The Lander Valley (LVHS) Boys Swimming program has entered the waters again this December, prepping for another chance at championship glory. It feels like a hidden story that, somehow, takes a backseat to other Wyoming winning-streaks. But if the Tigers win another team-championship, 2026 would mark 30-consecutive years of first-place finishes.
Yes, you read that right. 30-consecutive 3A state championships.
The perennial program ranks among the top athletic programs anywhere on the planet. According to MaxPreps, and bolstered by a handful of artificial-intelligence search engines, the Tigers currently hold the third-longest championship streak in high-school sports history.
Funny enough, the other two streaks are also swimming programs; Carmel, Indiana girls swimming (39) and St. Xavier, Kentucky boys swimming (37) – both streaks are still active.
What could possibly be over 100 student-athletes from LVHS swimming to attend collegiate programs, here’s a couple that you might remember:
-Caleb Huelskamp, 2019, was a 2x Boys Swimming Athlete of the Year in 3A. He anchored the 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relays – two record-setting relays – and dominated a pair of individual events. Huelskamp was a Top 100 All-American, and first ever Wyoming All-American for Breaststroke.
-Jonny Kulow, 2022, an All-Around All-American in both individual and team events. As only a junior in high school, Kulow was selected for the Olympic Trials – the only Wyoming high school swimmer to ever do so. He went on to be a 5x Big-12 Champion for Arizona State University. At the 2025 World Aquatic Championships, Kulow won a bronze medal in the 4×100 Freestyle Relay for Team USA.
Ahead of the upcoming season, Wyoming Five Star had the opportunity to interview Lander Valley’s Head Coach, Shawna Morgan. She described the joy of coaching student-athletes, the pressure of maintaining “the streak,” and the responsibilities of coaching young men.
Actually, Morgan recalls the last time Lander Valley didn’t win a state-championship. It was 1996 – Morgan was a freshman swimmer at Rawlins High School. Almost three decades later, she’s at the helm for the program’s 30th title in as many years.
What Separates LVHS Swimming
Lander, Wyoming, is famous for its outdoor recreation and National Outdoor Leadership Society (NOLS) influence. After several generations have planted roots in the valley, that fitness-shaped mindset has seeped into the Tiger athletic programs.
“I think Lander is a very active community, full of people who are always doing something,” joked Morgan. “You can’t drive down Main Street without seeing a dozen people exercising; you can’t drive up to Sinks Canyon without seeing four people riding their bike, and three more people running. I think that culture plays a big role in all LVHS athletics.”
Another important factor in the Tigers continued-success is a healthy, thriving, youth-swimming program. If you talk to any successful high-school coach, they almost always mention something of this variety – a potent youth program instilling confidence and excitement about athletics long before it truly counts.
“Our youth swim club has 120 kids right now – and a waitlist! Kids are getting into the water and having fun with it. They want to be a part of this tradition, and I think that’s a major piece,” explained Morgan.
“But, by the time [the kids] get to high school, burnout is definitely a ‘thing.’ So how do we keep them having fun, and coming back year after year? I think the family atmosphere is how we accomplish that. We make it accessible and available to everyone.”
Importance of Coaching Young Men
Just like in life, the winning streak has forced the Tigers to adequately deal with mounting pressure. Someday these young men will be employee’s, husbands and fathers, and members of society. I think we can all agree that facing your fears is an everyday-part of life, and what better way to do that than a sports-practice with your closest allies.
“We have long talks about fear, growth-mindset, sportsmanship, consent, you name it. Let’s face it, I’m coaching young men and these conversations need to be had,” explained Morgan.
She’s not talking about swimming – Morgan is talking about life outside of swimming.
“At the end of the day, what all of us want more than anything is to raise kids who are responsible, respectful, young men who will make great dads, functioning members of the community, productive citizens,” said Morgan.
“They are hard conversations, but you can’t guarantee every kid will have them at home, or in their life. So we try to do our part to build them up before they leave our program.”
In a world where everything is video-taped, and anything you say can circle back around to bite you, the Tigers spend a considerable amount of time addressing real world issues that teenagers may not actively consider. One of those being, how to treat women.
