Richard Anderson photo
Laramie head football coach Bob Knapton, right, presents Coleton Wilson with the Dewey McConnell Award as the outstanding LHS football senior.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
The six Laramie High School fall head coaches gathered to honor their seniors Wednesday night in the annual Laramie Quarterback Club Fall Seniors Banquet at the Laramie Country Club.
It was an up and down fall sports season for Laramie High School, but it was all good as far as the six head coaches were concerned. Senior leadership is the name of the game and LHS had plenty of that this fall.
Seniors were honored in football, volleyball, girls’ swimming and boys’ and girls’ cross country, tennis and golf.
The annual Dewey McConnell Award was also presented to quarterback Coleton Wilson for the outstanding LHS senior football player.
“When I first got here last spring, he was at every camp, he came to every weight-lifting day that we had open; everything we had going on, he was there,” LHS coach Bob Knapton said. “He did a great job as a leader for us. I just think he is a heck of a kid. I hope what some of these seniors have done this year rubs off to our junior class.”
When talking about Wilson, Knapton also spoke many of the same attributes about his nine seniors who stuck it out for the season. The Plainsmen struggled with just one win, but Knapton said his seniors were inspirational.
“The season didn’t go as well as we wanted it to go, but these seniors put in a lot of hard work and gutted it out. I appreciate everything they did.”
Four of those seniors were in attendance -- Wilson, Nick Armijo. Nick Yelton and Alex Zuniga.
Veteran Laramie swim coach Tom Hudson began the night by talking about his three seniors for the Lady Plainsmen, who struggled with experience and finished eighth at the state meet. Only one senior was in attendance -- Margo Hammann.
“I was proud of the way the girls competed all year long,” Hudson said.
Laramie tennis coach Carlos Mellizo said his seniors were key to the team’s success during the season. Both Laramie teams finished in sixth place at the state meet. Those seniors at the banquet were Kiley Dodson, Jessica Swierczek, Mason Orcutt, Ryne Ibarra and Dan Nachtigal.
“We had a really successful season in my mind and saw improvements from both the boys and girls,” Mellizo said.
LHS golf coach Kurk Aegerter just finished his 16th season at the helm and talked about how much he enjoyed this year’s team, led by some outstanding seniors. The Plainsmen finished fifth at the state tournament, with the Lady Plainsmen in seventh place.
Senior golfers at the banquet were Maigen Rettinger, Hannah Nerone and Eric Parrish.
“Golf is a different beast, I always say. I’m very blessed to have that job …. 16 years,” Aegerter said. “It’s so enjoyable, something we would pay to do.”
First-year Lady Plainsmen volleyball coach Trisha Witkop said her five seniors taught her as much as she could teach them. The Lady Plainsmen finished 14-18 on the season.
“These girls were incredibly patient and helpful this season,” Witkop said. “I thought this year was going to be tough bringing in a new technique and coaching staff. But these girls adapted and came in with an open mind.
Lady Plainsmen seniors in attendance were Brea Curry, Melissa Dozier, Kaylynn Jaycox, Becca Halsey and Maddie Francis.
Cross country coach Greg Schabron, praised his seniors for helping him in his first year at the helm. The Laramie boys won the regional meet for the first time in 14 years and placed a strong third at the state meet. The Lady Plainsmen were eighth at the state meet.
Senior harriers at the banquet were Jacob Heath and Angela Peterson.
“They just happen to be our team captains. They did a great job,” Schabron said.
