With the local fall sports season done as far as home games are concerned, I can’t help but feel a little depressed. It’s the same feeling you have when you graduate from high school and know you have to leave behind fun memories or activities that you won’t be doing again anytime soon. Well, in my case I was actually quite happy to be through with high school when I graduated, but when speaking for the majority of the public, I’m sure you get what I’m saying. I’m kind of sad that I won’t be covering anymore football, volleyball, cross-country or golf in the Platte Valley for the rest of this year. It has been a fun and exciting fall sports season for sure.
The Encampment Lady Tigers volleyball team placed third at regionals are now heading to state this week. The Lady Panthers also played their hearts out at regionals and wrapped their season up nicely. For golf, Braxton Schwartzkopf placed third at state with a score of 165, and four cross-country runners made the top 20 at their state tournament. For the boys’ team, Cameron Collamer placed fifth with 17:50.42, Ben Falk placed 10th with 18:10.21 and Andrew Janecek-Oiler placed 20th with 19:22.43. For the girls’ team, Katie Loose placed 13th with 22:58.6. Both Collamer and Falk also received All-State Honors for making the Top 10.
The Panthers football team ended its season with 5-3, which is not bad for a team that was brand new to six-man play this year. The last home game of the season was awesome, especially watching senior Ryan Malone play and score a touchdown while still hurt with a torn groin. Malone had been out for much of the season due to his injury, but he wanted to experience his last home high school football game and help his fellow teammates out on closing night. That, my friends, is real dedication to a team.
Earlier this month, I had a blast of a time cover Saratoga’s Homecoming events, and getting to be part of all the action. I enjoyed watching the snowy-weather parade, seeing the kids decorate their floats and the evening pep rally with the ceremonial burning of the “V.” I usually missed out on the pep rallies when I was in high school, so to be able to live what I missed and see the enthusiasm of all the kids was great. It was also great to see so many families come out to the rally, and see so many kids crazily cheer on their peers during the homecoming volleyball and football games. During the parade, I was also impressed to see so many elementary school kids act excited while standing in the cold weather and pouring snow to cheer on the older kids as they drove by. It showed that even the young’uns in town can have a sense of school spirit in freezing temperatures.
Another reason I’m sad to see the fall season go is because I know that a harsh Wyoming winter is right around the corner. Earlier this year, I would tell people I was surprised that the Platte Valley had lost so many residents over the years, and sometimes I’d get a reply of, “You haven’t seen a winter here, have you?” I’m not sure I’m ready for the blizzards, freezing temperatures, highway and interstate closures, unsafe driving conditions and strong winds that come along with a snowy winter season here in the Platte Valley. You have to remember that I’m a California kid who maybe saw it hail, yet never snow, once or twice where I grew up. Even a mild drizzle of snow gets me paranoid for what could happen next weather-wise.
All in all, I’d say I had a pretty good time covering my first exciting fall sports season in the Platte Valley. You really can’t complain when you get to work and have loads of fun at the same time. Now I get to look forward to covering basketball and wrestling, which both should be a lot of fun. I hope to see all of you at the home events!
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