Swimmers and Tracksters Excel For Laramie High School

The Laramie Plainsmen swimming and diving team swept four duals and finished runner-up at an invite last weekend.

Laramie (8-1) hosted Evanston, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County and Sheridan last Friday at the LHS Aquatics Center. The Plainsmen won six events overall, including two by freshman Max DeYoung. He touched the wall first in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.

From a team standpoint, Laramie edged Kelly Walsh 95-91. They beat Evanston, 142-40, topped Natrona County, 149-28 and defeated Sheridan, 120-65.

Saturday, the Plainsmen finished a distant second to Gillette at the mid-season Cheyenne Invite. The Camels won the meet with 266 points, while LHS total 174.5 points. Laramie didn’t win an event, but all three relays placed in the top three, and there were three individual finishes in the top three.

The Plainsmen also picked up another state qualifier, when senior Alex Buckman made the mark in the 100 butterfly.

Head coach Tom Hudson knows they’re halfway through their season.

“The Cheyenne Invite marks the halfway part of season. The next two, three weeks are the grind. So, we get through those, we hope for the best.”

Laramie swims Rawlins Tuesday at home before the conference duals in Gillette on Friday and Saturday. LHS will go head-to-head against the Camels, Cheyenne Central and Cheyenne East.

Indoor Track

Laramie made their 2017 season debut at the Stadium Sports Grill High School Classic last Saturday and won two events.

Head coach Greg Schabron was very pleased with the start to a new season.

“The kids did a great job… a lot of kids, a little shocker, saying alright, I’m not quite as fit as I thought I’d be. Regardless, it gives us some marks to enter accurately for this upcoming weekend in Gillette, but also some goals we can start setting with kids, as well.”

Kyra Wulff set a school record and won the long jump at 17 feet, 3.5 inches.

The other win came from the Plainsmen 4X400 meter relay. They crossed the line in a time of 3:39.75, which was .12 ahead of Kelly Walsh.

Overall, the Lady Plainsmen produced 17 top eight finishes, while the Plainsmen came through with 15 top eight performances.

Wrestling

Laramie finished in third place at the Blazer Duals in Torrington last Saturday.

The Plainsmen beat Burns 56-24 in the first round. They blew out Wheatland in round two, 65-17. In the third match, LHS lost to Glenrock, 41-36. That meant a match-up against Natrona County in the championship bracket. The Mustangs were too much, as they beat Laramie 44-27. The Plainsmen bounced back with a 54-24 win over the host Torrington for third place.

Five Laramie wrestlers had a perfect day on the mat. Seniors Idris Elias, Carless Looney, Kolton Moss and Kaden Schriner, plus sophomore Ethan Sell went unbeaten.

The Plainsmen are 8-5 in duals this season.

Alpine Skiing

Laramie made its season debut at the Kelly Walsh Bruce Studer Memorial Alpine Ski Invitational on Casper Mountain.

Both teams took sixth place, and Jackson won both team titles.

In Friday’s slalom, the Laramie girls were led by sophomore Brooklyn Pratt, who placed 14th. Sophomore Nicholas Fadial led the boys in 12th. Saturday in Giant Slalom, junior Lena Weinstein took 11 place, while Fadial was 14.

They host their home meet at Snowy Range Ski Area this Friday and Saturday.