“We talk about social media, and its repercussions in life. If you send or receive any inappropriate photo, or you’re involved in inappropriate actions, these things can really hurt you or someone else. We try to explain to [our team] these types of things, so they can be careful and think before they act,” explained Morgan.
“We coach them on how to treat our managers (who are female); we emphasize travelling in pairs if they go to parties; we talk about how they treat their mothers and sisters, girlfriends, teachers. Stuff happens, and we want them to consider those things ahead of time.”
Remembering Bruce Gresly
If you’re from Fremont County, chances are you’ve heard this name before. A local-legend, known for his innate ability to encourage people, speak life over them, and love of swimming.
“I remember the kindest, nicest, most competitive man ever. He accepted anyone and everyone … Everything I’ve learned about coaching has come from Bruce.”
On June 28th, 2015, legendary head coach and architect of 19-consecutive LVHS swimming championships, Bruce Gresly passed away. The Lander Valley icon succumbed to a heart attack. Before Morgan took over the program in 2015, Gresly was her predecessor.
“His goal in life was to save anyone who walked through his door. We used to joke around, calling those folks ‘Bruce’s Projects,’ but it truly was his goal to save kids from going down the wrong path in life,” said Morgan.
“His philosophy was that, because of swimming, kids might not go out and drive drunk over the weekend, or abuse drugs, or get into fights. He wanted them to compete in something difficult, because the sense of accomplishment from trying something hard was so valuable.”
Folks around the Lander Valley community attest that Gresly was not only an honorable member of the community, but the lifeblood of Tiger swimming – so much so that, not long after his passing, the community changed their pool’s name to the Bruce Gresly Aquatic Center.
“Bruce taught me empathy. No matter how frustrated you may get with a kid, or the team, I can hear Bruce telling me to remember [the kids] are going through things we might not see. That was one of the coolest things about him. He loved coaching, and helping kids was his passion.”
Tumultuous Year of 2023
While the Tigers were firing on all cylinders, a strange and despairing circumstance landed at the feet of Coach Morgan.
Her brother, Scott Muir, a Type 1 diabetic, continued his battle with kidney disease. After nearly one year of dialysis treatments, Scott’s kidneys were on the verge of shutting down. A life-saving decision was about to shake the family forever.
“It was about a year of testing, and waiting to find out what we’d do next. The doctors eventually told me that I was compatible,” said Morgan.
In 2023, Shawna Morgan donated a kidney to her dying brother.
“It was the most stressful year of my life, leading up to all of that. If it wasn’t for my family, and my boys swimming family, I don’t know if I could’ve done it. I was considering quitting my job, and kind of, quitting my life – just the stress of it all,” explained Morgan.
Nonetheless, Morgan came through for her brother. Scott is healthy and well today, living with a piece of his sister inside. Today he coaches the Douglas football and indoor track teams, and has made a full recovery.
At the time, Scott Muir was the swimming coach at Douglas High School. The two swimming programs – Douglas and Lander Valley – made a special connection that still lives on today. The two teams rallied around their coaches, starting a fundraising campaign to help with medical costs.
“Everyone was so supportive of me and my brother. The Douglas program sold T-Shirts with the slogan ‘Muir Strong’ on them. Both teams wore them at [the State Tournament]. It was this really cool way to come together as a Wyoming community,” said Morgan.
“When I got back, [the LVHS] community was making me so many meals! My husband was like, ‘Guys, I can take care of her!,’ but the community was like, ‘No, no, no. We got this!’,” laughed Morgan.
With such a traumatic season of life in the rear-view mirror, it’s impressive and amazing how positive Coach Morgan is about the situation. This speaks to her charisma, energy, and positive outlook on life in general. It’s no wonder why the Tigers have had such an immaculate run over the last decade.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers began their season at home, with a dual-meet against their 25-mile rivals, the Riverton Wolverines. In one week, Lander Valley returns the trip when they attend the Riverton Invite. Stay Tuned for more coverage of the Lander Valley Tigers at wyomingfivestar.com.