you’re from Wyoming, you’ve seen some pretty impressive players and teams come through your town. What if you could turn back the pages, and revisit those moments anytime you want? Time after time, a brilliant person with an unbelievable story is forgotten.
What if there was a way to elevate that special individual in your community, so the entire state could celebrate with you?
People like Sammie Cyrus, a state-champion wrestler hailing from Dubois, Wyoming. Did you know he doesn’t have either of his lower-legs? They were amputated during his early childhood due to a rare blood disease. He won over 100 matches in his career. He currently wrestles at Colby College.
What about Scottie? The mythical maintenance man of the Casper Events Center (now Ford Wyoming Center). Somehow, no one knows a single thing about him, other than his iconic court-sweeping routine at halftime of the State Basketball Championships. Why can’t we hear about him, too?
Maybe you remember Hunter Thompson, a perennial basketball talent from Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. He played four seasons at the University of Wyoming, and is one of the top-athletes to ever come from Wyoming.
What about Kristen Newlin? The former WNBA basketball, and record-breaking swimming star from Riverton, Wyoming? She grew up down the street from me, actually. She played basketball at Stanford before being drafted, and continued her playing career overseas in Turkey.
How about Lander Valley Boys Swimming? This season would mark 30-consecutive 3A State Championship victories. Yes, you read that right. 30-Straight titles. The streak began with Head Coach, and Wyoming icon, Bruce Gresly in 1996.
Or, last year’s Lauren Olsen from Douglas, Wyoming. She was a part of four-straight state championship victories, during the Bearcats 7-consecutive basketball titles (which is still active). Oh yeah, she’s Wyoming’s All-Time leading point scorer. Now Lauren’s at California Baptist University.
Maybe you remember the 2015 Natrona County Mustangs, who darn-near swept every sport. They sent over 20 kids to college athletic programs. Football, Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Wrestling, Volleyball, you name it. Everywhere you looked, a next-level athlete wearing black and orange.
Did you forget Brett Keisel? The defensive-end who played 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who grew up in Greybull, Wyoming. He won two world-championships with the Steelers, after his collegiate career at BYU.
What about Easton Paxton, the Riverton-golf standout who won Four-consecutive Wyoming State Championships. He went on to play the most competitive rounds of any Wolfpack member in North Carolina State history. He’s now a member of the Professional Golf Association. His little brother, Parker, is only a few years behind him – currently playing golf at the University of Colorado.
The point is, Wyoming Five Star is trying to break the notion that Wyoming doesn’t produce high-caliber athletes. These are just a handful of the impactful and influential people over the years. With so many wonderful players and teams from the state of Wyoming, the mission is to use our voice to tell these amazing stories.
Our job is to bring the small communities together over our shared-love of sports, through diligent reporting, player and team exposure, and consistent connection. The best part – an entire new crop of players are making their own history as we speak.
Tune into wyomingfivestar.com for all the best stories and highlights from Wyoming high school athletics. You can also check out the social media pages for videos, photos, polls, and other content to enjoy. Every week, we chat with a local guest on the Wyoming Five Star Podcast, which you can find on Spotify and Youtube.
If you have a passion for Wyoming sports, contact us today with your story idea. This platform is built by the community, and for the community. Although I’m the one writing, it’s your story to be told.
Wyoming Five Star, #breakingthenotion
