DAILY NEWS photo by Bob Vines
Worland’s Erik Rust reacts to his team’s first round loss to the Star Valley Braves in Jackson Thursday.

Warriors fall in OT to open state tourney

By Thomas Watson
Sports Writer

WORLAND -- After coming back from a one-goal deficit to take a lead, it appeared the Warriors had their match against Star Valley in hand, but a late goal in stoppage time forced overtime where Worland was defeated 3-2.
“Star Valley is a physical team and they get after you, and our guys went out and played hard,” said head coach Ron Overcast. “Sometimes stuff like this happens, and in the end it’s my job to get them prepared and I didn’t.”
The Braves opened the scoring in the 16th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
The Braves’ lead didn’t last long as Jacob McGarvin evened the match in the 19th minute with an assist on the goal by Bryce Overcast.
“We countered them really well,” Ron Overcast said. “The defense got a good pass to Bryce, and he hit a through ball to Jacob on the wing. Jacob put it on the far post and put it in the back of the net. It was a really good goal.”
From there, Star Valley and Worland played a physical, back-and-forth match with neither side able to break through until the Braves made a second half mistake.
Bryce Overcast got Worland’s second goal on a penalty kick in the 62nd minute after being taken down inside the box by a Star Valley defender. It was a controversial play that could have resulted in a red card, but none was issued.
The Warriors were poised to reach the semifinals for the second straight year, but in the 80th and final minute Star Valley scored the equalizing goal to force overtime.

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3 local state champions crowned in Casper

By Thomas Watson
Sports Writer

CASPER – Competitors are only through day one of the three-day state track meet in Casper, and already two local schools can boast three state champions with a slew of other good performances.
Meeteetse’s Seth Bennett had a distance of 21-02 ½ in the long jump to win the 1A boys’ state championship in the event.
“He jumped 21 feet, two inches and that was enough to do the trick. We’re super proud of him and are looking forward to tomorrow,” said Meeteetse head coach Ty Meyers. “He triple jumps, high jumps and has the 100 meter dash preliminaries. He’s going to have a busy day, but we are looking for good things from him tomorrow as well.”
Thermopolis finished the day with two state championships, one in a field event and the other in a relay.
Leesa Jensen, who started the year by breaking school records in her first event, finished the year with a state championship in the shot put. She threw a distance of 38-04 ½. Jensen is not done, as she will go for a second state championship in the discus throw today.
The Bobcats’ 4x800 relay team of Ivy Paris, Michele Anderson, Jordan Leyba and Zoe Stehlin also won a state championship on Thursday, beating out Big Piney and Tongue River who finished second and third, respectively.
Thermopolis came close to a third individual championship in the boys’ long jump. Tanner Abbott finished second with a distance of 20-08, just six inches behind the winner, Dino Collins of Lovell.
Worland’s Abby Carver rebounded from what was by her standards a subpar performance at regionals by taking fifth place in the girls’ 3A pole vault.
The Lady Warriors also received points from freshman Bryanna Mickelson’s seventh place finish in the discus throw.
“Abby has pushed herself very hard all year, and held herself to a very high standard. She did that again today and came away with a state medal, which is wonderful. For Bryanna to get on that podium as a freshman is great motivation. Many people fight their entire career to get up there ,” said Worland head coach Ryan Clark. “So far overall we have competed well. We haven’t had outstanding performances, but they have competed well. We had a good day overall, but we’re hoping for a great day tomorrow.”
Sophomore Michayla Miller won a bronze medal in the 1A girls’ 3200 meter run, finishing with a time of 12:56.92 for the Lady Pioneers.
Miller and the other three members of Ten Sleep’s 4x800 relay team had the goal of defending last year’s state championship in the event, but had to settle for fourth place with Cokeville becoming the new champions.
Thermopolis’ Harley Rhodes just missed medaling in the 2A boys’ 3200 meter run, finishing in fourth place with a time of 10:44.82.
Deja Garza of Burlington placed eighth in the 1A girls’ high jump with a height of 4-02.
Day two of the state meet will feature the girls’ long jump and boys’ triple jump in 1A, girls’ discus and high jump in 2A, as well as all 800 meter runs and 4x100 relays.

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DAILY NEWS photo by Bob Vines
Worland’s Hailey Schneider goes to the ground after contact with a Lander Lady Tiger. The Warriors lost their first round game in a shootout.